title: Risk perception of future cardiovascular disease in women diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study is to evaluate a woman's risk perception for future cardiovascular disease (CVD) after being diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort of women diagnosed with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) was studied. Each woman completed two surveys, one prior to hospital discharge and one 2 weeks later, designed to assess knowledge of and risk perception for future CVD based on their recent diagnosis of a HDP. Rates of postpartum depression were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 146 subjects included, 28% were diagnosed with preeclampsia with severe features, 52.1% with preeclampsia with mild features, and 19.9% had chronic hypertension. Women with severe features and those delivering preterm were more likely to report a perception of increased risk of both recurrent HDP in a future pregnancy (p = 0.004 and 0.005, respectively) and hypertension later in life (p = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). Women delivering preterm were more likely to report an accurate perception of increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke compared to those delivering at term (p = 0.006 and 0.002, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disease severity and preterm delivery were associated with a higher likelihood of the perception of an increased risk for both recurrent HDP and hypertension in the future. Only preterm delivery was associated with a higher risk perception for stroke and myocardial infarction. Interventions targeted at improved health awareness in women diagnosed with HDP are warranted.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Traylor
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Suchitra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandrasekaran
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Meghana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Limaye
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Sindhu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srinivas
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia , PA , USA.
authors.forename: Celeste P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Durnwald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; hypertensive disorder of pregnancy; risk perception