Subsequent risk of metabolic syndrome in women with a history of preeclampsia: data from the Health Examinees Study.
BACKGROUND
To investigate whether preeclampsia is independently associated with risk of future metabolic syndrome and whether any such primary associations are modified by different ages at first pregnancy.


METHODS
Based on the Health Examinees Study, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted. Data of women (n = 49 780) who had experienced at least 1 pregnancy during their lifetime and had never been diagnosed with any metabolic disorder before their pregnancy were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated after adjusting for age, lifestyle characteristics, and reproductive factors. A stratified analysis was also conducted to estimate the extent of the primary association between preeclampsia and future metabolic syndrome by age at first pregnancy.


RESULTS
Women with a history of preeclampsia had significantly increased odds of developing metabolic syndrome (adjusted OR 1.23; 95% CI, 1.12-1.35), central obesity (adjusted OR 1.36; 95% CI, 1.25-1.47), elevated blood pressure (adjusted OR 1.53; 95% CI, 1.41-1.67), or elevated fasting glucose (adjusted OR 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03-1.25) in later life. In the stratified analysis, women who first became pregnant at ages >35 years and had preeclampsia were found to be at significantly increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome later in life (adjusted OR 4.38; 95% CI, 1.62-11.9).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that preeclampsia increases the risk of metabolic syndrome in later life, and late age at first pregnancy can further exacerbate this risk.
Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea.
Jae Jeong
JJ
Yang
Sang-Ah
SA
Lee
Ji-Yeob
JY
Choi
Minkyo
M
Song
Sohee
S
Han
Hyung-Suk
HS
Yoon
Yunhee
Y
Lee
Juhwan
J
Oh
Jong-Koo
JK
Lee
Daehee
D
Kang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012306:Risk