In a recent observational cohort study published in Journal of American Medical Association, Eva Havers-Borgersen and team found a concerning association between preeclampsia and an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a leading cause of maternal mortality.
The study encompassed 522,545 primiparous women who gave birth in Denmark between 1997 and 2016, revealed that 4.5% of these women were diagnosed with preeclampsia, a pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorder. The researchers observed that women with preeclampsia, though similar in age to those without the condition, exhibited a higher burden of comorbidities.

With a median follow-up period of 10.2 years, preeclampsia was found to be associated with a significantly higher incidence of VTE compared to pregnancies without this complication. The incidence rate was 448.8 per 1000 patient-years for women with preeclampsia, compared to 309.6 per 1000 patient-years for those without. Adjusted hazard ratios further underscored this risk, indicating a 43% increase in the likelihood of VTE for women with preeclampsia.
Most importantly, the association held true when the VTE cases were further stratified into subcategories, revealing heightened risks for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in women with a history of preeclampsia.
This study suggest a critical need for improved clinical management strategies for women who have experienced preeclampsia to mitigate the elevated risk of VTE. Given that VTE remains a major contributor to maternal mortality, the implications of this research are significant for both maternal health and obstetric care.

The findings of this study opens avenues for further investigation into preventive measures and tailored interventions for women with a history of preeclampsia. It also underscores the importance of ongoing research to enhance our understanding of the complex interplay between pregnancy-related complications and long-term health outcomes.
Reference:
Havers-Borgersen, E., Butt, J. H., Johansen, M., Petersen, O. B., Ekelund, C. K., Rode, L., Olesen, J. B., Køber, L., & Fosbøl, E. L. (2023). Preeclampsia and Long-Term Risk of Venous Thromboembolism. In JAMA Network Open (Vol. 6, Issue 11, p. e2343804). American Medical Association (AMA). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.43804