WASHINGTON (May 22, 2026) — A new Expert Consensus Decision Pathway by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) provides recommended strategies for improving postpartum care for individuals with and at risk for short- and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD). The clinical document guides postpartum maternal cardiovascular (CV) health, recommending comprehensive postpartum cardiovascular care visits; early outpatient follow up for CV symptom monitoring; effective management of postpartum CV emergencies; and noncardiovascular aspects of care like lactation, mental health and contraception. The report published online today in JACC , the flagship journal of the ACC.
More than half of pregnancy-related deaths occur after the birth of an infant, and the risk of death rises substantially in the early postpartum period, especially the first two weeks postpartum. Individuals with the greatest risk include those with risk factors such as hypertension, obesity and dyslipidemia, as well as risk enhancers like gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth.
“The postpartum period is a critical opportunity to engage in collaborative patient care that is focused on improving short- and long-term cardiometabolic outcomes,” said Kathryn J. Lindley, MD, FACC, chair of the ECDP writing committee and associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. “Understanding and following a structured approach to the provision of postpartum care for all individuals with or at risk for CVD is a crucial first step toward eliminating excess maternal morbidity and mortality and reducing inequities.”
The clinical document acknowledges the many barriers to care during the postpartum period and emphasizes the importance of following a structured approach for optimized maternal CV health care that begins immediately after delivery and extends through the first year.
Recommended postpartum maternal CV health care includes early blood pressure management and CV symptom screening, comprehensive CV risk factor modification and effective transition to longitudinal preventative care before the end of the first year after delivery.
The document is a report of the American College of Cardiology Solution Set Oversight Committee and was developed in collaboration with and is endorsed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
For an embargoed copy of the report “Optimization of Postpartum Care for Patients With and At Risk for Premature and Long-Term Cardiovascular Disease: 2026 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway,” contact JACC Media Relations Manager Olivia Walther at owalther@acc.org.
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) is a global leader dedicated to transforming cardiovascular care and improving heart health for all. For more than 75 years, the ACC has empowered a community of over 60,000 cardiovascular professionals across more than 140 countries with cutting-edge education and advocacy, rigorous professional credentials, and trusted clinical guidance. From its world-class JACC Journals and NCDR registries to its Accreditation Services, global network of Chapters and Sections, and CardioSmart patient initiatives, the College is committed to creating a world where science, knowledge and innovation optimize patient care and outcomes. Learn more at www.ACC.org or connect on social media at @ACCinTouch.
The ACC’s JACC Journals rank among the top cardiovascular journals in the world for scientific impact. The flagship journal, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) — and specialty journals consisting of JACC: Advances, JACC: Asia, JACC: Basic to Translational Science, JACC: CardioOncology, JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging , JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions , JACC: Case Reports, JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology and JACC: Heart Failure — pride themselves on publishing the top peer-reviewed research on all aspects of cardiovascular disease. Learn more at JACC .org .
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Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Optimization of Postpartum Care for Patients With and At Risk for Premature and Long-Term Cardiovascular Disease: 2026 ACC Expert Consensus Decision Pathway
22-May-2026