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Blood test results during pregnancy provide clues about future cardiovascular disease / Clinic for affected women established at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg / Study published on February 18 in JAMA Cardiology

Pregnancy places a particular strain on a woman’s body—and can therefore provide early indications of future cardiovascular health. This is demonstrated in a recent study by researchers at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg in collaboration with Danish colleagues. They analyzed blood samples from over 2,000 pregnant women and linked the results to health data from approximately twelve years of follow-up. Their findings revealed that women with elevated levels of a specific blood marker were more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases such as stroke or heart failure later in life—even if they had previously been considered heart-healthy. The results of the long-term study were published on February 18, 2026, in the journal JAMA Cardiology. As a result of these findings, a special clinic for affected women was established at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. 

“Pregnancy acts as a natural stress test for the heart. With our findings, we can improve women’s health in the long term. After all, cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death among women,” says Prof. Dr. Dirk Westermann, Medical Director of the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. “Our study shows that signs indicating an increased cardiovascular risk later in life can already be detected during pregnancy—long before symptoms appear,” says first author and scientific director of the study Dr. Lucas Bacmeister, a cardiologist at the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg.

Blood tests from over 2,000 women, twelve years of follow-up 

The data came from a large cohort study in southern Denmark involving 38,455 pregnant women. Blood markers were measured in 2,056 women during pregnancy, and within approximately 12 years, 28 developed cardiovascular disease. At that time, the women were, on average, just about 40 years old. 

The findings showed that elevated levels of the blood marker sFlt-1 in the last trimester of pregnancy, as well as pregnancy-induced hypertension, were associated with a higher subsequent risk of severe cardiovascular disease. The combination of age and this marker allowed for a more accurate risk assessment than traditional factors such as blood pressure or cholesterol alone. 

New follow-up clinic closes a gap in care

Six to ten percent of all pregnant women are affected by pregnancy-induced hypertension. The most common form is known as preeclampsia. To provide comprehensive care for these women even after childbirth and minimize future risks, a specialized follow-up clinic has been established at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. This clinic is also open to women with pregnancy-induced hypertension who did not give birth at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. “With this clinic, we are creating a clear point of contact for women who have experienced pregnancy-induced hypertension,” says Bacmeister, who coordinates the clinic. “With standardized appointments a few weeks after childbirth and again after one year, we can identify early on who needs closer monitoring and take targeted action.”

The clinic is being established in close collaboration with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “Structured follow-up care is an important step in keeping an eye on patients’ long-term health,” adds Prof. Dr. Ingolf Juhasz-Böss, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. An accompanying scientific registry is intended to help continuously refine the program.

Original title of the publication:Clinical Factors and Biomarkers During Pregnancy and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
DOI:doi.org/10.1001/jamacardio.2025.5595
Publication:JAMA Cardiology, February 18, 2026

To schedule an appointment:
Dr. Lucas Bacmeister
lucas.bacmeister@uniklinik-freiburg.de