Pregnancy is the Ultimate Health Stress Test
Health complications before, during, and after pregnancy can lead to chronic health challenges (i.e.: hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and postpartum depression). Maternal health outcomes are also closely linked to social determinants of health, including factors such as education, income, race, ethnicity, and geographic location. Women facing social and economic marginalization are more likely to experience poor maternal health outcomes. The nation’s Black maternal mortality rate is almost three times as high as the rate for white women.
Gestational hypertension—high blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy—increases the risk of complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Gestational hypertension affects approximately 5-10% of pregnancies.
“Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDPs) are common pregnancy complications and leading causes of pregnancy-related death in the United States. During 2017–2019, HDP prevalence among delivery hospitalizations increased from 13.3% to 15.9%. The highest prevalence was among women aged 35–44 (18.0%) and 45–55 years (31.0%), and those who were Black women (20.9%) or American Indian and Alaska Native women (16.4%). Among deaths occurring during delivery hospitalization, 31.6% had a diagnosis code for HDP documented. Severe HDP–associated complications and mortality are preventable with equitable implementation of quality improvement initiatives to recognize and promptly treat HDP and to increase awareness of urgent maternal warning signs.”
Pregnancy-related health issues has short-term and long-term impacts
Pregnancy-related health issues obviously have significant impacts for the women experiencing them and their families, but also drive costs of care. The financial impact of hypertension alone in pregnancy is significant. “Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy were associated with significantly higher health services utilization and medical expenditures among privately insured women with hypertensive disorders.
… Women with preeclampsia and eclampsia, chronic hypertension, and gestational hypertension had $9,389, $6,041, and $2,237 higher mean medical expenditures compared to women without hypertensive disorders, respectively (ps < 0.001).” Early detection and treatment can reduce cost of care while dramatically improving maternal and infant outcomes.
The long term impact of issues experienced in pregnancy aren’t well researched, but early studies are showing correlations between pregnancy related issues, and future health problems. For instance, severe preeclampsia can increase the risk of stroke later in life. Pregnancy complications like hypertension can increase the risk of developing chronic conditions like heart disease and kidney disease later in life [National Partnership for Women & Families]. Black women already have higher rates of these underlying conditions, and pregnancy complications can worsen them.
Health Evolve’s Solution
Health Evolve is devoted to closing the maternal health disparities gap and helping women live long and healthy lives.
LAUREN is a patient navigator designed to help pregnant and postpartum women manage their chronic care - starting with hypertension. The tool maximizes the capture of clinical and social insights outside the clinic/hospital walls. LAUREN is a patient-driven engagement platform that produces individualized care profiles based on health risk and health equity. Their health risk assessment combines indicators for hypertension, behavioral health, and diabetes. With LAUREN, women can build their own digital health village – connecting directly with their care team, designated loved one, and virtual health enterprise partners while managing their health.
How Femovate Helps
Health Evolve was awarded sponsorship through Guidea’s Femovate program for ‘23-’24.
As part of the Femovate sponsorship, Guidea’s design experts will work closely with founder Kim Smith and her team to refine and optimize the design of their innovative care navigator, LAUREN.
For more information about Health Evolve, visit https://healthevolve.co/ and follow them on LinkedIn
For more information on Femovate visit www.femovate.com and follow us on LinkedIn
For interviews please contact Theresa Neil
