[Editorial] Reimagining maternal cardiovascular health

AI Summary

This editorial discusses the significant cardiovascular risks pregnancy poses, including gestational hypertension and maternal stroke, which contribute substantially to maternal morbidity and mortality. It highlights that many cases are preventable but missed due to lack of intervention opportunities.

Pregnancy places substantial demands on the cardiovascular system, with physiological changes that can exacerbate pre-existing cardiovascular disease or expose cardiovascular vulnerability for the first time. This heightened risk causes a substantial burden of maternal morbidity and mortality. New onset cardiovascular disease—such as gestational hypertension, maternal stroke, or peripartum cardiomyopathy—complicates up to 15% of pregnancies and accounts for up to one-third of maternal deaths. A substantial proportion of this harm is potentially preventable, but opportunities for intervention are being missed.