Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies
10:11

Fundus Photography as a Convenient Tool to Study Microvascular Responses to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Epidemiological Studies

Published on: October 22, 2014

Preterm birth and future maternal blood pressure, inflammation, and intimal-medial thickness: the CARDIA study

Janet M Catov1, Cora E Lewis, Minjae Lee

  • 1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. catovjm@upmc.edu

Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)
|January 16, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Preterm birth (PTB) is linked to higher blood pressure in women years after pregnancy, even without pregnancy hypertension. This finding is crucial for cardiovascular disease risk assessment in women with a history of PTB.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology
  • Reproductive Health and Cardiovascular Outcomes
  • Inflammatory Markers and Cardiovascular Risk

Background:

  • Preterm birth (<37 weeks) may indicate endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, both established cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.
  • Understanding the long-term cardiovascular implications of preterm birth is essential for preventative health strategies, particularly in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between preterm birth (PTB) and long-term cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure, inflammatory markers, and subclinical atherosclerosis.
  • To evaluate differences in cardiovascular risk profiles between women with and without a history of preterm birth over a 20-year follow-up period.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 916 women, tracking live births and cardiovascular risk factors over 20 years.
  • Measurements included blood pressure, lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT).
  • Statistical analyses compared outcomes based on the occurrence of preterm birth versus term birth.

Main Results:

  • Women with preterm births had higher pre-pregnancy systolic blood pressure and experienced a more rapid increase in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure over 20 years.
  • Carotid intima-media thickness, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 levels did not significantly differ between women with preterm births and those with term births.
  • Higher post-pregnancy blood pressure was observed in women with preterm births, irrespective of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm birth is associated with persistently higher blood pressure in the years following pregnancy, highlighting a potential long-term cardiovascular risk.
  • PTB may serve as an early indicator for identifying women at increased risk of hypertension and subsequent cardiovascular disease.
  • These findings are particularly relevant in the US context, given high PTB rates and persistent racial disparities in maternal and child health outcomes.

More Related Videos

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome06:04

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome

Published on: September 27, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers01:19

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Atherosclerosis I: Introduction01:30

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by the buildup of plaques on the arterial inner wall, causing them to narrow and harden over time. These plaques comprise lipids, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates, and fibrous tissue. The process primarily affects the intima of large and medium-sized arteries, reducing blood flow in any artery.Etiology and risk factorsThe cause of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay among endothelial injury, lipid...
Myocarditis I: Introduction01:21

Myocarditis I: Introduction

Myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium, which is the muscular layer of the heart.EtiologyMyocarditis has a diverse etiology, including a wide range of infectious and non-infectious causes:Infectious CausesViral: Common viruses include Coxsackie A and B, adenovirus, parvovirus B19, enteroviruses, and influenza A.Bacterial: Examples include infections caused by Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Mycoplasma species.Rickettsial: Infections like Rocky Mountain spotted fever can result in...
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...