University of Virginia Health System

Premature Deliveries Linked to High Cholesterol 

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

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

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 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 says.

In the current study, Catov and her colleagues compared 47 women who had had a preterm birth - defined as giving birth before 37 weeks of gestation - with 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 Future Health Linked

"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," says Dr. Nieca Goldberg of New York University. "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."

While 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."

To learn more about pregnancy and childbirth, preventing heart disease or other women's health topics, visit www.uvahealth.com.

Women can learn more about their unique risks for heart disease - and how to better manage those risks - through Live Red, UVA's new heart-health initiative. You'll learn how heart-attack symptoms can be different for women than for men, and you can take an online risk assessment to learn your personal heart disease risk factors.

There, you can sign up for Club Red, our free heart-healthy club for women. Benefits include tips from UVA healthcare providers and a gift package to help you live red in style.

Always consult your physician for more information.