Vladiana Turi1, Stela Iurciuc2, Octavian Marius Crețu3, Delia Mirela Tit4, Simona Bungau5, Adrian Apostol6, Radu Dumitru Moleriu7, Cristiana Bustea8, Tapan Behl9, Camelia Cristina Diaconu10, Izabella Petre11. 1. Department of Cardiology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania. Electronic address: turi.vladiana@umft.ro. 2. Department of Cardiology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania. 3. Department of Surgery, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania. 4. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 29 N. Jiga St., Oradea 410028, Romania. Electronic address: mirela_tit@yahoo.com. 5. Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 29 N. Jiga St., Oradea 410028, Romania. Electronic address: simonabungau@gmail.com. 6. Department of Cardiology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania; Clinical Section of Cardiology, Timiş County Emergency Clinical Hospital "Pius Brînzeu", 156 Liviu Rebreanu Sq., 300723 Timisoara, Romania. 7. Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, West University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania. Electronic address: radu.moleriu@e-uvt.ro. 8. Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410041 Oradea, Romania. 9. Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, 140401, Punjab, India. 10. Department 5, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania; Department of Internal Medicine, Clinical Emergency Hospital of Bucharest, 105402 Bucharest, Romania. 11. Department XII of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, "Victor Babeş" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 2 Eftimie Murgu Sq., 300041 Timisoara, Romania.
Abstract
AIMS: Hypertension (HTN) in pregnancy is a major cause of maternal, foetal and neonatal morbimortality in both developing and developed countries. Arterial stiffness is a predictor of cardiovascular events and can be assessed through augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). This study was intended to analyse the arterial stiffness in three categories, hypertensive pregnant women vs. healthy women (both pregnant and non-pregnant). MAIN METHODS: Between 2018 and 2019, 150 women were prospectively included into three homogenous groups, of equal sizes (N = 50): pregnant women with HTN (group 1), pregnant women without HTN (group 2), and non-pregnant women (group 3). We assessed pregnant women 3 times (in all three trimesters) and six weeks postpartum, and the women from the control group once. KEY FINDINGS: Significant differences (p < 0.001) of the hemodynamic and arterial stiffness parameters and of the heart rate (HR) (p = 0.006) were observed between groups 1 and 2. Women with pregnancy-induced HTN had different values of arterial function parameters long time before the first signs of high blood pressure (BP) occurred. Also, body mass index (BMI) had a deleterious effect in all patients, but especially in pregnant HTN women. Significant differences (p < 0.001) between groups 2 and 3 were observed regarding the BP and aortic PWV (PWVao) and, as well, significant differences (p < 0.05) between BMI, aortic systolic BP (p = 0.02), brachial AIx (p = 0.01) and pulse pressure (PP) (p = 0.049) values. SIGNIFICANCE: The current study emphasizes the importance of the assessment of arterial function parameters and BMI as markers for future BP values and outcomes throughout gestation.
AIMS: Hypertension (HTN) in pregnancy is a major cause of maternal, foetal and neonatal morbimortality in both developing and developed countries. Arterial stiffness is a predictor of cardiovascular events and can be assessed through augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV). This study was intended to analyse the arterial stiffness in three categories, hypertensive pregnant women vs. healthy women (both pregnant and non-pregnant). MAIN METHODS: Between 2018 and 2019, 150 women were prospectively included into three homogenous groups, of equal sizes (N = 50): pregnant women with HTN (group 1), pregnant women without HTN (group 2), and non-pregnant women (group 3). We assessed pregnant women 3 times (in all three trimesters) and six weeks postpartum, and the women from the control group once. KEY FINDINGS: Significant differences (p < 0.001) of the hemodynamic and arterial stiffness parameters and of the heart rate (HR) (p = 0.006) were observed between groups 1 and 2. Women with pregnancy-induced HTN had different values of arterial function parameters long time before the first signs of high blood pressure (BP) occurred. Also, body mass index (BMI) had a deleterious effect in all patients, but especially in pregnant HTN women. Significant differences (p < 0.001) between groups 2 and 3 were observed regarding the BP and aortic PWV (PWVao) and, as well, significant differences (p < 0.05) between BMI, aortic systolic BP (p = 0.02), brachial AIx (p = 0.01) and pulse pressure (PP) (p = 0.049) values. SIGNIFICANCE: The current study emphasizes the importance of the assessment of arterial function parameters and BMI as markers for future BP values and outcomes throughout gestation.