Impact of body mass index on markers of vascular health in normotensive women with history of pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and pre-eclampsia (PE) are both associated with vascular dysfunction, which translates into an increased risk for cardiovascular disease in later life. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an interaction between body mass index (BMI) and a history of PE in their effects on vascular health. METHODS: This was an observational case-control study of 30 women with a history of PE who were compared with 31 age- and BMI-matched controls who had an uncomplicated pregnancy. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid distensibility (CD) were measured 6-12 months postpartum. To evaluate the impact of physical fitness, maximum oxygen uptake capacity was assessed using a standardized maximum exhaustion cycling test using breath-by-breath analysis. To specify further BMI subgroups, metabolic syndrome constituents were assessed in all individuals. RESULTS: Formerly pre-eclamptic women had significantly lower FMD (5.1 ± 2.1% vs 9.4 ± 3.4%; P < 0.01), higher cIMT (0.59 ± 0.09 vs 0.49 ± 0.07 µm; P < 0.01) and lower CD (1.54 ± 0.37%/10 mmHg vs 1.80 ± 0.39%/10 mmHg; P < 0.01) compared with controls. In our study, population BMI correlated negatively with FMD (P = 0.04) but not with cIMT or CD. BMI and PE did not exhibit an interaction effect on these vascular parameters. Physical fitness was lower in women with a history of PE and in women with higher BMI. Constituents of the metabolic syndrome, including insulin, homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-ir), triglyceride, microalbuminuria and systolic and diastolic blood pressure, were significantly higher in formerly pre-eclamptic women. BMI affected glucose metabolism but not lipids or blood pressure. BMI and PE positively interacted in their effect on insulin (P = 0.04) and HOMA-ir (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Both BMI and a history of PE have negative effects on endothelial function, insulin resistance and physical fitness. In formerly pre-eclamptic women, the effect of BMI on insulin resistance was particularly high, suggesting a synergistic effect. Additionally, independently of BMI, a history of PE was associated with reduced FMD and CD and increased cIMT and blood pressure. Recognizing the cardiovascular risk profile is important for informing patients and encouraging targeted lifestyle modifications. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Association between COVID-19 lockdown measures and the incidence of iatrogenic versus spontaneous very preterm births in the Netherlands: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic led to regional or nationwide lockdowns as part of risk mitigation measurements in many countries worldwide. Recent studies suggest an unexpected and unprecedented decrease in preterm births during the initial COVID-19 lockdowns in the first half of 2020. The objective of the current study was to assess the effects of the two months of the initial national COVID-19 lockdown period on the incidence of very and extremely preterm birth in the Netherlands, stratified by either spontaneous or iatrogenic onset of delivery, in both singleton and multiple pregnancies. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using data from all 10 perinatal centers in the Netherlands on very and extremely preterm births during the initial COVID-19 lockdown from March 15 to May 15, 2020. Incidences of very and extremely preterm birth were calculated using an estimate of the total number of births in the Netherlands in this period. As reference, we used data from the corresponding calendar period in 2015-2018 from the national perinatal registry (Perined). We differentiated between spontaneous versus iatrogenic onset of delivery and between singleton versus multiple pregnancies. RESULTS: The incidence of total preterm birth < 32 weeks in singleton pregnancies was 6.1‰ in the study period in 2020 versus 6.5‰ in the corresponding period in 2015-2018. The decrease in preterm births in singletons was solely due to a significant decrease in iatrogenic preterm births, both < 32 weeks (OR 0.71; 95%CI 0.53 to 0.95) and < 28 weeks (OR 0.53; 95%CI 0.29 to 0.97). For multiple pregnancies, an increase in preterm births < 28 weeks was observed (OR 2.43; 95%CI 1.35 to 4.39). CONCLUSION: This study shows a decrease in iatrogenic preterm births during the initial COVID-19-related lockdown in the Netherlands in singletons. Future studies should focus on the mechanism of action of lockdown measures and reduction of preterm birth and the effects of perinatal outcome.

Venous and autonomic function in formerly pre-eclamptic women and controls matched for body mass index.

OBJECTIVE: Prepregnancy reduced plasma volume (PV) increases the risk of subsequent pre-eclamptic pregnancy. Reduced PV is thought to reflect venous reserve capacity, especially when venous vasculature is constricted and sympathetic tone is elevated. As obesity might affect these variables, and is associated with pre-eclampsia, increased body weight may underlie these observations. The aim of this study was to determine whether the relationship between reduced venous reserve and pre-eclampsia is independent of body mass index (BMI). METHODS: This was an observational case-control study in which venous reserve capacity in 30 formerly pre-eclamptic, but currently non-pregnant, women divided equally into three groups based on BMI (BMI 19.5-24.9, 25.0-29.9 or ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 ), was compared with that in 30 healthy parous, non-pregnant controls. Cases and controls were matched for BMI, age and parity. Venous reserve capacity was quantified by assessing PV and venous compliance (VeC). The autonomic nervous system regulating venous capacitance was evaluated using heart rate (HR) variability analysis, with the women in a resting supine position and during positive head-up tilt (HUT). RESULTS: Compared with controls, formerly pre-eclamptic women had, when in a resting supine position, lower PV (1339 ± 79 vs 1547 ± 139 mL/m2 (P < 0.0001)), lower VeC (0.04 ± 0.02 vs 0.07 ± 0.02 mL/dL/mmHg (P < 0.0001)), higher sympathetic tone (1.9 ± 1.1 vs 1.2 ± 0.7 (P = 0.002)) and lower baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS; 8.7 ± 3.8 vs 19.0 ± 1.7 ms/mmHg (P < 0.0001)). During HUT, women with a history of pre-eclampsia had less modulatory capacity over VeC and BRS, while HR and sympathetic tone remained consistently higher. CONCLUSIONS: Women with a history of pre-eclampsia had reduced venous reserve capacity compared with that in BMI-matched controls. This is reflected by lower PV and VeC, with the autonomic balance being shifted towards sympathetic dominance and lower BRS. This suggests that underlying reduced venous reserve, but not BMI, relates to pre-eclampsia. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Decreased endothelial function and increased subclinical heart failure in women several years after pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVES: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with both postpartum endothelial dysfunction and asymptomatic structural heart alterations consistent with heart failure Stage B (HF-B). In this study, we assessed the relationship between endothelial function, measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and HF-B in women with a history of PE. METHODS: This was an observational study in which 67 formerly pre-eclamptic women (≥ 4 years postpartum) and 37 healthy parous controls were assessed ultrasonographically for cardiac function and geometry, as well as for endothelial function by means of brachial artery FMD. HF-B was diagnosed as left ventricular hypertrophy (left ventricular mass index (LVMi) > 95 g/m2 ), concentric remodeling (relative wall thickness > 0.42 and LVMi ≤ 95 g/m2 ), mild systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction > 40% and < 55%) or asymptomatic valvular disease. Cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome variables were compared between women with history of PE and controls, as well as between those in the formerly pre-eclamptic group who had HF Stage A, HF-B or no HF. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the associations of FMD with PE, metabolic syndrome risk factors and obstetric parameters. RESULTS: The prevalence of HF-B amongst formerly pre-eclamptic women was three-fold higher than that observed for controls (25% vs 8%, P < 0.05), while FMD was lower in formerly pre-eclamptic women compared with controls (6.12% vs 8.22%, P < 0.01); history of PE remained associated independently with lower FMD after adjusting for metabolic syndrome risk factors and obstetric parameters (ß, -1.88; 95% CI, -3.59 to -0.18). However, HF-B did not relate to low FMD in formerly pre-eclamptic women. CONCLUSIONS: Years after pregnancy, formerly pre- eclamptic women have lower FMD and have HF-B more often compared with healthy parous controls. Nonetheless, HF-B was not related to reduced FMD. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Pre-eclampsia: an important risk factor for asymptomatic heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with both postpartum structural asymptomatic heart disease (i.e. heart failure Stage B (HF-B)) and conventional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. We aimed to evaluate the extent to which PE, adjusted for conventional CV risk factors, is associated independently with asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities postpartum. METHODS: In this cross-sectional cohort study, 107 formerly pre-eclamptic women and 41 women with uneventful previous pregnancy (controls) were invited for CV risk assessment 4-10 years postpartum. This included cardiac ultrasound, blood pressure (BP) measurement and evaluation of metabolic syndrome determinants. Asymptomatic structural and functional cardiac abnormalities were classified as HF-B, according to the American Heart Association guidelines. Prehypertension was defined as systolic BP of 120-139 mmHg and/or diastolic BP of 80-89 mmHg. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to calculate associations of PE and conventional risk factors with HF-B. RESULTS: The prevalence of asymptomatic HF-B was approximately 3.5-fold higher in the PE group compared with controls (25% vs 7%, P < 0.01); 67% of this group had concentric remodeling and 22% had mildly impaired ejection fraction. After adjustment for postpartum interval, hypertension and high-density lipoprotein, PE was significantly associated with HF-B (adjusted odds ratio, 4.4 (95% CI, 1.0-19.1)). Moreover, in the formerly pre-eclamptic group, prehypertension was associated significantly with HF-B (odds ratio, 4.3 (95% CI, 1.4-12.7)), while metabolic syndrome determinants were not. CONCLUSION: PE is associated with a four-fold increased female-specific risk of asymptomatic cardiac abnormalities. Prehypertension apparently increases this risk significantly, while metabolic syndrome determinants do not. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Prevalence of asymptomatic heart failure in formerly pre-eclamptic women: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: After pre-eclampsia (PE), the prevalence of structural heart disease without symptoms, i.e. heart failure Stage B (HF-B), may be as high as one in four women in the first year postpartum. We hypothesize that a significant number of formerly pre-eclamptic women with HF-B postpartum are still in their resolving period and will not have HF-B during follow-up. METHODS: In this prospective longitudinal cohort study, we included 69 formerly pre-eclamptic women who underwent serial echocardiographic measurements at 1 and 4 years postpartum. HF-B was diagnosed as left ventricular hypertrophy (left ventricular mass index (LVMi) > 95 g/m2 ), concentric remodeling (relative wall thickness > 0.42 and LVMi ≤ 95 g/m2 ), mild systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction > 40% and < 55%) or asymptomatic valvular disease. Women were subdivided and analyzed according to HF-B outcome: no HF-B at either visit; HF-B at first visit only; HF-B at second visit only; HF-B at both visits. RESULTS: The prevalence of HF-B in formerly pre-eclamptic women was 23% in the first year postpartum and 23% after 4 years. At the second visit, HF-B had resolved in 62.5% of affected women but was newly developed in 19% of initially unaffected women. At the first visit, 56% of women diagnosed with HF-B had reduced systolic function whereas at the second visit 69% of women with HF-B had concentric remodeling with mostly normal ejection fraction, consistent with diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HF-B can be considered consistently high (1 in 4) amongst formerly pre-eclamptic women at follow-up. Nonetheless, at an individual level, more than 60% of women found initially to be affected by HF-B will recover, whilst about 20% of formerly pre-eclamptic women with normal echocardiography in the first year postpartum will develop HF-B over the following years. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Recurrent pre-eclampsia in women with metabolic syndrome and low plasma volume: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of recurrent pre-eclampsia in women with a history of pre-eclampsia with both metabolic syndrome and low plasma volume postpartum, as compared with women without either entity. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Three tertiary referral hospitals in the Netherlands. POPULATION: Women with a history of pre-eclampsia. METHODS: In 196 women with a history of pre-eclampsia we determined the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome using the World Health Organization criteria and measured plasma volume with the (125) I-human serum albumin indicator dilution technique. We compared the prevalence of recurrent pre-eclampsia in four groups, classified according to presence or absence of metabolic syndrome and low or normal plasma volume, calculating odds ratios (OR), adjusted for confounders. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Recurrence of pre-eclampsia in the subsequent pregnancy. RESULTS: The prevalence of recurrent pre-eclampsia was 12% (12/99) in women without metabolic syndrome with normal plasma volume, versus 47% (8/17) in women with both metabolic syndrome and low plasma volume: OR 6.44 (95% CI 2.09-19.90), adjusted OR 7.90 (95% CI 2.30-27.16). Recurrent pre-eclampsia was present in 44% (10/23) and 25% (14/57) of women with isolated metabolic syndrome and low plasma volume, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In the concomitant presence of metabolic syndrome and low plasma volume, the prevalence of recurrent pre-eclampsia was nearly 50%, which is four times as high as the prevalence in women without either entity. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Metabolic syndrome and low plasma volume raise the risk of recurrent pre-eclampsia to nearly 50%.

Metabolic syndrome after pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia or small-for-gestational-age: a retrospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in women after a pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia or small-for-gestational-age (SGA), both epitomes of placental syndrome. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single tertiary centre for maternal medicine in the Netherlands. POPULATION: Women with a history of pre-eclampsia in absence of SGA (n = 742) or pregnancy complicated by normotensive SGA (n = 147) between 1996 and 2010. METHODS: Women were routinely screened for underlying cardiometabolic and cardiovascular risk factors at least 6 months postpartum. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio for each group. Adjustments were made for age, maternal height, smoking, parity, and interval between delivery and measurement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in our population was two-fold higher for women with a history of pre-eclampsia (13.9%) compared with women with a history of SGA (7.6%). Calculated odds ratios for metabolic syndrome, fasting insulin, HOMA, and microalbuminuria were all higher for women with a history of pre-eclampsia compared with women with SGA. This difference persisted after adjustment for confounding factors: metabolic syndrome (adjusted odds ratio, aOR 2.11; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI 1.00-4.47) and hyperinsulinaemia (aOR 1.78; 95% CI 1.13-2.81) insulin resistance (HOMAIR ; aOR 1.80; 95% CI 1.14-2.86). Microalbuminuria (aOR 1.58; 95% CI 0.85-2.93) did not reach the level of significance after adjustment for confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: A history of pre-eclampsia, rather than SGA, was associated with metabolic syndrome, suggesting that it relates to maternal rather than fetal etiology of placental syndrome.

Cardiovascular disease risk is only elevated in hypertensive, formerly preeclamptic women.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the predicted 10- and 30-year risk scores for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients who experienced preeclampsia (PE) 5-10 years previously compared with healthy parous controls. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: Tertiary referral hospital in the Netherlands. POPULATION: One hundred and fifteen patients with a history of PE and 50 controls. PE patients were categorised into two groups, hypertensive (n = 21) and normotensive (n = 94), based on use of antihypertensive medication, and next categorised into subgroups based on the onset of PE: early-onset PE (n = 39) and late-onset PE (n = 76). METHODS: All participants underwent cardiovascular risk screening 5-10 years after index pregnancy. We measured body mass, height and blood pressure. Blood was analysed for fasting glucose, insulin and lipid levels. All participants completed a validated questionnaire. The 10- and 30-year Framingham risk scores were calculated and compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimated Framingham 10- and 30-year risk scores for CVD. RESULTS: The overall 10- and 30-year CVD median risks weighing subjects' lipids were comparable between formerly PE women and controls; 1.6 versus 1.5% (P = 0.22) and 9.0 versus 9.0% (P = 0.49), respectively. However, hypertensive formerly PE women have twice the CVD risk as normotensive formerly PE women: 10- and 30-year CVD median risks were 3.1 versus 1.5% (P < 0.01) and 19.0% versus 8.0% (P < 0.01), respectively. Risk estimates based on BMI rather than lipid profile show comparable results. Early-onset PE clustered more often in the hypertensive formerly PE group and showed significantly higher 10- and 30-year CVD risk estimates based on lipids compared with the late-onset PE group: 1.7 versus 1.3% (P < 0.05) and 10.0 versus 7.0% (P < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Women who are hypertensive after preeclampsia, have a twofold risk of developing CVD in the next 10-30 years. Formerly PE women who are normotensive in the first 10 years after their preeclamptic pregnancy have a comparable future cardiovascular risk to healthy controls.

Ketonuria is not associated with hyperemesis gravidarum disease severity.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between ketonuria and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) disease severity. STUDY DESIGN: We included pregnant women hospitalised for HG who participated in the Maternal and Offspring outcomes after Treatment of HyperEmesis by Refeeding (MOTHER) trial and women who were eligible, chose not to be randomised and agreed to participate in the observational cohort. Between October 2013 and March 2016, in 19 hospitals in the Netherlands, women hospitalised for HG were approached for study participation. The presence of ketonuria was not required for study entry. Ketonuria was measured at hospital admission with a dipstick, which distinguishes 5 categories: negative and 1+ through 4 + . The outcome measures were multiple measures of HG disease severity at different time points: 1) At hospital admission (study entry): severity of nausea and vomiting, quality of life and weight change compared to pre-pregnancy weight, 2) One week after hospital admission: severity of nausea and vomiting, quality of life and weight change compared to admission, 3) Duration of index hospital admission and readmission for HG at any time point RESULTS: 215 women where included. Ketonuria was not associated with severity of nausea and vomiting, quality of life or weight loss at hospital admission, nor was the degree of ketonuria at admission associated with any of the outcomes 1 week after hospital admission. The degree of ketonuria was also not associated with the number of readmissions. However, women with a higher degree of ketonuria had a statistically significant longer duration of hospital stay (per 1+ ketonuria, difference: 0.27 days, 95 % CI: 0.05 to 0.48). CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between the degree of ketonuria at admission and severity of symptoms, quality of life, maternal weight loss, or number of readmissions, suggesting that ketonuria provides no information about disease severity or disease course. Despite this, women with a higher degree of ketonuria at admission were hospitalised for longer. This could suggest that health care professionals base length of hospital stay on the degree of ketonuria. Based on the lack of association between ketonuria and disease severity, we suggest it has no additional value in the clinical management of HG.