Guideline Video

Guideline Resources

  • Optimization of Postpartum Care for Patients With and at Risk for Premature and Long-Term Cardiovascular Disease
  • American College of Cardiology
  • May 22, 2026
  • Summary
  • Full-text

Video Transcription

Just published May 22nd, 2026, the American College of Cardiology’s newest expert consensus decision pathway on Optimization of Postpartum Care for Patients With and at Risk for Premature and Long-Term Cardiovascular Disease.

This consensus provides a recommended strategy for the optimization of postpartum care for patients with and at risk for short- and long-term cardiovascular disease.

In today’s rapid update, we’ll just be going over a summary so for the full guideline, make sure to check it out on guidelinecentral.com

Let’s get started. 

Prior to Hospital Discharge

  • The American College of Cardiology, or ACC, recommends educating patients regarding cardiovascular red flags, providing guidance on achieving blood pressure goals, and providing follow-up care recommendations.
  • Multidisciplinary coordination, lactation support, a mental health assessment, identifying cardiovascular red flags, and trauma-informed care are all crucial elements during this window.
  • A safe discharge checklist is recommended, along with coordinating an individualized follow-up plan, ensuring the patient has a home blood pressure cuff, and that they understand the aforementioned patient education components. 

During Early Postpartum

  • The ACC recommends educating patients during this phase regarding ongoing cardiovascular red flags, maintaining blood pressure goals, and medication safety.
  • Early blood pressure assessment and remote blood pressure monitoring are beneficial, as is lactation support and screening for cardiovascular red flags.

For Later Postpartum

  • The ACC recommends a comprehensive cardiometabolic, diabetes, hypertension, lipid, and obesity screenings, along with lifestyle modification relating to nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and tobacco use.
  • Providing ongoing lactation support and mental health assessments are beneficial, along with contraception counseling and interpregnancy optimization. 
  • Patient education regarding long-term ASCVD risk, future pregnancy risk, and health optimization are recommended during this window.

For the Transition to Longitudinal Care

  • The ACC recommends patients reestablish care with their primary care provider and communicate related obstetric health history.
  • At this point, clinicians can help patients identify and troubleshoot social barriers precluding care, assist in interconception planning and optimization, and optimize lifelong cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Patient education, at this time, should include ongoing interpregnancy optimization and ASCVD risk reduction.

And there you have it. Make sure to check out the full consensus from the American College of Cardiology and other related clinical decision support tools at guidelinecentral.com.

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