27 Jun 2025 • Among 1,052 birthing individuals followed for up to 35 years, those with low (vs high) cardiovascular health (CVH) scores before pregnancy had a 1.8-fold higher risk of gestational diabetes (GD) and a 1.7-fold greater likelihood of developing coronary artery calcium (CAC)—a key marker of subclinical atherosclerosis—in midlife.

While GD mediated only 6% of the association between poor CVH and CAC, it served more strongly as a marker of pre-existing cardiovascular risk rather than a causal pathway.

The findings underscore the importance of optimizing heart health early in life—well before conception—to reduce long-term cardiovascular disease burden.

Source: JAMA Network | Read Full Story