Routine Mental Health Screening Critical for Maternal Cardiovascular Health, Experts Say

Health care professionals must routinely screen pregnant and postpartum women for depression and anxiety to improve maternal cardiovascular health, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. The statement, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, underscores the critical link between psychological well-being and long-term maternal health outcomes.

Maternal mortality rates in the United States are two to three times higher than other high-income countries, with significant disparities among racial and ethnic groups. An estimated 52% of women of reproductive age report a history of psychological health conditions, and 40% of women from underrepresented races and ethnicities experience anxiety or depression during the perinatal period.

Dr. Garima Sharma, the statement's chair, emphasized the importance of integrating psychological health screening into perinatal care. The research highlights that psychological health conditions can negatively impact cardiovascular health through behaviors such as poor diet, irregular sleep, and low physical activity.

The statement recommends comprehensive screening using tools like the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and suggests a multidisciplinary approach involving psychologists, social workers, and other health professionals. Risk factors for psychological concerns include domestic violence, sleep disorders, lack of partner support, and experiences of racism and discrimination.

Experts advocate for culturally responsive care that includes shared decision-making and considers both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The research also calls for increased representation of underrepresented populations in maternal health studies to address existing disparities.