Adverse pregnancy outcomes and long-term risk of peripheral artery disease: A cohort study
by Casey Crump, Jingkai Wei, Jan Sundquist, Kristina Sundquist Background Women with adverse pregnancy outcomes have higher subsequent cardiovascular risks, but their long-term risks of peripheral artery disease (PAD) and potential causality are unclear. A better understanding of such risks is needed to improve early risk stratification, clinical care, and long-term cardiovascular health. We…
A new study reveals that women who experienced certain pregnancy complications have a higher risk of developing peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the years following childbirth. The research, conducted by a team of Swedish researchers, analyzed data from over 2 million women who gave birth in Sweden between 1973 and 2015. The study found that all five major adverse pregnancy outcomes - preterm delivery, small for gestational age, preeclampsia, other hypertensive disorders, and gestational diabetes - were linked to an increased risk of PAD.
At 30-46 years after delivery, women with gestational diabetes were found to have a 3.83 times higher risk of developing PAD (95% confidence interval [3.20, 4.59]; p < 0.001), while those with preterm delivery had a 1.58 times higher risk (95% confidence interval [1.48, 1.70]; p < 0.001). The researchers adjusted their analysis to account for various maternal factors, such as age, parity, socioeconomic status, and pre-existing health conditions.
Additionally, the study used co-sibling analyses to rule out potential confounding factors due to shared genetic or environmental influences. The findings highlight the importance of early preventive measures and long-term clinical follow-up for women who have experienced adverse pregnancy outcomes, as they may face a heightened risk of PAD and other cardiovascular diseases later in life.
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