Preeclampsia as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease later in life: validation of a preeclampsia questionnaire.

Objective: This study was undertaken to validate a self-administered questionnaire in verifying the diagnosis of preeclampsia, eclampsia, or toxemia in a group of women with a greater than 20-year history of preeclampsia.

Study Design: Questionnaires were mailed to a random sample of 144 women who received a diagnosis of any of these 3 conditions and 158 women who had normotensive pregnancies at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, from 1960-1979.

Results: A previous diagnosis of preeclampsia, eclampsia, or toxemia was verified with 80% sensitivity and 96% specificity.