Poor Prepregnancy Cardiovascular Health tied to Midlife Heart Risk, Independent of Gestational Diabetes: JAMA
Researchers have discovered in a new cohort study that less favorable prepregnancy cardiovascular health (CVH) is associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) in midlife. While gestational diabetes (GD) played a minor mediating role, the findings suggest that GD is more a marker of poor prepregnancy CVH than a direct cause. The study published in JAMA highlights the importance of improving cardiovascular health early in life, well before pregnancy. The study was conducted by Natalie A. and fellow researchers.
The study aimed to examine whether gestational diabetes acts as a mediator (a causal link) or a marker (a signal) of the relationship between prepregnancy CVH and later cardiovascular risks. It was performed in the context of the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study, a long-term, multi-center, population-based cohort study that has followed a diverse cohort of young adults in four US cities since 1985. The researchers identified a cohort of 1,052 Black and White women with at least one singleton birth between baseline and 15-year follow-up, complete data on their CVH prior to pregnancy, and data on coronary artery calcium (CAC) assessed between 15 and 25 years later. All patients had no history of diabetes before pregnancy.
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