Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Women after Pregnancy Complicated by Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional, Single Center Study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess cardiometabolic risk factors and cardiovascular (CV) risk in the early period after pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Materials and methods: Traditional (blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels, body mass index, smoking and other) and non-traditional [intima-media thickness (IMT), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and homocysteine levels] cardiovascular risk factors were assessed in early (6-12 weeks) postpartum period in 48 women after pregnancy complicated with GDM and in 12 women after uncomplicated pregnancy. The clustering of CV risk factors was assessed, as well as relative cardiovascular risk (according to the guidelines of European Society of Cardiology). Results: There were no significant differences between both groups with regard to the examined risk factors, with the exception of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, which was within the norm range in all patients after uncomplicated pregnancy, but only in less than 60% patients after GDM. There were also no difference between the groups in mean number of cardiovascular risk factors or in proportion of patients having 1 or 2, or 3, or ≥ 4 risk factor. Similarly, there was no differences in proportion of patients with different relative cardiovascular risk score. Prevalence of IFG, IGT and DM in the post-GDM group was 13.3%. Conclusions: In women with GDM in the early postpartum period the prevalence of CV risk factors and CV risk itself is similar to women after non-complicated pregnancy (the only exception was the low HDL cholesterol level and more prevalent carbohydrate metabolism disturbances in the former group).