by A recent study published in the Journal of Internal Medicine reveals that women who undergo infertility treatment have a higher risk of being hospitalized for heart disease within a year of delivery, compared to those who conceive naturally. The research, led by Rei Yamada, an obstetrics and gynecology resident at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, analyzed over 31 million hospital records from the Nationwide Readmissions Database.
The study found that women who underwent infertility treatment were 2.16 times more likely to be hospitalized for hypertension or dangerously high blood pressure than those who conceived naturally. This increased risk was particularly significant during the first month postpartum.
Postpartum checkups are crucial for all women, but this study underscores the importance of these examinations for women who have undergone infertility treatment. “Postpartum checkups are essential for all patients, but our findings highlight the importance of these appointments for women who have undergone infertility treatment to achieve a pregnancy,” Yamada explained.
The study’s authors emphasized the need for early postpartum follow-up care, as much of the elevated risk was observed within the first month after delivery. Cande Ananth, the study’s senior author and chief of the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, added, “Our previous studies have shown that various high-risk patient populations face serious risks of Congenital Heart Disease and stroke within the initial 30 days after delivery. Early follow-up care could help mitigate these risks.”
The study’s findings support current standards of care that recommend an initial postpartum checkup three weeks after delivery. However, some health systems have yet to adopt these guidelines. The researchers hope their study will encourage healthcare providers to prioritize early postpartum follow-up care for women who have undergone infertility treatment.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public Source, Desk Research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it.
