(HealthDay News) -- A self-reported history of gestational hypertension is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in postmenopausal women, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Menopause Society, held from Sept. 10 to 14 in Chicago.

Marie Tan, from the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, and colleagues surveyed 383 women presenting for mammogram screening to assess associations between a self-reported history of preeclampsia or eclampsia, gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes with CVD outcomes in postmenopausal women.

The researchers found that 10.3 percent of women reported a history of CVD, while 2.8% reported a history of preeclampsia or eclampsia, 2.1% had a history of gestational hypertension, and 3.6% had a history of gestational diabetes. There was an association between self-reported history of gestational hypertension and CVD. While a numerically higher prevalence of CVD was seen in women with preeclampsia or eclampsia or all 3 adverse pregnancy outcomes, these associations were not statistically significant. No association was seen between gestational diabetes and CVD.

"Future research based on a larger sample size is needed to better understand the role adverse pregnancy outcomes may have in cardiovascular disease development and risk stratification," Tan said in a statement.