Characteristics of the study population.

<p>Characteristics of the study population.</p

Pre-pregnancy weight status, early pregnancy lipid profile and blood pressure course during pregnancy: The ABCD study

<div><p>Objective</p><p>Although pre-pregnancy weight status and early pregnancy lipid profile are known to influence blood pressure course during pregnancy, little is known about how these two factors interact. The association between pre-pregnancy weight status and blood pressure course during pregnancy was assessed in the prospective ABCD study and the role (independent/mediating/moderating) of early pregnancy lipid profile in this association was determined.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We included 2500 normal weight (<25 kg/m2) and 600 overweight (≥25 kg/m2) women from the prospective ABCD-study with available measurements of non-fasting early pregnancy lipids [median (IQR): 13 (12–14) weeks of gestation] and blood pressure during pregnancy [mean (SD) = 10 (2.3)]. Lipids (triglycerides, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein A1, apolipoprotein B and free fatty acids) were divided into tertiles. Multilevel piecewise linear spline models were used to describe the course of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) in four time periods during gestation for overweight and normal weight women.</p><p>Results</p><p>Both SBP (5.3 mmHg) and DBP (3.9 mmHg) were higher in overweight compared to normal weight women and this difference remained the same over all four time periods. The difference in SBP and DBP was not mediated or moderated by the lipid profile. Lipid profile had an independent positive effect on both SBP (range 1.3–2.2 mmHg) and DBP (0.8–1.1 mmHg), but did not change blood pressure course.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Both pre-pregnancy weight status and early pregnancy lipid profile independently increase blood pressure during pregnancy. Improving pre-pregnancy weight status and early pregnancy lipid profile might result in a healthier blood pressure course during pregnancy.</p></div

Blood pressure during pregnancy stratified for maternal weight status and tertiles of triglycerides^#.

<p>SBP = systolic blood pressure; DBP = diastolic blood pressure. # triglycerides were determined in non-fasting blood samples drawn at a median of 13 (IQR = 12–14) weeks of gestation.</p

Blood pressure during pregnancy stratified for maternal weight status and tertiles of free fatty acids^#.

<p>SBP = systolic blood pressure; DBP = diastolic blood pressure. # free fatty acids were determined in non-fasting blood samples drawn at a median of 13 (IQR = 12–14) weeks of gestation.</p

Association between pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI) and diastolic blood pressure course during pregnancy, with maternal lipids.

<p>Association between pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI) and diastolic blood pressure course during pregnancy, with maternal lipids.</p

Flowchart of inclusion of the study participants.

<p>Flowchart of inclusion of the study participants.</p

Characteristics of the study population.

<p>Characteristics of the study population.</p

Association between pre-pregnancy BMI and systolic blood pressure course during pregnancy, with maternal lipids.

<p>Association between pre-pregnancy BMI and systolic blood pressure course during pregnancy, with maternal lipids.</p

Tertiles of the investigated lipids^#.

<p>Tertiles of the investigated lipids^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0177554#t002fn002" target="_blank">#</a>}.</p

Blood pressure during pregnancy stratified for maternal weight status and tertiles of Apolipoprotein B^#.

<p>SBP = systolic blood pressure; DBP = diastolic blood pressure. # Apolipoprotein B was determined in non-fasting blood samples drawn at a median of 13 (IQR = 12–14) weeks of gestation.</p