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Height and risk of severe pre-eclampsia. A study within the Danish National Birth Cohort
Olga Basso1, Allen J Wilcox, Clarice R Weinberg
1Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Aarhus University, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. ob@soci.au.dk
Insights
Short stature is linked to a higher risk of severe pre-eclampsia in women who have had previous births. This finding suggests a potential connection between maternal height and pregnancy complications.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Epidemiology
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
Background:
- Pre-eclampsia shares risk factors with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Women with severe or early pre-eclampsia face increased long-term CVD risk.
- Short stature is a known CVD risk factor, but its link to pre-eclampsia is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal height and the risk of severe pre-eclampsia.
- To determine if short stature is an independent risk factor for pre-eclampsia.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Danish National Birth Cohort (59,968 singleton births, 1998-2001).
- Assessed risk of severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (296 cases) in relation to self-reported maternal height.
- Employed multiple logistic regressions, stratified by parity.
Main Results:
- Among multiparas, taller women (>172 cm) had a significantly lower risk (OR 0.42) of severe pre-eclampsia compared to shorter women (<165 cm).
- A decrease in odds of severe pre-eclampsia by 6% per centimeter increase in height was observed (OR 0.94 per cm).
- The association persisted after adjusting for hypertension and was observed in non-overweight women.
Conclusions:
- Short maternal stature is associated with an increased risk of severe pre-eclampsia, particularly in multiparous women.
- Height may be an independent risk factor for pre-eclampsia, warranting further investigation.
Background:
Pre-eclampsia shares a number of risk factors with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Women with recurrent pre-eclampsia or pre-eclampsia early in pregnancy reportedly have an increased long-term risk of CVD. Short stature is a risk factor for CVD but has rarely been examined in relation to pre-eclampsia.
Methods:
We used data from 59 968 singleton live births in the Danish National Birth Cohort born between 1998 and 2001 to assess risk of severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (296 cases) in relation to self-reported height. We examined the association in multiple logistic regressions stratified by parity.
Results:
Among primiparas there was a weak association (compared with women <165 cm, women >172 cm had on OR of 0.79, 95% CI: 0.55, 1.14). Among multiparas, the tallest women had an adjusted OR of 0.42 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.87) of developing severe pre-eclampsia compared with women <165 cm. The OR per centimetre was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91, 0.97). Self-reported pre-existing hypertension did not explain this association, which also persisted when the analysis was restricted to non-overweight women.
Conclusions:
Short stature was associated with a higher risk of severe pre-eclampsia in multiparas participating in the Danish National Birth Cohort.
