Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Heart Failure Risk.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the data on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and heart failure (HF) risk.

RECENT FINDINGS: Hypertensive disorders are the most common medical condition affecting women during pregnancy and are associated with future HF risk, including peripartum cardiomyopathy, pregnancy-associated HF with preserved ejection fraction, and new-onset HF later in life. HF related to HDP can occur during pregnancy and persist long term, as can be the case with peri-partum cardiomyopathy, or can develop years after delivery through mechanisms that have yet to be clearly defined. Unfortunately, the optimal ways to prevent HDP and its associated HF risks are unclear. Guidelines outlining appropriate risk stratification, coordination of postpartum medical care, and prevention of future cardiovascular disease among with HDP are urgently needed in order to decrease the risk of HF.