580: Potassium levels in the highest quartile of the normal range during pregnancy are associated with an increased risk for long-term maternal atherosclerotic morbidity

Objective
The present study was aimed to examine the association between potassium level during pregnancy and the development of future long-term maternal atherosclerotic morbidity.
Study Design
A case-control study was conducted including women who delivered between the years 2000-2012 and subsequently develop cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and renal morbidity (n=653); controls were matched for age and year of delivery (n=4171). The hospitalized group was further divided to major event (cardiovascular, cerebrovascular disease, chronic renal failure), and cardiac procedures (such as coronary angiography, coronary computed tomography, etc.).The mean follow-up duration was 6.2 years. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate cumulative incidence of cardiovascular, cerbrovascular and renal hospitalizations. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for hospitalizations.

Results
A significant linear association was documented between potassium during pregnancy and the long-term maternal atherosclerotic morbidity (Table). Using a Kaplan-Meier survival curve, K≥ 4.0 mEq/L had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of hospitalizations (Figure). Cox proportional hazard model, adjusted for confounders such as preeclampsia, diabetes mellitus, and obesity, showed that potassium level ≥ 4.0 mEq/L during pregnancy remained independently associated with atherosclerotic hospitalizations (adjusted HR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.29-1.89; P<0.001).
Conclusion
Potassium level at the higher normal range during pregnancy may predict atherosclerotic morbidity later in non-pregnant life.