Women with poor cardiovascular health may be at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in midlife, according to a study.CAC refers to the buildup of calcium deposits in the walls of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart. It is a significant indicator of heart disease risk.
The findings, published in JAMA Cardiology, suggest that gestational diabetes is a marker of pre-pregnancy cardiovascular health. It also underscores the importance of healthcare providers in helping patients improve their cardiovascular health both prior and after pregnancy.
We need to optimise cardiovascular health early in the life course,” said lead author Natalie Cameron, instructor in the Department of Medicine’s Division of General Internal Medicine at Northwestern University, US.
In the study, the investigators analysed patient data originally collected from 1985 to 2010. Of the more than 1,000 participants included in the cohort, the average age was 28.6 years.