Coronary Calcification in Iraqi Middle-Aged Women With Previous Preeclampsia: A Cohort Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.

2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq.

Abstract

Background: Both preeclampsia and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. As CAC is race and ethnicity-dependent, we test it in a sample of Iraqi population. We compared the presence of CAC in a cohort of middle-aged women with and without previous preeclampsia.
 
Methods: This retrospective cohort study on middle-aged Iraqi women used logistic regression models to compare 100 women with and 100 women without a history of preeclampsia. Other cardiovascular risk factors were assessed as potential covariates. Between September 2020 and January 2022, the women underwent a multidetector computed tomography for the assessment of the presence of CAC.
 
Results: CAC was found in 22% of patients with previous preeclampsia compared with 11% in those without previous preeclampsia. Body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, lipid indices, glucose levels, and hypertension were significantly related to previous preeclampsia. Age, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, glucose levels, hypertension, and diabetes were significantly associated with the presence of CAC. Women with previous preeclampsia had a 128% greater risk of CAC than women without this condition (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.04 to 5). Age adjustments had no discernible effect on the relationship (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.07 to 5.31).
 
Conclusions: Women with previous preeclampsia were more likely to have CAC than women with normotensive pregnancies in their middle age even after adjustments for age. Cardiovascular screening may be beneficial for women with a history of preeclampsia. (Iranian Heart Journal 2022; 23(4): 88-96)

Keywords


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