Does having a patient attend a postpartum vascular risk reduction clinic improve physician knowledge and management of preeclampsia as a cardiovascular risk factor?

Background: Preeclampsia is an independent risk factor for vascular diseases. The Postpartum Preeclampsia Clinic (PPPC) intervenes in the first year postpartum to address these risks. This study aims to characterize physicians' understanding and management of the cardiovascular risk associated with preeclampsia and whether this differs in physicians who had a patient attend the PPPC.

Methods: Family physicians, obstetricians, internists, obstetric internists, and cardiologists in Edmonton were anonymously surveyed. Results were analyzed using SPSS.

Results: Sixty-four surveys were returned, with physicians correctly identifying preeclampsia as a vascular risk factor 73% of the time. Physicians who had a patient attend the PPPC were more likely to counsel patients on their increased cardiovascular risk, although increased knowledge did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion: Vascular risk reduction clinics may benefit the long-term management of patients with a history of preeclampsia by improving counseling by physicians, which may reduce the disproportionate vascular morbidity these patients face.