American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 1 , Pages 58.e1-58.e8, January 2009

A history of preeclampsia identifies women who have underlying cardiovascular risk factors

  • Graeme N. Smith, MD, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Queen's Perinatal Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprints: Graeme N. Smith, MD, PhD, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, 76 Stuart St, Kingston, ON, Canada K7L 2V7
    • ,
  • Mark C. Walker, MD, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Ottawa Maternal Neonatal Investigators Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Aizhong Liu, MB, PhD

      Affiliations

    • School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
    • ,
  • Shi Wu Wen, MB, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Ottawa Maternal Neonatal Investigators Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Melissa Swansburg, RN, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Queen's Perinatal Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Heather Ramshaw, BSc

      Affiliations

    • Queen's Perinatal Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Ruth Rennicks White, RN, BScN

      Affiliations

    • Ottawa Maternal Neonatal Investigators Research Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Michelle Roddy, RN, BScN

      Affiliations

    • Queen's Perinatal Research Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kingston General Hospital, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Michelle Hladunewich, MD, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Departments of Nephrology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
    • ,
  • Pre-Eclampsia New Emerging Team (PE-NET)

Received 15 January 2008; received in revised form 2 May 2008; accepted 11 June 2008. published online 11 August 2008.

Objective

The objective of this study was to prospectively assess physical and biochemical cardiovascular risk markers in women who had developed preeclampsia (PE) at 1 year postpartum.

Study Design

Following an overnight fast, previously PE (n = 70) and normotensive women (n = 70) had weight and blood pressure recorded and levels of morning blood for insulin, glucose, C-reactive protein, lipids, cholesterol, and urine for microalbumin and creatinine measured. Body mass index, homeostatic model assessment index, and incidence of metabolic syndrome were determined.

Results

At 1 year postpartum, markers of cardiovascular disease were different between the groups. There were also differences in the number of women with abnormal values. Mathematical modeling of cardiovascular event risk suggests that PE increases the risk by 2- to 3-fold; the risk was greatest for women with severe PE.

Conclusion

The development of PE is 1 of the earliest clinically identifiable markers of a woman's heightened risk of cardiovascular disease.

Key words: cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk, preeclampsia

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 Cite this article as: Smith GN, Walker MC, Liu A, et al. A history of preeclampsia identifies women who have underlying cardiovascular risk factors. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;200:58.e1-58.e8.

 This study was supported by Grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (FMI-63194) and the Heart and Stroke Foundation (PG-03-0175-PE-NET).

PII: S0002-9378(08)00646-7

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2008.06.035

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 200, Issue 1 , Pages 58.e1-58.e8, January 2009

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