Maternal Physical Activity Is Associated With Improved Blood Pressure Regulation During Late Pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Pregnancy Research

Background:

• Cardiovagal baroreflex gain (cBRG) is crucial for blood pressure regulation.
• The impact of physical activity on cBRG during pregnancy is not well understood.
• Pregnant women often exhibit low moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and high sedentary behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of MVPA and sedentary behavior on cBRG and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in pregnant women.
• To determine if physical activity levels affect the body's ability to manage blood pressure fluctuations during gestation.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-eight normotensive pregnant women in their third trimester were assessed.
• Beat-by-beat heart rate and blood pressure data were collected at rest.
• Spontaneous cBRG was calculated, and MVPA/sedentary behavior were measured over 7 days using accelerometers.

Main Results:

• Sedentary behavior was not associated with cBRG or MAP.
• MVPA showed a positive association with cBRG (r=0.315, P=0.016), indicating higher activity levels correlate with better blood pressure buffering.
• This association remained significant after controlling for confounding factors.

Conclusions:

• Increased MVPA during pregnancy may enhance cardiovagal baroreflex function.
• Reducing sedentary behavior alone may not be sufficient to improve blood pressure regulation in pregnancy.
• Promoting MVPA could be a strategy to support cardiovascular health in pregnant individuals.