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A recent study published in JAMA Neurology reveals that gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia significantly increase the risk of neurological disorders in women months or even years after childbirth.
The research, led by Therese Friis, M.D., from Uppsala University in Sweden, analyzed data from 659,188 first-time mothers with singleton pregnancies recorded between 2005 and 2018 in the Swedish Medical Birth Register. After refining the data, 648,385 women were included in the final analysis.
Compared with women who had normotensive pregnancies, those with gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and eclampsia were found to have an elevated risk of developing new-onset neurological disorders. Adjusted hazard ratios showed an increased risk of 1.27 for gestational hypertension, 1.32 for preeclampsia, and 1.70 for eclampsia. Notably, women with eclampsia faced a more than fivefold increased risk of epilepsy (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.31).
“These findings underscore the long-term neurological consequences of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy,” the authors wrote. “Further investigations are necessary to better understand these risks and to ensure appropriate follow-up care for affected women.”
The study highlights the need for heightened surveillance and preventive strategies to address potential neurological outcomes in women who experience these pregnancy complications.
One of the study’s authors disclosed a connection to the pharmaceutical industry.
Reference
Therese Friis et al., “Gestational Hypertension, Preeclampsia, and Eclampsia and Future Neurological Disorders,” JAMA Neurology (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.4426
