Synopsis
A recent study reveals that women who deliver twins are at a significantly higher risk of heart disease, particularly those with preeclampsia. The findings highlight the importance of monitoring cardiovascular health in the first year following delivery.Key Takeaways
- Women with twins are at a higher risk for heart disease.
- Risk increases with high blood pressure during pregnancy.
- Study analyzed 36 million deliveries in the US.
- Hospitalization rates for twins are significantly higher within the first year.
- Follow-up care for high-risk pregnancies is essential.
New Delhi, Feb 3 (NationPress) Women who deliver twin babies are at a 50% higher risk of developing heart-related issues compared to those who have singletons, as revealed by a recent study published on Monday. The findings, featured in the European Heart Journal, indicate that mothers of twins face an increased likelihood of hospitalization for heart disease within a year of giving birth.
Particularly concerning is that this risk escalates for those who experienced high blood pressure during pregnancy, commonly known as preeclampsia.
The research, spearheaded by experts from Rutgers University in the United States, highlights the growing prevalence of twin pregnancies globally, attributed to advancements in fertility treatments and the trend of older maternal ages.
Dr. Ruby Lin, a maternal-fetal medicine fellow at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, noted, “The maternal heart works harder for twin pregnancies than for singleton pregnancies, and it takes weeks for the maternal heart to return to its pre-pregnancy state.”
Dr. Lin further emphasized that women with twin pregnancies should be mindful of the increased risk of cardiovascular complications within the first year post-delivery, regardless of whether they had complications like pre-eclampsia.
The study evaluated data from 36 million hospital deliveries across the US from 2010 to 2020. Results indicated a significantly higher readmission rate for cardiovascular disease within a year for women with twins (1,105.4 per 100,000 deliveries) compared to those with singleton births (734.1 per 100,000 deliveries).
For women with twins having normal blood pressure, the hospitalization rate for heart disease was approximately double that of singleton mothers with normal blood pressure. For those with twins and high blood pressure, the risk surged to over eight times higher.
Interestingly, the study found that one year postpartum, mortality rates from any cause, including heart disease, were elevated among singleton mothers with high blood pressure as opposed to those with twins. This indicates that the cardiovascular risks for mothers of twins may lessen over time, while singleton mothers may face additional pre-existing cardiovascular risks.
Dr. Lin advised that women undergoing fertility treatments, especially those who are older, obese, diabetic, or have high blood pressure or heart disease, should be informed of the potential for increased heart disease complications associated with twin pregnancies in the short term.
She also called for healthcare professionals to maintain follow-up care for up to a year after delivery for high-risk pregnancies.
