Page 19 - Pro-active Management of Women’s Health after Cardiometabolic Complicated Pregnancies

Consuming less unsaturated fat can lower cardiovascular risk with 40-50%54. Physical activity lowers cardiovascular risk with 52% if the time spent walking is more than 2 hours per week, compared to a sedentary lifestyle55. Physical activity also decreases weight and blood pressure. Lowering of BMI reduces the risk of myocardial infarction with 7% per 1 Kg/m256. Small changes in blood pressure can have tremendous effects on cardiometabolic risk. If diastolic blood pressure is 2 mmHg lower, the risk for future myocardial infarction is decreased by 6%. If lowered 5-6 mmHg, the decrease can be 25%. For cerebrovascular accidents, the decrease is 15% and 40% respectively57. Weight reduction and reduced fat intake, increased fiber intake and physical activity can reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus with 50%58 59.
In applying primary lifestyle intervention, it is difficult to reach and motivate the eligible people to change their lifestyle. Participation and compliancy are generally low, while dropout rates are as high as 31%, even with short-term benefits of lifestyle intervention60.
In contrast to other people that are eligible for primary lifestyle intervention, women after complicated pregnancy have been confronted with a -sometime life threatening- disease during pregnancy. Next to the fact that pregnancy itself is a motivator for lifestyle changes61 62, experiencing disease during pregnancy might be an additional strong motivator to comply with primary lifestyle intervention, opening a window of opportunity to guide these women to a healthier future63-70. The use of web-based interventions can increase compliance and effectiveness of primary lifestyle intervention programs65 71-78. However, whether lifestyle intervention after complicated pregnancy is feasible and effective still needs to be addressed.
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