Vascular health years after a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy: The EPOCH study
Authors' conclusion
Women with a prior hypertensive disorder of pregnancy had higher ASCVD risk and blood pressures several years postpartum, but did not have more endothelial dysfunction or subclinical atherosclerosis.
Study context
- Population
- Pre-menopausal women ≥ 2 years postpartum (mean age 40.7 years; 5.7 years since last pregnancy)
- Participants
- 68 vs 71
- Exposure
- Prior hypertensive disorder of pregnancy vs normotensive pregnancy
- Casesn = 68
- Controlsn = 71reference
- Outcome
- BP, ASCVD risk, reactive hyperemia index (EndoPAT) and carotid intima-medial thickness
Methodological detailscase-control
- Case-control
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
| Group | Calculated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk | SBP | DBP | Carotid intima-media thickness | Reactive hyperemia index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cases | 0.6 | 118.5 mm Hg | 75.2 mm Hg | 0.5 | 2.1 |
| Controls | 0.4 | 111.6 mm Hg | 69.8 mm Hg | 0.5 | 2.1 |
Calculated atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk
Cases0.6
Controls0.4
SBP
Cases118.5 mm Hg
Controls111.6 mm Hg
DBP
Cases75.2 mm Hg
Controls69.8 mm Hg
Carotid intima-media thickness
Cases0.5
Controls0.5
Reactive hyperemia index
Cases2.1
Controls2.1
- Cases vs Controls: P = 0.02 — ASCVD risk
- Cases vs Controls: P = 0.0004 — SBP
- Cases vs Controls: P = 0.0004 — DBP
- Cases vs Controls: P = 0.29 — carotid intima-media thickness
- Cases vs Controls: P = 0.93 — reactive hyperemia index
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Hypertension · bivariate analyses
P = 0.034
| Outcome | Cases | Controls | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augmentation index, pulse wave amplitude, carotid elastic modulus, carotid beta stiffnessBivariate analyses | |||
| Augmentation index | 7.7 | 2.3 | P = 0.03 |
| Pulse wave amplitude | 416 | 326 | P = 0.11 |
| Carotid elastic modulus | 445 | 426 | P = 0.36 |
| Carotid beta stiffness | 2.8 | 2.8 | P = 0.86 |
Original publication
Vascular health years after a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy: The EPOCH study. Am Heart J. Published 12 March 2024. doi:10.
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