Shocking study reveals pregnancy complications double early stroke risk in women under 50
By isabelle // 2025-08-11
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  • High-risk pregnancy complications more than double stroke risk before age 50, with stillbirth survivors facing nearly five times higher odds.
  • Dutch researchers linked pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and stillbirth to significantly elevated stroke risk decades later.
  • Women with stroke histories were more than twice as likely to have had pregnancy complications compared to those without strokes.
  • Pre-eclampsia and preterm birth were specifically tied to strokes from large artery disease, suggesting early cardiovascular vulnerabilities.
  • The study challenges current prevention strategies, urging doctors to consider pregnancy history for early cardiovascular care, even before menopause.
Women who experienced high-risk pregnancy complications face more than double the risk of suffering strokes before age 50, according to groundbreaking Dutch research that challenges conventional thinking about when cardiovascular prevention should begin. The study of more than 1,000 women aged 18-49 found those with previous stillbirths carried the most alarming risk: they were nearly five times more likely to experience early strokes than women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands examined pregnancy histories of women who had suffered strokes, comparing them with women who had not. Their findings, published in Neurology, reveal a disturbing pattern linking complications like pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, miscarriage and stillbirth to significantly elevated stroke risk decades later. The study included 1,072 female participants who had experienced at least one pregnancy, with 358 having suffered ischemic strokes between ages 18 and 49, and 714 without stroke serving as controls. This comprehensive approach allowed researchers to identify patterns that previous studies may have missed. Among stroke victims, 51 percent had experienced at least one pregnancy complication, compared to just 31 percent of women without strokes. After adjusting for age at first pregnancy, researchers determined that women who suffered strokes were more than twice as likely to have endured pregnancy complications.

Stillbirth survivors face greatest danger

The most startling finding involved women with histories of stillbirth, who showed nearly five times higher stroke risk. While the number of participants reporting stillbirths was relatively small, the magnitude of increased risk demands serious attention from healthcare providers. Women with pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) faced approximately four times higher stroke risk, while those experiencing preterm birth or delivering small-for-gestational-age babies had nearly three times the risk of early stroke. "While the overall risk of stroke is still very low, our study found pregnancy complications may be an early warning sign of stroke risk-even before age 50," said study author Dr. Frank-Erik De Leeuw. "Knowing this history could help doctors identify those who may benefit from early prevention and cardiovascular care." The research reveals that certain complications, particularly pre-eclampsia and preterm birth, were specifically associated with strokes caused by large artery disease. This isoften linked to atherosclerosis, the dangerous buildup of fatty deposits in arteries. This connection suggests that pregnancy complications may serve as early indicators of underlying cardiovascular vulnerabilities that manifest years or decades later. The finding contradicts current medical practice, which typically delays intensive cardiovascular prevention until after menopause.

Rethinking prevention strategies

Current cardiovascular prevention strategies focus primarily on post-menopausal women, but this research suggests a fundamental shift may be necessary. The data indicates that pregnancy complications could serve as powerful predictive tools for identifying younger women who would benefit from earlier intervention. "Doctors should ask about pregnancy history when assessing stroke risk," De Leeuw emphasized. "Our study suggests we may need to start thinking about cardiovascular prevention earlier in life-not just after menopause." Previous research has established that pregnancy itself temporarily increases stroke risk through increased blood volume, altered blood clotting factors, and changes in blood vessel elasticity. The highest risk traditionally occurred within six weeks after delivery, but this new research suggests the danger may persist for decades. The researchers acknowledge limitations in their study, including reliance on self-reported pregnancy complication data and the inability to adjust for all stroke risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These limitations underscore the need for expanded research using comprehensive medical records. Nevertheless, this groundbreaking research opens new avenues for protecting women's cardiovascular health by recognizing pregnancy complications as lasting risk factors rather than temporary challenges. The findings demand immediate attention from healthcare providers and policymakers committed to reducing preventable strokes in younger women. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk Academic.OUP.com News-Medical.net PhysiciansWeekly.com
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