Cardiovascular Risk Management in Women's Health

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in women globally, with unique biological and sociocultural factors influencing risk and outcomes. Female-specific exposures such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes and menopause interact with traditional risk factors—hypertension, dyslipidaemia, obesity and smoking—to accelerate vascular ageing and metabolic dysfunction. Effective management demands a life course approach, beginning with early screening and education, extending through postpartum follow-up after adverse obstetric events, and continuing into mid-life and beyond. Interdisciplinary collaboration between obstetricians, primary care clinicians and cardiologists is essential to ensure regular monitoring of blood pressure, glycaemic control and lipid profiles, coupled with personalised lifestyle modification and, when indicated, pharmacotherapy. Tailored interventions that bridge the transition from maternity care to general practice offer a critical window for primary prevention, while community-based programmes can address disparities in access and adherence. Overall, a structured framework of risk assessment, patient empowerment and continuity of care underpins successful cardiovascular risk management in women’s health.

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Cardiovascular Risk Management in Women's Health publication trend

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Technical terms

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP): A group of conditions including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia that arise after 20 weeks’ gestation and are associated with elevated blood pressure and end-organ dysfunction.

Preeclampsia: A severe form of HDP characterised by hypertension and signs of damage to other organ systems, particularly the liver and kidneys, typically manifesting after mid-pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): Glucose intolerance first recognised during pregnancy that increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life.

Lifestyle intervention: Structured programmes promoting diet modification, physical activity and behavioural support to reduce cardiovascular risk factors.

Risk stratification: The process of categorising individuals according to their estimated likelihood of cardiovascular events based on clinical and demographic factors.

References

1. Barriers and Facilitators to Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Following Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Primary Care: Cross-Sectional Surveys. Nutrients (2023).
2. Postpartum Interventions to Reduce Long-Term Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Women After Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine (2019).
3. Be Healthe for Your Heart: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating a Web-Based Behavioral Intervention to Improve the Cardiovascular Health of Women with a History of Preeclampsia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2020).
4. Pregnancy: An Underutilized Window of Opportunity to Improve Long-term Maternal and Infant Health—An Appeal for Continuous Family Care and Interdisciplinary Communication. Frontiers in Pediatrics (2017).