title: Heart sympathetic activity and pulmonary function in obese pregnant women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate autonomic balance and pulmonary function in obese women according to their baseline weight and weight gain during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Leon, Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and seventy-eight healthy pregnant women (88 obese and 90 non-obese).
  
  
  METHODS
  At first visit of pregnancy and in the third trimester blood pressure, anthropometric measurements, glucose, insulin, and leptin levels were evaluated and spirometry, oximetry, and 60 minutes electrocardiograph monitoring were performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Heart rate variability and pulmonary function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood pressure levels, glucose, insulin, and leptin levels were higher in obese women, whereas total power of heart rate variability was lower in this group than in non-obese women at the beginning of pregnancy. In the third trimester, the standard deviation of all the normal R-R intervals was lower in obese women, whereas blood pressure and glucose levels remain higher. In the multiple regression analysis, the change in forced expiratory volume at 1 second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio and leptin levels independently of weight gain were associated to low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) index at third trimester (R2=0.21; p<0.001 for the model) only in obese women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LF/HF index at third trimester of pregnancy is associated with increase in leptin levels and decrease in FEV1/FVC in obese women independently of weight gain.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Clinical Research, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Leon, Mexico. norma.amador@imss.gob.mx
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Amador-Licona
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Guízar-Mendoza
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juárez
authors.forename: Benigno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Linares-Segovia
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D020738:Leptin