Early Outcomes of an Extended Postpartum Hypertension Program: Care Beyond Delivery.

BACKGROUND

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy affect up to 20% of pregnant individuals and significantly increase long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD). The postpartum period presents an opportunity for early intervention, yet it remains one of the most underused windows for preventive care.

RATIONALE: Traditional postpartum care models end at 6 weeks, missing critical windows for education, hypertension management, and preventive CVD care. Moreover, cardiovascular screening in primary care often fails to recognize hypertensive disorders of pregnancy as a risk factor, and CVD risk assessment in women remains suboptimal.

SUMMARY: Healthy Hearts is an innovative, postpartum hypertension transitional care program consisting of timely, personalized nurse-navigated care, blood pressure management, and cardiovascular risk assessment extending through 14 weeks postpartum. The Healthy Hearts program has demonstrated increased patient engagement with early postpartum office visits, reduced postpartum hospitalizations, and improvement in transitional longitudinal care.