Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one cause of death for women in the United States. Although typically a time of low risk, the reproductive years of a woman’s lifetime offer an optimal time to address and prevent future cardiovascular disease by reducing risk factors such as dyslipidemia and early atherosclerosis. Although it is widely known that pregnancy is a state of increased insulin resistance, there are no current reference standards to define normal lipid parameters during pregnancy. Recent animal studies have reported findings that suggest uncontrolled dyslipidemia during pregnancy may potentially predispose or increase the inherent CVD risk for their offspring. Furthermore, women with uncontrolled diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and specific metabolic disorders may all be at yet further increased lifetime risk of dyslipidemia, thereby affecting future health of the mother, her child and future generations. Despite the incomplete understanding of the pathophysiology relating these diseases with potential development of CVD, both in the mother and child, the importance of awareness and improvement in overall health remains paramount.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the number one cause of death for women in the United States
Dyslipidemia in pregnancy has historically been considered physiologic with little clinical relevance; recent evidence highlights the importance of preventing or optimizing maternal lipid health before and during pregnancy and the puerperium for the long-term benefit of both mother and the child
Fatty streaks have been found in the aortas of six month-old fetuses of mothers who were hypercholesterolemic [5]. These findings suggest that unbridled dyslipidemia may potentially predispose or increase the inherent CVD risk for their offspring
Summary
Weedin E1*, Wild R2 and Conant R1 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Section of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA. Received date: August 18, 2015; Accepted date: September 23, 2015; Published date: September 30, 2015
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