Coronary artery disease, which encompasses conditions like angina and heart attacks, remains one of the leading causes of death among women. A new study published in Circulation sheds light on the genetic connection between adverse birth outcomes and the future risk of heart disease. Conducted by Tormod Rogne from Yale University and the University of Oslo, along with Dipender Gill from Imperial College London, the research offers important insights into this complex relationship.
While previous studies have established a connection between pregnancy complications and heart disease, the precise nature of this link has remained unclear. Specifically, it was uncertain whether pregnancy complications directly contribute to cardiovascular diseases or simply highlight an underlying genetic predisposition.
“The connection between pregnancy complications and heart disease is already established. What we do not know for certain is whether pregnancy complications are a direct cause of cardiovascular diseases or if they solely reveal an underlying vulnerability,” said Rogne.
To better understand this, the research team included men as a control group. Their hypothesis was that if a shared genetic vulnerability linked pregnancy complications to heart disease, this connection would also manifest in men, despite the fact that they cannot experience pregnancy complications.
The results were revealing. “We found the same links between genetic vulnerability for pregnancy complications and the risk of coronary artery disease in both women and men. This finding suggests that pregnancy complications do not trigger a risk for future heart disease but provide an important warning sign of a potential genetic vulnerability to cardiovascular diseases,” Rogne explained.
Rogne emphasized that the relationship between pregnancy complications and heart disease has remained a mystery for years. He hopes this study will prompt further research to clarify whether pregnancy complications directly cause heart disease or merely signal a genetic predisposition.
“Epidemiologists are notoriously cautious about drawing definitive conclusions. Our findings suggest that there is no causal relationship between birth complications and heart disease. However, we will need more studies with different designs to fully unlock this mystery,” said Rogne.
While the study highlights that pregnancy complications may not directly cause heart disease, it reinforces their predictive value. If future research confirms that complications themselves do not trigger a vulnerability to heart disease, it could provide reassurance for women. “The pregnancy complication has not caused harm but instead revealed a vulnerability to heart disease that we can now attempt to prevent,” Rogne concluded.
Related topic:
Better Heart Health May Lower Neurodegenerative Risk
Higher Caloric Intake Linked to Lower Asthma Risk in Children, Study Finds
Poor Sleep Linked to Brain Health Decline, New Study Finds
