Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Women After Maternal Complications of Pregnancy: An Observational Cohort Analysis

Association of thyroid peroxidase antibody positivity in the first trimester with gestational metabolic disorders: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) positivity in the first trimester and maternal metabolic syndrome in pregnancy.

METHODS

The study retrospectively reviewed the medical records for 787 pregnant women. Serum-free thyroid hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, and TPOAb levels were measured in early pregnancy (<13 weeks gestation). Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, thyroid function, and pregnancy outcomes were compared between women who were TPOAb positive or TPOAb negative in the first trimester. Associations between TPOAb positivity in the first trimester and the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP), maternal metabolic syndrome in pregnancy, and adverse pregnancy outcomes were explored.

RESULTS

Data for 787 women with a singleton pregnancy were included in the analyses. In women who were TPOAb positive compared to TPOAb negative in the first trimester, baseline HDL-C was significantly lower (1.51 [1.33, 1.81] vs. 1.62 [1.40, 1.87], p = 0.028), and there was a significantly higher incidence of HDCP (15.8% vs. 6%, p < 0.0001), maternal metabolic syndrome in pregnancy (18.8% vs 6.4%, p < 0.0001) or preeclampsia (7% vs, 2.5%, p = 0.024). There was a significant nonlinear association between TPOAb levels in the first trimester and the incidence of HDCP or maternal metabolic syndrome in pregnancy (both p < 0.001). The logit of the probability of having HDCP or maternal metabolic syndrome in pregnancy increased rapidly at TPOAb (log10) ≤ 1.5 (TPOAb (log10) = 1.07 as reference). After adjusting for confounders (maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, gravidity, parity and history of adverse events during pregnancy), there was a significantly higher risk of HDCP (odds ratio [OR], 3.029; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.586, 5.622, p = 0.001), maternal metabolic syndrome in pregnancy (OR, 2.841; 95% CI, 1.473-5.260, p = 0.001), or preeclampsia (OR 3.315, 95% CI 1.305-7.788, p = 0.008) in women who were TPOAb positive compared to TPOAb negative in the first trimester.

CONCLUSION

TPOAb positivity in the first trimester may increase the risk of HDCP, maternal metabolic syndrome in pregnancy, and preeclampsia, emphasizing the need for universal screening for thyroid disorders and better diagnostic criteria and management strategies for metabolic disorders during pregnancy.

Live Births in Women over 40 Years of Age Correlate with Obesity Rates

AIMS

This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the relationship between live birth and the prevalence of obesity in Chinese women over 40 years of age.

METHODS

From April to November 2011, the Endocrinology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association conducted the REACTION project, a national, multicenter, cross-sectional study of Chinese adults aged 40 years and older. Demographic and medical data were collected through validated questionnaires and equipment. Anthropometric indicators, blood pressure, and biochemical data were measured by professional medical personnel. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic analysis. Multivariate regression models were used to analyze obesity-related risk factors.

RESULTS

The prevalence of obesity among women increased gradually from 3.8% to 6.0% with an increasing number of live births. Women with two live births had the highest prevalence of overweight at 34.3%. Overall, the obesity and overweight rates were slightly higher in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women. Univariate regression analysis showed that the risk of obesity in women increased with an increasing number of live births. In addition, multivariate regression analysis showed that the risk of obesity increased with an increasing number of live births in women with systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 121 mmHg or current smoking (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The risk of obesity increases with the number of live births in Chinese women over 40 years of age with SBP < 121 mmHg or current smoking. Our findings may facilitate the development of interventions to prevent obesity in this population.

The association of breast feeding for at least six months with hemodynamic and metabolic health of women and their children aged three years: an observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Breastfeeding is important for both mother and child in reducing risk of future cardiovascular disease. Therefore, it may be an effective method to improve cardio-metabolic health, particularly those who are exposed to pregnancy complications which increase later CVD risk for both mother and child. The aim of this study is to assess differences in cardiometabolic health at three years postpartum in mothers who breastfed for at least six months and their children compared to those who did not.

METHODS

Women and children from the Screening Tests to Predict Poor Outcomes of Pregnancy (STOP) study (2015-2017) were invited to attend a health check-up at three years postpartum. Women's breastfeeding status at least six months postpartum was ascertained through their child health record. Anthropometric and hemodynamic measurements were taken from women and their children. A fasting blood sample was taken from women to measure blood glucose and lipids.

RESULTS

A total of 160 woman-child dyads were assessed in this study. Women who breastfed for at least six months had significantly lower maternal BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure, central systolic blood pressure, and central diastolic blood pressure than those who did not and this did not change after adjusting for BMI and socioeconomic index in early pregnancy, prenatal smoking and maternal age in early pregnancy. Subgroup analysis on women who had one or more pregnancy complications during the index pregnancy (i.e. preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, delivery of a small for gestational age infant, delivery of a preterm infant, and/or gestational diabetes mellitus) demonstrated that women who breastfed for at least six months had significantly lower maternal systolic and diastolic blood pressures, serum insulin and triglycerides, and higher HDL cholesterol. There were no differences in child anthropometric or hemodynamic variables at three years of age between those children who had been breastfed for at least six months and those who had not.

CONCLUSION

Breastfeeding for at least six months may reduce some maternal; cardiovascular risk factors in women at three years postpartum, in particular, in those who have experienced a complication of pregnancy.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ACTRN12614000985684 (12/09/2014).

Effectiveness of a nurse practitioner-led cardiovascular prevention clinic at reduction of metabolic syndrome following maternal complications of pregnancy: a preliminary analysis

AIM

Maternal complications of pregnancy, including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labour, and placental abruption, are associated with increased risk of future cardiometabolic disease. Lifestyle interventions that focus on preventative strategies for this young, high-risk population of women may assist in cardiometabolic disease risk reduction. The aim of this preliminary registry analysis was to observe the change in maternal metabolic syndrome status after receiving a nurse practitioner-led lifestyle intervention delivered soon after a complicated pregnancy.

METHOD

This preliminary analysis included 64 eligible women who had attended both baseline (approximately 6 months postpartum) and review (approximately eighteen months postpartum) appointments at the postpartum lifestyle clinic after an index pregnancy complicated by at least one maternal complication of pregnancy. Metabolic syndrome status at both appointments was assessed.

RESULTS

At the baseline appointment, 22 (34.4%) women met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. This number reduced at the review appointment to 19 (29.7%). This difference was not statistically significant. There were some modest improvements in the individual cardiometabolic risk factors, as well as marked improvements in the women who had recovered from metabolic syndrome over twelve months.

CONCLUSION

There was a high percentage of metabolic syndrome present early in the postpartum period. The results of this preliminary analysis highlight the importance of continuing preventative care and ongoing research for this group of high-risk women.