Journal article
Long term effects of parity on maternal autonomic function
Autonomic neuroscience, Vol.260, 103285
08/01/2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2025.103285
PMID: 40334523
Abstract
The mechanisms by which parity and gravidity, number of pregnancies reaching twenty weeks gestational age and total number of pregnancies, respectively, contribute to cardiovascular disease risk remains unknown. Autonomic function was assessed in 65 parous women 1–5 years after normotensive pregnancy, quantified by spontaneous cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and beat-to-beat blood pressure variability (BPV). Gravidity was negatively associated with BRS independent of age and body mass index (β = −2.01, P = 0.003). A similar trend was observed with greater parity (β = −1.74, P = 0.06). Gravidity and parity were not associated with BPV. These findings suggest a persistent and cumulative adverse effect of pregnancy on cardiac autonomic function in women.
•Pregnancy-specific autonomic adaptations are more pronounced with greater parity, but the long-term impact of parity on maternal autonomic function is unknown.•We assessed baroreflex sensitivity, blood pressure variability, and carotid β-stiffness in parous women 1-5 years after parturition.•Greater gravidity and parity were related to lower baroreflex sensitivity independent of age.•The association between gravidity or parity with baroreflex sensitivity was not explained by carotid β-stiffness.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Long term effects of parity on maternal autonomic function
- Creators
- Virginia R. Nuckols - University of IowaKristen G. Davis - University of IowaMark K. Santillan - University of IowaDonna A. Santillan - University of IowaGary L. Pierce - Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Autonomic neuroscience, Vol.260, 103285
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.autneu.2025.103285
- PMID
- 40334523
- ISSN
- 1566-0702
- eISSN
- 1872-7484
- Grant note
- American Heart Association: 22TPA969732, 18SCG34350001 Russell B. Day and Florence D. Day Endowed Chair in Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa Graduate College Summer and Diversity Fel-lowships
This study was primarily supported by American Heart Association grants 22TPA969732 (to GLP) and 18SCG34350001 (to MKS) . GLP is supported by the Russell B. Day and Florence D. Day Endowed Chair in Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa. VRN is supported by the University of Iowa Graduate College Summer and Diversity Fel-lowships. The funders played no role in study design, collection/anal-ysis/interpretation of data, manuscript preparation and editing, or in the decision to submit this manuscript.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/01/2025
- Academic Unit
- Obstetrics and Gynecology; Health and Human Physiology; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984821351902771
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