Does leisure time physical activity in early pregnancy protect against pre-eclampsia? Prospective cohort in Danish women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between physical activity in early pregnancy and risk of pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Prospective cohort.


METHODS
Denmark.


METHODS
A total of 85,139 pregnant Danish women, recruited between 1996 and 2002.


METHODS
The authors assessed leisure time physical activity in first trimester by a telephone interview and categorised women a priori into seven groups: 0 (reference), 1-44, 45-74, 75-149, 150-269, 270-419 and 420+ minutes/week. Pre-eclampsia diagnoses were extracted from the Danish National Patient Registry. A number of potential confounders were adjusted for by logistic regression.


METHODS
Pre-eclampsia and severe pre-eclampsia.


RESULTS
The two highest physical activity levels were associated with increased risk of severe pre-eclampsia compared with the nonexercising group, with adjusted odds ratios of 1.65 (95% CI: 1.11-2.43) and 1.78 (95% CI: 1.07-2.95), whereas more moderate levels of physical activity (1-270 minutes/week) had no statistically significant association with risk of pre-eclampsia (total n = 85,139).


CONCLUSIONS
We were unable to document a protective effect of leisure time physical activity against pre-eclampsia. Our data even suggest that leisure time physical activity exceeding 270 minutes/week in first trimester may increase risk of severe pre-eclampsia.
Østerdal
M L
ML
Maternal Nutrition Group, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. mae@ssi.dk
Strøm
M
M
Klemmensen
A K
AK
Knudsen
V K
VK
Juhl
M
M
Halldorsson
T I
TI
Nybo Andersen
A-M
AM
Magnus
P
P
Olsen
S F
SF
D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D055815:Young Adult