Association of physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep with maternal vascular function in women with a history of preeclampsia

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 139; no. 2; pp. 384 - 393
• Main Authors: Nuckols, Virginia R., Davis, Kristen G., Smith, Meaghan, Carey, Mariah L., Bell, Blair, Santillan, Mark K., Santillan, Donna A., Pierce, Gary L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Physiological Society 01.08.2025
• Subjects: Adult; Aorta; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - physiology; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory - methods; Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Luminous intensity; Physical activity; Physical fitness; Pre-eclampsia; Pre-Eclampsia - physiopathology; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Pulse Wave Analysis - methods; Sedentary Behavior; Sleep; Sleep - physiology; Stiffness; Vascular Stiffness - physiology; Wave velocity; Young Adult; blood pressure; sedentary time; postpartum; aortic stiffness; physical activity
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00928.2024

Preeclampsia is associated with persistent vascular dysfunction and incident hypertension, but the contributing behavioral factors are unclear. We demonstrate that greater light-intensity physical activity and lower sedentary time are associated with lower aortic stiffness, and link sleep disturbances to 24-h blood pressure among women with a recent history of preeclampsia and healthy pregnancy controls. Time spent in light intensity activity and sedentary behavior may represent interventional targets to mitigate elevated cardiovascular risk in postpartum women. A history of preeclampsia (hxPE) is associated with persistent vascular dysfunction and elevated risk of chronic hypertension. Twenty-four-hour activity behaviors, including physical activity, sedentary time (SED), and sleep, are modifiable factors that may promote favorable vascular function and blood pressure in women with a hxPE. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional relations between habitual physical activity, SED, and sleep with aortic stiffness and 24-h blood pressure patterns in young women with a hxPE and healthy pregnancy controls. Participants ( n = 68; aged 21–42 yr, 1–5 yr after delivery) wore a thigh-mounted activity monitor (activPAL) for 7 days and maintained a sleep log to assess habitual physical activity, SED, and sleep duration. Participants underwent measures of aortic stiffness (measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, CFPWV) and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Women with a hxPE ( n = 33) did not differ in physical activity, SED, or sleep compared with healthy pregnancy controls ( n = 35). SED (β = 0.214, 95CI [0.004, 0.416]) and light-intensity physical activity (β = −0.204, 95CI [−0.397, −0.004]) were independently related to CFPWV. Frequency of sleep disturbances, but not shorter sleep duration, was associated with higher 24-h diastolic blood pressure (β = 0.258, 95CI [0.009, 0.525]). Select perceived benefits and barriers to exercise were more pronounced among women with hxPE, and benefits were associated with higher moderate-vigorous physical activity (ρ = 0.43, P = 0.003). Our findings link habitual activity, pregnancy history, and perceived exercise benefits with aortic stiffness and identify population and behavioral targets to improve cardiovascular health in young parous women. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Preeclampsia is associated with persistent vascular dysfunction and incident hypertension, but the contributing behavioral factors are unclear. We demonstrate that greater light-intensity physical activity and lower sedentary time are associated with lower aortic stiffness, and link sleep disturbances to 24-h blood pressure among women with a recent history of preeclampsia and healthy pregnancy controls. Time spent in light intensity activity and sedentary behavior may represent interventional targets to mitigate elevated cardiovascular risk in postpartum women.