Life’s Essential 8 in Pregnancy and Time to Incident Cardiometabolic Disease Over 7 Years Follow-Up

Is cardiovascular health during pregnancy, assessed using a modified Life’s Essential 8 score (mLE8), associated with time to incident cardiometabolic disease after pregnancy?In this cohort study of 1225 pregnancies, healthier mLE8 scores were associated with a significantly longer time to diagnosis of chronic hypertension and metabolic conditions. Associations persisted after excluding individuals with gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.These findings suggest that pregnancy cardiovascular health assessment using mLE8 may identify individuals with elevated risk and latent vulnerability, and support earlier intervention during a sensitive window for prevention of long-term cardiometabolic disease.

Corresponding Author: Ellen C. Francis, PhD, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Rutgers University, 683 Hoes Ln W, Piscataway, NJ 08554 (Ellen.Francis@Rutgers.edu).

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