Pregnancy Complications Linked to Higher Heart Disease Risk in Sisters

It may not be fun to think about, but understanding the link between pregnancy complications and long-term health risks could be lifesaving. Research has already established that women who experience complications during pregnancy face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Now, a new study suggests that this risk doesn’t just apply to moms—it may extend to their sisters, too.

A study from Karolinska Institutet, published in the European Heart Journal, found that sisters of women with complicated pregnancies also face a higher risk of cardiovascular disease—even if they had uncomplicated pregnancies themselves.

To conduct the study, researchers analyzed health records of Swedish women who gave birth to their first child between 1992 and 2019. They identified women who had experienced pregnancy complications, along with their sisters who had given birth during the same period but had no complications. They then compared the cardiovascular disease risk among these sisters, the mothers who had pregnancy complications, and an unrelated control group.

The study showed that the sisters also had an almost 40 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared to the women in the control group. While the exact reasons behind this increased risk remain unclear, researchers believe genetic or environmental factors may play a role.

“Our results show that the risk of cardiovascular disease after a pregnancy complication does not depend solely on the pregnancy itself, but can be influenced by genes and environmental factors,” lead author Ängla Mantel said in a press release.

Whatever the cause, this study suggests that both women who experience pregnancy complications and their sisters may benefit from early screenings and cardiovascular disease prevention efforts. Identifying high-risk groups could open the door to earlier interventions—and a healthier future.