W H Tam1, R C-W Ma2, J C-N Chan2, T T-H Lao1, M H-M Chan3, C-Y Li1. 1. Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., Hong Kong, China. 2. Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., Hong Kong, China. 3. Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R., Hong Kong, China.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: It is well known that women with history of gestational diabetes (GDM) are at risk of future DM. Whether they are at a higher risk of hypertension and cardiovascular risk remained to be determined. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether Chinese women who have been diagnosed GDM according to the new IADPSG criteria have a higher risk of hypertension & arterial stiffness than women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) during pregnancy. METHODS: Chinese women who had participated in the HAPO study between 2001 and 2006 in Hong Kong were followed up at a median of 6years postpartum. All underwent anthropometric & BP measurements. Central systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP & DBP), augmentation index (AI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were assessed by using SphygmoCor(®) PVx.A total of 608 women (494 NGT, 114 GDM) were followed up till early 2012. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference in the rate of hypertension, the central SBP (106±12 vs 102±13mmHg, p=0.03), AI (22.1±8.3 vs 18.9±8.5%, p<0.001) and PWV (6.8±1.0 vs 6.6±0.8, p=0.03) were all higher in women with history of GDM. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a higher risk of subclinical atherosclerosis amongst women with GDM despite the blood pressure may appear normal at the time of follow up.
INTRODUCTION: It is well known that women with history of gestational diabetes (GDM) are at risk of future DM. Whether they are at a higher risk of hypertension and cardiovascular risk remained to be determined. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether Chinese women who have been diagnosed GDM according to the new IADPSG criteria have a higher risk of hypertension & arterial stiffness than women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) during pregnancy. METHODS: Chinese women who had participated in the HAPO study between 2001 and 2006 in Hong Kong were followed up at a median of 6years postpartum. All underwent anthropometric & BP measurements. Central systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP & DBP), augmentation index (AI) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were assessed by using SphygmoCor(®) PVx.A total of 608 women (494 NGT, 114 GDM) were followed up till early 2012. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference in the rate of hypertension, the central SBP (106±12 vs 102±13mmHg, p=0.03), AI (22.1±8.3 vs 18.9±8.5%, p<0.001) and PWV (6.8±1.0 vs 6.6±0.8, p=0.03) were all higher in women with history of GDM. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest a higher risk of subclinical atherosclerosis amongst women with GDM despite the blood pressure may appear normal at the time of follow up.