Archive · 8 Oct 2026
Pregnancy Complications May Signal Later Chronic Disease Risk
A large study looked at the health records of more than 1.4 million women.
It found that some problems during pregnancy were linked with a greater chance of certain illnesses years later.
These included heart disease, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease.
Diabetes during pregnancy was linked to a higher rate of later diabetes, even when it happened in an earlier pregnancy.
The study also found links between postnatal depression and heart disease, and between some pregnancy complications and kidney disease.
The researchers said doctors should consider a woman’s full pregnancy history when assessing her health.
This might help identify people who could benefit from prevention earlier.
The researchers said more studies are needed to understand why these links occur.
A UK study of more than 1.4 million women linked pregnancy complications with later cardiovascular, type-2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease risks.
Gestational diabetes in the most recent pregnancy was associated with nearly seven times the later diabetes rate; the association was six times for an earlier pregnancy.
Earlier gestational hypertension was associated with more than twice the rate of high blood pressure later in life.
Postnatal depression was associated with a 43 per cent higher rate of cardiovascular disease, while stillbirth and placental abruption were linked to higher chronic kidney disease rates.
Researchers said a full pregnancy history could help identify higher-risk women and support prevention, while noting that more research is needed.
- Who
- Researchers in the UK studied more than 1.4 million women; the report also cites Indian researchers and clinicians.
- What
- The study found associations between pregnancy complications and higher rates of some chronic diseases later in life.
- When
- The findings were reported on Tuesday in BMJ Medicine; the article does not specify the date.
- Where
- The study was conducted by UK researchers; Indian research cited in the report involved Chennai, Delhi and Bengaluru.
- Why
- Researchers said pregnancy history may help identify women at higher risk and support earlier preventive action.
- Study size
- More than 1.4 million women
- Publication
- BMJ Medicine
- Recent gestational diabetes
- Associated with a nearly seven-fold higher rate of later diabetes
- Earlier gestational diabetes
- Associated with a six-fold higher rate of later diabetes
- Gestational hypertension
- An earlier affected pregnancy was associated with more than twice the later rate of high blood pressure
- Postnatal depression
- Associated with a 43 per cent higher rate of cardiovascular disease
- Researchers’ recommendation
- Consider full reproductive history in postpartum risk assessment and preventive care