Pregnancy complications and subsequent maternal cerebrovascular events: A retrospective cohort study of 119,668 births

Pell, J. P. , Smith, G. C.S. and Walsh, D. (2004) Pregnancy complications and subsequent maternal cerebrovascular events: A retrospective cohort study of 119,668 births. American Journal of Epidemiology, 159(4), pp. 336-342. (doi: 10.1093/aje/kwh064) (PMID:14769636)

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Abstract

Low birth weight infants are at increased risk of cerebrovascular disease in adulthood. This has been attributed to physiologic programming following inadequate intrauterine nutrition. The authors sought to determine whether mothers who deliver low birth weight infants or who suffer related pregnancy complications are also at increased risk. They used routine data to identify all first singleton livebirths in Scotland (1981-1985) and found that 342 of the 119,668 mothers suffered cerebrovascular events over 14-19 years' follow-up. Compared with women who delivered babies of greater than or equal to3,500 g, women who delivered low birth weight (<2,500 g) infants were at increased risk of cerebrovascular disease (adjusted hazards ratio (HR) = 2.51, 95% confidence interval (Cl): 1.71, 3.70) with a consistent trend across birth weight categories. The lowest birth weight quintile (adjusted HR = 1.29, 95% Cl: 1.01, 1.65), preterm delivery (adjusted HR = 1.91, 95% Cl: 1.35, 2.70), and previous spontaneous abortion (adjusted HR = 1.49, 95% Cl: 1.09, 2.03) were all predictive of subsequent maternal cerebrovascular events. The effects were additive. Women who experienced all three complications had a sevenfold risk (adjusted HR = 7,03, 95% Cl: 2.24, 22.06). The association with low birth weight in mothers, as well as offspring, is unlikely to be explained by intrauterine programming and suggests that cerebrovascular disease and low birth weight may share common genetic or lifestyle risk factors.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Walsh, Dr David and Pell, Professor Jill
Authors: Pell, J. P., Smith, G. C.S., and Walsh, D.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Centre for Population and Health Sciences
Journal Name:American Journal of Epidemiology
Publisher:Oxford University Press
ISSN:0002-9262
ISSN (Online):1476-6256

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