The association between ultra-processed food and common pregnancy adverse outcomes: a dose-response systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Given the increasing incidence of negative outcomes during pregnancy, our research team conducted a dose-response systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the relationship between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption and common adverse pregnancy outcomes including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preeclampsia (PE), preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA) infants. UPFs are described as formulations of food substances often modified by chemical processes and then assembled into ready-to-consume hyper-palatable food and drink products using flavors, colors, emulsifiers, and other cosmetic additives. Examples include savory snacks, reconstituted meat products, frozen meals that have already been made, and soft drinks. METHODS: A comprehensive search was performed using the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases up to December 2023. We pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. RESULTS: Our analysis (encompassing 54 studies with 552,686 individuals) revealed a significant association between UPFs intake and increased risks of GDM (RR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.27; I2 = 77.5%; p < 0.001; studies = 44; number of participants = 180,824), PE (RR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.59; I2 = 80.0%; p = 0.025; studies = 12; number of participants = 54,955), while no significant relationships were found for PTB, LBW and SGA infants. Importantly, a 100 g increment in UPFs intake was related to a 27% increase in GDM risk (RR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.51; I2 = 81.0%; p = 0.007; studies = 9; number of participants = 39,812). The non-linear dose-response analysis further indicated a positive, non-linear relationship between UPFs intake and GDM risk Pnonlinearity = 0.034, Pdose-response = 0.034), although no such relationship was observed for PE (Pnonlinearity = 0.696, Pdose-response = 0.812). CONCLUSION: In summary, both prior to and during pregnancy, chronic and excessive intake of UPFs is associated with an increased risk of GDM and PE. However, further observational studies, particularly among diverse ethnic groups with precise UPFs consumption measurement tools, are imperative for a more comprehensive understanding.

Urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites in relation to preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the environmental influences on child health outcomes (ECHO) program.

BACKGROUND: Phthalate exposure may contribute to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E), but epidemiologic studies are lacking. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate associations of pregnancy phthalate exposure with development of PE/E and HDP. METHODS: Using data from 3,430 participants in eight Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program cohorts (enrolled from 1999 to 2019), we quantified concentrations of 13 phthalate metabolites (8 measured in all cohorts, 13 in a subset of four cohorts) in urine samples collected at least once during pregnancy. We operationalized outcomes as PE/E and composite HDP (PE/E and/or gestational hypertension). After correcting phthalate metabolite concentrations for urinary dilution, we evaluated covariate-adjusted associations of individual phthalates with odds of PE/E or composite HDP via generalized estimating equations, and the phthalate mixture via quantile-based g-computation. We also explored effect measure modification by fetal sex using stratified models. Effect estimates are reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: In adjusted analyses, a doubling of mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) and of mono (3-carboxypropyl) phthalate (MCPP) concentrations was associated with higher odds of PE/E as well as composite HDP, with somewhat larger associations for PE/E. For example, a doubling of MCPP was associated with 1.12 times the odds of PE/E (95%CI 1.00, 1.24) and 1.02 times the odds of composite HDP (95%CI 1.00, 1.05). A quartile increase in the phthalate mixture was associated with 1.27 times the odds of PE/E (95%CI 0.94, 1.70). A doubling of mono-carboxy isononyl phthalate (MCiNP) and of mono-carboxy isooctyl phthalate (MCiOP) concentrations were associated with 1.08 (95%CI 1.00, 1.17) and 1.11 (95%CI 1.03, 1.19) times the odds of PE/E. Effect estimates for PE/E were generally larger among pregnancies carrying female fetuses. DISCUSSION: In this study, multiple phthalates were associated with higher odds of PE/E and HDP. Estimates were precise and some were low in magnitude. Interventions to reduce phthalate exposures during pregnancy may help mitigate risk of these conditions.

Association between migraine and pre-eclampsia among pregnant women: a single hospital-based case-control study in India.

BACKGROUND: Pre-eclampsia and migraine share some similar aspects of pathophysiology such as vascular function, platelet activation, and enhanced clotting. A few observational studies from different demographics showed that pregnant women with a history of migraine were at higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia. However, there is no such evidence available from the Indian context. Hence, a hospital-based case-control study was conducted among Indian women to determine the association between migraine and pre-eclampsia. METHOD: It was a single-centre case-control study in a tertiary care hospital in India. Cases were pregnant women with clinically diagnosed pre-eclampsia, and controls were normotensive pregnant women. Migraine was diagnosed with a questionnaire adapted from the "International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD), 3rd Edition" by the International Headache Society, (IHS). We performed logistic regression to explore the association between migraine and pre-eclampsia. RESULT: One hundred sixty-four women (82 women per group) were enrolled. The mean age among the cases (24.5 years, standard deviation of 2.4 years) was slightly higher than the mean age of the controls (23.5 years, standard deviation of 2.5 years) with a p-value of 0.006. We found that women with a history of migraine were more likely to develop pre-eclampsia (Adjusted Odds Ratio 6.17; p-value < 0.001, 95% Confidence Interval of 2.85 to 13.62). CONCLUSION: The current findings suggest a significant association between migraine and pre-eclampsia aligning with previous study findings; nevertheless, larger follow-up studies including women from different states in India are needed.

Population-based study of eclampsia: Lessons learnt to improve maternity care.

BACKGROUND: Among hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), eclampsia is a rare but serious event, often considered avoidable. Detailed assessment of the adequacy of care for the women who have eclampsia can help identify opportunities for improvement and for prevention of the associated adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. OBJECTIVE: 1/ To estimate the incidence and describe the characteristics of women with eclampsia and to compare them with those of women with non-eclamptic hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP)-related severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and of control women without SMM 2/ To analyse the quality of management in women who had eclampsia, at various stages of their care pathway. METHODS: It was a planned ancillary analysis of the EPIMOMS population-based study, conducted in six French regions in 2012-2013. Among the 182,309 maternities of the source population, all women with eclampsia (n = 51), with non-eclamptic HDP-related SMM (n = 351) and a 2% representative sample of women without SMM (n = 3,651) were included. Main outcome was the quality of care for eclampsia assessed by an independent expert panel at three different stages of management: antenatal care, care for pre-eclampsia and care for eclampsia. RESULTS: The eclampsia incidence was 2.8 per 10,000 (95%CI 2.0-4.0). Antenatal care was considered completely inadequate or substandard in 39% of women, as was pre-eclampsia care in 76%. Care for eclampsia was judged completely inadequate or substandard in 50% (21/42), mainly due to inadequate use of magnesium sulphate. CONCLUSION: The high proportion of inadequate quality of care underlines the need for an evidence-based standardisation of care for HDP.

Causal associations between Helicobacter pylori infection and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational studies have reported that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is associated with a series of pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. However, the results have been inconsistent, and the causal effect is unknown. Methods: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study was performed using summary-level statistics for anti-H. pylori IgG levels from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Cohort. Outcome data for pregnancy (miscarriage, preeclampsia-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, placental abruption, premature rupture of membranes, postpartum hemorrhage) and neonates (birthweight, gestational age, and preterm birth) were sourced from genome-wide association meta-analysis as well as the FinnGen and Early Growth Genetics Consortium. Causal estimates were calculated by five methods including inverse variance weighted (IVW). The heterogeneity of instrumental variables was quantified by Cochran's Q test, while sensitivity analyses were performed via MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO, and leave-one-out tests. Results: IVW estimates suggested that genetically predicted anti-H. pylori IgG levels were significantly associated with increased risks of preeclampsia-eclampsia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.24, P = 0.026) and premature rupture of membranes (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.30, P = 0.004). Similar results were obtained for preeclampsia-eclampsia from the MR-Egger method (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.06-1.64, P = 0.027) and for premature rupture of membranes from the weighted median method (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.41, P = 0.006). No significant causal effects were found for other outcomes. There was no obvious heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy across the MR analysis. Conclusion: Our two-sample MR study demonstrated a causal relationship of H. pylori infection with preeclampsia-eclampsia and premature rupture of membranes. The findings confirm the epidemiological evidence on the adverse impact of H. pylori in pregnancy. Further studies are needed to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms and assess the effectiveness of pre-pregnancy screening and preventive eradication.

Factors contributing to preterm birth in patients presenting at tertiary care hospitals in Punjab.

Objective: To determine the various causes and factors leading to preterm birth in women presenting at tertiary care hospitals. METHODS: The cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted from June 19, 2021, to January 19, 2022, at the Central Park Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, in collaboration with other tertiary care teaching hospitals in Lahore, and comprised pregnant women aged 15-45 years with preterm birth. Demographic and obstetric data was collected. Depending on the factors contributing to preterm birth, the subjects were categorised as spontaneous labour group A, preterm prelabour rupture of membrane group B, and iatrogenic preterm birth group C. Data was analysed using SPSS 25. RESULTS: Of the 1,300 recorded births, 200(15.38%) were preterm. Group A had 86(43%) women with mean age 28.55±4.68 years, group B had 43(21,5%) women with mean age 27.14±3.25 years, and group C had 71(35.5%) women with mean age 28.28±3.74 years (p>0.05). There was significant difference among the groups with respect to body mass index (p=0.001) and parity (p=0.021). Vaginal and urinary tract infections were significantly higher in group A compared to the other groups (p<0.05). In group C, pre-eclampsia was the main reason for preterm birth 45(63.38%). Conclusion: Medically indicated preterm birth rate was found to be high, and pre-eclampsia was noted as the main cause in iatrogenic preterm birth.

Maternal Risk Factors Associated with Preterm Birth: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is the child birth before 37 completed weeks .Prematurity is one of the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality due to the complications associated with it. The objective of the study was to determine the maternal risk factors associated with all preterm birth in singleton pregnancy at National hospital. METHODS: Hospital based unmatched case control study was conducted between March 2021 to December 2021 at National hospital, Thimphu, Bhutan. Case to control ratio was 1:2.Data were collected using interviewer -administered structured questionnaires. The collected data were entered into Epi-data and exported into SPSS for analysis. Independent variables with p-valves<0.05 in the univariate analysis were entered to multi variable logistic model to estimate the strength of association .P-valve <0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Total of 107 cases and 201 controls participated with a response rate of 95.95%.Multiple logistic regression showed that mothers with ANC follow ≤ four[aOR 9.58(7.36-28.86) ], previous history of preterm delivery [aOR 2.99(1.5-15.77) ], previous caesarean section [aOR 5.72(2.19-14.92)], prelabour rupture of membrane [aOR 8.67(3.78-19.73)], fetal growth restriction [aOR 7.28(2.11-25.11)] , and pre-eclampsia [aOR 10.99(6.75-85.29) were the risk factors positively associated with preterm birth . CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that preeclampsia, number of antenatal care visits ≤ four, prelabour rupture of membrane, fetal growth restriction, previous caesarean section and previous preterm delivery were the risk factors for preterm birth. This show the need of early screening and prevention of preeclampsia, strengthening of antenatal care follow-up, and treatment of infection to prevent prelabour rupture of membrane, reducing primary caesarean section and more attention and care with previous preterm birth .

Association of air temperature exposure during pregnancy with risk of preeclampsia in Guangzhou, China.

Environmental exposures during pregnancy have been associated with adverse obstetric outcomes. However, limited and inconsistent evidence exists regarding the association between air temperature exposure and the risk of preeclampsia (PE). This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between ambient temperature exposure during pregnancy and PE risk, as well as identify the specific time window of temperature exposure that increases PE risk. A population-based cohort study was conducted from January 2012 to April 2022 in Guangzhou, China. Pregnant women were recruited in early pregnancy and followed until delivery. A total of 3,314 PE patients and 114,201 normal pregnancies were included. Ambient temperature exposures at different gestational weeks were recorded for each participant. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the correlation between ambient temperature exposure and PE risk. Stratified analyses were conducted based on maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI. Distributed lag models were employed to identify the time window of temperature exposure related to PE. Exposure to extreme high temperature (aOR = 1.24, 95 % CI 1.12-1.38) and moderate high temperature (aOR = 1.22, 95 % CI 1.10-1.35) during early pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of PE. Furthermore, women with higher pre-pregnancy BMI had a higher risk of developing PE when exposed to high temperature during early pregnancy compared to normal-weight women. The time window of temperature exposure related to PE was identified as pregnancy weeks 1 to 8. This study provides evidence for the association of high temperature exposure during early pregnancy with the risk of PE, as well as identifies the specific time window of temperature exposure related to PE. These findings have implications for developing potential strategies to protect pregnant women, particularly those with higher pre-pregnancy BMI, from the adverse effects of extreme temperatures during early pregnancy.

Association of cardiovascular risk factors and myocardial hypertrophy in women with preeclampsia history.

AIMS: A historic of preeclampsia (PE) has been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in women. There are substantial evidences that cardiovascular changes resulting from PE can persist even after pregnancy end. Therefore, the aims was to evaluate the prevalence of myocardial hypertrophy in young women 12 months after PE event as well as try to identify risk factors for these changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-center observational prospective cross-sectional study that included 118 consecutive patients after 12 months of PE. Clinical and laboratory evaluations, echocardiogram were performed. Myocardial hypertrophy (LVH) was defined as an index myocardial mass ≥ 45 g/m2.7, for women. Classical risk factors for CVD were considered. Analysis included linear or logistic regression and Spearman's correlation coefficient. Significance level of 5 %. KEY FINDINGS: Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) was identified in 52 patients (44 %), overweight/obesity (OOB) in 82 (69 %), dyslipidemia in 68 (57 %) and metabolic syndrome in 47 patients (40 %). LVH was present in 35 cases (29 %) and associated with OOB (OR = 4.51; CI95%:1.18-17.17, p < 0.001), in a model corrected for age and SAH diagnosis. When only the metabolic syndrome components were analyzed, in the multiple logistic regression model, the abdominal circumference was the only clinical variable associated with LVH (OR = 17.65; CI95%:3.70-84.17; p < 0.001). SIGNIFICANCE: It was observed a high prevalence of ventricular hypertrophy in young women with a history of pre-eclampsia. This condition was associated with the presence of obesity.

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and associations with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child cohort.

BACKGROUND: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that are slow to break down in the environment and widely detected in humans. Epidemiological evidence suggests that prenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a legacy PFAS, is linked to gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. However, the relationship between other PFAS, which are structurally similar, and these outcomes remains largely understudied, despite biologic plausibility. Here, we examined associations between serum PFAS mixtures in relation to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy within a birth cohort of African Americans. METHODS: Participants in the present study were enrolled in the Atlanta African American Maternal-Child cohort between 2014 and 2020 (n = 513). Serum samples collected between 8 and 14 weeks gestation were analyzed for four PFAS. Logistic regression was used to assess associations between individual natural log transformed PFAS and specific hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (preeclampsia, gestational hypertension), while quantile g-computation was used to estimate mixture effects. Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension were treated as separate outcomes in individual models. All models were adjusted for maternal education, maternal age, early pregnancy body mass index, parity, and any alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana use. RESULTS: The geometric mean of PFOS and PFHxS was slightly lower among those with preeclampsia relative to those without a hypertensive disorder (e.g., geometric mean for PFOS was 1.89 and 1.94, respectively). Serum concentrations of PFAS were not strongly associated with gestational hypertension or preeclampsia in single pollutant or mixture models. For example, using quantile g-computation, a simultaneous one quartile increase in all PFAS was not associated with odds of gestational hypertension (odds ratio = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.60, 1.23), relative to those without a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: In this birth cohort of African Americans, there was no association between serum PFAS measured in early pregnancy and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, which may be reflective of the fairly low PFAS levels in our study population.

Impact factors and obstetric outcomes of preeclampsia in twin pregnancies by prepregnancy body mass index: a six-year retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Among many risk factors for preeclampsia (PE), prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is one of few controllable factors. However, there is a lack of stratified analysis based on the prepregnancy BMI. This study aimed to determine the influencing factors for PE and assess the impact of PE on obstetric outcomes in twin pregnancies by prepregnancy BMI. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2022, in Southwest China. Impact factors and associations between PE and obstetric outcomes were analyzed separately for twin pregnancies with prepregnancy BMI < 24kg/m2 (non-overweight group) and BMI ≥ 24kg/m2 (overweight group). RESULTS: In total, 3602 twin pregnancies were included, of which, 672 women were allocated into the overweight group and 11.8% of them reported with PE; 2930 women were allocated into the non-overweight group, with a PE incidence of 5.6%. PE had a negative effect on birthweight and increased the incidence of neonatal intensive care unit admission in both the overweight and non-overweight groups (43.0% vs. 28.0%, p = .008; 45.7% vs. 29.1%, p < .001). Among overweight women, PE increased the proportion of postpartum hemorrhage (15.2% vs. 4.4%, p < .001). After adjustments, multivariate regression analysis showed that excessive gestational weight gain (aOR = 1.103, 95% CI: 1.056-1.152; aOR = 1.094, 95% CI: 1.064-1.126) and hypoproteinemia (aOR = 2.828, 95% CI: 1.501-5.330; aOR = 6.932, 95% CI: 4.819-9.971) were the shared risk factors for PE in both overweight and non-overweight groups. In overweight group, in vitro fertilization was the other risk factor (aOR = 2.713, 95% CI: 1.183-6.878), whereas dichorionic fertilization (aOR = 0.435, 95% CI: 0.193-0.976) and aspirin use during pregnancy (aOR = 0.456, 95% CI: 0.246-0.844) were protective factors. Additionally, anemia during pregnancy (aOR = 1.542, 95% CI: 1.090-2.180) and growth discordance in twins (aOR = 2.451, 95% CI: 1.215-4.205) were connected with an increased risk of PE only in non-overweight twin pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Both discrepancy and similarity of impact factors on developing PE were found between overweight and non-overweight twin pregnancies in this study. However, the dosage and initiation time of aspirin, as well as twin chorionicity on the occurrence of PE in two subgroups, are still debated.

Aspirin versus metformin in pregnancies at high risk of preterm pre-eclampsia in China (AVERT): protocol for a multicentre, double-blind, 3-arm randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Pre-eclampsia (PE) affects about 5% of Chinese pregnant women and is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The first trimester screening model developed by the Fetal Medicine Foundation, which uses the Bayes theorem to combine maternal characteristics and medical history together with measurements of biomarkers, has been proven to be effective and has superior screening performance to that of the traditional risk factor-based approach for the prediction of PE. Prophylactic use of low-dose aspirin in women at risk for PE has resulted in a lower incidence of preterm-PE. However, there is no consensus on the preferred aspirin dosage for the prevention of preterm-PE. Evidence has also suggested that metformin has the potential benefit in preventing PE in pregnant women who are at high risk of the disorder. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: We present a protocol (V.2.0, date 17 March 2022) for the AVERT trial, which is a multicentre, double-blinded, 3-arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) that uses an effective PE screening programme to explore the optimal dosage of aspirin and the role of metformin for the prevention of PE among high-risk pregnant women in China. We intend to recruit 66 000 singleton pregnancies without treatment of low-dose aspirin and metformin at 11-13 weeks' gestation and all eligible women attending for their first trimester routine scan will be invited to undergo screening for preterm-PE by the combination of maternal factors, mean arterial pressure and placental growth factor. Women found to be at high risk of developing preterm-PE will be invited to take part in the RCT. This study will compare the incidence of preterm-PE with delivery at <37 weeks' gestation, as the primary outcome, of three different interventional groups: (1) aspirin 75 mg daily, (2) aspirin 150 mg daily and (3) aspirin 75 mg with metformin 1.5 g daily. 957 participants per treatment group are required to detect a significant difference of 59% in the reduction of the incidence of preterm-PE with 80% power and type I error of 5%. Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes will be collected and analysed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Joint Chinese University of Hong Kong-New Territories East Cluster Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CREC Ref. No. 2021.406) in Hong Kong and the Ethics Committee of each participating hospital in Mainland China. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov. The results of the AVERT trial will be disseminated at international academic conferences and published in high-impact factor journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05580523.

Analysis of risk factors of preeclampsia in pregnant women with chronic hypertension and its impact on pregnancy outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors and maternal and fetal outcomes of preeclampsia after pregnancy in patients with primary chronic hypertension. METHODS: A total of 500 singleton pregnant women with a history of hypertension who were admitted for delivery at our Hospital from March 2015 to May 2022 were retrospectively collected by random sampling and divided into the non-occurrence group (n = 200) and the occurrence group (n = 300) according to whether they were complicated by preeclampsia. Afterward, the general data and the pregnancy-related data of patients were collected for comparison. RESULTS: The univariate analysis showed significant differences between the non-occurrence group and the occurrence group in terms of the proportion of preeclampsia history (4.00% VS 24.67%, χ2 = 37.383, P < 0.001), duration of hypertension > 3 years (18.00% VS 31.67%, χ2 = 11.592, P < 0.001), systemic therapy (20.50% VS 10.00%, χ2 = 10.859, P < 0.001), gestational age at admission [37.72 (34.10, 38.71) VS 35.01 (31.91, 37.42) weeks, Z = -9.825, P < 0.001]. Meanwhile, the multivariate analysis showed that a history of preeclampsia (OR = 6.796, 95% CI: 3.575 ∼ 10.134, χ2 = 8.234, P < 0.001), duration of hypertension > 3 years (OR = 3.456, 95% CI: 2.157 ∼ 5.161, χ2 = 9.348, P < 0.001), and a lack of systemic antihypertensive treatment (OR = 8.983, 95% CI: 7.735 ∼ 9.933, χ2 = 9.123, P < 0.001) were risk factors for chronic hypertension complicated by preeclampsia during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: A history of preeclampsia, a longer duration of hypertension, and a lack of systematic antihypertensive treatment are risk factors for chronic hypertension complicated by preeclampsia during pregnancy. The occurrence of preeclampsia in pregnant women with chronic hypertension increases the incidence of maternal HELLP syndrome and fetal distress.

Early Mortality, Cardiovascular, and Renal Diseases in Women's Lives Following Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: The Prospective Nationwide Study CONCEPTION.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the impact of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy occurrence, recurrence, onset time, and severity on mortality and on a wide range of cardiovascular outcomes in France. METHODS AND RESULTS: CONCEPTION (Cohort of Cardiovascular Diseases in Pregnancy) is a French nationwide prospective cohort using data from the National Health Data System. We included all women in CONCEPTION with no history of a cardiovascular event who delivered in France for the first time between 2010 and 2018 (N=2 819 655). Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular outcomes during the study follow-up were identified using algorithms combining International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) coded diagnoses during hospitalization and purchases of medication between 2010 and 2021. We fitted Cox models with time-varying exposure to assess the associations of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with mortality and cardiovascular events. Women with gestational hypertension had a 1.25- to 2-fold higher risk of stroke, acute coronary syndrome, peripheral arterial disease, pulmonary embolism, and chronic kidney disease, and a 2- to 4-fold higher risk of rhythm and conduction disorder and heart failure. Women with preeclampsia had a 1.35- to 2-fold higher risk of rhythm or conduction disorder and pulmonary embolism during follow-up; a 2- to 4-fold higher risk of stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and peripheral arterial disease; and a 7- to 9-fold higher risk of heart failure and chronic kidney disease. They were 1.8 times more likely to die and 4.4 times more likely to die of cardiovascular causes. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy drastically increase the risk of mortality, cardiovascular, and renal events early after pregnancy. Recurrent, severe, and early-onset preeclampsia further increases this risk.

Preeclampsia Onset, Days to Delivery, and Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring: Clinical Birth Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Maternal preeclampsia is associated with a risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in offspring. However, it is unknown whether the increased ASD risk associated with preeclampsia is due to preeclampsia onset or clinical management of preeclampsia after onset, as clinical expectant management of preeclampsia allows pregnant women with this complication to remain pregnant for potentially weeks depending on the onset and severity. Identifying the risk associated with preeclampsia onset and exposure provides evidence to support the care of high-risk pregnancies and reduce adverse effects on offspring. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to fill the knowledge gap by assessing the ASD risk in children associated with the gestational age of preeclampsia onset and the number of days from preeclampsia onset to delivery. METHODS: This retrospective population-based clinical cohort study included 364,588 mother-child pairs of singleton births between 2001 and 2014 in a large integrated health care system in Southern California. Maternal social demographic and pregnancy health data, as well as ASD diagnosis in children by the age of 5 years, were extracted from electronic medical records. Cox regression models were used to assess hazard ratios (HRs) of ASD risk in children associated with gestational age of the first occurrence of preeclampsia and the number of days from first occurrence to delivery. RESULTS: Preeclampsia occurred in 16,205 (4.4%) out of 364,588 pregnancies; among the 16,205 pregnancies, 2727 (16.8%) first occurred at <34 weeks gestation, 4466 (27.6%) first occurred between 34 and 37 weeks, and 9012 (55.6%) first occurred at ≥37 weeks. Median days from preeclampsia onset to delivery were 4 (IQR 2,16) days, 1 (IQR 1,3) day, and 1 (IQR 0,1) day for those first occurring at <34, 34-37, and ≥37 weeks, respectively. Early preeclampsia onset was associated with greater ASD risk (P=.003); HRs were 1.62 (95% CI 1.33-1.98), 1.43 (95% CI 1.20-1.69), and 1.23 (95% CI 1.08-1.41), respectively, for onset at <34, 34-37, and ≥37 weeks, relative to the unexposed group. Within the preeclampsia group, the number of days from preeclampsia onset to delivery was not associated with ASD risk in children; the HR was 0.995 (95% CI 0.986-1.004) after adjusting for gestational age of preeclampsia onset. CONCLUSIONS: Preeclampsia during pregnancy was associated with ASD risk in children, and the risk was greater with earlier onset. However, the number of days from first preeclampsia onset to delivery was not associated with ASD risk in children. Our study suggests that ASD risk in children associated with preeclampsia is not increased by expectant management of preeclampsia in standard clinical practice. Our results emphasize the need to identify effective approaches to preventing the onset of preeclampsia, especially during early pregnancy. Further research is needed to confirm if this finding applies across different populations and clinical settings.

Alteration in maternal serum uric acid levels in pre-eclampsia and associated perinatal outcomes: a cross-sectional study in Ghana.

Introduction: pre-eclampsia (PE) is a multisystemic pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder associated with significant adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Maternal serum uric acid level is hypothesized as a reliable marker for predicting the severity and adverse outcomes of pre-eclampsia and facilitating clinical decisions. This study explored the association between maternal serum uric acid and adverse pregnancy outcomes in pre-eclampsia. Methods: a cross-sectional study involving women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia was conducted at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Descriptive analyses were performed and multivariable logistic regression model was used to explore the association between maternal serum uric acid levels and pregnancy outcomes using R software. Results: we included 100 women with pre-eclampsia comprising 79% and 21% preterm and term pre-eclampsia respectively and with mean gestational age (GA) at diagnosis of 32.35±2.66 weeks and 35.96±1.94 weeks respectively. The mean maternal age of preterm and term pre-eclampsia groups was 29.81±5.29 years and 29.46±5.78 years respectively. Hyperuricemia (serum uric acid >375 µmol/L) occurred in 61% of the pre-eclamptic women. The mean gestational age (in weeks) at diagnosis was significantly lower in the pre-eclamptic women with hyperuricemia compared with those with normal levels of uric acid (33.51±3.03 versus 34.80±2.71). There was a significant negative association (moderate correlation) between maternal serum uric acid levels and birth weight (R= -0.34, p < 0.001) in pre-eclampsia; the statistical significance was limited to preterm only (Pearson R= -0.39, p-value <0.001) but not term pre-eclampsia. Hyperuricemia was significantly associated with low birth weight [aOR: 3.222 (95% CI: 1.098, 10.393)], caesarean section [aOR: 2.281 (95% CI: 1.084, 7.568)] and severe diastolic pressure at birth [aOR: 3.517 (95% CI: 1.123, 11.939)]. Conclusion: hyperuricemia in pre-eclampsia was significantly associated with both maternal (caesarean section and severe hypertension) and neonatal (low birth weight) adverse outcomes. Hyperuricemia seems clinically useful in predicting pregnancy outcomes, especially in preterm pre-eclampsia. Further longitudinal study is recommended in exploring the clinical significance of maternal uric acid levels and pregnancy outcomes in pre-eclampsia.

Early-onset vs late-onset preeclampsia and risk of coronary atherosclerosis later in life: a clinical follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Younger women with previous preeclampsia have an increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis. It is unknown if this risk is associated with the time of onset of preeclampsia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate if women with early-onset preeclampsia have a higher risk of coronary atherosclerosis compared with women with late-onset preeclampsia, independent of other perinatal risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 911 women with previous preeclampsia aged 35 to 55 years participated in a clinical follow-up study, including clinical examination, comprehensive questionnaires, and cardiac computed tomography scan 13 years (range, 0-28) after index pregnancy. Early- and late-onset preeclampsia were defined as gestational age at delivery of <34+0 and ≥34+0 gestational weeks, respectively. The primary outcome of the study was the presence of coronary atherosclerosis on the cardiac computed tomography. A logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between time of onset of preeclampsia, perinatal risk factors, and the primary outcome. RESULTS: Women with early-onset preeclampsia (N=139) were older (46.2±5.7 vs 44.4±5.5 years; P<.001), more likely to have hypertension (51.1% vs 35.1%; P≤.001), and had a higher body mass index (27.9±6.3 vs 26.9±5.5 kg/m2; P=.051) compared with women with late-onset preeclampsia (N=772) at follow-up. The prevalence of the primary outcome (coronary atherosclerosis) on the cardiac computed tomography among women with early- and late-onset preeclampsia was 28.8% vs 22.2%, respectively (P=.088; adjusted odds ratio, 1.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-3.01; P=.045 after adjustment for maternal age at index pregnancy, prepregnancy body mass index, parity, diabetes in pregnancy, smoking in pregnancy, offspring birthweight and sex, and follow-up length). CONCLUSION: Women with early-onset preeclampsia had a slightly higher risk of coronary atherosclerosis compared with women with late-onset preeclampsia. However, according to the current evidence, it does not seem indicated to limit screening, diagnostic, and preventive measures for cardiovascular disease only to women with early-onset preeclampsia.

The optimal dosage of aspirin for preventing preeclampsia in high-risk pregnant women: A network meta-analysis of 23 randomized controlled trials.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and optimal dosage of aspirin in preventing preeclampsia in high-risk pregnant women. Traditional and network meta-analyses were conducted on data from 23 randomized controlled trials involving 10 547 pregnant women. The findings demonstrated that aspirin significantly reduced the incidence of preeclampsia (OR = 0.66, 95%CI [0.58, 0.75]), with the best preventive effect observed at a dosage of 80-100 mg/day (OR = 0.51, 95%CI [0.36, 0.72]). No significant differences were found in the occurrence of postpartum hemorrhage (OR = 1.03, 95%CI [0.79, 1.33]), small for gestational age (OR = 0.83, 95%CI [0.50, 1.35]), placental abruption (OR = 0.96, 95%CI [0.53, 1.73]), and intrauterine growth restriction (OR = 0.63, 95%CI [0.45, 1.86]) between women taking aspirin and those taking placebos. Different doses of aspirin showed a reduction in preeclampsia incidence, but there was no significant difference in efficacy between the dosage groups. Side effects did not significantly differ between placebo and different aspirin dosage groups. SUCRA analysis suggested that 80-100 mg/day may be the optimal dosage, prioritizing both effectiveness and minimizing side effects. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the findings. However, improvements are needed in addressing issues like loss to follow-up, reporting bias, and publication bias. In conclusion, a dosage of 80-100 mg/day is recommended for preventing preeclampsia in high-risk pregnant women, although individual circumstances should be considered for optimizing the balance between effectiveness and safety.

Pregnancies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus during 2000-2018 in Finland: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to investigate, how pregnancies proceed in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to their individually matched population controls. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult incident SLE patients were identified from the register of new special reimbursement decisions for SLE drugs in 2000-2014. For each patient, 1-3 randomly selected controls from the Population Register Centre were matched. Data regarding pregnancies were obtained from the Finnish Medical Birth Register, Care Register and Register of Congenital Malformations until 2018. The study utilized data from the Drug Purchase Register and educational information from Statistic Finland. RESULTS: A total of 163 deliveries for 103 mothers with SLE and 580 deliveries for 371 population controls were identified. The duration of pregnancies in SLE women was significantly shorter compared to controls (38.9 versus 39.6 weeks). There were more urgent Caesarean Sections. (15% versus 9%) and need for care at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (21% versus 11%) among deliveries in SLE mothers. No statistical difference was observed between SLE and control groups in the occurrence of preeclampsia or major congenital malformations. Gestational age was 2.5 weeks shorter when the mother experienced pre-eclampsia. Hydroxychloroquine was purchased by 30% of SLE mothers during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The course of pregnancies in Finnish SLE patients seems to be quite moderate compared to controls, and no new safety issues were detected. The low utilization of hydroxychloroquine indicates that the benefits of the drug to pregnancy and disease course are not optimally recognized by specialists treating SLE mothers.

The epidemiology of gestational diabetes, gestation hypertension, and anemia in North Palestine from 2018 to 2020: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: In Palestine, women face a challenging environment and a demanding lifestyle, which puts them at a higher risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy. This study aimed to examine the risk factors linked with abnormal hemoglobin (Hb) levels, gestational diabetes (GD), and gestational hypertension (GH) among pregnant women. The results was compared between women residing in cities or villages areas and those in refugee camps. METHODS: Medical records (N = 7889) for pregnant women at primary healthcare centers in the North West Bank were reviewed for sociodemographic and medical data along with the reported fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin, and blood pressure in the first and second trimesters from July 2018 to July 2020. However, only 6640 were included in the analysis as 1249 were excluded for having multiple pregnancy or lost to follow up. Complications and risk factors were defined according to the available global guidelines. Then, descriptive analysis was used to show the percentages of different risk factors and complications among them. The correlation between the several characteristics and variables with these complications was assessed by calculating the odds ratios (OR) using logistic regression. P-values of <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The prevalence of adolescent pregnancy was the highest among women living in rural areas (9.8%) and grand multigravidity among refugee women (22%). The overall prevalence of anemia was higher in the second-trimester (16.2%) than in the first-trimester (11.2%), with anemic women in the first-trimester being more likely to be anemic in the second-trimester (OR = 8.223, P-value<0.001). Although anemia was less common in the first-trimester among refugees than among women living in urban areas (OR = 0.768, P-value = 0.006), it was more prevalent in the second-trimester (OR = 1.352, P-value<0.001). Moreover, refugee women were at lower risk than women living in urban areas of having GD (OR = 0.687, P-value<0.001) and diabetes mellitus (OR = 0.472, P-value<0.001) in the second-trimester. GH was associated with GD (OR = 1.401, P-value = 0.003) and DM (OR = 1.966, P-value<0.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study provide evidence-based data on the considerable prevalence of pregnancy complications, anemia, GD, and GH among Palestinian pregnant women living in the north of the West Bank. Multi gravida, gestational age, Hb levels, and the type of settings were strong predictors of pregnancy complications. Therefore, a national plan is needed to ensure adequate maternal care for all, especially disadvantaged women, those in rural areas and refugee camps.