A population-based study of associations between preeclampsia and later cardiovascular risk factors

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 211; no. 6; pp. 657.e1 - 657.e7
• Main Authors: Alsnes, Ingvild V., MD, Janszky, Imre, MD, PhD, Forman, Michele R., MSc, PhD, Vatten, Lars J., MD, PhD, Økland, Inger, MD, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Body Mass Index; cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; cardiovascular risk factors; Case-Control Studies; Child; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; epidemiology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Male; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pre-Eclampsia - epidemiology; preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - blood; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - epidemiology; Risk Factors; Severity of Illness Index; cardiovascular disease; epidemiology; cardiovascular risk factors; preeclampsia; insulin resistance
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.06.026

Objective Women with a history of preeclampsia are at increased lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease. Their offspring may carry similar risks. The aim was to study cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors 11 years after the delivery among women who were diagnosed with mild, moderate, or severe preeclampsia, and their offspring, compared with women without preeclampsia and their offspring. Study Design In a follow-up 11 years after a nested case-control study at birth, we studied 611 mother-offspring dyads, including 228 dyads with preeclampsia in the index pregnancy and 383 dyads without preeclampsia. Cardiovascular and metabolic risk profiles were assessed by serum lipids (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol), insulin-related factors (glucose, insulin, and homeostasis assessment model for insulin resistance) and blood pressure in mothers and children. Results Among mothers with mild or moderate preeclampsia, levels of glucose, insulin, and homeostasis assessment model for insulin resistance were higher than in the nonpreeclampsia group and also higher compared with mothers with severe preeclampsia (all P < .05). HDL cholesterol was lower in mothers with mild or moderate preeclampsia (all P < .05), but other lipids did not substantially differ between the groups. Body mass index and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) were also higher in the mild and moderate preeclampsia group compared with mothers without preeclampsia (all P < .05). Among the offspring, we found no clear differences in any blood analytes between the groups. Conclusion Women with a previous diagnosis of mild or moderate, but not severe, preeclampsia may have an adverse metabolic and cardiovascular risk profile 11 years after the delivery.