People born to mothers who experienced placental abruption during pregnancy may face a significantly higher risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease by age 28, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery, a complication that affects about 0.5% to 1% of pregnancies, per the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics.
The study analyzed nearly 3 million births in New Jersey from 1993 to 2020, finding that children born to mothers with placental abruption were 4.6 times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease and nearly three times more likely to be hospitalized for heart-related conditions such as heart failure, heart attack, or ischemic heart disease by age 28. The risk of stroke hospitalization was 2.4 times higher. These risks were even more pronounced in children younger than 1 year old.
“Our study suggests that placental abruption needs to be taken as a very serious complication for the mother and also potentially affecting the baby’s cardiovascular health later in life,” said lead author Cande Ananth, Ph.D., M.P.H., chief of the division of epidemiology and biostatistics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He emphasized the importance of monitoring children born after such pregnancies, stating, “Having cardio-obstetrics working together with pediatric programs in medical schools and hospitals will be important to provide support and monitor the health of these mothers after delivery and their babies as they grow up.”
The association remained strong even after controlling for genetic and environmental factors through sibling analysis. Stacey E. Rosen, M.D., volunteer president of the American Heart Association, noted, “The findings of this study reinforce that it is also important to monitor their babies for risks and identify opportunities to reduce the potential impact these complications may have on them not only right after birth, but throughout their lifetime.”
While the study cannot prove cause and effect, it underscores the need for further research into how placental abruption affects long-term heart health. The American Heart Association recommends close monitoring of women with pregnancy complications and now extends that concern to their children.
