Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Establishment and Confirmation of a Postnatal Right Ventricular Volume Overload Mouse Model
Published on: June 9, 2023
Maternal anthropometrics in pregnancy are associated with left ventricular mass in infancy. The generation R study
J J Miranda Geelhoed1, Lennie VAN Osch-Gevers, Bero O Verburg
1The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Maternal weight gain during pregnancy is linked to increased fetal left ventricular mass (LVM) in infants. This suggests pregnancy health impacts a child's heart development long-term.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Developmental Biology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Pregnancy and early life factors can permanently influence offspring's cardiac development.
- Left ventricular mass (LVM) is a critical indicator of heart health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between maternal anthropometrics during pregnancy and infant LVM.
- To assess how maternal factors affect fetal heart growth.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Generation R Study, a prospective population-based cohort.
- Collected maternal anthropometrics (height, weight, BMI) in early, mid, and late pregnancy.
- Performed echocardiographic measurements of LVM in 791 infants at 6 weeks and 6 months of age.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between maternal height, weight, or BMI and infant LVM.
- Maternal weight gain up to late pregnancy was associated with increased LVM growth from 6 weeks to 6 months.
- The highest tertile of maternal weight gain showed a 0.46 g/week greater LVM growth compared to the lowest tertile (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Maternal weight gain during pregnancy is linked to larger LVM in infants at 6 months.
- Maternal health status during pregnancy may have lasting effects on offspring's cardiac development.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms and long-term implications.
Abstract:
Pregnancy and early life factors may permanently affect left ventricular growth and development in the offspring. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of maternal anthropometrics during pregnancy with left ventricular mass (LVM) in infancy. This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life onwards. Maternal anthropometrics were obtained in early (gestational age <18 wk), mid- (gestational age 18-25 wk), and late (gestational age >25 wk) pregnancy. Echocardiographic follow-up measurements were performed in 791 infants aged 6 wk and 6 mo. We found no associations of maternal height, weight, or body mass index (BMI) measured in early, mid-, and late pregnancy with longitudinally measured left ventricular mass (LVM) from 6 wk to 6 mo. Maternal weight gain until late pregnancy was associated with an increased growth of LVM from 6 wk to 6 mo [difference 0.46 g per week for the highest tertile of weight gain compared with the lowest tertile (p value <0.05)]. We concluded that maternal weight gain until late pregnancy is associated with larger LVM at the age of 6 mo, suggesting that maternal health status during pregnancy may have permanent consequences for LVM in their children. Further studies are needed to identify the underlying causal mechanisms and the long-term consequences.