Consider Preeclampsia as a First Cardiovascular Event

Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events Following Coronary Artery Stenting by History of Hypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy

BACKGROUND

A history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is associated with at least twice the risk of incident ischemic heart disease. Whether the long-term outcome following treatment with coronary artery stenting is associated to the history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is unknown.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We included 8364 women (age ≤65 years) undergoing first coronary artery stenting 2006 to 2022 following their first delivery in 1973 or later, linking nationwide data on percutaneous coronary intervention and delivery history. In total, 1122 women (13.4%) had a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The main outcome, a major adverse cardiovascular event, was defined as any incident myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease, cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, angina pectoris, heart failure, cerebral infarction, or sudden death. During a median follow-up time of 5 years, 258 women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy had a major adverse cardiovascular event, compared with 1465 women without a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (23% versus 20.2%, P=0.028 for log-rank test). Estimates adjusted for patient- and procedural characteristics in proportional hazards regression models suggested that the hazard rate increased only after 4-8 years of follow-up (hazard ratio [HR], 1.36 [95% CI, 1.05-1.78]) and was primarily driven by women with history of gestational hypertension (HR, 2.15 [95% CI, 1.49-3.11]).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy have an increased risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event following coronary artery stenting compared with other parous women. A history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy warrants further attention in the secondary prevention setting of coronary artery disease.

Patterns of Antihypertensive Medication Use in the First 2 Years Post Partum

Importance

Women who had a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) have a well-documented risk of chronic hypertension within a few years of delivery, but management of postpartum hypertension among these women remains inconsistent.

Objective

To assess the incidence of initiation of antihypertensive medication use in the first 2 years after delivery by HDP status and antenatal antihypertensive medication use.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This Danish register-based cohort study used data from women with at least 1 pregnancy lasting 20 or more gestational weeks (only the first pregnancy in the period was considered) who delivered from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 2018. Statistical analysis was conducted from October 2022 to September 2023.

Exposure

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Cumulative incidences and hazard ratios of initiating antihypertensive medication use within 2 years post partum (5 postpartum time intervals) by HDP status and antenatal medication use.

Results

The cohort included 784 782 women, of whom 36 900 (4.7% [95% CI, 4.7%-4.8%]) had an HDP (HDP: median age at delivery, 29.1 years [IQR, 26.1-32.7 years]; no HDP: median age at delivery, 29.0 years [IQR, 25.9-32.3 years]). The 2-year cumulative incidence of initiating postpartum antihypertensive treatment ranged from 1.8% (95% CI, 1.8%-1.8%) among women who had not had HDPs to 44.1% (95% CI, 40.0%-48.2%) among women with severe preeclampsia who required antihypertensive medication during pregnancy. Most women who required postpartum antihypertensive medication after an HDP initiated use within 3 months of delivery (severe preeclampsia, 86.6% [95% CI, 84.6%-89.4%]; preeclampsia, 75.3% [95% CI, 73.8%-76.2%]; and gestational hypertension, 75.1% [95% CI, 72.9%-77.1%]). However, 13.4% (95% CI, 11.9%-14.1%) of women with severe preeclampsia, 24.7.% (95% CI, 24.0%-26.0%) of women with preeclampsia, 24.9% (95% CI, 22.5%-27.5%) of women with gestational hypertension, and 76.7% (95% CI, 76.3%-77.1%) of those without an HDP first filled a prescription for antihypertensive medication more than 3 months after delivery. Women with gestational hypertension had the highest rate of initiating medication after more than 1 year post partum, with 11.6% (95% CI, 10.0%-13.2%) starting treatment after this period. Among women who filled a prescription in the first 3 months post partum, up to 55.9% (95% CI, 46.2%-66.1%) required further prescriptions more than 3 months post partum, depending on HDP status and antenatal medication use.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study of postpartum women, the incidence of initiation of postnatal antihypertensive medication use varied by HDP status, HDP severity, and antenatal antihypertensive medication use. Up to 24.9% of women initiated antihypertensive medication use more than 3 months after an HDP, with up to 11.6% initiating treatment after 1 year. Routine postpartum blood pressure monitoring might prevent diagnostic delays in initiation of antihypertensive medication use and improve cardiovascular disease prevention among women.

Missing links in preeclampsia cell model systems of endothelial dysfunction

Preeclampsia, one of the main hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, is associated with circulating factors released by the ischemic placenta accompanied by systemic endothelial dysfunction. The etiology of preeclampsia remains poorly understood although it is associated with high maternal and fetal mortality and increased cardiovascular disease risk. Most cell model systems used for studying endothelial dysfunction have not taken into account hemodynamic physical factors such as shear-stress forces which may prevent extrapolation of cell data to in vivo settings. We overview the role of hemodynamic forces in modulating endothelial cell function and discuss strategies to reproduce this biological characteristic in vitro to improve our understanding of endothelial dysfunction associated with preeclampsia.

Comparison of carotid intima media thickness between women with history of preeclampsia and normal pregnancy: a meta-analysis of systematic review

Background

On a clinical level, preeclampsia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease share common risk factors. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) is ultrasound-based imaging, non-invasive, simple, and reproducible method of subclinical atherosclerosis evaluation. Nowadays, there were studies concerning of CIMT among preeclamptic women, although the results were different.

Objective

To prove that CIMT among women with histories of preeclampsia was greater compared to normal pregnancy.

Methods

We conducted a meta-analysis of studies that reported CIMT, in women who had preeclampsia and had normal pregnancy. Studies were identified through three databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and SAGE Journals with publication year of 2010–2020. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Standardized mean difference was used as measured of effect size.

Results

Nine eligible studies were included in the meta-analysis. This meta-analysis consisted of 439 women with preeclampsia histories and 526 women with normal pregnancy histories. Women who had preeclampsia had significantly higher CIMT compared to those with normal pregnancy with standardized mean difference −0.38 and 95% confidence interval (CI) −0.68 to −0.07 (p=0.02).

Conclusion

CIMT was greater among women with histories of preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy.

Trial registration

PROSPERO CRD42021228825

Reviewing Accuracy of First Trimester Screening for Preeclampsia Using Maternal Factors and Biomarkers

Preeclampsia is a common and important complication of pregnancy, one with potentially significant morbidity and even mortality to both mother and baby. Identifying those at high risk of developing the condition is helpful as there is evidence that the incidence of preeclampsia can be reduced with low dose aspirin taken in pregnancy. Accurately predicting the risk of preeclampsia allows for more targeted aspirin prophylaxis and a greater opportunity for early detection of maternal and/or fetal complications associated with impaired placentation through a schedule of enhanced antenatal surveillance. Traditional preeclampsia prediction models use maternal characteristics and risk factors and have been shown to be of low predictive value. Multiparametric screening tests combine patient characteristics with serum biomarkers and ultrasound Doppler indices and have been shown to be more effective at detecting those at high risk of preeclampsia - more specifically, early-onset preeclampsia (onset of preeclampsia <34 weeks' gestation). Multiparametric screening has now been validated in different populations. The true cost effectiveness of a multiparametric screening model for preeclampsia screening is not yet fully known and will vary depending on the clinical setting. Despite the growing body of evidence for its improved detection rates, first trimester preeclampsia screening using multiparametric models is not widely implemented and is not part of the recommendations for antenatal screening from most international bodies. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics has advised universal preeclampsia screening using maternal risk factors and biomarkers and has strongly encouraged its promotion worldwide. Various barriers to implementation must be considered such as the immediate cost of equipment and training, the need for audit and quality control, and the expected benefit to the population. Low to middle income settings may require a pragmatic approach to the implementation of multiparametric screening given limited resources.

Prevalence of a History of Metabolic or Hypertensive Pregnancy Disorder in Patients With Myocardial Infarction and Non-obstructive Coronary Arteries: An Observational Cohort Study

Introduction

Myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) predominantly affects younger females. Women with a history of gestational hypertension (GH), preeclampsia (PE), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are subjected to an elevated lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease. However, data on the potential association between these obstetric complications and MINOCA is lacking. Therefore, the current study aimed to provide insight in the prevalence of metabolic and hypertensive pregnancy disorders (MHPD) in MINOCA patients and their clinical characteristics.

Methods

In this observational cohort study conducted at the Zuyderland Medical Center and Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands, patients were enrolled if they were identified as having MINOCA. Data on individual patient characteristics, laboratory results, electrocardiography as well as (non-)invasive imaging procedures were derived from the electronic health record system. Patients were asked to complete a questionnaire about prior MHPD including GDM, GH, and PE. Patients were grouped into those with MHPD and those with prior uncomplicated normotensive pregnancy (or pregnancies; NP).

Results

After excluding patients without 1-year follow-up (n = 53), 86 female MINOCA patients remained eligible for analysis. Of the total female population, 25 (29.1%) patients had MHPD, including GH (n = 19; 22.1%), PE (n = 4; 4.7%), and GDM (n = 7; 8.1%). The MHPD patients showed higher rates of chronic hypertension (84.0 vs. 55.7%; p = 0.013), hypercholesterolemia (64.0 vs. 34.4%; p = 0.012), a family history of CVD (84.0 vs. 45.9%; p = 0.001), gout or rheumatic arthritis (16.0 vs. 1.6%; p = 0.024), and were more often non-smokers (45.8 vs. 78.3%; p = 0.004), compared to the NP patients. Moreover, MHPD patients were more likely to use cardiovascular medications at baseline. A trend toward no specific cause found for the MINOCA event was observed in MHPD patients compared to the NP group (64.0 vs. 42.6%, p = 0.072).

Conclusion

A history of metabolic and hypertensive pregnancy disorders occurred in one-third of female MINOCA patients. In these patients, conventional cardiovascular risk factors were more prevalent compared to NP patients. In most MHPD patients, the specific cause for MINOCA remained unclear.

Focus on today's evidence while keeping an eye on the future: lessons derived from hypertension in women

While evidence-based medicine has contributed enormously to the uniformity and rationale of patient care, it is necessary that we anticipate changes in order to implement their rapid translation to practice. The purpose of this review is to expose three issues regarding cardiovascular health in women, including milestones to reflect the pace at which these are incorporated into public policies. Two of these matters, as changes in the thresholds of normal blood pressure in gestation and in nonpregnant women, need further evidence and deserve to be retrospectively analyzed in high-quality databases. The third subject derives from the association of remote cardiovascular complications of hypertensive pregnancies, an example of the unnecessary delay of more than two decades to install a wide prevention strategy when the health system is not on the watch.

Vascular Dysfunction in Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening pregnancy-associated cardiovascular disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria at 20 weeks of gestation. Though its exact underlying cause is not precisely defined and likely heterogenous, a plethora of research indicates that in some women with preeclampsia, both maternal and placental vascular dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis and can persist into the postpartum period. Potential abnormalities include impaired placentation, incomplete spiral artery remodeling, and endothelial damage, which are further propagated by immune factors, mitochondrial stress, and an imbalance of pro- and antiangiogenic substances. While the field has progressed, current gaps in knowledge include detailed initial molecular mechanisms and effective treatment options. Newfound evidence indicates that vasopressin is an early mediator and biomarker of the disorder, and promising future therapeutic avenues include mitigating mitochondrial dysfunction, excess oxidative stress, and the resulting inflammatory state. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of vascular defects present during preeclampsia and connect well-established notions to newer discoveries at the molecular, cellular, and whole-organism levels.

Long-Term Consequences of Placental Vascular Pathology on the Maternal and Offspring Cardiovascular Systems

Over the last thirty years, evidence has been accumulating that Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) and, specifically, Preeclampsia (PE) produce not only long-term effects on the pregnant woman, but have also lasting consequences for the fetus. At the core of these consequences is the phenomenon known as defective deep placentation, being present in virtually every major obstetrical syndrome. The profound placental vascular lesions characteristic of this pathology can induce long-term adverse consequences for the pregnant woman's entire arterial system. In addition, placental growth restriction and function can, in turn, cause a decreased blood supply to the fetus, with long-lasting effects. Women with a history of HDP have an increased risk of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) compared with women with normal pregnancies. Specifically, these subjects are at a future higher risk of: Hypertension; Coronary artery disease; Heart failure; Peripheral vascular disease; Cerebrovascular accidents (Stroke); CVD-related mortality. Vascular pathology in pregnancy and CVD may share a common etiology and may have common risk factors, which are unmasked by the "stress" of pregnancy. It is also possible that the future occurrence of a CVD may be the consequence of endothelial dysfunction generated by pregnancy-induced hypertension that persists after delivery. Although biochemical and biophysical markers of PE abound, information on markers for a comparative evaluation in the various groups is still lacking. Long-term consequences for the fetus are an integral part of the theory of a fetal origin of a number of adult diseases, known as the Barker hypothesis. Indeed, intrauterine malnutrition and fetal growth restriction represent significant risk factors for the development of chronic hypertension, diabetes, stroke and death from coronary artery disease in adults. Other factors will also influence the development later in life of hypertension, coronary and myocardial disease; they include parental genetic disposition, epigenetic modifications, endothelial dysfunction, concurrent intrauterine exposures, and the lifestyle of the affected individual.

Current Updates on Pre-eclampsia: Maternal and Foetal Cardiovascular Diseases Predilection, Science or Myth? : Future cardiovascular disease risks in mother and child following pre-eclampsia

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including pre-eclampsia (PE), remain the major cause of death and morbidity in women. This review elucidates the current knowledge, state of research and scientific information available on the post-event implications and complications of PE regarding maternal and foetal cardiovascular health. Does PE expose, predispose or aggravate a predilection to maternal and foetal CVD later in life?

RECENT FINDINGS

Women with a history of PE are reported to have stiffer arteries and are more likely to develop cardiovascular problems with time, especially aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, which were not hitherto linked with hypertensive pregnancy. Foetal cells persistence in the mother long after pregnancy, now clearly established in the lungs of mice postpartum, is suggested to portend an overexpression of STOX1, which may potentiate later life CVD. Moreover, the conventional theories of in utero stress and developmental reprogramming may not adequately explain the risk of later life CVD predilection in offspring born to mothers with pre-eclampsia as recent data has shown that siblings of offspring born from pre-eclamptic pregnancies are also at higher risk of hypertension later in life, irrespective of whether subsequent pregnancies were pre-eclamptic or normotensive. The mechanism involved in adverse cardiovascular outcome in offspring of pre-eclamptic pregnancies is most likely an intricate interaction of foetal programming, environmental and genetic factors. In light of available evidence, the question of whether PE is just a pointer or predisposing factor to maternal development of CVDs in later life begs for answers to facilitate definitive clinical solutions and preventive approaches.

Preeclampsia and long-term coronary artery disease: How to minimize the odds?

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy that can cause detrimental obstetric outcomes if not managed properly. Current evidence demonstrates higher risk for long-term cardiovascular disease in preeclamptic women. Even in uncomplicated pregnancies, the heart work overload often reveals subtle cardiac defects or abnormalities, which otherwise remain undiagnosed in women without a history of pregnancy. Pathophysiologic patterns occurring in PE patients resemble biochemical responses observed in cases of cardiovascular disease. It has been estimated that women with an obstetric history of PE are more likely to develop coronary artery disease in the long run. Currently, additionally to whether any approach could actually contribute to minimizing mortality and morbidity among these affected populations, there is no consensus regarding management for these patients. In this review we summarized the current scientific evidence regarding the correlation between PE and long-term coronary artery disease. Based on this knowledge, we propose postpartum and lifetime management for these high-risk patients in order to minimize morbidity and mortality within this population.

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I in women with a history of early-onset preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE

Preeclampsia is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Women with a history of preeclampsia are at risk of developing hypertension as well as ischemic heart disease. Identification of women at the highest risk is important to initiate preventive strategies. We investigated whether high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) levels are associated with a history of early-onset preeclampsia, and with hypertension in these high-risk women.

METHODS

Approximately 9-10 years after pregnancy, hs-cTnI levels were measured for 339 women of the Preeclampsia Risk Evaluation in FEMales cohort, consisting of 177 women with a history of early-onset preeclampsia and 162 women with a previous uncomplicated index pregnancy. Associations were analyzed using several statistical tests and linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The median hs-cTnI levels (IQR) were 2.50 ng/l (2.30) in women with a history of early-onset preeclampsia and 2.35 ng/l (2.50) in women without a history of preeclampsia, P = 0.53. Among women with a history of early-onset preeclampsia, the hs-cTnI levels were higher in women who were hypertensive compared with their normotensive counterparts (medians 2.60 versus 2.30; P = 0.03). In addition, blood pressure levels increased with increasing hs-cTnI levels.

CONCLUSION

We did not find a difference in hs-cTnI levels between women with and without a history of early-onset preeclampsia. Nonetheless, hs-cTnI levels were statistically significantly higher in current hypertensive women with a history of preeclampsia compared with their normotensive counterparts. Therefore, hs-cTnI levels might improve risk prediction for women at the highest risk of cardiovascular disease.

Hypertension and Reproduction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Many aspects of reproduction have been associated with increased blood pressure and impaired glucose metabolism that reveals a subsequent increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this review is to assess reproductive life factors associated with an increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, e.g., early life programming, sexual, and reproductive health in men and women.

RECENT FINDINGS

Impaired fetal growth, with low birth weight adjusted for gestational age, has been found associated with hypertension in adulthood. Erectile dysfunction, currently considered an early diagnostic marker of cardiovascular disease preceding the manifestation of coronary artery disease by several years, frequently coexisting with hypertension, could also be exacerbated by some antihypertensive drugs. Male hypogonadism or subfertility are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy including preeclampsia represent a major cause of maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity, and mortality. The risk of developing preeclampsia can be substantially reduced in women at its high or moderate risk with a low dose of acetylsalicylic acid initiated from 12 weeks of gestation. An increased risk of hypertension in women following invasive-assisted reproductive technologies has been newly observed. Blood pressure elevation has been noticed following contraceptive pill use, around the menopause and in postmenopausal age. Furthermore, drug treatment of hypertension has to be considered as a factor with a potential impact on reproduction (e.g., due to teratogenic drug effects). In summary, a deeper understanding of reproductive life effects on hypertension and metabolic abnormalities may improve prediction of future cardiovascular disease.