Prepregnancy Factors Are Associated with Development of Hypertension Later in Life in Women with Pre-Eclampsia

Risk factors for chronic hypertension 5 years after a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Approximately 30% of women with a history of preeclampsia develop chronic hypertension within 10 years of pregnancy. This systematic review summarizes risk factors before, during, and immediately after pregnancy for the development of chronic hypertension 5 years after preeclampsia. Databases were searched with terms 'preeclampsia' and 'postpartum hypertension' or 'cardiovascular disease' up to 30th October 2023. Observational studies reporting chronic hypertension more than 5 years after preeclampsia were included. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Wherever possible, a meta-analysis was conducted. Twenty-one cohort and five case-control studies, with a median quality score of 8/10, were included, involving 197 793 patients and reporting 32 risk factors. Preeclampsia in a subsequent pregnancy is associated with chronic hypertension [risk ratio (RR) 2.26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.59-3.22, n  = 45 626]. Other significant risk factors include early-onset of preeclampsia (<34 weeks gestation), maternal BMI, blood pressure, diabetes, and family history of hypertension.

Prevalence of persistent hypertension following pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Background

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can lead to persistent hypertension (pHTN) in the months and even years following delivery. However, its prevalence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is not well characterized.

Objective

To synthesize available evidence on the pHTN prevalence following a pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in LMICs.

Search strategy

PubMed, CINAHL Plus, Global Health (EBSCOhost), and Scopus from inception through a search date of July 12, 2022, and updated on January 2, 2024.

Selection criteria

Cross-sectional studies and cohort studies reporting pHTN prevalence were eligible.

Data collection and analysis

We conducted a narrative synthesis of data and categorized reported prevalence time points into several broader categories. We used the Newcastle-Ottawa checklist to assess the risk of bias. The protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022345739).

Results

We reviewed 1,584 abstracts and identified 22 studies that reported pHTN between 2000 and 2023 from 14 LMICs. The overall prevalence of pHTN ranged between 6.9% and 62.2%, with the highest prevalence noted within African studies and the lowest in South American studies. Estimates at different follow-up periods postpartum were 6.9%-42.9% at six weeks, 34.0%-62.2% at three months, 14.8%-62.2% at six months, 12.7%-61.2% at 12 months, and 7.5%-31.8% at more than 12 months. The quality score of the selected studies ranged from 50% to 100%.

Conclusions

The extant literature reports a high prevalence of pHTN in LMICs following a pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders. To reduce long-term complications of pHTN, programs should emphasize early screening and linkages to long-term care for at-risk women.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=345739, PROSPERO (CRD42022345739).

Prediction of Pregnancy-Associated Hypertension Using a Scoring System: A Multicenter Cohort Study

This study aimed to develop an early pregnancy risk scoring model for pregnancy-associated hypertension (PAH) based on maternal pre-pregnancy characteristics, such as mean arterial pressure (MAP), pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) or neither. The perinatal databases of seven hospitals from January 2009 to December 2020 were randomly divided into a training set and a test set at a ratio of 70:30. The data of a total pregnant restricted population (women not taking aspirin during pregnancy) were analyzed separately. Three models (model 1, pre-pregnancy factors only; model 2, adding MAP; model 3, adding MAP and PAPP-A) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) risk factors model were compared. A total of 2840 (8.11%) and 1550 (3.3%) women subsequently developed PAH and preterm PAH, respectively. Performances of models 2 and 3 with areas under the curve (AUC) over 0.82 in both total population and restricted population were superior to those of model 1 (with AUCs of 0.75 and 0.748, respectively) and the ACOG risk model (with AUCs of 0.66 and 0.66) for predicting PAH and preterm PAH. The final scoring system with model 2 for predicting PAH and preterm PAH showed moderate to good performance (AUCs of 0.78 and 0.79, respectively) in the test set. "A risk scoring model for PAH and preterm PAH with pre-pregnancy factors and MAP showed moderate to high performances. Further prospective studies for validating this scoring model with biomarkers and uterine artery Doppler or without them might be required".

Use of family history of cardiovascular disease or chronic hypertension to better identify who needs postpartum cardiovascular risk screening

BACKGROUND

Individuals with pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, not all who have hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are at risk, and not all who have uncomplicated pregnancies are without risk.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine if use of first-degree family history of cardiovascular disease or chronic hypertension better identifies individuals who need postpartum cardiovascular risk screening.

STUDY DESIGN

Participants were included if they had pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or uncomplicated, term pregnancies. Individuals with a first-degree relative with chronic hypertension, myocardial infarction, or stroke were deemed to have a positive family history and were thus included.

RESULTS

Four groups were considered: 302 individuals with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy who had a positive family history, 218 individuals with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with no family history, 39 control individuals with a positive family history, and 63 control individuals with no family history. Among individuals with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, those with a positive family history were more likely to be diagnosed with chronic hypertension, and to have elevated 30-year lipid, 30-year body mass index, and lifetime cardiovascular disease risk score (all P<.05). Among individuals with uncomplicated pregnancies, those with a positive family history were more likely to be diagnosed with chronic hypertension (P<.05) and meet criteria for metabolic syndrome (P<.05).

CONCLUSION

First-degree family history of cardiovascular disease and/or chronic hypertension can be used to reliably identify individuals without pregnancy complications who should have postpartum cardiovascular risk screening, and may better determine which individuals who have a pregnancy complicated by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy would most benefit from postpartum cardiovascular risk screening.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Across Races and Ethnicities: A Review

Pregnancy is often considered to be a "cardiometabolic stress-test" and pregnancy complications including hypertensive disorders of pregnancy can be the first indicator of increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. Over the last two decades, more evidence on the association between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and cardiovascular disease has become available. However, despite the importance of addressing existing racial and ethnic differences in the incidence of cardiovascular disease, most research on the role of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy is conducted in white majority populations. The fragmented knowledge prohibits evidence-based targeted prevention and intervention strategies in multi-ethnic populations and maintains the gap in health outcomes. In this review, we present an overview of the evidence on racial and ethnic differences in the occurrence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, as well as evidence on the association of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy with cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease across different non-White populations, aiming to advance equity in medicine.

Family History of Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease, or Diabetes and Risk of Developing Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review

Preeclampsia is a severe pregnancy complication with high potential for adverse effects on maternal and fetal health during the perinatal period. It is also associated with an increased risk of maternal cardiovascular disease later in life. Development of preeclampsia can be decreased by prescribing low-dose aspirin to high-risk women. At present, maternal and pregnancy factors are used to assess the risk of preeclampsia. One additional factor that could add to the assessment of risk is a family history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes, especially for nulliparous women who do not have a pregnancy history to inform treatment decisions. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review to assess the association between family history of the aforementioned conditions and preeclampsia. Four databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and CINAHL/pre-CINAHL were searched for observational studies that examined a family history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes in women with preeclampsia and in a control population. Studies were evaluated for quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. A total of 84 relevant studies were identified. A meta-analysis was not conducted due to suspected heterogeneity in the included studies. Most studies reported a positive association between a family history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease and the development of preeclampsia. The majority of studies examining family history of diabetes reported non-significant associations. Overall, family history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease is associated with a higher risk for developing preeclampsia and should be considered when assessing women in the first trimester for low-dose aspirin.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and the risk of chronic kidney disease: A Swedish registry-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) (preeclampsia, gestational hypertension) are associated with an increased risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Evidence for associations between HDP and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more limited and inconsistent. The underlying causes of CKD are wide-ranging, and HDP may have differential associations with various aetiologies of CKD. We aimed to measure associations between HDP and maternal CKD in women who have had at least one live birth and to identify whether the risk differs by CKD aetiology.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

Using data from the Swedish Medical Birth Register (MBR), singleton live births from 1973 to 2012 were identified and linked to data from the Swedish Renal Register (SRR) and National Patient Register (NPR; up to 2013). Preeclampsia was the main exposure of interest and was treated as a time-dependent variable. Gestational hypertension was also investigated as a secondary exposure. The primary outcome was maternal CKD, and this was classified into 5 subtypes: hypertensive, diabetic, glomerular/proteinuric, tubulointerstitial, and other/nonspecific CKD. Cox proportional hazard regression models were used, adjusting for maternal age, country of origin, education level, antenatal BMI, smoking during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and parity. Women with pre-pregnancy comorbidities were excluded. The final sample consisted of 1,924,409 women who had 3,726,554 singleton live births. The mean (±SD) age of women at first delivery was 27.0 (±5.1) years. Median follow-up was 20.7 (interquartile range [IQR] 9.9-30.0) years. A total of 90,917 women (4.7%) were diagnosed with preeclampsia, 43,964 (2.3%) had gestational hypertension, and 18,477 (0.9%) developed CKD. Preeclampsia was associated with a higher risk of developing CKD during follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.92, 95% CI 1.83-2.03, p < 0.001). This risk differed by CKD subtype and was higher for hypertensive CKD (aHR 3.72, 95% CI 3.05-4.53, p < 0.001), diabetic CKD (aHR 3.94, 95% CI 3.38-4.60, p < 0.001), and glomerular/proteinuric CKD (aHR 2.06, 95% CI 1.88-2.26, p < 0.001). More modest associations were observed between preeclampsia and tubulointerstitial CKD (aHR 1.44, 95% CI 1.24-1.68, p < 0.001) or other/nonspecific CKD (aHR 1.51, 95% CI 1.38-1.65, p < 0.001). The risk of CKD was increased after preterm preeclampsia, recurrent preeclampsia, or preeclampsia complicated by pre-pregnancy obesity. Women who had gestational hypertension also had increased risk of developing CKD (aHR 1.49, 95% CI 1.38-1.61, p < 0.001). This association was strongest for hypertensive CKD (aHR 3.13, 95% CI 2.47-3.97, p < 0.001). Limitations of the study are the possibility that cases of CKD were underdiagnosed in the national registers, and some women may have been too young to have developed symptomatic CKD despite the long follow-up time. Underreporting of postpartum hypertension is also possible.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found that HDP are associated with increased risk of maternal CKD, particularly hypertensive or diabetic forms of CKD. The risk is higher after preterm preeclampsia, recurrent preeclampsia, or preeclampsia complicated by pre-pregnancy obesity. Women who experience HDP may benefit from future systematic renal monitoring.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Harbinger of the Vicious Cycle of Diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), characterized by a transitory form of diabetes induced by insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction during pregnancy, has been identified as one of the major obstacles in achieving improved maternal and child health. Approximately 9-25% of pregnancies worldwide are impacted by the acute, long-term, and transgenerational health complications of this disease. Here, we discuss how GDM affects longstanding maternal and neonatal outcomes, as well as health risks that likely persist into future generations. In addition to the current challenges in the management and diagnosis of and the complications associated with GDM, we discuss current preclinical models of GDM to better understand the underlying pathophysiology of the disease and the timely need to increase our scientific toolbox to identify strategies to prevent and treat GDM, thereby advancing clinical care.

Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and Future Cardiovascular Health

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) occur in almost 10% of gestations. These women are known to have higher cardiovascular morbidity and mortality later in life in comparison with parous controls who had normotensive pregnancies. Several studies have demonstrated that women with preeclampsia present in a state of segmental impaired myocardial function, biventricular chamber dysfunction, adverse biventricular remodeling, and hypertrophy, a compromised hemodynamic state and indirect echocardiographic signs of localized myocardial ischemia and fibrosis. These cardiac functional and geometric changes are known to have strong predictive value for cardiovascular disease in non-pregnant subjects. A "dose effect" response seems to regulate this relationship with severe HDP, early-onset HDP, coexistence of fetal growth disorders, and recurrence of HDP resulting in poorer cardiovascular measures. The mechanism underlying the relationship between HDP in younger women and cardiovascular disease later in life is unclear but could be explained by sharing of pre-pregnancy cardiovascular risk factors or due to a direct impact of HDP on the maternal cardiovascular system conferring a state of increased susceptibility to future metabolic or hemodynamic insults. If so, the prevention of HDP itself would become all the more urgent. Shortly after delivery, women who experienced HDP express an increased risk of classic cardiovascular risk factors such as essential hypertension, renal disease, abnormal lipid profile, and diabetes with higher frequency than controls. Within one or two decades after delivery, this group of women are more likely to experience premature cardiovascular events, such as symptomatic heart failure, myocardial ischemia, and cerebral vascular disease. Although there is general agreement that women who suffered from HDP should undertake early screening for cardiovascular risk factors in order to allow for appropriate prevention, the exact timing and modality of screening has not been standardized yet. Our findings suggest that prevention should start as early as possible after delivery by making the women aware of their increased cardiovascular risk and encouraging weight control, stop smoking, healthy diet, and daily exercise which are well-established and cost-effective prevention strategies.