Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Long-Term Risk of Atrial Fibrillation
- National cohort study
- population-based
- cosibling analyses
- Analyses conducted between May 23 and August 18, 2025
Authors' conclusion
In this large national cohort, all adverse pregnancy outcomes except small for gestational age were associated with increased risk for AF up to 46 years later.
Study context
- Population
- All women with a singleton delivery in Sweden, 1973–2015
- Participants
- 2,201,047 women · 54 million person-years
- Exposure
- Adverse pregnancy outcomes vs none
- Outcome
- AF from nationwide inpatient and outpatient diagnoses
- Follow-up
- Through 2018
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
AF
Adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI)
Other hypertensive disorderswithin 10 years after delivery
1.69(1.32–2.15)
Preterm deliverywithin 10 years after delivery
1.46(1.26–1.70)
Large for gestational agewithin 10 years after delivery
1.16(1.01–1.32)
Other hypertensive disorders30 to 46 years after delivery
1.44(1.24–1.66)
Preeclampsia30 to 46 years after delivery
1.38(1.33–1.50)
Gestational diabetes30 to 46 years after delivery
1.19(1.03–1.37)
Large for gestational age30 to 46 years after delivery
1.17(1.14–1.21)
Preterm delivery30 to 46 years after delivery
1.11(1.07–1.16)
- Women diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF)
- 51 173 (2.3%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Long-Term Risk of Atrial Fibrillation. JAMA Cardiol. Published 1 December 2025. doi:10.1001/jamacardio.2025.3951
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it