Dr Valentyna Koval1, Dr Jennifer Kask2
1North Island Hospital Campbell River, Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), Campbell River, Canada, 2North Island Hospital Campbell River, Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA), Campbell River, Canada
Biography:
Dr. Valentyna Koval is a General Internal Medicine physician practicing at North Island Hospital Campbell River, BC. She completed Internal Medicine residency and fellowship at the University of British Columbia.
Her professional interest includes postpartum cardiovascular prevention; she is working at Birth Related Cardiovascular Health clinic at Campbell River Hospital.
Abstract:
Background: Nearly 30% of all pregnant people experience an adverse pregnancy outcome during their reproductive years. There is growing evidence that certain cardiovascular associated reproductive events (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, placental abruption), are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in a person’s life. Additional work is needed to better educate people about their CVD risk factors. Postpartum CVD prevention clinics are essential to identify people at increased risk and facilitate their care.
Objectives: The BiRCH (Birth Related Cardiovascular Health) Clinic is a multi-disciplinary postpartum CVD prevention clinic in the outpatient department at the Campbell River Hospital, Vancouver Island of British Columbia. The clinic is a flexible model of shared practice across Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Midwifery, Nurse Practitioners and other Allied Health Professionals. The BiRCH clinic receives referrals for people who have experienced cardiovascular associated reproductive events and are at risk of both short and long-term cardiovascular complications. Patients are seen in the BiRCH Clinic at 6 months post-birth.
We will describe the process of establishing the BiRCH clinic, its structure and the flexible model that allows clinic operation with limited resources and manpower. We will provide practical advice on how to overcome the “No Show” challenge, how to utilize risk stratification tools, and how to encourage people to visit your clinic. There, they can receive education on prevention strategies and empowerment to advocate for their health in future pregnancies and over the lifespan.
Expected Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, you will be able to utilize our BiRCH Clinic model and adapt it to your health care facility/environment. This is a unique opportunity to help prevent cardiovascular complications for people who have experienced cardiovascular associated reproductive events.
Keywords
"Cardiovascular associated reproductive events", "cardiovascular disease", "prevention".
References
1. Crump C, Sundquist J, Sundquist K. Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Long-Term Mortality in Women. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2024 Apr 15.
2. Fraser A, Nelson SM, Macdonald-Wallis C, Cherry L, Butler E, Sattar N, Lawlor DA. Associations of pregnancy complications with calculated cardiovascular disease risk and cardiovascular risk factors in middle age: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Circulation. 2012 Mar 20;125(11):1367-80.
3. Rich-Edwards JW, Fraser A, Lawlor DA, Catov JM. Pregnancy characteristics and women's future cardiovascular health: an underused opportunity to improve women's health? Epidemiologic reviews. 2014 Jan 1;36(1):57-70.