History of Pregnancy Complications Associated With Increased Ischemic Stroke Risk

THURSDAY, Aug. 7, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Women with a history of pregnancy complications may have an increased risk for ischemic stroke at a young age (younger than 50 years), according to a study published online Aug. 6 in Neurology.

Esmée Verburgt, from the Radboud Institute of Medical Innovation in the Netherlands, and colleagues conducted a case-cohort study to quantify the association between a spectrum of pregnancy complications and ischemic stroke in young women (younger than 50 years). The study included 358 women aged 18 to 49 years with first-ever imaging-proven ischemic stroke and 714 women frequency-matched on age at their most recent pregnancy and gravidity.

The researchers found that compared with women without ischemic stroke (median maternal age, 29 years), women with an ischemic stroke at a young age (median maternal age, 28 years) were more likely to have a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), small for gestational age (SGA), preterm birth, gestational diabetes, stillbirth, and miscarriage. The likelihood of having a history of HDP, SGA, and preterm birth was increased for women with an ischemic stroke due to (likely) large artery disease compared with those with a cryptogenic stroke.

“While the overall risk of stroke is still very low, our study found pregnancy complications may be an early warning sign of stroke risk — even before age 50,” coauthor Frank-Erik De Leeuw, M.D., Ph.D., from Radboud University, said in a statement. “Knowing this history could help doctors identify those who may benefit from early prevention and cardiovascular care.”

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