Effects of Preeclampsia on Maternal and Pediatric Health at 11 Years Postpartum

Abstract

Objective To determine the association of preeclampsia (PE) with the presence of cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors at approximately 11 years postpartum and to assess the longer term effect of PE on childhood development. Study Design A mail-out survey was sent to all women who were previously recruited into the Kingston arm of the Pre-Eclampsia New Emerging Team's prospective cohort (n = 112 PE and n = 150 control). Physical and biochemical CVR markers were compared between the two groups. Physical, social, and cognitive development of the children involved in the pregnancies was evaluated using the Vineland-3 Domain-Level Parent/Caregiver Form. Results Thirteen PE women and 28 control women returned the study questionnaire. Based on the 2017 American Heart Association High Blood Pressure Clinical Practice Guidelines, 9/13 (69.2%) of the PE women, compared with 6/28 (21.4%) of the control women, have hypertension (p < 0.01). The median percentile rank for overall adaptive functioning was 58 (interquartile range [IQR: 21–73]) in the PE children and 81 (IQR: 61–94) in the control children (p < 0.05). Conclusion The development of PE leads to longer term changes in CVR markers and in childhood development at approximately 11 years postpartum. Pregnancy and the postpartum provide an early window of opportunity for early maternal and child screening and intervention for health preservation and disease prevention.