ESC Congress 2003: Preeclampsia is a risk factor for coronary artery disease in womenAugust 31, 2003IMPORTANT: This press release accompanies a poster or oral session given at the ESC Congress 2003. Written by the investigator himself/herself, this press release does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Society of Cardiology We have shown that hypertension related to pregnancy (preeclampsia) is a risk factor for developing coronary artery disease in relatively young (less than 65 years of age) women. Given that 5-10% of women have hypertensive pregnancy this could be an important step to start prevention before menopausal age. Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of death in Europe. Its incidence has decreased during latest decade, but less in women than in men. The reason for this gender difference might be explained by different CAD risk factor profile with obesity, smoking, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus being more important risk factors for women than men. They are also known to be related a different form of CAD (than in men) affecting more often small heart vessels, which are less accessible for coronary by-pass and angioplasty. This highlight the role of prevention in which pregnancy history could offer very valuable information. Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality complicating 5-10% of pregnancies. It is characterised by high blood pressure and proteinuria. The mechanisms for preeclampsia are not well understood but vascular dysfunction is one of the major causal factors. Preeclampsia and CAD share common risk factors for vascular dysfunction such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, increased insulin resistance (loss of insulin action in the body). Our study was carried out in Helsinki University Hospital during the years 1996-2000. 141 parous women aged less than 65 years of age were diagnosed with CAD at the Department of Cardiology. They had been referred to coronary angiography because of symptoms of CAD or having suffered an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack). During the same time period, we collected control groups from hospital and private clinic. Self-administered questionnaires were sent to the patients and controls and the information was confirmed from their obstetric hospital records. The questionnaire included information on risk factors for CAD (with recent laboratory documentation), obstetric history particularly presence of hypertensive pregnancies. The patients and control women showed different CAD risk profiles. The CAD patients were more often smokers, more obese, had more often hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia than the controls. The CAD patients had more often preeclampsia in the first or in any pregnancy than the controls. In statistical analysis the age of „d 55 years, obesity (BMI of „d 28kg/m2), smoking, hypertension, preeclampsia in any pregnancy, type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolemia were all independent risk factors for CAD. Use of HRT tended to be protective against CAD (borderline significant) Our results are in good agreement with our earlier studies showing that preeclampsia is a state of loss of insulin action (insulin resistance) which can still be observed 17 years after preeclamptic pregnancy. This would indicate that the tendency to loss of insulin action may persist whole life and accentuate in and after postmenopause and aggravate vascular dysfunction and atherosclerosis leading to narrowing of the arteries (also coronary arteries). Our women with CAD were more obese, had more often hypertension more often than control women and most probably they were more insulin resistant than the controls. As our study showed that a history of preeclampsia is a risk factor for subsequent CAD, it is important to advise women with preeclampsia to avoid obesity and stop smoking, as well as prevent and treat hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Dr Risto Juhani Kaaja Helsinki University Hospital, Finland European Society of Cardiology (ESC) |
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