Pregnant Women With Depression May Face Higher Heart Disease, Stroke Risk After Delivery

Women who experience depression during pregnancy have a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease or experiencing a stroke within two years after giving birth. The likelihood of those outcomes are higher compared to women who did not experience depression during pregnancy.

The risk of heart disease among women with prenatal depression was 83% higher for ischemic heart disease (caused by narrowed heart arteries), 61% higher for cardiomyopathy, and 60% higher for risk of arrhythmia. The risk of stroke was 27% higher. The risk of a new diagnosis with high blood pressure was 32% higher.

When women with prenatal . . .