Hypertension in pregnancy (HDP) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are two of the most common pregnancy complications and place pregnant people at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life.
Now, in a new study to be presented today at Pregnancy Meeting™, the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting, researchers show that these pregnancy complications can worsen cardiovascular health in children. We plan to present research results that suggest that there is a
In a secondary analysis of 3,317 mother-infant pairs from the Prospective Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Follow-up Study (HAPO FUS), researchers found an association between gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes and children's cardiovascular health. I checked to see if there was one.
On the maternal side, 8% developed hypertension during pregnancy, 12% developed gestational diabetes, and 3% developed both hypertension and diabetes.
The researchers then examined the children's cardiovascular health 10 to 14 years after birth. Cardiovascular health was assessed based on four indicators: BMI, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Pediatric guidelines categorized each indicator as ideal, intermediate, or poor. Researchers found that before the age of 12 (median age: 11.6 years), more than half (55.5%) of children had at least one suboptimal indicator, putting them at increased risk for heart disease and stroke.
These findings are important because traditionally it was thought that the risk of developing cardiovascular disease began after birth. That everyone starts from the same point. These data suggest that this is not the case, and that what happens in the womb can affect the child throughout his or her life. ”
Kartik K. Venkatesh, MD, lead study author, maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, assistant professor of epidemiology, and director of the gestational diabetes program at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (Columbus)
The abstract was published in the January 2024 supplement Journal of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
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Society of Maternal and Child Medicine
