Structural and functional arterial changes in healthy women following pregnancy: maternal vascular adaptations to pregnancy II study

Desai, Mansi (2015) Structural and functional arterial changes in healthy women following pregnancy: maternal vascular adaptations to pregnancy II study. Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.

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Abstract

Background: Parity is associated with increased maternal risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a J-shaped fashion. Vascular adaptation to changes during pregnancy may be an indicator of future CVD risk. The literature indicates that pregnancy results in an increase in common carotid artery inter-adventitial diameter (CCA IAD) and intima-media thickness (CCA IMT), markers of vascular aging and future CVD risk. These changes were found to recede early postpartum, although not consistently and not back to pre-pregnancy levels. This study aims to determine whether vascular changes during pregnancy persist beyond the initial postpartum period. Methods: This study is a follow-up to a prospective study that assessed vascular health in a cohort of 43 healthy women during each trimester of their first pregnancy and 6-8 weeks postpartum. Data on physical measures, biomarker assays, pregnancy outcomes, and health history were collected 1-5 years following the index birth. B-mode ultrasound was used to measure CCA IAD and CCA IMT. Paired t-tests and multivariable linear regression were used to assess changes in vascular measures. Results: Sixteen participants with mean age 32.4 years completed the second postpartum visit. The average time from index delivery was 2.7 years. Unadjusted mean CCA IAD slightly decreased and CCA IMT increased at the second postpartum visit compared to the first postpartum and first trimester visits; these changes were not statistically significant. Long-term postpartum, larger CCA IAD was associated with higher blood pressure whereas thicker CCA IMT was associated with less time since index birth, greater weight change, less time breastfeeding, and lower insulin resistance (p

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Details

Item Type:	Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper (Master Essay)
Status:	Unpublished
Creators/Authors:	Creators Email Pitt Username ORCID Desai, Mansi
Contributors:	Contribution Contributors Name Email Pitt Username ORCID Committee Chair Barinas-Mitchell, Emma barinas@edc.pitt.edu EJB4 UNSPECIFIED Committee Member Bertolet, Marnie bertoletm@edc.pitt.edu MHB12 UNSPECIFIED Committee Member Catov, Janet M. jcatov@att.net UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
Date:	22 April 2015
Date Type:	Publication
Access Restriction:	No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Publisher:	University of Pittsburgh
Institution:	University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs:	School of Public Health > Epidemiology
Degree:	MPH - Master of Public Health
Thesis Type:	Master Essay
Refereed:	Yes
Date Deposited:	20 Oct 2015 21:43
Last Modified:	01 Jun 2023 11:55
URI:	http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24552

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