WHO to Launch New Guidelines for Pregnant Women with NCDs

The World Health Organization (WHO) is actively developing new clinical recommendations aimed at improving the care of pregnant and postpartum women who are living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). This initiative addresses a critical and growing global health concern, as NCDs like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions, and obesity are increasingly affecting pregnancies worldwide. These conditions, which may either pre-exist or develop during pregnancy, are now recognized as significant contributors to illness and death during pregnancy and childbirth. Global evidence highlights a notable shift in the causes of maternal deaths, with indirect causes—many of which are linked to NCDs—now accounting for approximately 23% of maternal deaths worldwide. This makes NCD-related complications the second leading cause of maternal mortality, after haemorrhage. The burden of NCDs during pregnancy is particularly pronounced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the majority of maternal deaths occur, exacerbating existing health system challenges. The implications of NCDs during pregnancy are far-reaching, affecting both the mother and the developing baby. For women, NCDs can lead to severe complications such as pre-eclampsia, pre-term birth, and higher rates of caesarean sections. These conditions can also increase the risk of gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders. Furthermore, the effects often extend beyond pregnancy, with women facing a greater risk of ongoing or worsening chronic conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease, later in life. For newborns, NCDs in pregnancy are associated with complications like being born smaller or larger than expected for their gestational age, and a higher likelihood of requiring neonatal intensive care. Children born from pregnancies complicated by NCDs are also at an increased risk of developing obesity and other NCDs later in their own lives. Recognizing the urgency of this issue, the WHO had previously released an initial set of guidelines in 2025, which focused on the management of sickle cell anaemia and diabetes during pregnancy. However, the implementation of these complex recommendations, particularly in LMICs where specialist care like maternal-fetal medicine experts or endocrinologists are often scarce, has presented significant challenges. Antenatal care visits often represent the first, and sometimes only, point of contact with the healthcare system for many women in these regions. Ensuring that this interaction translates into high-quality NCD care remains difficult globally. To address these implementation gaps and further advance NCD care integration during pregnancy, the WHO is hosting a virtual Expert Convening on NCD Care Integration During Pregnancy on June 30, 2026. This meeting will bring together specialists and experts to ensure that WHO guideline-derived tools are practical, implementable, and responsive to the realities of health systems on the ground. The expert group will also provide guidance on the dissemination and implementation of new and upcoming clinical guidelines on maternal and perinatal health and NCDs, supporting their seamless incorporation into existing WHO tools and strengthening the continuity of care throughout a woman's life course. The overarching goal of these new recommendations is to reduce preventable complications and improve health outcomes for both mothers and babies by integrating NCD management more effectively into maternal healthcare services. This proactive approach aims to equip healthcare providers with the necessary guidance and tools to identify, manage, and treat NCDs in pregnant and postpartum women, thereby mitigating the escalating risks associated with these chronic conditions. The development and implementation of these guidelines are particularly crucial for countries like India, where the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases significantly impacts public health.

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