Nutrients · 5 authors, 4 centres
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This prospective cohort study investigated associations between prenatal factors and a clustered cardiometabolic risk (CCR) score in pregnant women from a Spanish Mediterranean population. The main finding was that being overweight/obese in early pregnancy was the strongest independent predictor of higher CCR in both the first and third trimesters, while higher education, social class, and physical activity were associated with lower risk.
Adequate adaptation to metabolic changes in pregnancy is crucial to avoid cardiometabolic complications. This study aimed to identify prenatal sociodemographic and lifestyle factors associated with a clustered cardiometabolic risk (CCR) score and its individual components in a Mediterranean population. Methods: The study analyzed data from 265 pregnant women in the ECLIPSES prospective cohort. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical data were collected at 12 weeks (first trimester) and 36 weeks (third trimester). A CCR score was created by summing standardized z-scores of seven markers (BMI, SBP, glucose, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, LDL-c, HDL-c). Multivariable linear regression models evaluated associations between prenatal factors and CCR/individual markers at each trimester. Higher education was linked to lower BMI and SBP in the first trimester, while higher social class was associated with lower fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR in the third trimester. Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) was associated with higher BMI and SBP, while insufficient GWG was linked to lower BMI, SBP, and DBP. Smoking was associated with higher triglycerides and LDL-c, and alcohol consumption with higher SBP and DBP in the third trimester. The first-trimester CCR score was a significant predictor of the third-trimester CCR score (β=0.31, p<0.001). Limitations: The study used a composite CCR score specific to the sample, assuming equal weighting of components, and calculated GWG from weight at 36 weeks, which may cause misclassification. Implications: Early pregnancy BMI appears to be a stronger predictor of cardiometabolic risk than GWG alone. The findings support promoting healthy weight before pregnancy and discouraging smoking and alcohol consumption to mitigate maternal cardiometabolic risk.
