A recent study, led by Professor Cande Ananth from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, analyzed data from 36 million hospital deliveries in the U.S. between 2010 and 2020, focusing on the cardiovascular risks associated with twin pregnancies.

The research reveals that mothers of twins who experienced high blood pressure during pregnancy face a hospitalization risk for cardiovascular disease that is more than eight times higher than that of singleton mothers with similar conditions.

Dr. Ruby Lin, the lead author, emphasizes the need to recognize the heightened short-term cardiovascular risks linked to twin pregnancies.

The rise in twin pregnancies is attributed to increased fertility treatments and older maternal ages, which have contributed to the growing prevalence of this pregnancy type.

Despite making up approximately 3.1% of all births, there remains a significant gap in understanding the cardiovascular disease risks during twin pregnancies.

The study calls for enhanced collaboration among medical specialists to improve postpartum care and reduce maternal mortality and complications, particularly during the critical fourth trimester.

Dr. Katherine Economy highlights the necessity for healthcare providers to work together to enhance postpartum health and address maternal mortality rates.

Researchers recommend that healthcare providers offer follow-up care for up to a year after birth for high-risk pregnancies, especially twin pregnancies.

However, the study did not account for key cardiovascular risk factors such as race, smoking, and obesity, due to inconsistent data recording.

Previous studies suggested no long-term cardiovascular risks associated with twin pregnancies, but this new research raises concerns about the immediate postpartum period.

Overall, the study aims to address the increasing maternal mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease following childbirth, particularly in the context of twin pregnancies.