Prenatal exposure to preeclampsia as an independent risk factor for long-term cardiovascular morbidity of the offspring

Kira Nahum Sacks, Michael Friger, Ilana Shoham-Vardi, Efrat Spiegel, Ruslan Sergienko, Daniella Landau, Eyal Sheiner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Regarding the offspring, little is known about the long-term complications. The objective of the current study is to assess whether in utero exposure to preeclampsia increases the risk of long-term cardiovascular morbidity in the offspring. Materials and methods: A population-based cohort study compared the incidence of cardiovascular disease between singletons exposed and unexposed to preeclampsia. Deliveries occurred between 1991 and 2014 in a regional tertiary medical center. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to control for confounders. Results: During the study period 231,298 deliveries met the inclusion criteria; 4.1% of the births were to mothers diagnosed with preeclampsia, of which 3.2% with mild preeclampsia (n = 7286), 0.9% with severe preeclampsia (n = 2174) and 0.03% with eclampsia (n = 73). A significant linear association was noted between preeclampsia (no preeclampsia, mild preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia and eclampsia) and cardiovascular disease of the offspring (0.24%, vs. 0.33% vs. 0.51% vs. 2.73% respectively, p < 0.001 using the chi-square test for trends). In the offspring born at term, severe preeclampsia was found to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity (adjusted HR = 2.32; 95% CI 1.15–4.67). In offspring born preterm, neither severe preeclampsia (adjusted HR = 1.36; 95% CI 0.53–3.48) nor mild preeclampsia (adjusted HR = 0.37; 95% CI 0.52–2.71) were associated with cardiovascular morbidity of the offspring. Conclusion: Exposure to severe maternal preeclampsia is an independent risk factor for long-term cardiovascular morbidity in the offspring born at term.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)181-186
Number of pages6
JournalPregnancy Hypertension
Volume13
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jul 2018

Keywords

  • Arrhythmia
  • Epidemiology
  • Heart disease
  • Hypertension
  • Pregnancy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Internal Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Prenatal exposure to preeclampsia as an independent risk factor for long-term cardiovascular morbidity of the offspring'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this