Does multi-parity affect the size of the ascending thoracic aorta in women: a prospective cohort study

Aortic dissection is an uncommon and potentially fatal complication of pregnancy; however, the association of the number of pregnancies with the indexed and absolute size of the ascending aorta in patients without aortic aneurysm or connective tissue disorders is not well elucidated.

In this prospective observational study, women aged 18-80 years old undergoing transesophageal echocardiography in a university-affiliated echocardiography laboratory between 1 January 2015 and 1 September 2015 were enrolled. Indexed and absolute sizes of ascending aorta at the levels of annulus, root, sinotubular junction (STJ), proximal and arch were measured. Patients were grouped according to their gravida number into three classes (class I: ≤3, class II: 4-7, class III: ≥7).

Of 653 screened patients, 437 women were included (38.9% gravida class I, 44.3% gravida class II and 16.7% gravida class III). In univariate analysis, the number of pregnancies correlated with indexed diameters of the root (p < .001), STJ (p < .001) and the proximal ascending aorta (p < .001). Meanwhile, the number of pregnancies neither correlated with the annular diameter nor with the arch (p = .070 and p = .154, respectively). In multivariate analyses, the gravida class was among the independent predictors of the root size along with age, aortic insufficiency and the presence of congestive heart failure.

Gravida class was an independent predictor of aortic size at levels of the root, STJ and the proximal ascending aorta. The largest increase was observed at the level of the aortic root.