Cardiovascular risk factors in women 10 years post early preeclampsia: the Preeclampsia Risk EValuation in FEMales study (PREVFEM)

Abstract

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy and a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) later in a women’s life. The best approach for prevention of CVD in affected young women is yet unclear. We sought to investigate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in women at 10 years post preeclampsia in comparison with a reference group.

Methods: Women with a history of early preeclampsia (exposed), DBP ≥90 mmHg with proteinuria ≥0.3gram/24 h before 32 weeks of gestation, and an equal number of women after uncomplicated pregnancy (non-exposed) from the obstetric database of 1991–2007, were sent a questionnaire and invited for a cardiovascular screening programme.

Results: The current study included 339 exposed women and 332 non-exposed women, 10 years post index-pregnancy. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP/DBP) were 127/86 mmHg versus 119/79 mmHg in the exposed and reference group respectively (p < 0.001). Exposure to early preeclampsia was associated with a threefold increased prevalence of hypertension (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 3.59, 95%CI 2.48–5.20). BMI and waist circumference were 26.9 kg/m² and 86.5 cm in the exposed group and 26.2 kg/m² (p = 0.07) and 83 cm (p = 0.001) in the non-exposed group. We found no differences in levels of glucose, lipids and CRP. Adjusted OR for the metabolic syndrome in women post preeclampsia was 2.18 (95% CI 1.34–3.52) compared with women in the reference group.

Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of hypertension in young women at 10 years post early preeclampsia. More research on the timing of cardiovascular screening in these high-risk women is needed.