Background: Many cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors can be recognised during pregnancy including increased BMI, smoking status, employment status, family history, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrauterine growth restriction, placental abruption, stillbirth and pre-term birth.
Aims:
To use Geocode mapping and HP deprivation scores to understand the geographic and economic distribution of mothers attending for antenatal care at The Coombe Hospital over a 10-year period (2013-2022). To link this to the socio-demographic data and clinical data associated with CVD, as listed above and already available as part of the Coombe dataset.
To understand the trends in the socio-economic, demographic and CVD risk profiles of those attending for antenatal care over the past ten years (2013-2022).
To develop a public and patient involvement (PPI) group to help use these data to inform national policy on the development of a cardiovascular health strategy, chronic disease prevention and women and infants’ health. To use these data to inform planning of targeted post-pregnancy interventions for CVD risk reduction.
Plan of Investigation: To use an existing dataset at The Coombe Hospital of over 82,000 pregnancies from 2013-22 and combine this with geocoded HP deprivation scores available through the Health Intelligence Unit. To generate descriptive data, time trend analysis and communication tools, in conjunction with our knowledge users and PPI team, to inform health care policy and plan targeted intervention strategies.
Summary of potential: Pregnancy happens relatively early in the life-course and at a time where there is sustained contact with the healthcare system. Evaluating CVD risk in the peri-partum period, before the development of CVD, would allow interventions for CVD risk reduction to be initiated at a time in life where there is real potential to improve long-term health outcomes for the mother and for the family.