Although screening rates are higher for exposed individuals, rates are low in both exposed and unexposed individuals
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Feb. 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Patients with pregnancy-related hypertension (HTN) or diabetes are more likely to be screened for diabetes and dyslipidemia after delivery, but screening rates remain low for those with and without HTN and diabetes, according to a research letter published online Feb. 17 in Circulation.
Amy Y.X. Yu, M.D., from the University of Toronto, and colleagues conducted a population-based cohort study and compared postpartum screening for diabetes and dyslipidemia among patients with and without hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or gestational diabetes (GDM). A total of 1,265,015 pregnant patients younger than 50 years who were discharged alive after admission for a live birth, stillbirth, or intentional pregnancy termination after ≥20 completed weeks of gestation were identified.
The researchers found 165,660 patients (13.1 percent) had pregnancy-related hypertension or diabetes, which was the main exposure. Among exposed patients, 81.1 percent had pregnancy-related hypertension or diabetes during the index pregnancy, and the rest were exposed during a previous pregnancy. Compared with unexposed patients, exposed patients were more likely to be screened for diabetes and dyslipidemia within three years, but the difference was moderate and both groups had low screening rates (43.8 versus 33.0 percent; relative risk [RR], 1.33). Screening within one year was also low (17.3 percent exposed versus 11.1 percent unexposed; RR, 1.56). Screening was lower for dyslipidemia within three years than for diabetes (RRs, 1.32 versus 1.19). During the 17-year study period, screening practices remained relatively similar.
“Suboptimal vascular risk factor screening after pregnancy-related hypertension or diabetes is a missed opportunity for cardiovascular prevention,” the authors write.
Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
