Physical activity and maternal-fetal circulation measured by Doppler ultrasound.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of physical activity on maternal-fetal circulation measured by uterine and umbilical artery Doppler flow velocimetry waveforms.


METHODS
Participants included 781 pregnant women with Doppler ultrasounds of the uterine and umbilical artery and who self-reported past week physical activity. Linear and generalized estimating equation regression models were used to examine these associations.


RESULTS
Moderate-to-vigorous total and recreational activity were associated with higher uterine artery pulsatility index (PI) and an increased risk of uterine artery notching as compared with reporting no total or recreational physical activity, respectively. Moderate-to-vigorous work activity was associated with lower uterine artery PI and a reduced risk of uterine artery notching as compared with no work activity. No associations were identified with the umbilical circulation measured by the resistance index.


CONCLUSIONS
In this epidemiologic study, recreational and work activity were associated with opposite effects on uterine artery PI and uterine artery notching, although associations were modest in magnitude.
Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
N C
NC
Nguyen
K R
KR
Evenson
D A
DA
Savitz
H
H
Chu
J M
JM
Thorp
J L
JL
Daniels
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D016014:Linear Models; D008423:Maternal Age; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D021041:Placental Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000502:physiology; D018617:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Pulsed / Q000379:methods*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D055988:Uterine Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult