Research

Metabolic syndrome at 6 weeks after delivery in a cohort of pre-eclamptic and normotensive women

P Ntlemo, T Cronje, P Soma-Pillay

Abstract


Background. The association between pre-eclampsia and the subsequent development of metabolic syndrome has not been well documented in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives. To compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome at 6 weeks after delivery among women with pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia with that in a normotensive, low-risk control group in an urban South African (SA) setting.

Methods. This was a prospective cohort study at two tertiary-level hospitals and one district-level hospital in Pretoria, SA. Women were recruited after delivery and were followed up 6 weeks later to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

Results. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 48/150 women with pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia (32.0%), compared with 33/150 (22.0%) of the control group (p=0.05).

Conclusions. Women who developed pre-eclampsia during pregnancy had an increased chance of metabolic syndrome being diagnosed 6 weeks after delivery. Guidelines should be developed to identify women with cardiometabolic risk, so that interventions may be implemented to modify this risk before and after pregnancy.

 


Authors' affiliations

P Ntlemo, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa

T Cronje, Department of Statistics, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

P Soma-Pillay, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council Maternal and Infant Health Care Strategies Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

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Keywords

Pre-eclampsia; Hypertension; Metabolic syndrome

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2021;111(4):350-354. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i4.15349

Article History

Date submitted: 2021-03-31
Date published: 2021-03-31

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