Association of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes With Hypertension 2 to 7 Years Postpartum

Background Identifying pregnancy-associated risk factors before the development of major cardiovascular disease events could provide opportunities for prevention. The objective of this study was to determine the association between outcomes in first pregnancies and subsequent cardiovascular health. Methods and Results The Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study Monitoring Mothers-to-be Heart Health Study is a prospective observational cohort that followed 4484 women 2 to 7 years (mean 3.2 years) after their first pregnancy. Adverse pregnancy outcomes (defined as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, small-for-gestational-age birth, preterm birth, and stillbirth) were identified prospectively in 1017 of the women (22.7%) during this pregnancy. The primary outcome was incident hypertension (HTN). Women without adverse pregnancy outcomes served as controls. Risk ratios (RR) and 95% CIs were adjusted for age, smoking, body mass index, insurance type, and race/ethnicity at enrollment during pregnancy. The overall incidence of HTN was 5.4% (95% CI 4.7% to 6.1%). Women with adverse pregnancy outcomes had higher adjusted risk of HTN at follow-up compared with controls (RR 2.4, 95% CI 1.8-3.1). The association held for individual adverse pregnancy outcomes: any hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (RR 2.7, 95% CI 2.0-3.6), preeclampsia (RR 2.8, 95% CI 2.0-4.0), and preterm birth (RR 2.7, 95% CI 1.9-3.8). Women who had an indicated preterm birth and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy had the highest risk of HTN (RR 4.3, 95% CI 2.7-6.7). Conclusions Several pregnancy complications in the first pregnancy are associated with development of HTN 2 to 7 years later. Preventive care for women should include a detailed pregnancy history to aid in counseling about HTN risk

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy increase the risk of developing neovascular age-related macular degeneration in later life

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and short-term adverse outcomes have long been recognized; however, survivors remain at risk of long-term complications. We investigated whether HDP is associated with the development of choroidal neovascular age-related macular degeneration (CNV AMD). Methods: We identified 31,454 women who experienced HDP based on Utah birth certificates and 62,908 unexposed women matched 2:1 to the exposed. Risk of CNV AMD was estimated using Cox models. Findings: Women with HDP exhibited an 80% higher risk for early CNV AMD (age < 70 y; 95%CI 1.23–2.58). Conclusion: Our findings may have implications forearlier CNV AMD screening and detection

Utility of magnetic resonance imaging for suspected appendicitis in pregnant women

The purpose of this study was to estimate the rate and risk of appendix nonvisualization and alternative diagnoses made with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for suspected appendicitis in pregnant women. We performed a retrospective cohort study of consecutive pregnant women who underwent MRI for suspected appendicitis at a single center from 2007-2012. Data on clinical presentation, imaging, and surgical pathologic evidence were extracted from electronic medical records. Odds ratios estimated risk factors for nondiagnosis. Radiologic diagnoses were identified, and rates of diagnoses were calculated. Subgroup analysis was performed among women who underwent initial imaging with ultrasound scanning. Over the 5-year period, 171 pregnant women underwent MRI for suspected appendicitis. The rate of nonvisualization was 30.9% (n = 53). Of the remaining 118 women with a visualized appendix, 18 women had imaging findings that were consistent with appendicitis and underwent appendectomy. Twelve cases of appendicitis were confirmed on pathologic evaluation (66.7%). Women with nonvisualization of the appendix on MRI were more likely to be beyond the first trimester (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–4.5). Seventy-four women had disease diagnosed on MRI (43.3%). In the group of 43 women who had a nondiagnostic ultrasound scanning before the MRI, the rate of subsequent diagnostic MRI was 65% (n = 28). MRI yields a high diagnostic rate and accuracy in pregnant women with suspected appendicitis and provides alternative diagnoses to guide further management. Given the high rate of appendix nonvisualization on ultrasound scanning that has been reported in the literature, we recommend MRI as the imaging modality of choice for this population in settings in which MRI is readily available

Association between aspirin use during pregnancy and cardiovascular risk factors 2–7&nbsp;years after delivery: The nuMoM2b Heart Health Study

ObjectivesTo evaluate the association between aspirin use during first pregnancy and later maternal cardiovascular risk.Study designIn this secondary analysis of a prospective cohort, we included participants who carried their first pregnancy to 20&nbsp;+&nbsp;weeks, had data regarding aspirin use, and attended a study visit 2-7&nbsp;years following delivery. The exposure was aspirin use during the first pregnancy. We calculated aspirin use propensity scores from logistic regression models including baseline variables associated with aspirin use in pregnancy and cardiovascular risk. Outcomes of interest were incident cardiovascular-related diagnoses 2-7&nbsp;years following delivery. Robust Poisson regression calculated the risk of outcomes by aspirin exposure, adjusting for the aspirin use propensity score.Main outcome measuresThe primary outcome was a composite of incident cardiovascular diagnoses at the time of the study visit: cardiovascular events, chronic hypertension, metabolic syndrome, prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease.ResultsOf 4,480 women included, 84 (1.9%) reported taking aspirin during their first pregnancy. 52.6% of participants in the aspirin-exposed group and 43.0% in the unexposed group had the primary outcome. After adjusting for the aspirin use propensity scores, aspirin use during the first pregnancy was not associated with any of the outcomes.ConclusionWe did not detect an association between aspirin use during the first pregnancy and cardiovascular-related diagnoses 2-7&nbsp;years later. Our study was only powered to detect a large difference in relative risk, so we cannot rule out a smaller difference that may be clinically meaningful

Serum Cotinine and Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Cross-sectional Secondary Analysis of the nuMoM2b Heart Health Study

Objective We aimed to (1) compare serum cotinine with self-report for ascertaining smoking status among reproductive-aged women; (2) estimate the relative odds of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes among women by smoking status; (3) assess whether the association between adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) and CV outcomes varies by smoking status.Study design We conducted a cross-sectional study of the nuMoM2b Heart Health Study. Women attended a study visit 2 to 7 years after their first pregnancy. The exposure was smoking status, determined by self-report and by serum cotinine. Outcomes included incident chronic hypertension (HTN), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and dyslipidemia. Multivariable logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) for each outcome by smoking status.Results Of 4,392 women with serum cotinine measured, 3,610 were categorized as nonsmokers, 62 as secondhand smoke exposure, and 720 as smokers. Of 3,144 women who denied tobacco smoke exposure, serum cotinine was consistent with secondhand smoke exposure in 48 (1.5%) and current smoking in 131 (4.2%) After adjustment for APOs, smoking defined by serum cotinine was associated with MetS (adjusted OR [aOR] = 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21, 1.91) and dyslipidemia (aOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.62). When stratified by nicotine exposure, nonsmokers with an APO in their index pregnancy had higher odds of stage 1 (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.03) and stage 2 HTN (aOR = 2.92, 95% CI: 2.17, 3.93), MetS (aOR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.42, 2.18), and dyslipidemia (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.91) relative to women with no APO. Results were similar when smoking exposure was defined by self-report.Conclusion Whether determined by serum cotinine or self-report, smoking is associated with subsequent CV outcomes in reproductive-aged women. APOs are also independently associated with CV outcomes in women.Key points· Cotinine was detected in 5.7% of reported nonsmokers.. · Smoking and APOs were independently associated with CV health.. · Smoking was associated with MetS and dyslipidemia.