Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were associated with marginally lower VO2max at 14-18 weeks of pregnancy compared to normotensive women (MD 0.43 mL/kg/min; 95% CI 0.97, 0.10).
Meta-Analysis (n=2,406)
Is cardiorespiratory fitness associated with the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in women?
Lower cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, suggesting it may help identify at-risk women and reflect a hit to cardiorespiratory reserve.
Mean Difference: 0.43
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be mediated by diminished cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we summarize evidence linking CRF with HDP before, during, and after pregnancy. We searched relevant databases to identify observational or randomized studies that measured CRF (VO2 max or peak, VO2 at anaerobic threshold, or work rate at peak VO2) in women with and without HDP. We pooled results using random effects models. Fourteen studies (n = 2406 women) reporting on CRF before, during, and after pregnancy were included. Before pregnancy, women who developed HDP had lower CRF (e.g., VO2max < 37 vs. ≥37 mL O2/min) than those without HDP (two studies, 811 women). VO2max at 14−18 weeks of pregnancy was marginally lower among women who developed preeclampsia vs. normotensive women (three studies, 275 women; mean difference 0.43 mL/kg/min 95% CI 0.97, 0.10). Postpartum, there was a trend towards lower VO2peak in women with previous preeclampsia (three studies, 208 women; 0.26 mL/kg/min −0.54, 0.02). While exploratory, our findings raise the possibility that CRF can identify women at risk for HDP, and furthermore, that HDP confers a hit to a woman’s cardiorespiratory reserve.
Al-Huda et al. (Wed,) conducted a meta-analysis in Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (n=2,406). Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) vs. Normotensive women (without HDP) was evaluated on VO2max at 14-18 weeks of pregnancy (MD 0.43, 95% CI 0.97, 0.10). Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were associated with marginally lower VO2max at 14-18 weeks of pregnancy compared to normotensive women (MD 0.43 mL/kg/min; 95% CI 0.97, 0.10).