Project description:Most low- and middle-income countries present suboptimal intakes of calcium during pregnancy and high rates of mortality due to maternal hypertensive disorders. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy is known to reduce the risk of these disorders and associated complications, including preeclampsia, maternal morbidity, and preterm birth, and is, therefore, a recommended intervention for pregnant women in populations with low dietary calcium intake (e.g., where ≥25% of individuals in the population have intakes less than 800 mg calcium/day). However, this intervention is not widely implemented in part due to cost and logistical issues related to the large dose and burdensome dosing schedule (three to four 500-mg doses/day). WHO recommends 1.5-2 g/day but limited evidence suggests that less than 1 g/day may be sufficient and ongoing trials with low-dose calcium supplementation (500 mg/day) may point a path toward simplifying supplementation regimens. Calcium carbonate is likely to be the most cost-effective choice, and it is not necessary to counsel women to take calcium supplements separately from iron-containing supplements. In populations at highest risk for preeclampsia, a combination of calcium supplementation and food-based approaches, such as food fortification with calcium, may be required to improve calcium intakes before pregnancy and in early gestation.
Project description:BackgroundThe role of diet on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs), including preeclampsia and gestational hypertension (GHTN), remains unclear.ObjectivesWe evaluated whether adherence during pregnancy to dietary recommendations that reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population is related to the risk of HDPs.MethodsWe followed 66,651 singleton pregnancies from 62,774 women participating in the Danish National Birth Cohort. Diet was assessed during week of gestation 25 with an FFQ from which we created 2 dietary pattern scores: 1) AHA, based on the diet recommendations from the AHA 2020 Strategic Impact Goals; and 2) the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. Cases of HDPs were identified through linkage with the Danish National Patient Registry. RRs and 95% CIs of HDPs were estimated by increasing quintiles of adherence to the AHA and DASH scores using log-Poisson regression models with generalized estimating equations-to account for repeated pregnancies per woman-while adjusting for potential confounders.ResultsWe identified 1809 cases of HDPs: n = 1310 preeclampsia (n = 300 severe preeclampsia) and n = 499 cases of GHTN. Greater adherence to AHA or DASH scores was not related to the risk of HDPs. However, when each component of the scores was separately evaluated, there were positive linear relations of sodium intake with HDPs (P-linearity < 0.01). Women with the highest sodium intake [median 3.70 g/d (range: 3.52, 7.52 g/d)] had 54% (95% CI:16%, 104%) higher risk of GHTN and 20% (95% CI:1%, 42%) higher risk of preeclampsia than women with the lowest intake [median 2.60 g/d (range: 0.83, 2.79 g/d)]. In addition, intake of whole grains was positively related to the risk of GHTN but not to preeclampsia ( P-heterogeneity = 0.002).ConclusionSodium intake during pregnancy, but no other diet recommendations to prevent CVD among nonpregnant adults, is positively related to the occurrence of HDPs among pregnant Danish women.
Project description:BACKGROUND: Hypertension in pregnancy stand alone or with proteinuria is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality and morbidity in the world. Epidemiological and clinical studies have shown that an inverse relationship exists between calcium intake and development of hypertension in pregnancy though the effect varies based on baseline calcium intake and pre-existing risk factors. The purpose of this review was to evaluate preventive effect of calcium supplementation during pregnancy on gestational hypertensive disorders and related maternal and neonatal mortality in developing countries. METHODS: A literature search was carried out on PubMed, Cochrane Library and WHO regional databases. Data were extracted into a standardized excel sheet. Identified studies were graded based on strengths and limitations of studies. All the included studies were from developing countries. Meta-analyses were generated where data were available from more than one study for an outcome. Primary outcomes were maternal mortality, eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, and severe preeclampsia. Neonatal outcomes like neonatal mortality, preterm birth, small for gestational age and low birth weight were also evaluated. We followed standardized guidelines of Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG) to generate estimates of effectiveness of calcium supplementation during pregnancy in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in developing countries, for inclusion in the Lives Saved Tool (LiST). RESULTS: Data from 10 randomized controlled trials were included in this review. Pooled analysis showed that calcium supplementation during pregnancy was associated with a significant reduction of 45% in risk of gestational hypertension [Relative risk (RR) 0.55; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.36-0.85] and 59% in the risk of pre-eclampsia [RR 0.41; 95 % CI 0.24-0.69] in developing countries. Calcium supplementation during pregnancy was also associated with a significant reduction in neonatal mortality [RR 0.70; 95 % CI 0.56-0.88] and risk of pre-term birth [RR 0.88, 95 % CI 0.78-0.99]. Recommendations for LiST for reduction in maternal mortality were based on risk reduction in gestational hypertensive related severe morbidity/mortality [RR 0.80; 95% CI 0.70-0.91] and that for neonatal mortality were based on risk reduction in all-cause neonatal mortality [RR 0.70; 95% CI 0.56-0.88]. CONCLUSION: Calcium supplementation during pregnancy is associated with a reduction in risk of gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia neonatal mortality and pre-term birth in developing countries.
Project description:Background Women with a history of a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy (HDP) have an increased risk of cardiovascular events. Guidelines recommend assessment of cardiovascular risk factors in these women later in life, but provide limited advice on how this follow-up should be organized. Design Systematic review and meta-regression analysis. Methods The aim of our study was to provide an overview of existing knowledge on the changes over time in three major modifiable components of cardiovascular risk assessment after HDP: blood pressure, glucose homeostasis and lipid levels. Data from 44 studies and up to 6904 women with a history of a HDP were compared with risk factor levels reported for women of corresponding age in the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, Estudio Epidemiólogico de la Insuficiencia Renal en España and Hong Kong cohorts ( N?=?27,803). Results Compared with the reference cohort, women with a HDP presented with higher mean blood pressure. Hypertension was present in a higher rate among women with a previous HDP from 15 years postpartum onwards. At 15 years postpartum (±age 45), one in five women with a history of a HDP suffer from hypertension. No differences in glucose homeostasis parameters or lipid levels were observed. Conclusions Based on our analysis, it is not possible to point out a time point to commence screening for cardiovascular risk factors in women after a HDP. We recommend redirection of future research towards the development of a stepwise approach identifying the women with the highest cardiovascular risk.
Project description:Hypertension is the most common medical disorder occurring during pregnancy and a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Accurate blood pressure measurement and the diagnosis and treatment of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and in the postpartum period are pivotal to improve outcomes. This article details hemodynamic adaptations to pregnancy and provides an approach to the prevention, diagnosis, and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and hypertensive emergencies. In addition, it reviews optimal strategies for the care of women with hypertension during the fourth trimester and beyond to minimize future cardiovascular risk.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:To use mendelian randomisation to investigate whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration has a causal effect on gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia. DESIGN:One and two sample mendelian randomisation analyses. SETTING:Two European pregnancy cohorts (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, and Generation R Study), and two case-control studies (subgroup nested within the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study, and the UK Genetics of Pre-eclampsia Study). PARTICIPANTS:7389 women in a one sample mendelian randomisation analysis (751 with gestational hypertension and 135 with pre-eclampsia), and 3388 pre-eclampsia cases and 6059 controls in a two sample mendelian randomisation analysis. EXPOSURES:Single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes associated with vitamin D synthesis (rs10741657 and rs12785878) and metabolism (rs6013897 and rs2282679) were used as instrumental variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia defined according to the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy. RESULTS:In the conventional multivariable analysis, the relative risk for pre-eclampsia was 1.03 (95% confidence interval 1.00 to 1.07) per 10% decrease in 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, and 2.04 (1.02 to 4.07) for 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels <25 nmol/L compared with ?75 nmol/L. No association was found for gestational hypertension. The one sample mendelian randomisation analysis using the total genetic risk score as an instrument did not provide strong evidence of a linear effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D on the risk of gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia: odds ratio 0.90 (95% confidence interval 0.78 to 1.03) and 1.19 (0.92 to 1.52) per 10% decrease, respectively. The two sample mendelian randomisation estimate gave an odds ratio for pre-eclampsia of 0.98 (0.89 to 1.07) per 10% decrease in 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, an odds ratio of 0.96 (0.80 to 1.15) per unit increase in the log(odds) of 25-hydroxyvitamin D level <75 nmol/L, and an odds ratio of 0.93 (0.73 to 1.19) per unit increase in the log(odds) of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels <50 nmol/L. CONCLUSIONS:No strong evidence was found to support a causal effect of vitamin D status on gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia. Future mendelian randomisation studies with a larger number of women with pre-eclampsia or more genetic instruments that would increase the proportion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels explained by the instrument are needed.
Project description:Although there is indirect evidence to suggest that persistent organochlorines might increase risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, there are no epidemiologic studies directly addressing this question. In this cohort study, sampled from the Collaborative Perinatal Project, 1933 women had complete data on organochlorine measurements, covariates, and pregnancy outcomes. Exposures to organochlorines were divided into quintiles, and levels were much higher in these patients recruited from 1959 to 1965 compared to levels in the general population at present. Among included women, 364 developed gestational hypertension (hypertension without proteinuria) and 131 developed preeclampsia (hypertension with proteinuria). We found essentially no association between serum DDE and total PCBs and risk of either gestational hypertension or preeclampsia. Results for other organochlorines showed varying patterns of results: DDT was inversely associated with risk of gestational hypertension (p for trend <0.001), B-Hexachlorocyclohexane and heptachlor epoxide were inversely related to gestational hypertension (p trend <0.01 and 0.10, respectively), dieldrin had a modestly positive association with gestational hypertension (p for trend=0.12), and hexachlorobenzene, trans-nonachlor, and oxychlordane yielded results close to the null. Hexachlorobenzene showed an inverse association with preeclampsia (p for trend <0.001). The study suggests that persistent organochlorines present at historically high level are not likely to increase the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, suggesting that other toxicants that have similar biologic effects are also unlikely to do so.
Project description:ObjectiveCardiac changes of hypertensive pregnancy include left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and diastolic dysfunction. These are thought to regress postpartum. We hypothesised that women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy would have altered LV geometry and function when compared with women with only normotensive pregnancies.MethodsIn this cohort study, we analysed echocardiograms of 2637 women who participated in the Family Blood Pressure Program. We compared LV mass and function in women with hypertensive pregnancies with those with normotensive pregnancies.ResultsWomen were evaluated at a mean age of 56 years: 427 (16%) had at least one hypertensive pregnancy; 2210 (84%) had normotensive pregnancies. Compared with women with normotensive pregnancies, women with hypertensive pregnancy had a greater risk of LVH (OR: 1.42; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.99, p=0.05), after adjusting for age, race, research network of the Family Blood Pressure Program, education, parity, BMI, hypertension and diabetes. When duration of hypertension was taken into account, this relationship was no longer significant (OR: 1.19; CI 0.08 to 1.78, p=0.38). Women with hypertensive pregnancies also had greater left atrial size and lower mitral E/A ratio after adjusting for demographic variables. The prevalence of systolic dysfunction was similar between the groups.ConclusionsA history of hypertensive pregnancy is associated with LVH after adjusting for risk factors; this might be explained by longer duration of hypertension. This finding supports current guidelines recommending surveillance of women following a hypertensive pregnancy, and sets the stage for longitudinal echocardiographic studies to further elucidate progression of LV geometry and function after pregnancy.Clinical trial registrationsGENOA- NCT00005269; HyperGEN- NCT00005267; Sapphire- NCT00005270; GenNet- NCT00005268.