HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS’ AWARENESS AND MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISKS IN WOMEN WITH HYPERTENSIVE DISORDERS OF PREGNANCY AND GESTATIONAL DIABETES

Objective: Sex-specific risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women, including adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (APOs), are frequently overlooked and affect up to one in five pregnant women on average. This study evaluated the knowledge and care practices of healthcare providers (HCPs) concerning the cardiovascular (CV) risk associated with gestational diabetes mellitus and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Design and method: In 2022, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to evaluate HCPs’ knowledge, follow-up recommendations, and counseling on CV risk following APOs. The respondents were divided into General Medicine (GM), Obstetrics and Gynecology (O&G), General Internal Medicine and Cardiology (GIM&C), and others. Results: In total, 266 physicians answered the questionnaire, and 175 responses were included. Of the 175 responses, 20.0% (n = 35) were from GM, 38.9% (n = 68) from O&G, 39.4% (n = 69) from GIM&C, and 1.7% (n = 3) from other specialties. Only 41.3% of HCPs offered counseling on cardioprotective strategies, and approximately half did not counsel patients on the risk of recurrence of APOs. Less than 20.0% provide their patients with written follow-up information. Limited awareness of short- and long-term complications following APOs also extends to mental health disorders: Only 19.1% (n = 30) knew that about 1 in 10 women suffer from mental illness following childbirth. Conclusions: This study identified knowledge gaps among HCPs in postpartum care for women with APOs, highlighting the importance of standardized follow-up programs and the need for targeted education for HCPs.