Study Finds a Pregnancy Complication That Can Increase a Child’s Risk of Heart Disease

Rutgers Health researchers say children born to mothers with premature placental separation are three times more likely to develop or die from cardiovascular disease

Rutgers Health research shows the risk of developing early cardiovascular disease or dying from cardiovascular disease by the age of 28 was 4.6 times higher among people born to mothers who had a placental abruption during their pregnancy.

This finding was compared to people whose birth didn't not have this complication, according to a study using the PACER (Placental Abruption and Cardiovascular Event Risk) cohort (births in New Jersey from 1993 to 2020), by lead author Cande Ananth, distinguished professor, and chief of the division of epidemiology and biostatistics in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

Placental abruption occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus before birth, rather than after delivery. According to the study, among approximately 3 million singleton deliveries, 1% had a recorded diagnosis of abruption.

Our study suggests that placental abruption needs to be taken as a very serious complication for the mother and also potentially affects the baby's cardiovascular health later in life.

Cande Ananth

Chief, Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Dept. of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

"Our study suggests that placental abruption needs to be taken as a very serious complication for the mother and also potentially affects the baby's cardiovascular health later in life," Ananth said. "It is important that children be monitored to identify complications due to their increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Having a cardio-obstetrics team working together with pediatric programs in medical schools and hospitals will be important to provide support and monitor the health of these mothers after delivery and their babies as they grow up."

Researchers involved in the study report that these children were 2.4 times more at risk of stroke hospitalization, and that heart disease and stroke risks were even higher among children younger than 12 months old. Also, pregnancies in women older than 35 or experiencing twin pregnancies were more vulnerable to these conditions.

"Placental abruption is a sudden and often catastrophic event that cannot be prevented and comes with no warning," Ananth said. "Older women or those expecting more than one baby, such as twins or triplets, have an increased risk of developing this condition. Health care professionals should support patients in maintaining a healthy lifestyle to protect their own health and their baby's.

"More research is needed to understand how placental abruption affects heart health in children born of these pregnancies. This study is the first to discover a link between the two. However, the findings are based on a review of hospital birth and death records that show a correlation, and more research is needed to establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

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