Abstract 13525: The Association Between Multiparity and Adipokine Levels: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Abstract

Background: Multiparity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the mechanism of this relationship is unknown. Adipokines may predispose multiparous women to certain cardiometabolic complications that can increase their risk of future CVD. Methods: We studied 975 female MESA participants (ages 45-84 yrs and initially free of CVD) who had complete data on parity assessed at baseline and adipokine levels measured at either Exam 2 or 3. Parity was categorized as nulliparity (reference), 1-2, 3-4 and ≥5 live births. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the association of parity categories with log-transformed levels of leptin, resistin, and adiponectin. Results: The women (38% white, 23% black, 13% Chinese, and 26% Hispanic) had mean age at MESA visit 2/3 of 63±9 yrs. Median adipokine levels by parity group are shown in the Table . Compared to nulliparity, a history of 3-4 live births was associated with higher leptin levels, even after full covariate adjustment including body mass index (BMI) and CVD risk factors (model 4). Grand multiparity (≥5 births) was associated with greater leptin after adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors (models 1 & 2), but these associations were no longer significant after BMI adjustment (model 3). Grand multiparity was also associated with lower adiponectin levels in demographic/lifestyle-adjusted models but not after adjustment for BMI. In contrast, grand multiparity remained associated with higher resistin levels after full covariate adjustment (model 4). Conclusions: In a multiethnic U.S. cohort of women, multiparity is associated with adipokine levels, specifically with higher leptin and resistin levels. Further studies are needed to determine whether adipokines mediate the relationship between multiparity and CVD.