Effect of premature birth on long-term systolic blood pressure variability in women

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Reproductive Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Premature birth (PTB) is a significant global health concern with potential long-term consequences.
• Understanding the long-term health impacts of PTB is crucial for preventative strategies.
• Systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) is an emerging marker for cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between premature birth (PTB) and long-term systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) in women.
• To determine if PTB is a risk factor for elevated SBPV later in life.
• To explore the implications of these findings for cardiovascular disease risk assessment in women.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 1974 pregnant women was categorized into premature birth (PTB) and non-PTB (NPTB) groups.
• Long-term SBPV was assessed using standard deviation (SSD) and coefficient of variation (SCV) calculated from annual SBP measurements over several years.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to adjust for potential confounding factors.

Main Results:

• Women with a history of PTB exhibited higher systolic blood pressure standard deviation (SSD) and systolic blood pressure coefficient of variation (SCV) compared to the NPTB group.
• While initial comparisons showed no significant difference, a significantly higher proportion of women in the PTB group had elevated SSD and SCV.
• Logistic regression confirmed that PTB was independently associated with increased long-term SSD (OR 1.60) and SCV (OR 1.64).

Conclusions:

• Premature birth (PTB) is identified as a significant risk factor for long-term systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) in women.
• Elevated SBPV associated with PTB may contribute to an increased risk of future cardiovascular events.
• Pregnancy presents a critical opportunity for early identification and intervention for women at heightened risk of cardiovascular disease.