Abstract 506: Changes in Vascular Function from Pre-conception to Post-partum Among Mongolian Women

Abstract

Background: A recent study found significant changes in maternal cardiovascular function from pre-conception to post-partum in British women. Objective: To document vascular function before, during, and after pregnancy as measured by brachial blood pressure, heart rate-corrected augmentation index (AIx75), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) in Mongolian women. Methods: 70 women, planning to conceive, were enrolled in this prospective, longitudinal study. Within six months, 46 women conceived, 38 of whom delivered; of these, 27 with complete measurements were included in this analysis. Pre-conception, second trimester, third trimester, and 2 month post-partum vascular function were assessed using SphygmoCor arterial tonometry (Atcor Medical). Within-woman differences across time points, adjusted for age, parity and body mass index (BMI), were analyzed by repeated measures analysis of covariance. Results: Mean age was 31.3 ± 5.5 (SD) years, mean BMI was 21.9 ± 2.9 kg/m 2 and 81.5% were parous. We observed statistically significant differences across time points for AIx75 (p=0.02), with lowest levels in the second trimester and highest levels post-partum (Table). Brachial systolic and diastolic blood pressures and PWV were also lowest in the second trimester, but differences across time points were not statistically significant. Conclusion: In this pre-conception cohort followed through post-partum, we observed a significant, temporary decrease in AIx75 in pregnancy. The decrease in AIx75 represents increased vascular compliance necessary to accommodate the maternal physiologic and metabolic changes during pregnancy.