Sexual orientation disparities in gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Sexual minority (SM) individuals (e.g., those with same-sex attractions/partners or who identify as lesbian/gay/bisexual) experience a host of physical and mental health disparities. However, little is known about sexual orientation-related disparities in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP; gestational hypertension [gHTN] and preeclampsia). OBJECTIVE: To estimate disparities in GDM, gHTN and preeclampsia by sexual orientation. METHODS: We used data from the Nurses' Health Study II-a cohort of nurses across the US enrolled in 1989 at 25-42 years of age-restricted to those with pregnancies ≥20 weeks gestation and non-missing sexual orientation data (63,518 participants; 146,079 pregnancies). Our primary outcomes were GDM, gHTN and preeclampsia, which participants reported for each of their pregnancies. Participants also reported their sexual orientation identity and same-sex attractions/partners. We compared the risk of each outcome in pregnancies among heterosexual participants with no same-sex experience (reference) to those among SM participants overall and within subgroups: (1) heterosexual with same-sex experience, (2) mostly heterosexual, (3) bisexual and (4) lesbian/gay participants. We used modified Poisson models to estimate risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), fit via weighted generalised estimating equations, to account for multiple pregnancies per person over time and informative cluster sizes. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of each outcome was ≤5%. Mostly heterosexual participants had a 31% higher risk of gHTN (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.03, 1.66), and heterosexual participants with same-sex experience had a 31% higher risk of GDM (RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.13, 1.50), compared to heterosexual participants with no same-sex experience. The magnitudes of the risk ratios were high among bisexual participants for gHTN and preeclampsia and among lesbian/gay participants for gHTN. CONCLUSIONS: Some SM groups may be disparately burdened by GDM and HDP. Elucidating modifiable mechanisms (e.g., structural barriers, discrimination) for reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes among SM populations is critical.

Signs or symptoms of suspected preeclampsia - A retrospective national database study of prevalence, costs, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Most patients with signs or symptoms (s/s) of suspected preeclampsia are not diagnosed with preeclampsia. We sought to determine and compare the prevalence of s/s, pregnancy outcomes, and costs between patients with and without diagnosed preeclampsia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed a large insurance research database. Pregnancies with s/s of preeclampsia versus a confirmed preeclampsia diagnosis were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes. S/s include hypertension, proteinuria, headache, visual symptoms, edema, abdominal pain, and nausea/vomiting. Pregnancies were classed as 1) s/s of preeclampsia without a confirmed preeclampsia diagnosis (suspicion only), 2) s/s with a confirmed diagnosis (preeclampsia with suspicion), 3) diagnosed preeclampsia without s/s recorded (preeclampsia only), and 4) no s/s, nor preeclampsia diagnosis (control). RESULTS: Of 1,324,424 pregnancies, 29.2 % had ≥1 documented s/s of suspected preeclampsia, and 14.2 % received a preeclampsia diagnosis. Hypertension and headache were the most common s/s, leading 20.2 % and 9.2 % pregnancies developed to preeclampsia diagnosis, respectively. Preeclampsia, with or without suspicion, had the highest rates of hypertension-related severe maternal morbidity (HR [95 % CI]: 3.0 [2.7, 3.2] and 3.6 [3.3, 4.0], respectively) versus controls. A similar trend was seen in neonatal outcomes such as preterm delivery and low birth weight. Cases in which preeclampsia was suspected but not confirmed had the highest average total maternal care costs ($6096 [95 % CI: 602, 6170] over control). CONCLUSION: There is a high prevalence but poor selectivity of traditional s/s of preeclampsia, highlighting a clinical need for improved screening method and cost-effectiveness disease management.

Accuracy of Maternal Self-Report of Recent Preeclampsia among Healthy Women.

Background: Preeclampsia history signals a higher risk for cardiovascular disease, but its value as a risk marker relies primarily on self-report. To identify the accuracy of maternal self-reports of recent preeclampsia, we conducted a validation study among women recruited to a web-based trial. Methods: Women with preeclampsia in the past 5 years were recruited to Heart Health 4 Moms. Preeclampsia was self-reported through an online recruitment questionnaire and affirmed via phone screen. Accuracy of maternal self-report was quantified using positive predictive value (PPV) versus medical record evidence of preeclampsia using three definitions: (1) documentation of clinician diagnosis, (2) American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) 2002 diagnostic criteria (gestational hypertension and proteinuria), and (3) ACOG 2013 diagnostic criteria (gestational hypertension and proteinuria or systemic symptoms). Results: Complete medical records were received for 290 women who delivered from 2011 to 2016 and were predominantly non-Hispanic White (81.7%) with a mean age of 31.2 ± 4.8 years. Mean length of recall was 13.6 ± 14.7 months. The majority of women (92.1%) had medical record evidence of preeclampsia using ≥1 of the definitions. Maternal self-report of preeclampsia was validated for 88.3% based on clinician diagnosis, 59.0% with ACOG 2002, and 65.2% with ACOG 2013. Conclusions: In this validation study of U.S. women, the majority accurately self-reported their preeclampsia diagnosis based on medical record review. A higher proportion of self-reports validated by clinician diagnosis than ACOG criteria, suggesting women remember the diagnosis given by their provider and providers may not always follow or document criteria when making a diagnosis.

Prepregnancy plant-based diets and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Plant-based diets have been associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease in nonpregnant adults, but specific evidence for their effects on risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is scarce. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the prospective association between adherence to plant-based diets before pregnancy and the risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. We hypothesized that women with higher adherence to plant-based diets would have a lower risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We followed 11,459 parous women (16,780 singleton pregnancies) without chronic diseases, a history of preeclampsia, and cancers who participated in the Nurses' Health Study II (1991-2009), which was a prospective cohort study. Diet was assessed every 4 years using a validated food frequency questionnaire from which we calculated the plant-based diet index (higher score indicates higher adherence) to evaluate the health associations of plant-based diets among participants while accounting for the quality of plant-based foods. Participants self-reported hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. We estimated the relative risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in relation to plant-based diet index adherence in quintiles using generalized estimating equations log-binomial regression while adjusting for potential confounders and accounting for repeated pregnancies for the same woman. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation) age at first in-study pregnancy was 35 (4) years. A total of 1033 cases of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including 482 cases of preeclampsia (2.9%) and 551 cases of gestational hypertension (3.3%) were reported. Women in the highest quintile of plant-based diet index were significantly associated with a lower risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy than women in the lowest quintile (relative risk, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.93). There was an inverse dose-response relationship between plant-based diet index and risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The multivariable-adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval) of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy for women in increasing quintiles of plant-based diet index were 1 (ref), 0.93 (0.78-1.12), 0.86 (0.72-1.03), 0.84 (0.69-1.03), and 0.76 (0.62-0.93) with a significant linear trend across quintiles (P trend=.005). This association was slightly stronger for gestational hypertension (relative risk, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.60-0.99) than for preeclampsia (relative risk, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.61-1.04). Mediation analysis suggested that body mass index evaluation for dietary assessment and pregnancy explained 39% (95% confidence interval, 15%-70%]) of the relation between plant-based diet index and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and 48% (95% confidence interval, 12%-86%]) of the relation between plant-based diet index and gestational hypertension. CONCLUSION: Higher adherence to plant-based diets was associated with a lower risk of developing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Much of the benefit seems to be related to improved weight control.

Validation of parental recall questionnaire to classify preterm delivery subtypes: Spontaneous preterm labour, preterm premature rupture of membranes and clinician-initiated preterm delivery.

BACKGROUND: Preterm delivery (PTD) includes three main presenting subtypes: spontaneous preterm labour (sPTL), preterm premature rupture of membranes (pPROM) and clinician-initiated preterm delivery (ciPTD). PTD subtype data are rarely available from birth registries and are onerous to derive from medical records. OBJECTIVES: To develop and test the validity of a questionnaire to classify PTD subtype based on birthing parent recall of labour and delivery events. METHODS: The questionnaire was sent in 2022 to 581 patients with PTD history documented in the LIFECODES study, a hospital-based birth cohort in Boston, Massachusetts. Eighty-two respondents reported 94 PTDs that could be linked to medical records. Data on PTD subtype were extracted from medical records as the reference standard. RESULTS: Medical records indicated 47 spontaneous (24 sPTL, 23 pPROM) and 47 ciPTD deliveries occurring a median eight years earlier. The sensitivity and specificity of the recall questionnaire were 88% (95% confidence interval: 68, 97%) and 89% (79, 95%) for sPTL; 96% (78, 100%) and 94% (86, 98%) for pPROM; and 83% (69, 92%) and 100% (92, 100%) for ciPTD, respectively. Greater time since pregnancy did not degrade the sensitivity or specificity of the parental recall questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Although derived from a modest sample, the moderate-to-high sensitivity and specificity of the parental recall questionnaire to classify sPTL, pPROM and ciPTD demonstrates its potential for large studies of PTD and for correction of misclassification bias. Future studies are required to test the questionnaire in a variety of populations.

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.

Novel Methods for Leveraging Large Cohort Studies for Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Research.

Qualitative research methods, while rising in popularity, are still a relatively underutilized tool in public health research. Usually reserved for small samples, qualitative research techniques have the potential to enhance insights gained from large questionnaires and cohort studies, both deepening the interpretation of quantitative data and generating novel hypotheses that might otherwise be missed by standard approaches; this is especially true where exposures and outcomes are new, understudied, or rapidly changing, as in a pandemic. However, methods for the conduct of qualitative research within large samples are underdeveloped. Here, we describe a novel method of applying qualitative research methods to free-text comments collected in a large epidemiologic questionnaire. Specifically, this method includes: 1) a hierarchical system of coding through content analysis; 2) a qualitative data management application; and 3) an adaptation of Cohen's κ and percent agreement statistics for use by a team of coders, applying multiple codes per record from a large codebook. The methods outlined in this paper may help direct future applications of qualitative and mixed methods within large cohort studies.

Prepregnancy Migraine, Migraine Phenotype, and Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Migraine is a highly prevalent neurovascular disorder among reproductive-aged women. Whether migraine history and migraine phenotype might serve as clinically useful markers of obstetric risk is not clear. The primary objective of this study was to examine associations of prepregnancy migraine and migraine phenotype with risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: We estimated associations of self-reported physician-diagnosed migraine and migraine phenotype with adverse pregnancy outcomes in the prospective Nurses' Health Study II (1989-2009). Log-binomial and log-Poisson models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, preterm delivery, and low birthweight. RESULTS: The analysis included 30,555 incident pregnancies after cohort enrollment among 19,694 participants without a history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or cancer. After adjusting for age, adiposity, and other health and behavioral factors, prepregnancy migraine (11%) was associated with higher risks of preterm delivery (RR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.05-1.30), gestational hypertension (RR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.11-1.48), and preeclampsia (RR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.19-1.65) compared with no migraine. Migraine was not associated with low birthweight (RR = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.85-1.16) or GDM (RR = 1.05; 95% CI = 0.91-1.22). Risk of preeclampsia was somewhat higher among participants with migraine with aura (RR vs no migraine = 1.51; 95% CI = 1.22-1.88) than migraine without aura (RR vs no migraine = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.04-1.61; p-heterogeneity = 0.32), whereas other outcomes were similar by migraine phenotype. Participants with migraine who reported regular prepregnancy aspirin use had lower risks of preterm delivery (<2×/week RR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.11-1.38; ≥2×/week RR = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.35-0.86; p-interaction < 0.01) and preeclampsia (<2×/week RR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.25-1.75; ≥2×/week RR = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.62-1.96; p-interaction = 0.39); however, power for these stratified analyses was limited. DISCUSSION: Migraine history, and to a lesser extent migraine phenotype, appear to be important considerations in obstetric risk assessment and management. Future research should determine whether aspirin prophylaxis may be beneficial for preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant individuals with a history of migraine.

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.

A qualitative analysis of psychosocial stressors and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on frontline healthcare personnel in the United States.

There is a dearth of qualitative studies exploring the lived experiences of frontline healthcare personnel (HCP) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. We examined workplace stressors, psychological manifestations of said stressors, and coping strategies reported through coded open-text responses from 1024 online surveys completed over two months by 923 HCP participating in three nationwide cohorts from Spring 2020. Our findings suggest that risk, job insecurity, frustration with hospital administration, inadequate access to personal protective equipment, and witnessing patient suffering and death contributed to deteriorating mental and physical health. Negative health impacts included the onset or exacerbation of anxiety, depression, and somatic symptoms, including weight fluctuation, fatigue, and migraines. Coping mechanisms included substance use and food consumption, meditation and wellness, fitness, socializing with loved ones, and religious activities. Insights garnered from participants' responses will enable more personalized and effective psychosocial crisis prevention and intervention for frontline HCP in future health crises.

Changes in Vascular Function from Preconception to Postpartum Among Mongolian Women.

Background: Pregnancy is associated with physiological changes to meet the metabolic demands of the growing fetus. To understand adverse pregnancy outcomes it is important to establish vascular changes throughout pregnancy. We examined longitudinal changes in vascular measurements from prepregnancy through postpartum. Materials and Methods: Seventy women planning to conceive in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia enrolled in this prospective study. Within 6 months, 44 (63%) had conceived; of which 36 (82%) delivered. Ten (28%) developed complex pregnancies and were analyzed separately. Vascular measures included central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), central diastolic blood pressure (cDBP), augmentation index corrected for heart rate of 75 beats/minute (AIx-75), and pulse wave velocity (PWV). Measurements were performed at prepregnancy, second trimester (22-24 weeks), third trimester (34-36 weeks), and 2 months postpartum. Missing values (n = 0-6 per time period) were replaced by multiple imputation. A repeated measures analysis of variance analyzed changes within individual women over the four time points adjusted for age, parity, and body mass index. Results: We observed significant reductions from prepregnancy to second trimester for mean Alx-75 (17.1%-12.6%; p = 0.006) and cSBP (91.7-86.8 mmHg; p = 0.03) but not for cDBP or PWV. Both mean AIx-75 and cSBP increased in third trimester. In the postpartum, cSBP returned to prepregnancy levels, whereas AIx-75 exceeded prepregnancy levels, although this fell short of significance (p = 0.09). Similar vascular patterns were observed in women with complex pregnancies for AIx-75; however, PWV increased from the second trimester and remained higher through postpartum, although not significant. Conclusion: In Mongolian women, we observed a decrease in AIx-75 and cSBP from prepregnancy through second trimester, which resolved postpartum. These results provide an understanding of changes across pregnancies in an Asian country. Future studies should assess vascular changes across pregnancies to determine if it can predict conditions such as pre-eclampsia.

Pre-pregnancy fat intake in relation to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have linked intakes of fat and of specific fatty acids during pregnancy with preeclampsia; however, information on the association of intake before pregnancy with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) is scant. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the associations of intakes of major and specific types of fat before pregnancy with the risks of HDP, including preeclampsia and gestational hypertension (GHTN). METHODS: We followed 11,535 women without chronic disease participating in the Nurses' Health Study II from 1991 and 2009. Pre-pregnancy dietary fat was assessed by an FFQ. Intakes of total fat, saturated fat, trans fatty acid (TFA), MUFAs, PUFAs, and fat subtypes (omega-3 and omega-6) were categorized into quintiles of intake. HDP were self-reported. The RRs (95% CIs) of HDP were estimated by log-binomial generalized estimating equation regression models, with an exchangeable correlation matrix to account for repeated pregnancies while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: During 19 years of follow-up, there were 495 cases of preeclampsia (2.9%) and 561 (3.3%) cases of GHTN in 16,892 singleton pregnancies. The mean age at pregnancy was 34.6 years (SD, 3.9 years). Among major fat types, only pre-pregnancy TFA was related to a higher risk of HDP (RR, 1.32; 95% CI: 1.05-1.66), and only for preeclampsia (RR, 1.50; 95% CI: 1.07-2.10) but not for GHTN (RR, 1.21; 95% CI: 0.87-1.70). Among specific types of PUFAs, intake of arachidonic acid was positively related with GHTN (RR, 1.43; 95% CI: 1.00-2.04) but not preeclampsia (RR, 1.08; 95% CI: 0.75-1.57). In analyses restricted to pregnancies 1 year after the diet assessment, women with the highest intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids had a 31% lower risk of HDP (95% CI: 3%-51%), which was driven by preeclampsia (RR, 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33-0.92). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-pregnancy intakes of total fat, saturated fat, and MUFA were unrelated to HDP, whereas TFA was positively related to HDP. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing efforts to eliminate TFA from the global food supply.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors Mediate the Long-Term Maternal Risk Associated With Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, are associated with an increased risk of CVD. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate associations between HDP and long-term CVD and identify the proportion of the association mediated by established CVD risk factors. METHODS: Parous participants without CVD in the Nurses' Health Study II (n = 60,379) were followed for incident CVD from first birth through 2017. Cox proportional hazards models estimated HRs and 95% CIs for the relationship between HDP and CVD, adjusting for potential confounders, including prepregnancy body mass index, smoking, and parental history of CVD. To evaluate the proportion of the association jointly accounted for by chronic hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes, and changes in body mass index, we used the difference method. RESULTS: Women with HDP in first pregnancy had a 63% higher rate of CVD (95% CI: 1.37-1.94) compared with women with normotensive pregnancies. This association was mediated by established CVD risk factors (proportion mediated = 64%). The increased rate of CVD was higher for preeclampsia (HR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.42-2.10) than gestational hypertension (HR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.03-1.93). Established CVD risk factors accounted for 57% of the increased rate of CVD for preeclampsia but 84% for gestational hypertension (both P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Established CVD risk factors arising after pregnancy explained most (84%) of the increased risk of CVD conferred by gestational hypertension and 57% of the risk among women with preeclampsia. Screening for chronic hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, type 2 diabetes, and overweight/obesity after pregnancy may be especially helpful in CVD prevention among women with a history of HDP.

Physical activity before pregnancy and the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether prepregnancy physical activity influences the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and whether any impact is similar for preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation of prepregnancy physical activity with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and its alignment with the current recommendations for physical activity for the general population. STUDY DESIGN: We studied 28,147 singleton pregnancies from 18,283 women without chronic hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or cancer, participating in the Nurses' Health Study-II between 1989 and 2010. The women self-reported their physical activity before pregnancy and pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. Logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations to account for within-woman correlations across pregnancies were used to estimate the relative risk (95% confidence interval) of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension across quartiles of prepregnancy physical activity, adjusting for age at pregnancy, parity, smoking, multivitamin use, infertility history, marital status, race, year of pregnancy, and history of preeclampsia. RESULTS: We identified 842 (3.0%) pregnancies with preeclampsia and 905 (3.2%) pregnancies with gestational hypertension. Physical activity before pregnancy was related to a lower risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (relative risk, 0.75 [95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.87] for women in the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile). This relation was driven by a 39% lower risk of gestational hypertension (relative risk, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.76) comparing women in the highest quartile of physical activity (≥30.6 metabolic equivalents of task-hours/week) vs women in the lowest quartile (<6.0 metabolic equivalents of task-hours/week). Women whose moderate physical activity levels exceeded those recommended in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (>5 hours/week) had a 50% lower (relative risk, 0.50; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-0.69) risk of gestational hypertension than women who did not meet this recommendation (<2.5 hours/week). For vigorous physical activity, the risk of gestational hypertension was lower among the women who met (1.25-2.5 hours/week; relative risk, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.64-0.93) or exceeded (>2.5 hours/week; relative risk, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.92) the recommendations than women whose activity levels were below those recommended. Physical activity was not related to the risk of preeclampsia (relative risk, 0.93; 95% confidence interval, 0.76-1.14). CONCLUSION: Physical activity before pregnancy may lower the risk of developing gestational hypertension but not preeclampsia.

Contributions of Preterm Delivery to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction in Women.

Background: Preterm delivery is associated with a 1.4- to 2-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but inclusion of preterm delivery in CVD risk prediction algorithms has not been tested. We evaluated whether including preterm delivery and parity in CVD risk scores improved identification of women at high risk versus scores based on traditional risk factors. Methods: We predicted 10-year CVD risk using 119,587 observations contributed by 76,512 women ≥40 years of age and 20-year CVD risk with 72,533 women ≥40 years of age and 72,872 women ≥30 years of age from the Nurses' Health Study II. Cox proportional hazards models were fit with established CVD risk factors (Model 1) and established risk factors plus preterm delivery and parity (Model 2). We evaluated model fit, calibration, discrimination, and risk reclassification. Results: Very preterm delivery (<32 weeks) was associated with CVD in all 10- and 20-year models that included the established CVD risk factors (e.g., hazard ratio: 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 1.19 to 2.20 in 10-year risk model). Model 2 had improved fit relative to Model 1, but discrimination was not improved in Model 2 based on the C-difference or net reclassification index. Similar models for 20-year CVD risk prediction at age ≥30 years indicated improved discrimination when including preterm delivery and parity. Conclusions: Incorporating preterm delivery and parity into CVD risk scores appears most useful when women are young, before they develop established CVD risk factors. Observed improvements in risk prediction were small and warrant further investigation to confirm our findings and assess utility in a clinical setting.

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Unique Opportunities for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

This statement summarizes evidence that adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm delivery, gestational diabetes, small-for-gestational-age delivery, placental abruption, and pregnancy loss increase a woman's risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and of developing subsequent CVD (including fatal and nonfatal coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and heart failure). This statement highlights the importance of recognizing APOs when CVD risk is evaluated in women, although their value in reclassifying risk may not be established. A history of APOs is a prompt for more vigorous primordial prevention of CVD risk factors and primary prevention of CVD. Adopting a heart-healthy diet and increasing physical activity among women with APOs, starting in the postpartum setting and continuing across the life span, are important lifestyle interventions to decrease CVD risk. Lactation and breastfeeding may lower a woman's later cardiometabolic risk. Black and Asian women experience a higher proportion APOs, with more severe clinical presentation and worse outcomes, than White women. More studies on APOs and CVD in non-White women are needed to better understand and address these health disparities. Future studies of aspirin, statins, and metformin may better inform our recommendations for pharmacotherapy in primary CVD prevention among women who have had an APO. Several opportunities exist for health care systems to improve transitions of care for women with APOs and to implement strategies to reduce their long-term CVD risk. One proposed strategy includes incorporation of the concept of a fourth trimester into clinical recommendations and health care policy.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Subsequent Risk of Premature Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) are leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. However, it is uncertain whether HDPs are associated with long-term risk of premature mortality (before age 70 years). OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether HDPs were associated with premature mortality. METHODS: Between 1989 and 2017, the authors followed 88,395 parous female nurses participating in the Nurses' Health Study II. The study focused on gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia within the term HDPs. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between HDPs and premature mortality were estimated by using Cox proportional hazards models, with adjustment for relevant confounders. RESULTS: The authors documented that 2,387 women died before age 70 years, including 1,141 cancer deaths and 212 CVD deaths. The occurrence of HDPs, either gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia, was associated with an HR of 1.31 (95% CI: 1.18 to 1.46) for premature death during follow-up. When specific causes of death were examined, these relations were strongest for CVD-related mortality (HR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.67 to 3.07). The association between HDPs and all-cause premature death persisted, regardless of the subsequent development of chronic hypertension (HR: 1.20 [95% CI: 1.02 to 1.40] for HDPs only and HR: 2.02 [95% CI: 1.75 to 2.33] for both HDPs and subsequent chronic hypertension). CONCLUSIONS: An occurrence of HDPs, either gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia, was associated with an increased risk of premature mortality, particularly CVD mortality, even in the absence of chronic hypertension.

Cardiovascular Health After Preeclampsia: Patient and Provider Perspective.

Background: Preeclampsia predicts future cardiovascular disease (CVD) yet few programs exist for post-preeclampsia care. Methods: The Health after Preeclampsia Patient and Provider Engagement Network workshop was convened at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study in June 2018. The workshop sought to identify: 1) patient perspectives on barriers and facilitators to CVD risk reduction; 2) clinical programs specialized in post-preeclampsia care; 3) recommendations by national organizations for risk reduction; and 4) next steps. Stakeholders included the Preeclampsia Foundation, patients, clinicians who had initiated CVD risk reduction programs for women with prior preeclampsia, researchers, and national task force members. Results: Participants agreed there is insufficient awareness and action to prevent CVD after preeclampsia. Patients suggested a clinician checklist to ensure communication of CVD risks, enhanced training for clinicians on the link between preeclampsia and CVD, and a post-delivery appointment with a clinician knowledgeable about this link. Clinical programs primarily served patients in the first postpartum year, bridging obstetrical and primary care. They recommended CVD risk modification with periodic blood pressure, weight, lipid and diabetes screening. Barriers included the paucity of programs designed for this population and gaps in insurance coverage after delivery. The American Heart Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Preeclampsia Foundation have developed guidelines and materials for patients and providers to guide management of women with prior preeclampsia. Conclusions: Integrated efforts of patients, caregivers, researchers, and national organizations are needed to improve CVD prevention after preeclampsia. This meeting's recommendations can serve as a resource and catalyst for this effort.

Menstrual cycle regularity and length across the reproductive lifespan and risk of premature mortality: prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether irregular or long menstrual cycles throughout the life course are associated with all cause and cause specific premature mortality (age <70 years). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Nurses' Health Study II (1993-2017). PARTICIPANTS: 79 505 premenopausal women without a history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or diabetes and who reported the usual length and regularity of their menstrual cycles at ages 14-17 years, 18-22 years, and 29-46 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for all cause and cause specific premature mortality (death before age 70 years) were estimated from multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: During 24 years of follow-up, 1975 premature deaths were documented, including 894 from cancer and 172 from cardiovascular disease. Women who reported always having irregular menstrual cycles experienced higher mortality rates during follow-up than women who reported very regular cycles in the same age ranges. The crude mortality rate per 1000 person years of follow-up for women reporting very regular cycles and women reporting always irregular cycles were 1.05 and 1.23 for cycle characteristics at ages 14-17 years, 1.00 and 1.37 for cycle characteristics at ages 18-22 years, and 1.00 and 1.68 for cycle characteristics at ages 29-46 years. The corresponding multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for premature death during follow-up were 1.18 (95% confidence interval 1.02 to 1.37), 1.37 (1.09 to 1.73), and 1.39 (1.14 to 1.70), respectively. Similarly, women who reported that their usual cycle length was 40 days or more at ages 18-22 years and 29-46 years were more likely to die prematurely than women who reported a usual cycle length of 26-31 days in the same age ranges (1.34, 1.06 to 1.69; and 1.40, 1.17 to 1.68, respectively). These relations were strongest for deaths related to cardiovascular disease. The higher mortality associated with long and irregular menstrual cycles was slightly stronger among current smokers. CONCLUSIONS: Irregular and long menstrual cycles in adolescence and adulthood are associated with a greater risk of premature mortality (age <70 years). This relation is slightly stronger among women who smoke.

Prepregnancy adherence to dietary recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in relation to risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether adherence to diet recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population is also related to the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension (GHTN). OBJECTIVES: The aim was to evaluate the relation of prepregnancy adherence to the American Heart Association (AHA) diet recommendations and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) with the risk of pre-eclampsia and GHTN. METHODS: Between 1991 and 2009, we prospectively followed 16,892 singleton pregnancies among 11,535 women who participated in the Nurses' Health Study II. Prepregnancy diet was assessed every 4 y, from which we calculated dietary pattern scores from the DASH diet (8 components) and the diet recommendations from the AHA 2020 Strategic Impact Goals (primary score: 5 components; secondary score: primary score plus 3 components). Pregnancy outcomes were self-reported, and we estimated the RR (95% CI) of pre-eclampsia and GHTN with log-binomial regression using generalized estimating equations to account for repeat pregnancies and adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Women had a mean (SD) age of 34.4 (34.0) y at pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia was reported in 495 (2.9%) pregnancies and GHTN in 561 (3.3%) pregnancies. The RR (95% CI) of pre-eclampsia for women in the highest quintile of the DASH was 0.65 (0.48, 0.87) compared with women in the lowest score quintile. A similar inverse trend was observed for the AHA primary (0.74; 95% CI: 0.55, 1.00) and secondary (0.81; 95% CI: 0.61, 1.07) scores comparing women in the highest versus the lowest score quintile. Neither the DASH nor the AHA scores were related to GHTN. CONCLUSIONS: Women with higher adherence to dietary recommendations for the prevention of CVD in the general population had a lower risk of pre-eclampsia-a common pregnancy complication related to higher CVD risk among women-than women with lower adherence to these recommendations.