Preeclampsia-Associated Cardiovascular Risk Factors 6 Months and 2 Years After Pregnancy: The P4 Study

• Published in: Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. 1979) Vol. 81; no. 4; pp. 851 - 860
• Main Authors: Henry, Amanda, Mangos, George, Roberts, Lynne M, Brown, Mark A, Pettit, Franziska, O'Sullivan, Anthony J, Crowley, Rose, Youssef, George, Davis, Gregory K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.04.2024
• Subjects: Blood Pressure - physiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Heart Disease Risk Factors; Humans; Hypertension - diagnosis; Original; Pre-Eclampsia - diagnosis; Pre-Eclampsia - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Risk Factors; risk factors; pre-eclampsia; cardiovascular diseases; postpartum period; hypertension; longitudinal studies
• DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.123.21890
• ISSN: 0194-911X

Increased cardiovascular risk following preeclampsia is well established and there are signs of early cardiovascular aging 6 months postpartum. This study assessed whether blood pressure (BP) and other cardiovascular measures are abnormal 2 years postpartum in the same cohort to determine ongoing risk markers. Six months and 2 years postpartum, BP was measured using sphygmomanometry, 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring, and noninvasive central BP. Anthropometric measures, blood, and urine biochemistry were performed. Cross-sectional comparisons between preeclampsia and normotensive pregnancy (NP) groups and longitudinal comparisons within each group were made at 6 months and 2 years. Two years postpartum, 129 NP, and 52 preeclampsia women were studied who also had 6 months measures. At both time points, preeclampsia group had significantly higher BP (office BP 2 years, 112±12/72±8 versus 104±9/67±7 mm Hg NP; [ <0.001]; mean ambulatory BP monitoring 116±9/73±8 versus 106±8/67±6 mm Hg NP; [ <0.001]). No significant BP changes noted 6 months to 2 years within either group. Office BP thresholds of 140 mm Hg systolic and 90 mm Hg diastolic classified 2% preeclampsia and 0% NP at 2 years. American Heart Association 2017 criteria (above normal, >120/80 mm Hg) classified 25% versus 8% ( <0.002), as did our reference range threshold of 122/79 mm Hg. American Heart Association criteria classified 60% post-preeclampsia versus 16% after NP with above-normal ambulatory BP monitoring ( <0.001). Other cardiovascular risk markers more common 2 years post-preeclampsia included higher body mass index (median 26.6 versus 23.1, =0.003) and insulin resistance. After preeclampsia, women have significantly higher BP 6 months and 2 years postpartum, and have higher body mass index and insulin-resistance scores, increasing their future cardiovascular risk. Regular cardiovascular risk screening should be implemented for all who have experienced preeclampsia.