A large Swedish cohort study of more than 2.2 million women found that adverse pregnancy outcomes—including preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, and large-for-gestational-age infants—were associated with an increased long-term risk of atrial fibrillation over up to 46 years of follow-up. The strongest associations were observed within ten years postpartum for women with hypertensive disorders or preterm deliveries, with elevated risks persisting for decades. Adjusting for postpregnancy hypertension attenuated most associations, suggesting mediation through chronic hypertension.

Source: JAMA Cardiology