Cholesterol Later in Life, Premature Deliveries Linked

Giving birth early seems to increase a woman's risk of having high cholesterol later, say researchers at a recent Society for Gynecologic Investigation meeting.

And that raises the chances of heart disease even further down the line for these women, the researchers add.

"Total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were elevated in women who'd had a preterm birth, before 34 weeks," says study author Janet Catov, Ph.D., at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Dr. Catov says it is hard to know yet whether there is something in the pregnancy or preterm delivery that triggers the high cholesterol, or if it is the high cholesterol that may have something to do with the preterm delivery.

She notes that "very early in pregnancy, women with preterm birth have elevated lipids, which may be exacerbated in pregnancy."

High or Low Cholesterol a Concern
Another recent study found that women with very low levels of cholesterol were also at risk of preterm birth, but Dr. Catov says this study showed that women on the very high end of cholesterol levels also went on to give birth prematurely.

"Perhaps there's a normal range, and if you're higher or lower, it could be a problem," she said.

In the current study, Dr. Catov and her colleagues compared 47 women who had had a preterm birth, defined as giving birth before 37 weeks of gestation, to 104 women who gave birth to full-term infants. Most of the women in the preterm group gave birth before 34 weeks of gestation.

Women who had other chronic medical conditions, such as preeclampsia or a baby with signs of growth restriction, were excluded from the study.

Blood samples were taken an average of 7.4 years after delivery.

Women who had given birth before 34 weeks of gestation had the highest levels of total cholesterol at 202.6 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). Women who gave birth between 34 and 37 weeks had levels of 190.1 mg/dl, and women who carried their babies to term had levels of 180.1 mg/dl.

After adjusting for race, smoking history, and body mass index, the researchers found that women who gave birth prematurely had a 2.3 times greater risk of developing cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dl, a level considered high risk by the American Heart Association.

Additionally, women who had had a preterm birth were 3.3 times more likely to have elevated LDL — the "bad" cholesterol — than women who gave birth to full-term babies.

Pregnancy and Health Later On Linked
Dr. Nieca Goldberg, at New York University, says, "What this study tells us is that a woman's previous medical history, particularly conditions that happen during pregnancy, may be a clue to her later heart disease risk."

"I would advise a woman who's had a preterm birth and who now has high cholesterol to have her cardiac risk factors evaluated at regular intervals, at least with a yearly physical," says Dr. Goldberg.

While Dr. Catov says these findings need to be duplicated in a larger study before any specific guidelines or recommendations can be made, she says it is a good idea to "keep your doctor apprised of your medical conditions and preterm births or other adverse pregnancy outcomes, and keep up to date with recommended screenings."

Always consult your physician for more information.

Online Resources

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American Heart Association - Cholesterol

National Cholesterol Education Program

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

National Women's Health Information Center

NIH - Heart Disease in Women

NIH - Office of Research on Women's Health

Women's Heart Foundation