Introduction: Maternal complications of pregnancy, including hypertensive disorders, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, spontaneous preterm labour, and placental abruption, are well-known risk factors for premature cardiometabolic disease. Women with a history of any one of these conditions require cardiometabolic risk assessment and management. Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased cardiovascular disease risk and may be a suitable alternative to traditional cardiovascular risk calculators that underestimate risk in women of childbearing age.
Methods: This prospective registry analysis investigated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome as defined by the Harmonising the Metabolic Syndrome criteria in all eligible participants (N = 597) attending a postpartum lifestyle intervention clinic from August 2018 to May 2025 at the Lyell McEwin Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia.
Results: Over one-third of women (219/597; 36.7%) met the criteria for metabolic syndrome at six months postpartum. Almost 90% of the cohort were abdominally obese, with a mean waist circumference of 98.8cm. Only 8.4% of women had no metabolic syndrome risk factors. Twenty-six women (4.4%) had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes since delivery of their baby, and 48 (8.0%) were using antihypertensive medication at six months postpartum.
Conclusions: Women with a history of a maternal complication of pregnancy are at high risk of future cardiometabolic disease, with many showing either metabolic syndrome or multiple risk factors at only six months postpartum. The results indicate that follow-up within 1 year postpartum is an appropriate time to commence preventative strategies, as many women are already showing early signs of disease.