Cardiovascular risk factors profiles of pregnant women in a middle income country

Background Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) impact maternal health outcomes yet, data on their prevalence among pregnant women in Latin America are scarce. We aimed to determine their occurrence and that of pregnancy-specific CVRF (SCVRF) in a middle income country and evaluate their association with age and socioeconomical variables. Methods A cross-sectional survey was administered by trained staff July - September 2024 to 1,961 pregnant outpatients cared for in 10 of the 15 tertiary care obstetric hospitals in the country. CVRF assessed: hypertension (HTN), DM, obesity, dyslipidemia, sedentarism, smoking, and self-reported stress; SCVRF: preeclampsia/eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and recurrent abortions. Participants were stratified by age, educational level completed and reported income. Statistical analyses included chi-square and logistic regression. Results Median age was 26 (13-48) yrs., 25% adolescents (defined as 13-21 yrs.). Smoking (7.2%) [13-21 yrs, OR 1.91 p<0.009], HTN (7%) [31- 48 yrs, OR 5.21 p < 0.001], preeclampsia/eclampsia (6%) [31-48 yrs, OR 4.81 p<0.001], and DM (2%) [31- 48 yrs, OR 3.25 p 0.02] were also associated with lower education/income. Overall rates of sedentarism were 69.5%, obesity/overweigh 62%, and stress 38%, all higher than reported nationally (see table). Conclusion These data underscore unacceptable rates of modifiable CVRF and SCVRF among pregnant women in a Caribbean nation with significant associations present in lower socioeconomic status/education groups. Clinical implications: if confirmed in larger studies, efforts towards improving public health interventions may ultimately impact maternal health outcomes in Latin America.