Associations of pregnancy complications with calculated cardiovascular disease risk and cardiovascular risk factors in middle age: the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children

Fraser, A., Nelson, S.M. , Macdonald-Wallis, C., Cherry, L., Butler, E., Sattar, N. and Lawlor, D.A. (2012) Associations of pregnancy complications with calculated cardiovascular disease risk and cardiovascular risk factors in middle age: the Avon longitudinal study of parents and children. Circulation, 125(11), pp. 1367-1380. (doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.044784)

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Abstract

<b>Background—</b>The nature and contribution of different pregnancy-related complications to future cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors and the mechanisms underlying these associations remain unclear.<p></p> <b>Methods and Results—</b>We studied associations of pregnancy diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm delivery, and size for gestational age with calculated 10-year CVD risk (based on the Framingham score) and a wide range of cardiovascular risk factors measured 18 years after pregnancy (mean age at outcome assessment, 48 years) in a prospective cohort of 3416 women. Gestational diabetes mellitus was positively associated with fasting glucose and insulin, even after adjustment for potential confounders, whereas hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were associated with body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipids, and insulin. Large for gestational age was associated with greater waist circumference and glucose concentrations, whereas small for gestational age and preterm delivery were associated with higher blood pressure. The association with the calculated 10-year CVD risk based on the Framingham prediction score was odds ratio 1.31 (95 confidence interval, 1.11–1.53) for preeclampsia and 1.26 (95 confidence interval, 0.95–1.68) for gestational diabetes mellitus compared with women without preeclampsia and without gestational diabetes mellitus, respectively.<p></p> <b>Conclusions—</b>Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and pregnancy diabetes mellitus are independently associated with an increased calculated 10-year CVD risk. Preeclampsia may be the better predictor of future CVD because it was associated with a wider range of cardiovascular risk factors. Our results suggest that pregnancy may be an important opportunity for early identification of women at increased risk of CVD later in life.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Nelson, Professor Scott and Sattar, Professor Naveed and Butler, Mrs Elaine and Cherry, Mrs Lynne
Authors: Fraser, A., Nelson, S.M., Macdonald-Wallis, C., Cherry, L., Butler, E., Sattar, N., and Lawlor, D.A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
Journal Name:Circulation
ISSN:0009-7322
ISSN (Online):1524-4539
Published Online:17 February 2012

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
514682Obstetric, lifestyle and genetic determinants of atherosclerosis, fat mass, insulin, glucose and lipid levels in women in early middle-ageNaveed SattarBritish Heart Foundation (BHF)SP/07/008/24066Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences
451351Maternal over nutrition and offspring fat mass, metabolic and vascular functionNaveed SattarNational Institute of Health (USA) (NIH(US))R01 DK077659-01Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences