Yohualli B. Anaya, MD, MPH
A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) outlines opportunities to prevent pregnancy-related cardiovascular disease and maternal mortality. The Committee on Clinical Preventive Services for Addressing Cardiovascular Disease Risk to Reduce Pregnancy-Related Deaths Among Women’s chair acknowledged Yohualli B. Anaya, MD, MPH, for providing meaningful input and contributions to writing the report. Anaya served as a fellow on the committee in her role as a 2024-2026 National Academy of Medicine Fellow to Advance State Health Policy.
The committee reviewed nine clinical preventive services for maternal cardiovascular health and found sufficient evidence to support immediate implementation of guidance in two areas. First, treatment of chronic hypertension during pregnancy should aim to achieve a blood pressure target of less than 140/90. Second, postpartum hypertension management should be enhanced for women with chronic high blood pressure or other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
To address missed opportunities for prevention, the report recommends broader action to improve access to care, including maintaining continuity of insurance coverage, strengthening care transitions and care coordination, and expanding evidence-supported telehealth approaches. Women at elevated cardiovascular risk need more reliable transitions from delivery hospitalization to outpatient postpartum care and from obstetric care to primary care, as well as specialty care when needed.
Anaya continues to contribute to other NASEM activities including roundtables and consensus studies.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine provide analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions, operating under an 1863 congressional charter signed by President Abraham Lincoln.
Published: May 2026