Cardiovascular risk profile at the age of 40–45 in women with previous hyperemesis gravidarum or hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: A population-based study

Objective: To assess midlife cardiovascular risk profiles in women with a history of hyperemesis or hypertensive disorders in pregnancy compared to women with none of the studied pregnancy complications. Study design: Population-based study. Cardiovascular risk factors at the age of 40–45 among women with previous singleton births only were studied through linkage of the Norwegian Birth Registry and a Norwegian screening program (the Age 40 Program). Main outcome measures: Family history of coronary heart disease, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol, triglycerides, antihypertensive treatment and diabetes. Results: Among 178,231 women participating in the Age 40 Program with previous singleton births; 2140 (1.2%) had experienced hyperemesis and 13,348 (7.5%) hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Women who had suffered from hyperemesis were less physically active. The differences in mean systolic blood pressure and body mass index were probably clinically irrelevant. In women with a history of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and body mass index were higher, and they were more likely to report diabetes in midlife. Women who had suffered from hyperemesis or hypertensive disorders in pregnancy were less likely to be daily smokers. Conclusion: Women with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy seemed to have an unfavorable cardiovascular risk profile in midlife compared to women with uncomplicated pregnancies. In contrast there was no consistent evidence of increased risk subsequent to hyperemesis gravidarum. The proportion of daily smokers was lower in women with either of the two pregnancy complications.