Cardiovascular risk in women after metabolic complications in pregnancy

Gestational diabetes mellitus and obstetric outcomes in a Ghanaian community

INTRODUCTION

This study was aimed at evaluating effect of Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and maternal characteristics on pregnancy outcome. GDM has several risk factors including; advanced maternal age, ethnic background, obesity and family history of diabetes mellitus. These pregnancy complications are associated with fetal morbidity and mortality and may lead to macrosomia and shoulder dystocia. Others are stillbirth, miscarriages, preterm and small for gestational age babies.

METHODS

This was a retrospective case-case control study which compared maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcome among pregnant women with and without GDM. Diagnosis of GDM was done in accordance with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) criteria. Weight and height were determined and Body mass index (BMI) calculated. Pregnancy outcome was determined at the end of pregnancy and information on maternal characteristics obtained using questionnaire and patient folders.

RESULTS

Those who developed GDM were significantly older (OR= 1.772; 95% CI =1.432-2.192; P<0.0001) and had higher BMI (OR=1.637; 95% CI=1.004-1.289; P=0.044) than those who did not. A significant number of those who developed GDM also had stillbirths OR= 5.188; 95% CI=1.093-24.613; p=0.038) and cesarean deliveries (OR=14.362; 95% CI=3.661-56.335; p= 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Women who develop GDM are more likely to deliver stillborn or macrosmic babies and may require surgical intervention in order to have normal deliveries.

Renal function during pregnancy may predict risk of future hospitalization due to atherosclerotic-related morbidity

AIM

This study aims to examine whether renal function during pregnancy can serve as a surrogate marker for the risk of developing atherosclerotic-related morbidity.

METHODS

A case-control study, including women who gave birth at a tertiary referral medical centre during 2000-2012. This population was divided into cases of women who were subsequently hospitalized for atherosclerotic morbidity during the study period and age-matched controls. From the study population, we retrieved two groups: the creatinine (Cr) group: women who had at least one Cr measurement (4945 women) and the urea group: women who had at least one urea measurement (4932 women) during their pregnancies. In the Cr and urea group, there were 572 and 571 cases and 4373 and 4361 controls, respectively. The mean follow-up period in the Cr and urea group was 61.7 ± 37.0 and 57.3 ± 36.0 months, respectively. Cox proportional hazards models (controlling for confounders: gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, obesity, maternal age, creatinine level (for urea), and gestational week) were used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for hospitalizations.

RESULTS

A significant association was documented between renal function during pregnancy and long-term atherosclerotic morbidity. Multivariate analysis, showed that Cr at pregnancy index of ≥89 μmol/L was associated with a significant increased risk for hospitalization due to cardiovascular (CVS) events (adjusted HR = 2.91 CI 1.37-6.19 P = 0.005) and urea level ≤7 mmol/L was independently associated with reduced prevalence of CVS hospitalization (adjusted HR = 0.62 CI 0.57-0.86 P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Renal function abnormality during pregnancy may reveal occult predisposition to atherosclerotic morbidity years after childbirth.

Cardiovascular risk in women after metabolic complications in pregnancy

Hypertensive pregnancy disorders complicate 10% of all pregnancies. In this article we discuss the spectrum of hypertensive conditions that may occur during pregnancy. Recent studies have consistently shown that hypertensive disorders in pregnancy implicate a two-fold higher risk for the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease later in life. To optimise preventive management of cardiovascular disease in women with previous complicated pregnancies, we therefore recommend monitoring of hypertension and other cardiac risk factors at an early stage in life. Furthermore, the obstetric history should be routinely incorporated in cardiovascular risk assessment in women who seek medical attention for hypertension and/or cardiac symptoms. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:415-7.).

Preeclampsia as a female-specific risk factor for chronic hypertension

Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that has also long term effects on maternal health. Several epidemiologic studies have shown an increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity (relative risk [RR] 2.3) and mortality (RR 2.3) in women after a history of preeclampsia. The chance to develop chronic hypertension afterwards is twofold to 10 times higher in affected women, compared with women after normotensive pregnancies. As hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor, early detection and treatment is mandatory to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular disease. Data on (cost)-effectiveness of cardiovascular screening programs in women after preeclampsia are currently lacking and there are no recommendations yet for prevention in the guidelines. We recommend regularly preventive blood pressure measurements after high risk pregnancies. More research is needed to identify women who will profit most of early intervention.