Hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors in women - a follow-up study forty years after hypertensive pregnancies
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The aims of the thesis were to investigate the impact of pregnancy blood pressure, a\ncurrent diagnosis of hypertension and blood pressure levels on neurohumoral, cardiovascular\nand metabolic status in postmenopausal women and thus to explore possible\ncontributing mechanisms to the increased cardiovascular risk following hypertensive\npregnancies.\nIn this follow-up study after hypertensive- and normotensive pregnancies, 105 women\nwere evaluated with the following methods: microneurography; office-, ambulatory-\nand central blood pressure measurements; anthropometric measurements; pulse\nwave velocity and augmentation index; carotid intima-media thickness; cardiovascular\nresponse to mental stress test and evaluation of perceived stress; echocardiography\nand laboratory analyses regarding metabolic and neurohumoral values. Another 160\nwomen responded to a questionnaire regarding previous and present health.\nWomen with previous hypertensive pregnancies had an increased prevalence of a diagnosis\nof hypertension, increased pulse wave velocity and affected metabolic parameters\ncompared to women with previous normotensive pregnancies. These findings may partly explain the increased cardiovascular risk following hypertensive pregnancies.\nThe sympathetic activity was only increased in women with previous hypertensive\npregnancies and present hypertension. High self-reported perceived stress was\nassociated with increased waist circumference which, in turn is related to an increased\ncardiovascular risk. Higher blood pressure levels were related to early signs of left\nventricular diastolic dysfunction, emphasizing the importance of rigorous blood pressure\ncontrol.\nOur study contributes with unique knowledge regarding women’s health many years\nafter hypertensive and normotensive pregnancies. A diagnosis of present hypertension\nseems to be of major importance for the increased cardiovascular risk after hypertensive\npregnancies, why maintenance of normotension is essential for women with previous hypertension pregnancies in order to retain cardiovascular health after menopause.
Author: Anna-Clara Collén
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W87897845