Abstract
Background: Pregnancy-related complications (PC), such as preeclampsia (PE), gestational hypertension (GH) and gestational diabetes (GD), are associated with an elevation of cardiometabolic risk and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) following pregnancy among European Caucasian mothers. Our study goal was to determine whether PC is associated with greater change in blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose (FPG), and/or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) among US Hispanic/Latina women. Methods: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos is a population-based study of 16,415 Hispanics/Latinos aged 18-74 years (at visit one: 2008-11) from four US sites. At visit two (2014-17), PC information was collected in 550 women who reported a live birth between visits. PC was defined as: no PC (PE, eclampsia, GH, or GD), PC without (w/o) pre-existing conditions (hypertension or diabetes), or PC with pre-existing conditions. At both visits (before and after birth), BP was measured (average of three seated readings) along with FPG and HbA1c (from blood). The association of PC with visit-to-visit change in BP, FPG, and HbA1c was estimated using linear regression models accounting for the complex survey design and adjusted for follow-up time, and visit one sociodemographic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics. Results: Baseline age was 26.2 years (SE: 0.3), with 77.4% without PC, 17.2% with PC w/o pre-existing conditions, and 5.4% with PC with pre-existing conditions. From fully adjusted models, PC w/o pre-existing conditions compared to no PC, was associated with a greater increase in systolic BP (+4.58mmHg; 95% CI: 1.08, 8.08), diastolic BP (+4.20mmHg; 95% CI: 1.19, 7.20), and FPG (+3.03mg/dL; 95% CI: 0.37, 5.69). PC with pre-existing conditions compared to no PC, was associated with a greater increase in systolic BP (+19.17mmHg; 95% CI: 7.10, 31.23), diastolic BP (+10.10mmHg; 95% CI: 2.67, 17.53), HbA1c (+0.82; 95% CI: 0.19, 1.45), and FPG (+27.12mg/dL; 95% CI: 7.70, 46.55). Conclusions: BP and blood glucose levels increased among US Hispanic/Latina women following PC with the greatest increase among women with pre-existing conditions. These findings suggest close monitoring of US Hispanic/Latina women with PC is warranted to prevent future CVD.
