PREGNANCY-ASSOCIATED RISK MARKERS for ASCVD

Q: All of the following are the PREGNANCY-ASSOCIATED RISK MARKERS for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the future EXCEPT? (select one)

A) Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 

B) Gestational diabetes

C) Preterm delivery 

D) Placental abruption

E) Lactation

Answer: E

Although emerging data shows that males and females carry almost the same burden of risks for ASCVD, females have some particular risk markers for ASCD, including.

• preeclampsia 
• gestational hypertension
• gestational diabetes 
• preterm delivery 
• delivery of infants with fetal growth restriction
• placental abruption
• spontaneous pregnancy loss
• stillbirth

These associations may be due to either the risk of developing a chronic state after pregnancy is over, such as HTN and DM or to procoagulant and proinflammatory states associated with some of these conditions.

Lactation is found to have a protective effect.

#cardiology

#obgyn

References:

1. Parikh NI, Gonzalez JM, Anderson CAM, et al. Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Unique Opportunities for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Women: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2021; 143:e902.

2. Crump C, Sundquist J, McLaughlin MA, et al. Adverse pregnancy outcomes and long term risk of ischemic heart disease in mothers: national cohort and co-sibling study. BMJ 2023; 380:e072112.

3. Nguyen B, Jin K, Ding D. Breastfeeding and maternal cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes: A systematic review. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187923.