Metabolic syndrome before 16 weeks’ gestation: prevalence and haemodynamic profile in a socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnancy cohort: baseline findings from Mother’s Heart Study

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Metabolic syndrome was prevalent in 15.1% (n=40/264) of women at ≤16 weeks' gestation and was independently associated with higher central systolic BP, central MAP, and pulse rate (all p<0.05).

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cohort. Population: Early pregnancy (≤ 16 weeks' gestation) in a socioeconomically disadvantaged cohort (n=264). Intervention: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) at ≤ 16 weeks' gestation vs. Pregnant women without metabolic syndrome at ≤ 16 weeks' gestation. Primary outcome: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) at ≤ 16 weeks' gestation defined using Harmonizing the MetS criteria.

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Metabolic syndrome in early pregnancy is independently associated with altered cardiovascular haemodynamics, specifically higher central systolic blood pressure, central mean arterial pressure, and pulse rate. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

A Mohebi; Margaret A. Arstall; J Dalton; Guus A. Dekker; AR Alexander; MM Pathirana; M Wittwer; S Leemaqz; PH Andraweera

doi:10.1007/s12020-026-04818-x

October 17, 2026EndocrineOpen Access

Metabolic syndrome before 16 weeks’ gestation: prevalence and haemodynamic profile in a socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnancy cohort: baseline findings from Mother’s Heart Study

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Key result

Early pregnancy metabolic syndrome affects ~15% of women and is linked to higher central hemodynamics.

n=264

Why the study?

Pregnancy provides an opportunity to identify young women at risk of future cardiometabolic diseases, prompting this study to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components and to assess haemodynamic profiles in early pregnancy.

What is the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in early pregnancy (≤ 16 weeks' gestation) and is it associated with altered maternal cardiovascular haemodynamic, liver, and renal profiles in a socioeconomically disadvantaged cohort?

Key Points

To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its individual components and assess cardiovascular haemodynamic profiles in pregnant women before 16 weeks' gestation.
Cross-sectional baseline analysis of 264 pregnant women aged 19–44 years recruited before 16 weeks' gestation at Lyell McEwin Hospital.
Cardiovascular haemodynamic parameters were assessed using a USCOM BP+ device alongside fasting and non-fasting blood tests evaluating glucose, lipids, and renal and liver function.
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was diagnosed using the Harmonizing the MetS criteria, and multivariable linear regression was performed adjusting for body mass index (BMI).
Metabolic syndrome was identified in 15.1% (n = 40) of participants, with high waist circumference being the most frequent component (97.3%, n = 257), followed by elevated triglycerides (47.7%, n = 126) and low HDL cholesterol (15.2%, n = 40).
Women with MetS had higher median peripheral systolic blood pressure (111.5 vs. 107 mmHg, p = 0.048), central systolic blood pressure (103.5 vs. 98 mmHg, p = 0.012), central mean arterial pressure (86.5 vs. 81.5 mmHg, p = 0.006), and pulse rate (86 vs. 77 bpm, p = 0.002) than women without MetS.
Following multivariable adjustment for BMI, central systolic blood pressure (B = 6.04, 95% CI 0.76 to 11.32, p = 0.03), central mean arterial pressure (B = 5.92, 95% CI 0.37 to 11.47, p = 0.04), and pulse rate (B = 4.82, 95% CI 0.92 to 8.71, p = 0.02) remained independently associated with MetS.

Study Design

Type

Cohort (n=264)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

What is the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in early pregnancy (≤ 16 weeks' gestation) and is it associated with altered maternal cardiovascular haemodynamic, liver, and renal profiles in a socioeconomically disadvantaged cohort?

P

Population

264 socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnant women aged 19–44 years (median age 30 years) evaluated at ≤16 weeks' gestation at a single hospital in South Australia.

E

Exposure

Presence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) at ≤ 16 weeks' gestation, defined using modified Harmonizing the MetS criteria (≥3 of: elevated waist circumference, triglycerides ≥1.7 mmol/L, HDL-C <1.3 mmol/L, BP ≥130/85 mmHg, or fasting glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L / HbA1c ≥5.7%)

C

Comparator

Pregnant women without Metabolic Syndrome (Non-MetS) at ≤ 16 weeks' gestation (n=224)

O

Outcome

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its individual components at ≤ 16 weeks of gestationsurrogate

Limitations

Single-center study at a hospital in South Australia, limiting generalizability
Relatively small sample size of 264 women
Self-reported lifestyle factors (smoking, physical activity, diet) subject to reporting bias
Potential inaccuracy of waist circumference measurements in early pregnancy due to variations in uterine size and body shape
Most participants (74.6%) provided non-fasting blood samples rather than fasting samples
Assessments were limited to early pregnancy (≤16 weeks) without postpartum follow-up data yet available
Conducted at a single hospital in South Australia, which may limit generalisability
Relatively small sample size comprising 264 women
Lifestyle factors (smoking, physical activity, diet) were self-reported and subject to reporting bias
Challenges in measuring central obesity in early pregnancy as uterine size and body shape variations may affect waist circumference accuracy
Assessments were limited to early pregnancy (≤ 16 weeks) without completed postpartum follow-up

Implication

Metabolic syndrome affects 15.1% of socioeconomically disadvantaged women in early pregnancy (≤16 weeks' gestation) and is independently associated with elevated central blood pressure and pulse rate even after accounting for BMI, highlighting an early window for cardiometabolic risk screening.

Abstract

Background Pregnancy provides an opportunity to identify young women at risk of future cardiometabolic diseases. We aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components, and to assess haemodynamic profiles in early pregnancy. Method We recruited pregnant women at Lyell McEwin Hospital before 16 weeks’ gestation. Haemodynamic parameters were measured using USCOM BP+ device. Blood glucose, lipid profile, liver and renal function were assessed. We included data from 264 women aged 19–44 years in the analyses. MetS was defined using the Harmonizing the MetS criteria. Results The prevalence of MetS was 15.1% ( n = 40). Individual MetS components included high waist circumference (97.3%, n = 257), high systolic blood pressure (4.5%, n = 12), high diastolic blood pressure (1.1%, n = 3), high triglycerides (47.7%, n = 126), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (15.2%, n = 40), and elevated fasting blood glucose (1.4%, n = 1). Compared with women without MetS, women with MetS had higher peripheral systolic blood pressure, central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), central diastolic blood pressure, central mean arterial pressure (cMAP), pulse rate (PR), and suprasystolic pulse rate, and lower suprasystolic pulse rate variability, pressure gradient, reflected wave transit time to the reflected wave peak, and pulse pressure. After adjustment for BMI and correction for multiple testing, cSBP, cMAP and PR remained independently associated with MetS (all p < 0.05). Conclusions MetS in early pregnancy is associated with changes in cardiovascular haemodynamics, with adiposity contributing to these changes. Early screening for MetS during pregnancy may provide an opportunity to identify women at increased risk of future cardiometabolic disease.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Mohebi et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Early pregnancy (≤ 16 weeks' gestation) in a socioeconomically disadvantaged cohort (n=264). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) at ≤ 16 weeks' gestation vs. Pregnant women without metabolic syndrome at ≤ 16 weeks' gestation was evaluated on Prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) at ≤ 16 weeks' gestation defined using Harmonizing the MetS criteria. Metabolic syndrome was prevalent in 15.1% (n=40/264) of women at ≤16 weeks' gestation and was independently associated with higher central systolic BP, central MAP, and pulse rate (all p<0.05).

synapsesocial.com/papers/6ad5b2ad11891a29b4487d50 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12020-026-04818-x

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Metabolic syndrome before 16 weeks’ gestation: prevalence and haemodynamic profile in a socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnancy cohort: baseline findings from Mother’s Heart Study

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Metabolic syndrome before 16 weeks’ gestation: prevalence and haemodynamic profile in a socioeconomically disadvantaged pregnancy cohort: baseline findings from Mother’s Heart Study

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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