Associations of Maternal Cardiovascular Health in Pregnancy With Offspring Cardiovascular Health in Early Adolescence

Key PointsQuestionIs maternal cardiovascular health during pregnancy (characterized by the combination of 5 metrics: body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol level, glucose level, and smoking) associated with offspring cardiovascular health during early adolescence (characterized by the combination of 4 metrics: body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol level, and glucose level)? FindingsIn this multinational cohort study of 2302 mother-child dyads, poorer maternal cardiovascular health at a mean of 28 weeks' gestation was significantly associated with higher risks for poorer offspring cardiovascular health at ages 10 to 14 years (adjusted relative risk for association between >= 2 poor [vs all ideal] maternal metrics and >= 2 poor [vs all ideal] offspring metrics, 7.82). MeaningMaternal cardiovascular health during pregnancy was significantly associated with offspring cardiovascular health during early adolescence. ImportancePregnancy may be a key window to optimize cardiovascular health (CVH) for the mother and influence lifelong CVH for her child. ObjectiveTo examine associations between maternal gestational CVH and offspring CVH. Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study used data from the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) Study (examinations: July 2000-April 2006) and HAPO Follow-Up Study (examinations: February 2013-December 2016). The analyses included 2302 mother-child dyads, comprising 48% of HAPO Follow-Up Study participants, in an ancillary CVH study. Participants were from 9 field centers across the United States, Barbados, United Kingdom, China, Thailand, and Canada. ExposuresMaternal gestational CVH at a target of 28 weeks' gestation, based on 5 metrics: body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol level, glucose level, and smoking. Each metric was categorized as ideal, intermediate, or poor using pregnancy guidelines. Total CVH was categorized as follows: all ideal metrics, 1 or more intermediate (but 0 poor) metrics, 1 poor metric, or 2 or more poor metrics. Main Outcomes and MeasuresOffspring CVH at ages 10 to 14 years, based on 4 metrics: body mass index, blood pressure, total cholesterol level, and glucose level. Total CVH was categorized as for mothers. ResultsAmong 2302 dyads, the mean (SD) ages were 29.6 (2.7) years for pregnant mothers and 11.3 (1.1) years for children. During pregnancy, the mean (SD) maternal CVH score was 8.6 (1.4) out of 10. Among pregnant mothers, the prevalence of all ideal metrics was 32.8% (95% CI, 30.6%-35.1%), 31.7% (95% CI, 29.4%-34.0%) for 1 or more intermediate metrics, 29.5% (95% CI, 27.2%-31.7%) for 1 poor metric, and 6.0% (95% CI, 3.8%-8.3%) for 2 or more poor metrics. Among children of mothers with all ideal metrics, the prevalence of all ideal metrics was 42.2% (95% CI, 38.4%-46.2%), 36.7% (95% CI, 32.9%-40.7%) for 1 or more intermediate metrics, 18.4% (95% CI, 14.6%-22.4%) for 1 poor metric, and 2.6% (95% CI, 0%-6.6%) for 2 or more poor metrics. Among children of mothers with 2 or more poor metrics, the prevalence of all ideal metrics was 30.7% (95% CI, 22.0%-40.4%), 28.3% (95% CI, 19.7%-38.1%) for 1 or more intermediate metrics, 30.7% (95% CI, 22.0%-40.4%) for 1 poor metric, and 10.2% (95% CI, 1.6%-20.0%) for 2 or more poor metrics. The adjusted relative risks associated with 1 or more intermediate, 1 poor, and 2 or more poor (vs all ideal) metrics, respectively, in mothers during pregnancy were 1.17 (95% CI, 0.96-1.42), 1.66 (95% CI, 1.39-1.99), and 2.02 (95% CI, 1.55-2.64) for offspring to have 1 poor (vs all ideal) metrics, and the relative risks were 2.15 (95% CI, 1.23-3.75), 3.32 (95% CI,1.96-5.62), and 7.82 (95% CI, 4.12-14.85) for offspring to have 2 or more poor (vs all ideal) metrics. Additional adjustment for categorical birth factors (eg, preeclampsia) did not fully explain these significant associations (eg, relative risk for association between 2 or more poor metrics among mothers during pregnancy and 2 or more poor metrics among offspring after adjustment for an extended set of birth factors, 6.23 [95% CI, 3.03-12.82]). Conclusions and RelevanceIn this multinational cohort, better maternal CVH at 28 weeks' gestation was significantly associated with better offspring CVH at ages 10 to 14 years. This international cohort study examines associations between the cardiovascular (CV) health of pregnant women (defined by 5 CV risk factors) and CV health of their offspring at ages 10 to 14 years.

Automated summary

Maternal cardiovascular health during pregnancy is significantly associated with offspring cardiovascular health during early adolescence, indicating a potential lifelong impact of maternal health status on offspring. This multinational cohort study reveals that poorer maternal cardiovascular health is correlated with higher risks of poorer cardiovascular health in offspring during early adolescence.