Poor Prepregnancy Cardiometabolic Health Common in the U.S.

The researchers found that from 2016 to 2019, there was a decrease in the prevalence of favorable cardiometabolic health, from 43.5 to 40.2 per 100 live births (average percent change, −2.6 percent per year). In each five-year age stratum, the prevalence of favorable cardiometabolic health declined similarly from 2016 to 2019 and varied from 37.1 to 42.2 in 40- to 44-year-olds and 30- to 34-year-olds, respectively. Declines in favorable cardiometabolic health were seen in all regions and states, with significant geographic variation; the prevalence of favorable prepregnancy cardiometabolic health was lower in the South and Midwest versus the West and Northeast (38.2 and 38.8 versus 42.2 and 43.6, respectively).

“In addition to optimizing health for those interested in becoming pregnant, it’s important to focus on optimizing cardiovascular health throughout young adulthood because nearly half of pregnancies are unplanned,” a coauthor said in a statement.