Maternal hyperlipidemia and spontaneous preterm delivery: a multi-centre cohort study

Hyperlipidemia is a precursor of inflammation and oxidative stress and suggested to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery. This study evaluated the association between maternal hyperlipidemia and spontaneous preterm delivery.

This was a prospective, multicentre cohort study in which 239 pregnant women aged 20-35 years with singleton pregnancy, were consecutively recruited at estimated gestational ages of 14-18weeks. Maternal serum lipids were determined at recruitment over a 2-month period and they were followed up until 37 weeks for the subsequent 6 months. Pregnant women with medical conditions and medications that could alter serum lipid levels were excluded from the study. Demographic and baseline variables were summarized using descriptive statistics. Comparison of continuous variables was done using the student's t-test and categorical variables were compared using the Chi square or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. Correlation was determined using Pearson's correlation. Odd ratios were calculated at 95% confidence interval, width of CI as 10% (0.1) and all significances are reported at p < .05.

The prevalence of spontaneous preterm delivery and maternal hypercholesterolemia was 10.2% and 33.1% respectively. There was no significant association between spontaneous preterm delivery and hyperlipidemia in pregnancy (p = .102). Mean serum total cholesterol (mmol/L), LDL cholesterol (mmol/L), HDL cholesterol (mmol/L) and triglyceride (mmol/L) was 5.31 ± 0.84, 2.60 ± 0.72, 1.64 ± 0.36 and 1.23 ± 0.40 respectively in women with spontaneous preterm delivery was similar to mean values of 5.23 ± 0.98, 2.54 ± 0.82, 1.64 ± 0.49 and 1.30 ± 0.59 respectively in women with term delivery. There was no significant correlation between mean individual serum lipids, determined at 14-18weeks gestational age, and gestational age at delivery.

Serum lipid values determined early in pregnancy were observed to be similar in women with preterm and term delivery. There was no association between hyperlipidemia and spontaneous preterm delivery. There was no correlation of individual mean lipid values, determined early in pregnancy, and gestational age at delivery.