Optimization of cardiovascular health in postpartum women with reproductive and pregnancy-related risk factors

Heart disease is the number one killer of women worldwide and the leading cause of premature death in Canada. In recent years, heart disease related death and illness has increased in women after childbirth. Besides well-known risk factors, women after childbirth face an additional burden of pregnancy-related risk such as high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy, however, the risk often gets unrecognized in primary care. Though there are many risk prediction models, they are designed to predict risk in general population and do not take into account the reproductive risk factors that limits their use in women after childbirth. My program of research on Women’s Heart Health, aims to answer the following questions: 1) What are the contribution of reproductive and pregnancy-related risk factors in predicting the heart disease risk in women after childbirth? 2) What is the feasibility and acceptability of using risk prediction tool in primary care? 3) What is the effectiveness of risk prediction tool in screening heart disease risk in women after childbirth? The proposed local research in BC will aid in solving a problem in Canada by recommending a heart disease risk assessment and risk management of women after childbirth.