Pregnancy in older age increases stroke, heart attack risk years later

Public Release: 17-Feb-2016
Pregnancy in older age increases stroke, heart attack risk years later
American Stroke Association Meeting Report - Poster WMP50
American Heart Association

Women who become pregnant at age 40 or older face a greater risk of stroke and heart attack later in life than women who become pregnant at a younger age, according to research presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2016.

"We already knew that older women were more likely than younger women to experience health problems during their pregnancy," said Adnan I. Qureshi, M.D., lead researcher and director of the Zeenat Qureshi Stroke Institute in St. Cloud, Minnesota. "Now, we know that the consequences of that later pregnancy stretch years into the future."

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The age of last pregnancy has not been considered a risk factor for stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. "However, women with a late pregnancy need to be aware of their increased risk and take steps to improve their cardiovascular health," he said. "And their doctors need to remain vigilant years later in monitoring these women's risk factors through physical examination and, perhaps more tests and earlier interventions to prevent stroke and other cardiovascular events."

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