Pregnancy loss and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Nurses' Health Study II

End of life care in a level IV outborn neonatal intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

Describe care surrounding the end of life (EOL) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective chart review of 208 infants who died in a level IV referral-only NICU over 5 years.

RESULTS

A goals of care (GOC) conversation was documented before the day of death for 63% of infants. 73% died following withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (WD); 13% died in a code. The median age at death was 17.5 days. 72% were held by a parent at EOL. 94% of families desired formal memory-making. We identified associations with mode of death and parental holding at death, including: WD was associated with palliative care consultation, early GOC conversations, and increased unit-specific length of stay. Holding was associated with chaplain visits, memory-making, and increased home-to-hospital distance.

CONCLUSION

We present a detailed description of EOL care in an outborn NICU, including novel data on parental holding and memory-making.

Association of infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss with the risk of dementia

Emerging evidence has shown the association between female reproductive histories (e.g., menarche age, parity, premature and early menopause) and the risk of dementia. However, little attention has been given to infertility and pregnancy loss. To examine the associations of infertility, recurrent miscarriages, and stillbirth with the risk of dementia, this study used data from four cohorts in the International Collaboration for a Life Course Approach to Reproductive Health and Chronic Disease Events. Women with data on at least one of the reproductive exposures of interest, dementia, and all covariates were included. Histories of infertility, miscarriage, and stillbirth were self-reported. Dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) was identified through surveys, aged care, pharmaceutical, hospital, and death registry data. Cause-specific Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios of dementia, accounting for well-established risk factors of dementia, study variability, and within-study correlation. Overall, 291,055 women were included at a median (interquartile range) age of 55.0 (47.0-62.0) at baseline. During the median (interquartile range) follow-up period of 13.0 (12.0-14.0) years, 3334 (1.2%) women developed dementia. Compared to women without stillbirth, a history of recurrent stillbirths (≥ 2) was associated with 64% higher risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.64, 95% confidence interval: 1.46-1.85). Compared to women without miscarriage, women with recurrent miscarriages (≥ 3) were at 22% higher risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.22, 95% confidence interval: 1.19-1.25). These findings suggest that recurrent stillbirths is a risk factor for dementia and may need to be considered in risk assessment of dementia in women.

Interpregnancy Interval After Healthy Live Birth and Subsequent Spontaneous Abortion

Importance

Many studies have reported that the interpregnancy interval (IPI) is a potential modifiable risk factor for adverse perinatal outcomes. However, the association between IPI after live birth and subsequent spontaneous abortion (SA) is unclear.

Objective

To investigate the association of IPI after a healthy live birth and subsequent SA.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This prospective cohort study used data from 180 921 women aged 20 to 49 years who had a single healthy live birth and planned for another pregnancy and who participated in the Chinese National Free Prepregnancy Checkups Project from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2020. Statistical analysis was conducted from June 20 to October 5, 2023.

Exposure

Interpregnancy interval, defined as the interval between the delivery date and conception of the subsequent pregnancy, was categorized as follows: less than 18 months, 18 to 23 months, 24 to 35 months, 36 to 59 months, and 60 months or longer.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was SA. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by logistic regression models to examine the association between IPI and the risk of SA. Dose-response associations were evaluated by restricted cubic splines.

Results

The analyses included 180 921 multiparous women (mean [SD] age at current pregnancy, 26.3 [2.8] years); 4380 SA events (2.4% of all participants) were recorded. A J-shaped association between IPI levels and SA was identified. In the fully adjusted model, compared with IPIs of 18 to 23 months, both short (<18 months) and long (≥36 months) IPIs showed an increased risk of SA (IPIs of <18 months: OR, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.04-1.27]; IPIs of 36-59 months: OR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.15-1.43]; IPIs of ≥60 months: OR, 2.13 [95% CI, 1.78-2.56]). Results of the subgroup analysis by mode of previous delivery were consistent with the main analysis.

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study of multiparous women suggests that an IPI of shorter than 18 months or an IPI of 36 months or longer after a healthy live birth was associated with an increased risk of subsequent SA. The findings are valuable to make a rational prepregnancy plan and may facilitate the prevention of SA and improvement in neonatal outcomes.

Effects of prior reproductive losses on risk of cardiovascular diseases within six months of a first live birth

Objective

There is emerging evidence suggesting that pregnancy loss (induced or natural) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This prospective longitudinal study investigates the effect of prior pregnancy losses on CVD risk during the first six months following a first live birth.

Methods

Medicaid claims of 1,002,556 low-income women were examined to identify history of pregnancy losses, CVD, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia prior to first live birth. The study population was categorized into five groups: A: women with no pregnancy loss or CVD history prior to first live birth; B: women with pregnancy loss and no CVD prior to first live birth. C: women with a first CVD diagnosis after a first pregnancy ending in a loss and before their first live birth. D: women with CVD prior to first live birth and no history of pregnancy loss. E: women with both CVD and pregnancy loss prior to their first live birth.

Results

After controlling for age, race, state of residence, and history of diabetes and hyperlipidemia, the risk of CVD in the six-month period following a first live birth were 15%, 214%, 79% and 129% more common for Groups B, C, D and E, respectively, compared to Group A.

Conclusions

Pregnancy loss is an independent risk factor for CVD risk following a first live birth, both for women with and without a prior history of CVD. The risk is highest when CVD is first diagnosed after a pregnancy loss and prior to a first live birth.

Miscarriage and stillbirth in relation to risk of cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The relationship between pregnancy loss and the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remains a matter of debate. Our intention in conducting this meta-analysis was to analyze the relationship between miscarriage and stillbirth and risk of CVDs.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched up to May 30, 2023 for all relevant studies. The random-effects model was applied to estimate the pooled relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). We evaluated RR estimates for the risk of CVDs with each additional miscarriage and stillbirth through generalized least squares regression.

RESULTS

Twenty-three articles were incorporated into the meta-analysis. For women with a history of miscarriage, the pooled RRs for the risk of total CVDs, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and total CVD deaths were 1.16 (95 % CI 1.10-1.22), 1.26 (1.12-1.41), 1.13 (1.03-1.24), and 1.20 (1.01-1.42), respectively. For women with a history of stillbirth, the pooled RRs for the risk of total CVDs, CHD, stroke, and total CVD deaths were 1.60 (1.34-1.89), 1.30 (1.12-1.50), 1.37 (1.06-1.78), and 1.95 (1.05-3.63), respectively. With each additional miscarriage, the risk increased for total CVDs (1.08, 1.04-1.13), CHD (1.08, 1.04-1.13), and stroke (1.05, 1.00-1.10). With each additional stillbirth, the risk increased for total CVDs (1.11, 1.03-1.21) and CHD (1.13, 1.07-1.19).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis indicates that both miscarriages and stillbirths are related to a higher risk of total CVDs, CHD, stroke, and total CVD deaths. The risk of total CVDs and CHD increased with the number of miscarriages or stillbirths.

Sex Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women. It remains underdiagnosed, undertreated, and portends worse outcomes in women than men. Disparities exist in every stage of science, from bench research to the editorial board of major journals and in every cardiovascular subspecialty. This review summarizes differences in cardiovascular risk factors and disparities in management and outcomes of ischemic heart disease, heart failure, aortic stenosis, and atrial fibrillation. It also provides an overview of female representation as participants and leaders of clinical trials, editorial boards, and academic institutions. Strategies to overcome these disparities are proposed with examples of successful programs.

2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and obesity) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose control, and metabolic syndrome) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, brain health, complications of pregnancy, kidney disease, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, sudden cardiac arrest, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular disease, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The AHA, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States and globally to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2024 AHA Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2023 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and AHA staff members. The AHA strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional global data, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Metabolic disorders mediate the relation of miscarriage with cardiovascular diseases

AIMS

The extent to which the contribution of pregnancy loss to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) can be explained by metabolic disorders is poorly elucidated but holds insights for reducing long-term cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study is to investigate the mediating effects of hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and lipoprotein metabolism disorders on the association of miscarriage and stillbirth with coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and composite outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 163 283 ever-gravid women (age 55.3 ± 7.9 years) from the UK Biobank cohort without established metabolic disorders and CVDs were included and followed from 2007 to 2010 baseline until December 2020. Causal mediation analyses were used to estimate the proportion mediated. Hypertension mediated 11.1% (95% confidence interval, 3.7-18.5%) of the association between a history of miscarriage and incident CHD. Approximately, 9.5% (4.1-14.8%) of the effect of recurrent miscarriages on incident CHD was via hypertension, 8.4% (2.5-14.3%) of the effect was via lipoprotein metabolism disorders, 1.7% (0.5-2.9%) of the effect was via DM, and 10.7% (0.2-21.1%) of the effect of recurrent miscarriages on incident stroke was via hypertension. Hypertension mediated the largest proportion of effect for the atherosclerotic cardiovascular event (15.5% for a history of miscarriage and 9.4% for recurrent miscarriages), followed by lipoprotein metabolism disorders and DM.

CONCLUSION

Hypertension, DM, and lipoprotein metabolism disorders mediated the association between miscarriage and various cardiovascular outcomes in later life. In particular, hypertension mediated a large proportion of the relationship between miscarriage and atherosclerotic CVD.

History of Infertility and Midlife Cardiovascular Health in Female Individuals

Importance

Fertility status is a marker for future health, and infertility has been associated with risk for later cancer and diabetes, but associations with midlife cardiovascular health (CVH) in female individuals remain understudied.

Objective

To evaluate the association of infertility history with CVH at midlife (approximately age 50 years) among parous individuals.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Project Viva is a prospective cohort study of pregnant participants enrolled between 1999 and 2002 who delivered a singleton live birth in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Infertility history was collected at a midlife visit between 2017 and 2021, approximately 18 years after enrollment. Data analysis was performed from January to June 2023.

Exposures

The primary exposure was any lifetime history of infertility identified by self-report, medical record, diagnosis, or claims for infertility treatment.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is a construct for ranking CVH that includes scores from 0 to 100 (higher scores denote better health status) in 4 behavioral (diet, physical activity, sleep, and smoking status) and 4 biomedical (body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipids, and glycemia) domains to form an overall assessment of CVH. Associations of a history of infertility (yes or no) with mean LE8 total, behavioral, biomedical, and blood biomarker (lipids and glycemia) scores were examined, adjusting for age at outcome (midlife visit), race and ethnicity, education, household income, age at menarche, and perceived body size at age 10 years.

Results

Of 468 included participants (mean [SD] age at the midlife visit, 50.6 [5.3] years) with exposure and outcome data, 160 (34.2%) experienced any infertility. Mean (SD) LE8 scores were 76.3 (12.2) overall, 76.5 (13.4) for the behavioral domain, 76.0 (17.5) for the biomedical domain, and 78.9 (19.2) for the blood biomarkers subdomain. In adjusted models, the estimated overall LE8 score at midlife was 2.94 points lower (95% CI, -5.13 to -0.74 points), the biomedical score was 4.07 points lower (95% CI, -7.33 to -0.78 points), and the blood subdomain score was 5.98 points lower (95% CI, -9.71 to -2.26 points) among those with vs without history of infertility. The point estimate also was lower for the behavioral domain score (β = -1.81; 95% CI, -4.28 to 0.66), although the result was not statistically significant.

Conclusions and Relevance

This cohort study of parous individuals found evidence for an association between a history of infertility and lower overall and biomedical CVH scores. Future study of enhanced cardiovascular preventive strategies among those who experience infertility is warranted.

Cardiovascular disease prevention in women - the current state in 2023

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for women globally. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated overview of CVD prevention in women, focusing on what is currently understood about female-specific or female-predominant CVD risk factors and the importance of tailored strategies for risk assessment and medical interventions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies have demonstrated the need to account for risk factors specific to women in current risk assessment models for CVD, including early menarche, polycystic ovary syndrome, adverse pregnancy outcomes, early menopause, and chronic inflammatory conditions. Incorporation of these findings has led to advancements in sex-specific guidelines, diagnostic tools, and treatment approaches that have led to improvement in the precision of CVD prevention strategies. At-risk women benefit similarly to lipid-lowering and other preventive therapies as men but are less likely to be treated.

SUMMARY

CVD prevention in women has made substantial progress over the past decade, marked by increasing awareness among clinicians, improved understanding of sex-specific risk-enhancing factors, and incorporation of sex-specific guidelines for management. However, there remain knowledge gaps that warrant ongoing efforts to optimize CVD prevention strategies in women, which will ultimately lead to improved cardiovascular health outcomes.

Association of Gestational Diabetes With Subsequent Long-Term Risk of Mortality

Importance

Gestational diabetes has been associated with numerous chronic diseases. However, few studies have examined the association of gestational diabetes with long-term mortality risk.

Objective

To investigate the associations between gestational diabetes and long-term risks of total and cause-specific mortality.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study analyzed participants of the Nurses' Health Study II who were followed for 30 years (1989-2019). Participants included US female nurses aged 25 to 42 years who reported at least 1 pregnancy (≥6 months) at 18 years or older across their reproductive life span. Data were analyzed from May 1, 2022, to May 25, 2023.

Exposure

Gestational diabetes across the reproductive life span.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Hazard ratios (HRs with 95% CIs) for total and cause-specific mortality were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

A total of 91 426 parous participants were included, with a mean (SD) age of 34.9 (4.7) years and a body mass index of 24.1 (4.7) at baseline. During a follow-up period of 2 609 753 person-years, 3937 deaths were documented, including 255 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 1397 from cancer. Participants with a history of gestational diabetes had a higher crude mortality rate than those without a history of gestational diabetes (1.74 vs 1.49 per 1000 person-years; absolute difference = 0.25 per 1000 person-years). The corresponding HR for total mortality was 1.28 (95% CI, 1.13-1.44), which did not materially change after additional adjustment for potential confounders and lifestyle factors during the reproductive life span (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.11-1.41). The association persisted regardless of the subsequent development of type 2 diabetes and was more robust among participants who adopted less healthy lifestyles; experienced gestational diabetes in 2 or more pregnancies (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 0.99-2.19); had gestational diabetes both in the initial and subsequent pregnancies (HR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.11-2.63); and concurrently reported hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.21-2.67), preterm birth (HR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.66-3.64), or low birth weight (HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.21-3.68). Cause-specific mortality analyses revealed that gestational diabetes was directly associated with the risk of mortality due to cardiovascular disease (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.03-2.47). Additionally, gestational diabetes was inversely associated with cancer mortality (HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.59-0.98); however, it was only evident among participants who later developed type 2 diabetes.

Conclusions and Relevance

Results of this cohort study suggest that participants who reported a history of gestational diabetes exhibited a small but elevated risk of subsequent mortality over 30 years. The findings emphasize the importance of considering gestational diabetes as a critical factor in later-life mortality risk.

Thyroglobulin Antibodies in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Thyroid autoimmunity is the most prevalent autoimmune disorder among women of reproductive age and has been suggested as a risk factor in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)-a condition in which couples suffer several consecutive pregnancy losses, but where a cause can be identified in less than half of the cases. Most studies have focused on thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs), not considering the presence of thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAbs). The aim of this study was to systematically assess the prevalence of TgAb positivity in women with RPL, and whether TgAb positivity was associated with the outcome of the next pregnancy. Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase (from inception to April 29, 2023) was performed for studies reporting on TgAbs in women with RPL. The primary outcome was TgAb positivity in women with RPL compared with women without RPL, with a secondary outcome of association between TgAb positivity and the outcome of the next pregnancy. Pooled effect estimates were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with confidence intervals [CI] using a random-effects model. The study was registered with PROSPERO (No. CRD42022310232) and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Results: A total of 770 studies were screened, 28 of which could be included reporting data from a total of 6868 women. The prevalence of TgAb positivity in women with RPL ranged from 3.6% to 28% compared with 2.4% to 29% in women without RPL. The OR for TgAb positivity was 1.93 ([CI 1.27-2.92]; I2 = 63%) compared with women without RPL, and for TgAbs and/or TPOAbs 2.66 ([CI 1.75-4.05]; I2 = 69%). Four studies reported on the outcome of the next pregnancy after antibody measurement with highly heterogeneous results (OR for pregnancy loss ranging from 0.99 in one study to 10.0 in the other study, and two studies reported no data eligible for meta-analysis). Consequently, a meta-analysis could not be performed. Conclusions: Women with RPL were significantly more often TgAb-positive than women without RPL. Although there was a lack of studies reporting prospective outcomes, the findings of this study support the significance of awareness about the strong association between RPL and thyroid autoimmunity.

Sex-specific differences in cardiovascular risk factors and implications for cardiovascular disease prevention in women

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality for women globally. Sex differences exist in the relative risks conferred by traditional CVD risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and smoking. Additionally, there are female-specific risk factors, including age of menarche and menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility and the use of assisted reproductive technology, spontaneous pregnancy loss, parity, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, as well as female-predominant conditions such as autoimmune diseases, migraines, and depression, that enhance women's cardiovascular risk across the lifespan. Along with measurement of traditional risk factors, these female-specific factors should also be ascertained as a part of cardiovascular risk assessment to allow for a more comprehensive overview of the risk for developing cardiometabolic disorders and CVD. When present, these factors can identify women at elevated cardiovascular risk, who may benefit from more intensive preventive interventions, including lifestyle changes and/or pharmacotherapy such as statins. This review describes sex differences in traditional risk factors and female-specific/female-predominant risk factors for CVD and examines the role of coronary artery calcium scores and certain biomarkers that can help further risk stratify patients and guide preventive recommendations.

Female Reproductive Factors and Risk of New-Onset Heart Failure: Findings From UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

A comprehensive evaluation of woman-specific risk factors in relation to incident heart failure (HF) is limited.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to investigate the association of multiple female reproductive factors with the risk of HF.

METHODS

Between 2007 and 2010, 229,026 women (mean age: 56.5 years) without prevalent HF from the UK Biobank cohort were included and followed until December 2020. The relation between (self-reported) reproductive factors and HF was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for potential confounding.

RESULTS

Menarche at age <12 years, compared to age 12-13 years, carried a 9% larger risk of HF (HR: 1.09 [95% CI: 1.01-1.18]). Younger age at menopause was associated with a higher risk of HF (HRage <45 y vs 50-51 y: 1.15 [95% CI: 1.03-1.28]; HRage 45-49 y vs 50-51 y: 1.11 [95% CI: 1.01-1.23]). Younger maternal age at first live birth (HRage <21 y vs 24-26 y: 1.42 [95% CI: 1.28-1.59]; HRage 21-23 y vs 24-26 y: 1.14 [95% CI: 1.03-1.26]) and at last live birth (HRage <26 y vs 29-31 y: 1.19 [95% CI: 1.07-1.33]) were associated with higher risk of HF. Compared to women with 1 or 2 children, having 3 or 4 children (HR: 1.09 [95% CI: 1.02-1.17]) or >4 children (HR: 1.24 [95% CI: 1.05-1.47]) was associated with higher HF risk. Experiencing miscarriages or abortions was not significantly associated with incident HF, whereas experiencing 1 stillbirth and recurrent stillbirths conferred a 20% and 43% larger risk of HF, respectively, compared to no stillbirth.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings emphasize the importance of female reproductive history in the assessment of HF risk.

Cardio-Obstetrics: A Focused Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the USA. All cardiovascular care providers should have a foundational knowledge on the management of pregnant individuals with heart disease. This focused review touches on several key cardio-obstetric themes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Many individuals with cardiovascular disease can safely undergo pregnancy, but should have counseling preconception to optimize cardiac status. There are several cardiovascular conditions that are high risk for maternal mortality and morbidity. These individuals should be adequately counseled preconception and offered reliable birth control. The approach to a high-risk pregnant patient with cardiac disease is best managed by a multidisciplinary team to address potential maternal and fetal complications. Identification of at risk individuals can be estimated preconception with several risk scores. The development of risk scores to stratify and identify those at elevated risk during pregnancy is an area of continued research and development.

Pregnancy Loss and the Risk of Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, and All-Cause Mortality: A Nationwide Partner Comparison Cohort Study

Background Pregnancy loss has been associated with myocardial infarction, stroke, and all-cause mortality in women through unknown mechanisms. The aim of this study was to examine these associations in women and their male partners. Methods and Results In this register-based cohort study, all people born between 1957 and 1997, residing in Denmark between 1977 and 2017, and with a registered partner of the opposite sex were eligible for inclusion. Male partners through cohabitation, marriage, or paternity constituted the male cohort. Exposure to pregnancy loss was categorized as follows: 0, 1, 2, or ≥3 pregnancy losses. The outcomes of interest were myocardial infarction, stroke, and all-cause mortality. The Cox proportional hazards model estimated hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted for age, calendar year, parity, and parental history of myocardial infarction or stroke. During follow-up, 1 112 507 women experienced 4463 events of myocardial infarction compared with 13 838 events among 1 120 029 male partners. With the no pregnancy loss group as reference, the adjusted HRs of myocardial infarction in the female cohort after 1, 2, and ≥3 pregnancy losses were as follows: 1.1 (95% CI, 1.0-1.2), 1.3 (95% CI, 1.1-1.5), and 1.4 (95% CI, 1.1-1.8), respectively. In the male partner cohort, the corresponding estimates were 1.0 (95% CI, 1.0-1.1), 1.1 (95% CI, 1.0-1.2), and 1.0 (95% CI, 0.8-1.2), respectively. The outcome of stroke showed similar results. Pregnancy loss was not significantly associated with increased mortality in either sex. Conclusions Pregnancy loss or stillbirth was significantly associated with myocardial infarction and stroke in women but not their male partners. Pregnancy loss or stillbirth was not significantly associated with all-cause mortality in women or male partners.

A Woman's Heart: Improving Uptake and Awareness of Cardiovascular Screening for Middle-Aged Populations

Mid-life, the years leading up to and following the menopause transition, in women is accompanied by a change in cardiometabolic risk factors, including increases in body weight, changes in body composition, a more insulin-resistant state, and a shift towards a more atherogenic dyslipidemia pattern. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment should be performed continually throughout the lifespan, as risk is not stagnant and can change throughout the life course. However, mid-life is a particularly important time for a woman to be evaluated for CVD risk so that appropriate preventive strategies can be implemented. Along with assessing traditional risk factors, ascertainment of a reproductive history is an integral part of a comprehensive CVD risk assessment to recognize unique female-specific or female-predominant factors that modify a woman's risk. When there is uncertainty about CVD risk and the net benefit of preventive pharmacotherapy interventions (such as statins), measuring a coronary artery calcium score can help further refine risk and guide shared decision-making. Additionally, there should be heightened sensitivity around identifying signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease in women, as these may present differently than in men. Ischemia from coronary microvascular disease and/or vasospasm may be present even without obstructive coronary artery disease and is associated with a heightened risk for major cardiovascular events and reduced quality of life. Therefore, correctly identifying CVD in women and implementing preventive and treatment therapies is paramount. Unfortunately, women are underrepresented in cardiovascular clinical trials, and more data are needed about how to best incorporate novel and emerging risk factors into CVD risk assessment. This review outlines an approach to CVD screening and risk assessment in women using several methods, focusing on the middle-aged population.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and risk of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective cohort study

Background

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) have been associated with respiratory dysfunction during pregnancy and postpartum. In this study, we explored the associations between HDPs (gestational hypertension and preeclampsia) and the risk of incident asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during adulthood and the potential mediating role of chronic hypertension.

Methods

We included parous nurses in the Nurses' Health Study II reporting a pregnancy lasting no less than 6 months. The associations between HDPs and asthma and COPD were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for confounders.

Findings

We included 73,807 nurses [92.5% (68,246 of 73,807) White] in asthma analyses and 79,843 [92.4% (73,746 of 79,843) White] in COPD analyses, whose mean (SD, range) age, at baseline, were both 34.8 (4.7, 25.0-44.0) years. During 24 years of follow-up, we identified 2663 incident cases of asthma and 537 COPD. Compared with nurses without HDPs, nurses reporting HDPs had an increased HR for incident asthma and COPD of 1.22 (95% CI 1.10-1.36) and 1.39 (95% CI 1.11-1.74), respectively. The risk of asthma was similar when gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were assessed separately [HR = 1.25 (95% CI 1.08-1.43) and 1.24 (95% CI 1.11-1.38), respectively]. However, only nurses with preeclampsia had a higher risk of COPD (HR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.78). Mediation analyses estimated that chronic hypertension explained 18.6% (95% CI 8.9-35.0%) and 10.7% (95% CI 2.9-32.4%) of the associations between HDPs and asthma and COPD, respectively.

Interpretation

HDPs may serve as useful markers of increased susceptibility to chronic respiratory diseases during adulthood.

Funding

The National Institutes of Health grants.

Association of early life physical and sexual abuse with premature mortality among female nurses: prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To explore associations between early life physical and sexual abuse and subsequent risk of premature mortality (death before age 70 years).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

The Nurses' Health Study II (2001-19).

PARTICIPANTS

67 726 female nurses aged 37-54 years when completing a violence victimization questionnaire in 2001.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for total and cause specific premature mortality by childhood or adolescent physical and sexual abuse, estimated by multivariable Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

2410 premature deaths were identified over 18 years of follow-up. Nurses who experienced severe physical abuse or forced sexual activity in childhood and adolescence had a higher crude premature mortality rate than nurses without such abuse in childhood or adolescence (3.15 v 1.83 and 4.00 v 1.90 per 1000 person years, respectively). The corresponding age adjusted hazard ratios for premature deaths were 1.65 (95% confidence interval 1.45 to 1.87) and 2.04 (1.71 to 2.44), respectively, which were materially unchanged after further adjusting for personal characteristics and early life socioeconomic status (1.53, 1.35 to 1.74, and 1.80, 1.50 to 2.15, respectively). Cause specific analyses indicated that severe physical abuse was associated with a greater risk of mortality due to external causes of injury and poisoning (multivariable adjusted hazard ratio 2.81, 95% confidence interval 1.62 to 4.89), suicide (3.05, 1.41 to 6.60), and diseases of the digestive system (2.40, 1.01 to 5.68). Forced sexual activity as a child and adolescent was associated with greater risk of mortality due to cardiovascular disease (2.48, 1.37 to 4.46), external injury or poisoning (3.25, 1.53 to 6.91), suicide (4.30, 1.74 to 10.61), respiratory disease (3.74, 1.40 to 9.99), and diseases of the digestive system (4.83, 1.77 to 13.21). The association of sexual abuse with premature mortality was stronger among women who smoked or had higher levels of anxiety during adulthood. Smoking, low physical activity, anxiety, and depression each explained 3.9-22.4% of the association between early life abuse and premature mortality.

CONCLUSION

Early life physical and sexual abuse could be associated with a greater risk of adult premature mortality.

Long-term cardiometabolic health in people born after assisted reproductive technology: a multi-cohort analysis

AIMS

To examine associations of assisted reproductive technology (ART) conception (vs. natural conception: NC) with offspring cardiometabolic health outcomes and whether these differ with age.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Differences in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), lipids, and hyperglycaemic/insulin resistance markers were examined using multiple linear regression models in 14 population-based birth cohorts in Europe, Australia, and Singapore, and results were combined using meta-analysis. Change in cardiometabolic outcomes from 2 to 26 years was examined using trajectory modelling of four cohorts with repeated measures. 35 938 (654 ART) offspring were included in the meta-analysis. Mean age ranged from 13 months to 27.4 years but was <10 years in 11/14 cohorts. Meta-analysis found no statistical difference (ART minus NC) in SBP (-0.53 mmHg; 95% CI:-1.59 to 0.53), DBP (-0.24 mmHg; -0.83 to 0.35), or HR (0.02 beat/min; -0.91 to 0.94). Total cholesterol (2.59%; 0.10-5.07), HDL cholesterol (4.16%; 2.52-5.81), LDL cholesterol (4.95%; 0.47-9.43) were statistically significantly higher in ART-conceived vs. NC offspring. No statistical difference was seen for triglycerides (TG), glucose, insulin, and glycated haemoglobin. Long-term follow-up of 17 244 (244 ART) births identified statistically significant associations between ART and lower predicted SBP/DBP in childhood, and subtle trajectories to higher SBP and TG in young adulthood; however, most differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

These findings of small and statistically non-significant differences in offspring cardiometabolic outcomes should reassure people receiving ART. Longer-term follow-up is warranted to investigate changes over adulthood in the risks of hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and preclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease.

Infertility and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background Certain symptoms associated with infertility are associated with cardiovascular disease, including menstrual cycle irregularity, early menopause, and obesity; however, few studies have investigated the association between infertility and cardiovascular disease risk. Methods and Results Participants in the NHSII (Nurses' Health Study II) who reported infertility (12 months of trying to conceive without success, including women who subsequently conceived) or who were gravid, with no infertility were followed from 1989 until 2017 for development of incident, physician-diagnosed coronary heart disease (CHD) (myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, angioplasty, stent) and stroke. Time-varying Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs and were adjusted a priori for potential confounding variables. Among 103 729 participants, 27.6% reported having ever experienced infertility. Compared with gravid women who had not reported infertility, women with a history of infertility had greater risk of CHD (HR, 1.13 [95% CI, 1.01-1.26]) but not stroke (HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.77-1.07]). The association between history of infertility and CHD was strongest among women who reported infertility at an earlier age (HR for infertility first reported at ≤25 years, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.09-1.46]; HR at 26-30 years, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.93-1.25]; HR at >30 years, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.70-1.19]). When we investigated specific infertility diagnoses, elevated risk of CHD was observed among women whose infertility was attributed to an ovulatory disorder (HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.05-1.55]) or endometriosis (HR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.09-1.85]). Conclusions Women with infertility may be at an increased risk of CHD. Risk differed by age at first infertility diagnosis and was restricted to ovulatory- and endometriosis-related infertility.

Cell-free fetal DNA for genetic evaluation in Copenhagen Pregnancy Loss Study (COPL): a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

One in four pregnancies end in a pregnancy loss. Although the effect on couples is well documented, evidence-based treatments and prediction models are absent. Fetal aneuploidy is associated with a higher chance of a next successful pregnancy compared with euploid pregnancy loss in which underlying maternal conditions might be causal. Ploidy diagnostics are therefore advantageous but challenging as they require collection of the pregnancy tissue. Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) from maternal blood has the potential for evaluation of fetal ploidy status, but no large-scale validation of the method has been done.

METHODS

In this prospective cohort study, women with a pregnancy loss were recruited as a part of the Copenhagen Pregnancy Loss (COPL) study from three gynaecological clinics at public hospitals in Denmark. Women were eligible for inclusion if older than 18 years with a pregnancy loss before gestational age 22 weeks (ie, 154 days) and with an intrauterine pregnancy confirmed by ultrasound (including anembryonic sac), and women with pregnancies of unknown location or molar pregnancies were excluded. Maternal blood was collected while pregnancy tissue was still in situ or within 24 h after pregnancy tissue had passed and was analysed by genome-wide sequencing of cffDNA. Direct sequencing of the pregnancy tissue was done as reference.

FINDINGS

We included 1000 consecutive women, at the time of a pregnancy loss diagnosis, between Nov 12, 2020, and May 1, 2022. Results from the first 333 women with a pregnancy loss (recruited between Nov 12, 2020, and Aug 14, 2021) were used to evaluate the validity of cffDNA-based testing. Results from the other 667 women were included to evaluate cffDNA performance and result distribution in a larger cohort of 1000 women in total. Gestational age of fetus ranged from 35-149 days (mean of 70·5 days [SD 16·5], or 10 weeks plus 1 day). The cffDNA-based test had a sensitivity for aneuploidy detection of 85% (95% CI 79-90) and a specificity of 93% (95% CI 88-96) compared with direct sequencing of the pregnancy tissue. Among 1000 cffDNA-based test results, 446 (45%) were euploid, 405 (41%) aneuploid, 37 (4%) had multiple aneuploidies, and 112 (11%) were inconclusive. 105 (32%) of 333 women either did not manage to collect the pregnancy tissue or collected a sample classified as unknown tissue giving a high risk of being maternal.

INTERPRETATION

This validation of cffDNA-based testing in pregnancy loss shows the potential and feasibility of the method to distinguish euploid and aneuploid pregnancy loss for improved clinical management and benefit of future reproductive medicine and women's health research.

FUNDING

Ole Kirks Foundation, BioInnovation Institute Foundation, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, diet, and weight) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose control) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, heart failure, valvular disease, venous disease, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The American Heart Association, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2023 Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2022 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and American Heart Association staff members. The American Heart Association strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) publications, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

Markers of Cardiovascular Risk Associated with Pregnancy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of the review is to summarize the unique cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors encountered during pregnancy and to provide the reader with a framework for acquiring a comprehensive obstetric history during the cardiovascular (CV) assessment of women.

RECENT FINDINGS

Individuals with a history of pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), gestational diabetes (GDM), preterm delivery, low birth weight, and fetal growth restriction during pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing short- and long-term CV complications compared to those without adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). Women with a history of APOs can be at increased risk of CVD even after achieving normoglycemia and normal blood pressure control postpartum. Risk assessment and stratification in women must account for these APOs as recommended by the 2019 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guideline on the primary prevention of CVD. Early recognition, monitoring, and treatment of APOs are key to limiting CVD complications late in maternal life. Recognition of APOs as female-specific cardiovascular risk factors is critical for risk stratification for women and birthing persons. Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay between genetics, environmental, behavioral, and maternal vascular health, and the association between APOs and CVD risk.

Maternal Mortality in the United States: Trends and Opportunities for Prevention

Maternal mortality is unusually high in the United States compared to other wealthy nations and is characterized by major disparities in race/ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic factors. Similar to other developed nations, the United States has seen a shift in the underlying causes of pregnancy-related death, with a relative increase in mortality resulting from diseases of the cardiovascular system and preexisting medical conditions. Improved continuity of care aimed at identifying reproductive-age women with preexisting conditions that may heighten the risk of maternal death, preconception management of risk factors for major adverse pregnancy outcomes, and primary care visits within the first year after delivery may offer opportunities to address gaps in medical care contributing to the unacceptable rates of maternal mortality in the United States.

Previous pregnancy loss and gestational cardiovascular health: A prospective cohort of nulliparous women

Objectives

To estimate the association of previous pregnancy loss with subsequent cardiovascular health during gestation and to examine the role of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the association.

Methods

A total of 2,778 nulliparous pregnant women were recruited between March 2015 and November 2020 in Hefei city, China. Their cardiovascular health (CVH) including prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, and smoke status were recorded at 24-28 weeks' gestation, as well as their reproductive history. Multivariate linear and logistic regression were performed to examine the association of pregnancy loss with cardiovascular health. And the role of hs-CRP between pregnancy loss and CVH was assessed by the mediation analysis.

Results

Compared with women who have no pregnancy loss, women with a history of spontaneous or induced abortions had higher BMI (β, 0.72, 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.94) and fasting plasma glucose (β, 0.04, 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.07), and had lower total CVH scores after adjusting for confounders (β, -0.09, 95% CI, -0.18 to -0.01). CVH scores were most significantly decreased among women with 3 or more induced abortions (β, -0.26, 95% CI, -0.49, -0.02). The contribution of pregnancy loss to poorer gestational CVH mediated by increased hs-CRP levels was 23.17%.

Conclusion

Previous pregnancy loss was associated with poorer cardiovascular health during gestation, which may be mediated by their gestational inflammatory status. Exposure to miscarriage alone was not a significant predictor of poorer CVH.

Pregnancy Loss and Cardiovascular Diseases in Women: Recent Findings and Potential Mechanisms

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Pregnancy loss (PL) has been acknowledged by the American Heart Association as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) later in life. This review aims to sum up recent findings (< ~ 5 years), concerning the link between PL and CVD.

RECENT FINDINGS

The association between PL and risk of CVD increased with increasing number of PLs and is inversely correlated to maternal age, indicating that the association concerns euploid PLs. Likely mechanisms leading to PL and an increased risk of CVD include endothelial dysfunction, a pro-inflammatory state, antiphospholipid syndrome, autoimmunity, and genetic predisposition. PL as an independent risk factor for CVD constitutes an obvious gateway for a more targeted approach to future research, prevention, and treatment. Future research should clarify the following questions to which the answers are still unknown: whether PL is (a) directly causing the increased risk of CVD or (b) sharing pathophysiological mechanisms also leading to CVD.

Characterizing the follicular fluid metabolome: quantifying the correlation across follicles and differences with the serum metabolome

OBJECTIVE

To compare the variability in metabolomes between the serum and follicular fluid, as well as across 3 dominant follicles.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

An academic fertility clinic in the northeastern United States, 2005-2015.

PATIENTS

One hundred thirty-five women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment who provided a serum sample during ovarian stimulation and up to 3 follicular fluid samples during oocyte retrieval.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry and 2 chromatography columns (C18 hydrophobic negative and hydrophilic interaction chromatography [HILIC] positive). We calculated overall, feature-specific, and subject-specific correlation coefficients to describe how strongly the intensity of overlapping metabolic features were associated between the serum and follicular fluid and between the 1st-2nd, 1st-3rd, and 2nd-3rd follicles. Feature-specific correlations were adjusted for age, body mass index, infertility diagnosis, ovarian stimulation protocol, and year.

RESULT(S)

From the C18-negative column and the high-resolution mass spectrometry, 7,830 serum features and 10,790 follicular fluid features were detected in ≥20% of samples. After screening retention times and checking for 1:1 matching, 1,928 features overlapped between the 2 metabolomes. From the HILIC-positive column and the high-resolution mass spectrometry, after applying the same exclusion criteria, there were 9,074 serum features, 5,542 follicular fluid features, and 1,149 features that overlapped. When comparing the feature intensity of overlapping metabolites in the serum and the follicular fluid, the overall (C18, 0.45; HILIC, 0.63), median feature-specific (C18, 0.35; HILIC, 0.37), and median subject-specific (C18, 0.42; HILIC, 0.59) correlations were low to moderate. In contrast, among the overlapping features across all 3 follicles, the overall (C18, all 0.99; HILIC, all 0.99), median feature-specific (C18, 0.74-0.81; HILIC, 0.79-0.85), and median subject-specific (C18, 0.88-0.89; HILIC, 0.90-0.91) correlations between follicular fluid metabolomics features within a woman were high.

CONCLUSION(S)

We observed minimal overlap and weak-to-moderate correlation between metabolomic features in the serum and follicular fluid but a large overlap and strong correlation between metabolomic features across follicles within a woman. The follicular fluid appears to represent a novel matrix, distinct from serum, which may be a rich source of biologic predictors of female fertility and reproductive outcomes.

Menstrual Cycle Regularity and Length Across the Reproductive Lifespan and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Importance

Menstrual cycle characteristics may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, existing studies are limited, and few have explored the mediating role of established CVD risk factors.

Objective

To explore the associations of menstrual cycle characteristics across the reproductive lifespan with the risk of CVD and to what extent these associations were mediated by hypercholesterolemia, chronic hypertension, and type 2 diabetes.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study prospectively followed Nurses' Health Study II participants between 1993 and 2017 who reported menstrual cycle regularity and length for ages 14 to 17 years and 18 to 22 years at enrollment in 1989 and updated current cycle characteristics in 1993 (at ages 29 to 46 years). Data analysis was performed from October 1, 2019, to January 1, 2022.

Exposures

Menstrual cycle regularity and length across the reproductive lifespan.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Incident CVD events of interest, including fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD; myocardial infarction [MI] or coronary revascularization) and stroke.

Results

A total of 80 630 Nurses' Health Study II participants were included in the analysis, with a mean (SD) age of 37.7 (4.6) years and body mass index of 25.1 (5.6) at baseline. Over 24 years of prospective follow-up, 1816 women developed their first CVD event. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models showed that, compared with women reporting very regular cycles at the same ages, women who had irregular cycles or no periods at ages 14 to 17, 18 to 22, or 29 to 46 years had hazard ratios for CVD of 1.15 (95% CI, 0.99-1.34), 1.36 (95% CI, 1.06-1.75), and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.14-1.71), respectively. Similarly, compared with women reporting a cycle length of 26 to 31 days, women reporting a cycle length 40 days or more or a cycle too irregular to estimate from ages 18 to 22 or 29 to 46 years had hazard ratios for CVD of 1.44 (95% CI, 1.13-1.84) and 1.30 (95% CI, 1.09-1.57), respectively. Mediation analyses showed that subsequent development of hypercholesteremia, chronic hypertension, and type 2 diabetes only explained 5.4% to 13.5% of the observed associations.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, both irregular and long menstrual cycles were associated with increased rates of CVD, which persisted even after accounting for subsequently established CVD risk factors.

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Postpartum Care as a Pathway to Future Health

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) collectively represent the leading causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Beyond the potentially devastating impact of APOs during pregnancy and the puerperium, women diagnosed with APOs have a 2-fold to 4-fold increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. Fortunately, APOs occur at an opportune time, in early-adulthood to mid-adulthood, when primary and secondary prevention strategies can alter the disease trajectory and improve long-term health outcomes. This chapter takes a life-course approach to (1) the epidemiology of APOs, (2) evidence-based strategies for clinicians to manage APOs, and (3) future directions for APO research and clinical practice.

Associations of birth weight and later life lifestyle factors with risk of cardiovascular disease in the USA: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Low birth weight has been associated with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the interaction between low birth weight and adult lifestyle factors on the risk of CVD remains unclear.

METHODS

We included 20,169 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS, 1986-2016), 52,380 women from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS, 1980-2018), and 85,350 women from the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II, 1991-2017) in the USA who reported birth weight and updated data on adult body weight, smoking status, physical activity, and diet every 2-4 years. Incident cases of CVD, defined as a combined endpoint of fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, were self-reported and confirmed by physicians through reviewing medical records.

FINDINGS

During 4,370,051 person-years of follow-up, 16,244 incident CVD cases were documented, including 12,126 CHD and 4118 stroke cases. Cox proportional hazards regression models revealed an increased risk of CHD during adulthood across categories of decreasing birth weight in all cohorts (all P for linear trend <0.001). Additionally, we found an additive interaction between decreasing birth weight and unhealthy lifestyles on the risk of CHD among women, with a pooled relative excess risk due to interaction of 0.06 (95% CI: 0.04-0.08). The attributable proportions of the joint effect were 23.0% (95% CI: 11.0-36.0%) for decreasing birth weight alone, 67.0% (95% CI: 58.0-75.0%) for unhealthy lifestyle alone, and 11.0% (95% CI: 5.0-17.0%) for their additive interaction. Lower birth weight was associated with a greater stroke risk only among women, which was independent of later-life lifestyle factors.

INTERPRETATION

Lower birth weight may interact synergistically with unhealthy lifestyle factors in adulthood to further increase the risk of CHD among women.

FUNDING

The National Institutes of Health grants.

Pregnancy loss and subsequent risk of prediabetes, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in couples: Tehran lipid and glucose study

Background

There is limited evidence regarding the impact of pregnancy loss on the subsequent risk of metabolic disorders. We aimed to investigate whether history of pregnancy loss is associated with the subsequent risk of prediabetes (pre-DM), diabetes (DM), and metabolic syndrome (METs) among couples.

Method

In this population-based cohort study, 2765 couples with and without history of pregnancy loss and free of DM, pre-DM, and METs at baseline were included and followed for incidents of DM, pre-DM, and METs by 3-year intervals visits from 1999 to 2018. Detailed data of variables was collected using standard questionnaires, interviews, clinical and laboratory assessments. A modified Poisson regression for binary outcome data with a log link function and robust error variance was used to estimate relative risks (RRs) in couples with and without history of pregnancy loss. Both unadjusted and adjusted models were fitted, and effect measures were calculated.

Result

During a median follow-up of 15 years, females with history of pregnancy loss were experienced more pre-DM (50% vs. 45.5%), DM (28.9% vs. 21.3%), and METs (70% vs. 60.1%) than females without such history. Moreover, history of pregnancy loss increased the risk of METs by 8% among females. The incidence of DM in males with history of pregnancy loss in their spouses was higher than in males without it (28.8% vs. 23.5%). Among males, having a spouse with history of pregnancy loss was positively associated with the risk of pre-DM (RR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.02, 1.23, p = 0.02); furthermore, they were more prone to the risk of METs than females with a history of pregnancy loss (RR = 1.13; 95%CI: 1.07, 1.20, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Although pregnancy loss is a female-specific factor, may foreshadow the subsequent METs, our study identified a higher risk of subsequent pre-DM and METs in males with history of pregnancy loss in their spouses. Pregnancy loss could be considered a possible future risk factor for metabolic disorders in couples.