High blood pressure disorders during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, affect 2–10% of pregnancies and are linked to a much higher risk of heart disease later in life. However, many patients and healthcare providers remain unaware of this increased risk. In Canada, the lack of clear follow‑up pathways after pregnancy means that important opportunities to prevent future heart disease are often missed.
Primary care plays a crucial role in early prevention and long‑term health. This study will test whether a brief, practical approach called Brief Action Planning (BAP) can help reduce heart disease risk for people after a pregnancy affected by high blood pressure. BAP involves short, focused conversations between patients and their primary care providers to help individuals set achievable health goals and support lasting behaviour change.
Reducing heart disease risk after pregnancy requires increased awareness, regular blood pressure monitoring, and attention to everyday lifestyle factors such as physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco use. This project will introduce a practical postpartum care approach within primary care that improves awareness of heart health risk, supports follow‑up blood pressure monitoring, and uses BAP to encourage healthy lifestyle changes tailored to individual needs.
The IMPaCT & Michael Smith Health Research BC 2026 Fellowship Program supports advanced clinical trials research training for Lauren and the development of a small feasibility trial to test whether this approach is practical, acceptable, and effective in real‑world primary care settings, including northern communities. By embedding a low-cost, patient-centred intervention into routine care, this research aims to strengthen postpartum care pathways, support early prevention, and reduce the long-term burden of heart disease for families across British Columbia.