CARDIOVASCULAR (CV) health in offspring has been shown to be poorer if the mother has gestational diabetes or hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, according to recent findings from Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
Existing research points to a correlative relationship between adverse pregnancy outcomes and poor health outcomes for the mother and child. This can be heart health-related; however, as highlighted by Kartik Kailas Venkatesh, Ohio State University, these cardiometabolic problems commonly develop later in life, making it difficult to conclusively determine an association between adverse pregnancy outcomes and CV health.
In a recent study, Venkatesh and colleagues analysed the data from 3,317 maternal–child pairings from the prospective Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Follow-up Study (HAPO FUS). Researchers evaluated the relationship between pregnancy factors and CV health, by splitting patients into three arms: those with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy alone, those with gestational diabetes alone, and those with both hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and gestational diabetes. CV health was determined through the assessment of various factors, such as BMI, blood pressure, total cholesterol level, and glucose level, and was graded as ideal, intermediate, or poor using paediatric guidelines.
Overall, 7.9% of pregnant females developed hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, 12.1% developed gestational diabetes, and 2.5% developed both hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes. In adjusted models, those with hypertensive disorders alone, gestational diabetes alone, and both hypertensive disorders and gestational diabetes, were more likely to have children with suboptimal cardiovascular health, with magnitude increasing proportionally to CV disease metrics.
In summary, adverse pregnancy outcomes, specifically hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and gestational diabetes, elevate the risk of cardiovascular complications in children. Venkatesh highlighted the significance of these results stating: “We can use this as an opportunity [to] enhance and preserve our CV health, and there are meaningful things we can do. It’s much better to intervene earlier… rather than wait until you develop a disease state, because by then, your options are limited.”
