Patient awareness of long‐term cardiovascular and metabolic disease risks after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in Japan

Abstract

AimGiven the increasing recognition of the importance of postpartum follow‐up care for women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) to mitigate their future risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, here we aimed to evaluate the current status of postpartum follow‐up care in Japan and explore the challenges to its implementation.MethodsA web‐based survey was conducted using a smartphone application among postpartum women between March and May 2024 to assess their knowledge of HDP‐related future risk and postpartum follow‐up care.ResultsA total of 880 valid responses were obtained, 73 (8.3%) of which were from women with a history of HDP. Of them, 56.2% were aware of the heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and even fewer knew about the risks of metabolic syndrome (37.0%) and the preventive use of low‐dose aspirin (12.3%); in fact, 31.5% reported receiving no information about their risk or preventive measures from healthcare providers. Furthermore, 43.8% did not consult specialists or attend regular checkups after their 1‐month checkup. Among women with a history of HDP, those who received information and guidance were more likely to implement behavioral changes than those who did not.ConclusionsPatient awareness level of HDP‐related risk was low and the information provided by their healthcare professionals was insufficient, indicating that postpartum follow‐up care in Japan is not satisfactory. This study highlights the need for improved educational strategies and systematic follow‐up protocols to ensure that women are adequately informed and supported in managing their long‐term health risks.