Polycystic ovary syndrome: a risk-enhancing factor for cardiovascular disease

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age and is hallmarked by hyperandrogenism, oligo-ovulation, and polycystic ovarian morphology. Polycystic ovary syndrome, particularly the hyperandrogenism phenotype, is associated with several cardiometabolic abnormalities, including obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Many, but not all, studies have suggested that PCOS is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heart disease and stroke, independent of body mass index and traditional risk factors. Interpretation of the data from these observational studies is limited by the varying definitions and ascertainment of PCOS and CVD across studies. Recent Mendelian randomization studies have challenged the causality of PCOS with coronary heart disease and stroke. Future longitudinal studies with clearly defined PCOS criteria and newer genetic methodologies may help to determine association and causality. Nevertheless, CVD risk screening remains critical in this patient population, as improvements in metabolic profile and reduction in CVD risk are achievable with a combination of lifestyle management and pharmacotherapy. Statin therapy should be implemented in women with PCOS who have elevated atherosclerotic CVD risk. If CVD risk is uncertain, measurement of subclinical atherosclerosis (carotid plaque or coronary artery calcium) may be a useful tool to guide shared decision-making about initiation of statin therapy. Other medications, such as metformin and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, also may be useful in reducing CVD risk in insulin-resistant populations. Additional research is needed to determine the best pathways to mitigate PCOS-associated CVD risk

Trends, Predictors, and Outcomes of Cardiovascular Complications at Delivery Associated With Gestational Diabetes: A National Inpatient Sample Analysis (2004-2019)

Background: Gestational diabetes (GD) is associated with increased risk of long-term cardiovascular complications. However, data on acute peripartum cardiovascular complications are not well established. Hence, we aimed to investigate the association of GD with acute cardiovascular outcomes at the time of delivery admission. Methods and Results: We used data from the National Inpatient Sample (2004-2019). International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) or Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes were used to identify delivery hospitalizations and GD diagnosis. A total of 63 115 002 weighted hospitalizations for deliveries were identified, of which 3.9% were among individuals with GD (n=2 435 301). The prevalence of both GD and obesity increased during the study period (P trends\u3c 0.01). Individuals with GD versus those without GD had a higher prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. After adjustment for age, race or ethnicity, comorbidities, insurance, and income, GD remained independently associated with cardiovascular complications including preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.97 [95% CI, 1.96-1.98]), peripartum cardiomyopathy (aOR, 1.15 [1.08-1.22]), acute kidney injury (aOR, 1.16 [1.11-1.21]), stroke (aOR, 1.15 [1.09-1.23]), and arrhythmias (aOR, 1.48 [1.46-1.50]), compared with no GD. Moreover, delivery hospitalizations among individuals with GD were associated with increased length (3 versus 2 days, P\u3c 0.01) and cost of hospitalization ($4909 versus$3682, P\u3c 0.01). Even in the absence of preeclampsia, GD was associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. Conclusions: Individuals with GD had a higher risk of preeclampsia, peripartum cardiomyopathy, acute kidney injury, stroke, and arrhythmias during delivery hospitalizations. As rates of GD are increasing globally, efforts to improve preconception cardiometabolic health and prevent GD may represent important strategies to improve peripartum maternal outcomes and mitigate long-term cardiovascular risk

Preconception Counseling for a Patient With a Mechanical Tricuspid Valve

A 37-year-old woman with mechanical tricuspid valve thrombosis presented for preconception consultation. Multimodality imaging confirmed a malfunctioning bileaflet mechanical tricuspid valve with both leaflets fixed and open. This case highlights the key discussions held by the multidisciplinary pregnancy heart team

Cardiovascular Complications During Delivery Admissions Associated With Assisted Reproductive Technology (from a National Inpatient Sample Analysis 2008 to 2019)

Women who conceive through assisted reproductive technology (ART) have a known increased risk of obstetric complications. However, whether ART is also associated with higher risk of developing cardiovascular complications during delivery admissions has not been well established. We used data from the National Inpatient Sample (2008 to 2019) and used the International Classification of Diseases codes to identify delivery hospitalizations and ART procedures. A total of 45,867,086 weighted delivery cases were identified, of which 0.24% were among women who conceived through ART (n = 108,542). Women with an ART history were older at the time of delivery (median 35 vs 28 years, p \u3c 0.01) and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, gestational diabetes, and dyslipidemia (all, p \u3c 0.01). After adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, co-morbidities, multiple gestation, insurance, and income, ART remained an independent predictor of peripartum cardiovascular complications, including pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45 to 1.51), heart failure (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.10 to 3.40), and cardiac arrhythmias (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.30 to 1.48), compared with natural conception. Likewise, the risk of acute kidney injury (aOR 2.57, 95% CI 2.25 to 2.92), ischemic stroke (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.43), hemorrhagic stroke (aOR 1.63, 95% CI 1.27 to 2.11), pulmonary edema (aOR 2.29, 95% CI 2.02 to 2.61), and venous thromboembolism (aOR 1.92, 95% CI 1.63 to 2.25) were higher with ART. However, odds of developing peripartum cardiomyopathy or acute coronary syndrome were not associated with ART. Length of stay (3 vs 2 days, p \u3c 0.01) and cost of hospitalization ($5,903 vs$3,922, p \u3c 0.01) were higher for deliveries among women with a history of ART. In conclusion, women who conceived with ART had higher risk of pre-eclampsia, heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, and other complications during their delivery hospitalizations. This may, in part, contribute to their increased resource utilization seen

Trends, Predictors, and Outcomes of Cardiovascular Complications Associated With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome During Delivery Hospitalizations: A National Inpatient Sample Analysis (2002-2019)

Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have an increased risk of pregnancy‐associated complications. However, data on peripartum cardiovascular complications remain limited. Hence, we investigated trends, outcomes, and predictors of cardiovascular complications associated with PCOS diagnosis during delivery hospitalizations in the United States. Methods and Results: We used data from the National Inpatient Sample (2002–2019). International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD‐9), or International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD‐10), codes were used to identify delivery hospitalizations and PCOS diagnosis. A total of 71 436 308 weighted hospitalizations for deliveries were identified, of which 0.3% were among women with PCOS (n=195 675). The prevalence of PCOS, and obesity among those with PCOS, increased during the study period. Women with PCOS were older (median, 31 versus 28 years; P\u3c 0.01) and had a higher prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia. After adjustment for age, race and ethnicity, comorbidities, insurance, and income, PCOS remained an independent predictor of cardiovascular complications, including preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.56 [95% CI, 1.54–1.59]; P\u3c 0.01), eclampsia (adjusted OR, 1.58 [95% CI, 1.54–1.59]; P\u3c 0.01), peripartum cardiomyopathy (adjusted OR, 1.79 [95% CI, 1.49–2.13]; P\u3c 0.01), and heart failure (adjusted OR, 1.76 [95% CI, 1.27–2.45]; P\u3c 0.01), compared with no PCOS. Moreover, delivery hospitalizations among women with PCOS were associated with increased length (3 versus 2 days; P\u3c 0.01) and cost of hospitalization ($4901 versus$3616; P\u3c 0.01). Conclusions: Women with PCOS had a higher risk of preeclampsia/eclampsia, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and heart failure during delivery hospitalizations. Moreover, delivery hospitalizations among women with PCOS diagnosis were associated with increased length and cost of hospitalization. This signifies the importance of prepregnancy consultation and optimization for cardiometabolic health to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes

Association between parity and markers of inflammation: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

Introduction: Multiparity has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Inflammation may be a mechanism linking parity to CVD. We investigated the association between parity and later-life markers of inflammation. Methods: We studied 3,454 female MESA participants aged 45-84, free of CVD, who had data on parity and inflammatory markers. Parity was categorized as 0 (reference), 1-2, 3-4, or ≥ 5. Linear regression was used to evaluate the association between parity and natural log-transformed levels of fibrinogen, D-dimer, GlycA, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Results: Mean age was 62 ± 10 years. The proportion of women with nulliparity, 1-2, 3-4, and ≥ 5 live births were 18, 39, 29, and 14%, respectively. There was no association between parity and fibrinogen. Women with grand multiparity (≥ 5 live births) had 28, 10, and 18% higher levels of hsCRP, IL-6 and D-dimer, respectively, compared to nulliparous women, after adjustment for demographic factors. After additional adjustment for CVD risk factors, women with 1-2 and 3-4 live births had higher hsCRP and women with 1-2 live births had higher GlycA. Conclusion: In this diverse cohort of middle-to-older aged women, we found that higher parity was associated with some inflammatory markers; however, these associations were largely attenuated after adjustment for CVD risk factors. There was no clear dose-response relationship between parity and these inflammatory markers. Future studies are needed to evaluate how inflammation may influence the link between parity and CVD and whether healthy lifestyle/pharmacotherapies targeting inflammation can reduce CVD risk among multiparous women. Clinical trial registration: The MESA cohort design is registered at clinicaltrials.gov as follows: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00005487