The Impact of Non-Communicable Diseases on Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have emerged as a significant health concern globally, particularly for women of reproductive age. As these chronic conditions become more prevalent, a growing number of pregnant women enter gestation with preexisting health issues. The NCDs that most significantly affect pregnancy are cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes, cancer, mental health disorders, and thyroid disease. Chronic health conditions can be exacerbated by the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and are linked to various adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Thus, NCDs not only affect the mother’s health during and after pregnancy but may also have long-term implications for the child’s development and health.

Notably, most countries are experiencing a gradual shift from a predominance of direct obstetric causes of maternal morbidity and mortality (e.g., hemorrhage) to a predominance of indirect causes (such as NCDs). Each year, 18 million women of reproductive age die from NCDs, and 30 million women experience (severe) maternal morbidities. In line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the World Health Organization, this research topic is aimed at promoting studies focusing on both NCDs and maternal health. Enhancing knowledge of the complexities and risks associated with NCDs during pregnancy will allow the optimization of management strategies for women with NCDs before, during, and after pregnancy, ultimately strengthening healthcare systems.


We welcome submissions on the following topics (including but not limited to):

• Prevalence and patterns: Identifying trends in the prevalence and incidence of specific NCDs among pregnant women.
• Underlying mechanisms: Understanding the underlying mechanisms through which specific NCDs affect pregnancy and the ways in which the ensuing changes influence maternal and fetal health.
• Risk assessment: Assessing the risk of short- and long-term complications for pregnant women with preexisting NCDs and developing valid risk assessment tools.
• Intervention strategies: Developing effective intervention strategies for managing NCDs during pregnancy.
• Intergenerational health impact: Studying the long-term health outcomes of both women entering pregnancy with preexisting NCDs and their children.
• Socioeconomic factors: Examining the role of socioeconomic factors, as NCDs often disproportionately affect women of low socioeconomic status, exacerbating health disparities.
• Healthcare system challenges: Developing comprehensive care models for both chronic diseases and pregnancy.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: NCD, Non-communicable diseases, maternal health, pregnancy outcomes

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.