Higher number of live births is associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and adverse cardiac remodelling among US Hispanic/Latina women: results from the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos

Abstract

Introduction

Female sex is a risk factor for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Previous literature suggests that some diastolic dysfunction (DD) develops during pregnancy and may persist postdelivery. Our objective was to examine the relationship between parity and cardiac structure and function in a population-based cohort.

Methods

Participants included 1172 Hispanic/Latina women, aged ≥45 years, enrolled in the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos from four US communities (Bronx, Miami, San Diego and Chicago). Standard echocardiographic techniques were used to measure cardiac volumes, left ventricular mass, systolic and diastolic function. Using sampling weights and survey statistics, multivariable linear and logistic regression models were constructed adjusting for age, body mass index, diabetes or prediabetes, systolic blood pressure, use of antihypertensive medications, smoking, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Results

In the target population, 5.0% were nulliparous (no live births) and 10.5% were grand multiparous (≥5 live births). Among the nulliparous women, 46% had DD as compared with 51%–58% of women with 1–4 live births and 81% of women with ≥5 live births (p<0.01). In full multivariate models, higher parity was significantly associated with greater left ventricular end-systolic volumes, end-diastolic volumes, left atrial volume indices and presence of DD (all p<0.01) but was not associated with ejection fraction. The log odds for having any grade of DD in grand-multiparous women was over three times that seen in nulliparous women (OR=3.4, 95% CI 1.5 to 7.9, p<0.01) in models further adjusted for income and education.

Conclusions

Higher parity is associated with increased cardiac mass, volumes and the presence of DD. Further studies are needed to elucidate this apparent deleterious relation and whether parity can help explain the increased risk of HFpEF in women.

Key messages.

What is already known about this subject?

• Literature indicates that having six or more pregnancies is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and possibly heart failure. Mortality is also higher in women with very high parity. However the underlying pathophysiology for these associations is unclear. The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis showed an independent positive association between parity and left ventricular mass (LVM), LV end-systolic volume and an independent inverse association between parity and LV ejection fraction. However there is no prior literature on the association of diastolic dysfunction (DD) with parity.

What does this study add?

• This study shows a strong association between high parity (five or more live births) and DD which was previously unknown. It also provides more evidence for increasing LVM, and end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes previously noted.

How might this impact on clinical practice?

• This study indicates there may be a new, novel risk factor for DD and this may translate to a risk factor for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. If further studies confirm this finding, these women with very high parity may need additional monitoring or treatment. Further, preventive strategies will need to be explored.

Introduction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a growing public health problem with recent data revealing that the prevalence of HFpEF is increasing while its mortality rate remains unchanged.¹ Across multiple epidemiological studies women are at a significantly higher risk for HFpEF than men without any clear explanation for this disparity.^2–4 The process of childbearing and childbirth, during which the cardiovascular system undergoes immense adaptations, may be a potential explanation for these differences. During pregnancy the maternal cardiovascular system undergoes extensive cardiovascular adaptations including an increase in cardiac mass by 30%–50% as well as increased cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate.^5–9 Though complete reversal is thought to occur following delivery, several studies have suggested persistence of some structural changes.

Literature from as early as the mid-1980s to 1990s indicates that having six or more pregnancies is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and possibly heart failure (HF)^10–13 and that this association persists after adjustment for pregnancy complications.¹⁴ There have been few studies to explain the underlying pathophysiology for this possible association between multiple pregnancies and CVD or HF although a recent study did show an association between parity and some components of the metabolic syndrome.¹⁵ A small study suggested that diastolic dysfunction (DD) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) persisted for 2 months in the peripartum period while systolic function normalised within a week.¹⁶ A study in primiparous (one live birth) and multiparous (>one live birth) women, both during pregnancy and up to 1 year post-delivery, showed that the cardiovascular adaptations to the initial pregnancy begin early, persist postpartum even 1 year after delivery and are enhanced by subsequent pregnancies.¹⁷ The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis showed an independent positive association between parity and LV mass (LVM), LV end-systolic volume (ESV) and an independent inverse association between parity and LV ejection fraction (LVEF).¹⁸ However there is no prior literature on the association of DD with parity. Our objective was to examine the relationship between parity and various echocardiographic parameters including LV volumes, LVM, LVEF, left atrial volume indices (LAVI) and DD in a population-based cohort. We hypothesised that higher parity would be associated with abnormalities of cardiac structure and function, in particular, the presence of DD.

Methods

The Hispanic Community Health Study /Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) is a community-based cohort study of self-identified Hispanic/Latino individuals from randomly selected households in four US sites (Chicago, Illinois; Miami, Florida; Bronx, New York; San Diego, California). The baseline examination was conducted from 2008 to 2011. The HCHS/SOL sample design and cohort selection has been previously described.¹⁹ The Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (ECHO-SOL), an ancillary study to the HCHS/SOL main study, was designed to provide echocardiographic parameters characterising cardiac structure and function in a representative baseline subsample of HCHS/SOL participants 45 years and older. A detailed description of the design, rationale and methods has been described elsewhere.²⁰ Briefly, 1818 participants were enrolled in ECHO-SOL from October 2011 through June 2014 using a stratified random sampling design to ensure a balanced number of participants representative of the overall HCHS-SOL population 45 years of age or older were enrolled at each centre.²¹ Echocardiographic studies were sent electronically through a fully encrypted, regulatory compliant secure server to the ECHO-SOL reading centre at Wake Forest School of Medicine.

For this analysis only Hispanic/Latina women (1172 in total) who were enrolled in ECHO-SOL are included.

Echocardiographic outcome measurements

To maintain consistency across sites, one ultrasound imaging platform was used: Philips Ultrasound IE-33 or Sonos 5500/7500 with software V.D.2 or higher interfaced with a standard 2.5 MHz to 3.5 MHz phased-array probe. Experienced sonographers at each field imaging centre performed standard echocardiographic examinations, including M-mode, two-dimensional, spectral, colour flow and tissue Doppler studies according to the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).^{22 23}

LV chamber size and wall thickness were assessed by multiple linear dimensions that were measured from the parasternal long-axis view for determining LVM and have been well validated in autopsy studies.^{24 25} Using volumetric assessments from the apical four-chamber and two-chamber views, LV end-diastolic volume (EDV) and ESV were derived using the biplane method of discs.²⁶ LVEF was calculated from EDV and ESV estimates, using the following formula: LVEF = (EDV − ESV)⁄EDV.

For echocardiographic assessment of DD, Doppler recording of transmitral inflow velocities (mitral E and A waves) was performed in the apical four-chamber view with the pulse-wave Doppler sample volume placed in the mitral valve orifice at the level of the leaflet tips during mid-diastole. Mitral inflow velocity measurements were made from the cycles which exhibited the narrowest spectral dispersion and the highest peak velocity in early diastole.²² Tissue Doppler imaging was used to evaluate early mitral diastolic (e′) annular velocities from the apical four-chamber view, and the relationship of the amplitude of E/e′ ratio was examined per recommendation of the most recent ASE and European Association of Echocardiography guidelines, averaging septal and lateral values.²⁷ LA volumes were determined from apical two-chamber and four-chamber views and indexed to body surface area. DD was graded following an algorithm that combined ASE guidelines²⁸ and Redfield criteria²⁹ using three echocardiographic parameters: E/A ratio, E/e′ ratio and LAVI as previously described and shown in figure 1.³⁰

Figure 1.

Method of assessment of grade of diastolic dysfunction in ECHO-SOL.³⁰ ECHO-SOL, Echocardiographic Study of Latinos; LAVI, left atrial volume index.

We also assessed DD using the new ASE/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) guidelines published in April 2016³¹ for the purpose of performing a sensitivity analysis to assess whether this would significantly alter our results. In this algorithm E/A ratio of <0.8 was taken as grade I, 0.8–2 as normal or grade II and >2 as grade III. In addition for the presence of grade III DD 2 additional criteria were needed: LAVI ≥34 mL/m² and E/e′ ≥14. To differentiate between normal and grade II DD, six criteria were evaluated: E/e′ of ≥14, LAVI ≥34 mL/m², tricuspid regurgitation velocity ≥2.8 m/sec, pulmonary vein S/D ratio ≤1, Ar-A duration of ≥30 msec and isovolumic relaxation time ≤100 msec. Presence of a single criterion was considered normal diastolic function and up to two criteria was considered grade II DD. An indeterminate category was added for those where four of six criteria were unavailable.

All ECHO-SOL echocardiograms were analysed and interpreted centrally at Wake Forest School of Medicine (Winston-Salem, North Carolina), were read by a certified technical reader and over-read by a board-certified cardiologist with expertise in echocardiography (CJR). Over-reads of echocardiograms were performed to confirm the accuracy of key quantitative measurements and to identify clinically important findings.^{32 33} Inter-reader and intrareader reproducibility was assessed and previously reported.²⁰

Independent measures

Parity was defined as the number of prior live births as reported by women on the interviewer-administered questionnaire. For this analysis, parity was defined two ways: (1) Six-level variable with parity categorised as none (nulliparity), 1, 2, 3, 4 and ≥5 (grand-multiparity) prior live births; (2) Three-level variable with categories 0, 1–4 and ≥5 live births. The first definition was used in linear regression and the latter in ordinal logistic regression modelling.

HCHS/SOL baseline clinical parameters have been previously described.^34–36 Briefly, trained personnel administered a standardised questionnaire assessing participant sociodemographic characteristics, such as age and sex. Socioeconomic status was assessed using information collected on educational attainment and income. Education was categorised as < high school, high school or equivalent, and > high school and income was classified as <$20 000, $20 000-$40 000 and >$40 000. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess whether participants have ever smoked and/or were current smokers. Trained technicians measured each participant’s height and weight twice and then averaged these two measures to calculate body mass index (BMI =weight (kg)/height (m²)). Medical personnel measured resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure using a standardised protocol performed at the baseline visit. Seated resting blood pressures were measured in triplicate and the average of the second and third readings were used for analysis. A single blood pressure measurement at the time of the echocardiogram correlated well with these measures. Information on antihypertensive treatment used by participants was obtained via scanning of medication package bar code symbols, transcription of pill bottle labels and survey interviews. The variable used in the statistical analysis was dichotomous - whether the participant was on antihypertensive medications or not. Type 2 diabetes was defined using one or more of the following criteria: (1) fasting serum glucose >126 mg/dL, (2) oral glucose tolerance test >200 mg/dL, (3) self-reported diabetes, (4) Hb A1C >6.5% or (5) taking antidiabetic medication or insulin. Prediabetes was defined as HbA1C ≥5.7 but <6.5% in the absence of treatment. Total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were measured on blood samples obtained after an overnight fast.

Statistical analysis

Descriptive summary statistics were generated overall and by six-level parity for the analytical sample. Weighted means and standard errors were reported for continuous variables and weighted frequencies for categorical variables. All analyses accounted for cluster sampling, the use of stratification in sample selection and sample weights, which were incorporated to accommodate for unequal probabilities of sample selection and to partially adjust for bias due to differential non-response in sample selection at the household and person levels. Calibration to the 2010 Census characteristics by age, sex and Hispanic/Latino background in each study site target population was used to derive the adjusted weights.

Bivariate associations between baseline characteristics and parity were assessed using survey linear regression models and χ² tests. Multilevel, multivariable survey logistic regression models assessed the relationship between parity and the presence of abnormal LV geometry and any grade DD (grades I–III). Comparable multivariable sequential survey linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between parity and EDV, ESV, LAVI, LVM and LVEF. The models were adjusted for covariates as follows:

Model 1: Age

Model 2: Age, BMI, SBPs, diabetes or prediabetes and antihypertension medication use

Model 3: Smoking status, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in addition to variables in model 2

Model 4: Education and household income in addition to variables in model 3

Further sensitivity analyses were performed by the addition of ethnic subgroup to model 1 and the recruitment site to model 3 to see if this resulted in any alteration in the estimates. Sensitivity analyses were also performed with presence of absence of DD using the new 2016 guidelines to assess for any change in the relationship between parity and DD with the newer method of assessment of DD.

β Estimates and standard errors were reported for linear models, as well as ORs and 95% CIs for categorical measures. For linear outcomes, line graphs were used to visually represent the least square means of the fully adjusted model by increasing levels of parity. Parity levels by percentage of participants with DD were represented using a bar chart. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant and all analyses were performed using SAS V.9.4 software (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina, USA).

Results

Subjects

Among women in the target population, 5.0% were nulliparous (no live births) and 10.5% were grand multiparous (≥5 live births). Overall this population was high risk for CVD due to their high BMIs and high occurrences of diabetes, hypertension and abnormal cholesterol (table 1). A larger number of births was seen in individuals with higher BMI, lower educational attainment and less income (table 1). Current smoking rates varied by level of parity such that women with four prior live births had the highest proportion of smokers (22.7%), followed by women with one prior live birth (21.2%) and those with no prior births (17.3%). Women with up to five live births had a higher SBP and likelihood of diabetes.

Table 1.

Baseline characteristics (frequency or mean (SE)) of female participants in the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (n=1172)

	Overall	0 Births (5.0%)	1 Birth (13.5%)	2 Births (32.3%)	3 Births (25.3%)	4 Births (13.4%)	5+ Births (10.5%)	p Value*
Age	56.1 (0.5)	56.1 (1.2)	54.0 (0.7)	55.4 (0.8)	56.2 (1.4)	56.2 (1.0)	60.7 (1.1)	<0.01
BMI (kg/m2)	31.0 (0.3)	30.3 (0.9)	29.9 (0.5)	30.4 (0.4)	31.4 (1.0)	32.1 (0.5)	32.2 (0.7)	0.01
Education								<0.01
Less than HS	33.9	23.3	21.9	20.7	36.5	54.5	62.3
HS or equivalent	20.8	30.1	21.4	20.4	23.0	16.1	18.1
Greater than HS	45.3	46.6	56.7	58.9	40.5	29.4	19.6
Income								0.01
<$20,000	57.9	52.2	58.5	59.8	49.5	53.5	80.8
$20 000 to $40 000	30.9	29.1	32.4	26.8	37.4	37.5	17.3
>$40 000	11.2	18.3	9.1	13.5	13.1	9.0	1.9
Current smoker	13.9	17.3	21.2	12.7	8.5	22.7	9.0	<0.01
SBP	134.3 (0.9)	130.2 (2.5)	130.5 (1.9)	132.8 (1.2)	135.6 (2.5)	136.4 (2.5)	140.2 (2.0)	<0.01
Diabetes mellitus								0.01
No diabetes	32.0	32.5	38.5	38.4	25.1	32.9	19.6
Prediabetes	40.0	51.2	37.5	37.3	45.5	39.8	33.3
Diabetes	28.0	16.3	24.1	24.3	29.4	27.3	47.1
Anti-HTN meds	27.6	20.2	20.9	23.1	27.8	33.8	44.7	0.05
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)	214.2 (1.7)	223.0 (7.8)	216.3 (3.9)	214.0 (3.1)	216.1 (3.0)	215.3 (3.7)	202.1 (6.1)	0.30
HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)	53.5 (0.5)	54.7 (1.7)	52.8 (1.1)	53.3 (1.1)	54.1 (0.8)	54.1 (0.9)	51.9 (1.5)	0.76

*p Value from survey linear regression models for continuous measures and χ² tests for categorical measures.

BMI, body mass index; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; HS, high school; HTN, hypertension; SBP, systolic blood pressure.

Cardiac volumes

Women within all categories above two or more live births had significantly higher LV EDVs ranging from 6.3 mL to 8.3 mL higher in these categories after adjustment for covariates (table 2; figure 2) compared with nulliparous women. Similarly, women with two or more live births had significantly higher LV ESVs compared with nulliparous women with volumes ranging 1.9 mL to 3.1 mL higher across parity categories after adjustment for covariates (table 2; figure 2). LAVI was also higher by ~3 mL/m² in women with four or more live births compared with nulliparous women.

Table 2.

Multilevel multivariable linear regression models of association between parity and cardiac volumes and mass

		Parity
		≥5 vs 0		4 vs 0		3 vs 0		2 vs 0		1 vs 0
		β Estimate (SE)*	p Value	β Estimate (SE)*	p Value	β Estimate (SE)*	p Value	β Estimate (SE)*	p Value	β Estimate (SE)*	p Value
EDV (mL)	Model 1	8.83 (3.2)	0.01	8.42 (3.1)	0.01	8.45 (3.4)	0.01	7.57 (2.7)	0.01	2.08 (2.8)	0.45
	Model 2	7.00 (2.6)	0.01	6.31 (2.5)	0.01	7.17 (2.4)	0.00	7.11 (2.2)	0.00	2.47 (2.4)	0.30
	Model 3	7.11 (2.6)	0.01	6.02 (2.4)	0.01	7.34 (2.3)	0.00	7.24 (2.2)	0.00	2.37 (2.3)	0.30
	Model 4	8.27 (2.9)	0.00	6.29 (2.5)	0.01	7.28 (2.3)	0.00	8.17 (2.7)	0.00	2.06 (2.5)	0.41
ESV (mL)	Model 1	4.30 (1.4)	0.00	3.46 (1.2)	0.01	3.27 (1.3)	0.01	3.28 (1.3)	0.01	1.86 (1.2)	0.11
	Model 2	3.12 (1.3)	0.02	2.27 (1.1)	0.03	2.41 (1.0)	0.02	2.78 (1.2)	0.02	1.75 (1.1)	0.11
	Model 3	3.12 (1.3)	0.02	2.09 (1.0)	0.04	2.52 (1.0)	0.01	2.84 (1.2)	0.01	1.66 (1.1)	0.12
	Model 4	3.12 (1.4)	0.03	1.94 (1.1)	0.07	2.34 (1.0)	0.02	2.96 (1.3)	0.03	1.36 (1.2)	0.25
LAVI (mL/m2)	Model 1	3.19 (1.3)	0.02	3.50 (1.3)	0.01	2.00 (1.2)	0.09	1.58 (1.2)	0.17	1.28 (1.3)	0.32
	Model 2	2.68 (1.3)	0.05	3.26 (1.3)	0.01	1.75 (1.2)	0.15	1.45 (1.2)	0.22	1.31 (1.3)	0.31
	Model 3	2.70 (1.3)	0.04	3.21 (1.3)	0.02	1.81 (1.2)	0.13	1.51 (1.2)	0.20	1.32 (1.3)	0.31
	Model 4	2.69 (1.4)	0.06	3.10 (1.4)	0.03	1.81 (1.2)	0.14	1.78 (1.2)	0.15	1.09 (1.3)	0.41
LVM (gm)	Model 1	24.85 (7.9)	0.00	26.68 (6.0)	0.00	7.53 (4.8)	0.11	11.30 (4.5)	0.01	9.54 (5.3)	0.07
	Model 2	17.04 (6.5)	0.01	19.60 (4.9)	0.00	2.63 (5.5)	0.63	9.74 (3.8)	0.01	9.54 (4.4)	0.03
	Model 3	16.64 (6.6)	0.01	19.38 (5.1)	0.00	2.75 (5.6)	0.62	9.46 (3.8)	0.01	9.26 (4.5)	0.04
	Model 4	15.20 (6.7)	0.02	20.01 (5.4)	0.00	2.50 (5.5)	0.65	9.64 (4.0)	0.02	9.16 (4.6)	0.05
LVEF (%)	Model 1	−2.04 (1.1)	0.07	−0.92 (1.0)	0.37	−0.58 (1.0)	0.55	−1.03 (1.0)	0.30	−1.67 (1.0)	0.09
	Model 2	−1.37 (1.1)	0.22	−0.40 (1.0)	0.68	−0.12 (0.9)	0.90	−0.56 (1.0)	0.55	−1.29 (1.0)	0.18
	Model 3	−1.32 (1.1)	0.24	−0.35 (1.0)	0.73	−0.16 (0.9)	0.87	−0.57 (1.0)	0.55	−1.23 (1.0)	0.21
	Model 4	−0.76 (1.1)	0.52	−0.16 (1.0)	0.88	−0.19 (0.9)	0.85	−0.41 (1.0)	0.69	−1.20 (1.0)	0.25

*β Estimate is the estimated change in outcome variable per unit change in predictor if all other variables remain constant.

EDV, end-diastolic volume; ESV, end-systolic volume; LAVI, left atrial volume index; LVEF, left ventricular ejection fraction; LVM, left ventricular mass.

Model 1: Age

Model 2: Age, BMI, SBP, diabetes or pre-diabetes and anti-hypertension medication use

Model 3: Smoking status, total and HDL cholesterol in addition to variables in model 2

Model 4: Education and household income in addition to variables in model 3

Figure 2.

Least square means for changes in echocardiographic variables with parity. Least square means for various echocardiographic parameters and their association with increasing levels of parity in fully adjusted models for age, body mass index, diabetes or prediabetes, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive medications, smoking, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, education and income. EDV, end-diastolic volume; ESV, end-systolic volume; LAVI, left atrial volume index; LVM, left ventricular mass.

Left ventricular mass and systolic function

LVM was significantly higher in women with one, two, four or up to five live births compared with nulliparous women, with mass as much as 20 grams higher in women with four live births after adjustment for covariates (table 2; figure 2). Women with three live births did not have significantly higher mass compared with nulliparous women. Though a decline in LVEF was estimated with higher parity, there was no statistically significant association between parity and LVEF.

Diastolic dysfunction

The overall prevalence of any grade DD in the target population was 52%. Among the nulliparous women, 46% had any grade DD as compared with 51%–58% of women with one to four live births and 81% of women with up to five live births (p=0.006) (figure 3). In a multivariable logistic regression model, the log odds for having any grade of DD in grand-multiparous women was over three times that of nulliparous women (adjusted OR=3.2, 95% CI 1.5 to 6.7, p<0.01), adjusting for age, BMI, diabetes or prediabetes, SBP, use of antihypertensive medications, smoking, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol (figure 4). This association remained unchanged after further adjustment for education and income as proxies for socioeconomic status.

Figure 3.

Prevalence of any-grade diastolic dysfunction by levels of parity.

Figure 4.

ORs for logistic regression models of association between parity and any-grade diastolic dysfunction Model 1: Adjusted for age; Model 2: Adjusted for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diabetes or prediabetes and antihypertension medication use; Model 3: Adjusted for smoking status, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in addition to variables in model 2; Model 4: Adjusted for education and household income in addition to variables in model 3.

No significant change noted in the β estimates or p values with further adjustment for Hispanic background subgroup or site in separate models for our sensitivity analyses.

Using the newer guideline based assessment of DD in our sensitivity analysis the prevalence of DD was lower with overall prevalence of 43.5%. Among the nulliparous women, 36% had any grade DD as compared with 42% of women with one to four live births and 61% of women with up to five live births (p=0.01). The overall association remained unchanged.

Discussion

Summary of findings compared with prior literature

Among 1172 Hispanic women aged 45 years and older, high parity was associated with increased EDV, ESV, LVM, LAVI and DD. Our findings are in agreement with analyses from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis¹⁸ which noted increased EDV, ESV and LVM with increasing parity. In contrast, we did not find a statistically significant association between parity and LVEF. We also noted a significantly higher prevalence of any grade DD in grand-multiparous women compared with nulliparous women with an OR as high as 3.4 after adjustment for covariates. To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the association between DD and parity. Additionally, this finding is consistent with prior studies that have shown a higher incidence of CVD in women with a large number of pregnancies.^10–14 In our study we have exclusively studied purely the echocardiographic presence of DD. a subclinical parameter, not the presence of clinical HFpEF. Whether our finding of increased echocardiographic DD translates to HFpEF, remains to be studied.

Our study showed a higher prevalence of DD compared with prior European studies such as the Flemish Study on Environment, Genes and Health Outcomes (FLEMENGHO) and European Project on Genes in Hypertension (EPOGH).^{37 38} However, comparison of our current study to these prior studies is difficult since those populations were not exclusively in women, did not include any Hispanic/Latina participants and the demographics and risk factor profile in these studies differed significantly from ours with their participants being younger, having lower blood pressure and overall less risk factors such as diabetes and obesity. The community based study which assessed the prevalence of DD in Olmstead County and recruited a similar age group of participants (over 45 years) also had a lower prevalence of DD but again the average BMI was lower and the prevalence of diabetes was also significantly lower.²⁹ The methods of evaluation and grading of DD are also diverse across prior studies, so methodology may account for some of this difference in prevalence of DD. We have recently published data characterising the burden of systolic dysfunction and DD from the entire ECHO-SOL cohort in greater detail and with further comparison to prior studies.³⁰ In our sensitivity analysis we also assessed DD using the newer 2016 guidelines and the overall prevalence of DD was lower. However, these criteria were not used in the main analysis as these guidelines themselves are a work in progress, based on expert consensus, which have not been validated and we wished to place our work in context with prior studies.

Underlying mechanisms

The underlying mechanisms for the cardiovascular physiological adaptations during pregnancy that persist after pregnancy are not well understood. Both oestrogen and progesterone, in various concentrations, have been known to induce hypertrophy and may be partially responsible for the physiological hypertrophy of pregnancy.^{39 40} Relaxin plays a vital role in vasodilation and angiogenesis as well as protecting the LV from fibrosis and inflammation through downstream effects of nitrous oxide, vascular endothelial growth factor, endothelins, matrix metalloproteinases, tumour necrosis factor α and transforming growth factor β.⁴¹ A delicate balance between matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases regulate extracellular matrix changes which both facilitate relaxation of tissues for the process of childbirth and protect the extracellular matrix of the heart from fibrosis during these adaptations.^{42 43} However, little is known about the long-term effects of these adaptations when they occur repeatedly. Prior studies have observed poor cardiac performance, increased cardiac volumes and hypertrophy in female breeder rats compared with virgin female rats.⁴⁴ We propose that these adaptations across successive pregnancies may not revert to prepregnancy states, thus having long-lasting effects such as extra-cellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, alteration of collagen, apoptosis, replacement fibrosis and hypertrophy leading to possible LV stiffening, loss of contractile function and DD. Although our analysis showed an independent effect of greater parity with abnormal cardiac structure and DD, these relations could be greatly compounded by multiple risk factors for CVD and possible mediators such as adiposity redistribution and hypertension during pregnancy. Increased adipose significantly impairs diastolic function,⁴⁵ and since pregnancy usually adds about 5–10 pounds of body fat long term, there may a strong role for adiposity to explain our findings.

Implications of our findings

Our study demonstrates the possibility of higher parity as a novel risk factor for abnormal cardiac structure and function. Several studies have shown the predictive value of echocardiographic DD in the development of clinical HFpEF and its association with increased morbidity and mortality in this population.^{46 47} Given the epidemic of HFpEF in our ageing population, particularly in women, identifying those at high risk would be of prime importance for early identification, treatment and prevention. It may be important for the cardiologist or general practitioner to inquire into the obstetric history of women in more detail, with concerns of high parity as a risk factor for adverse LV remodelling, DD and possibly future HFpEF. Furthermore, populations with women with very high parity, such as Hispanic/Latina women,^{48 49} may need closer follow-up and screening.

It is interesting that previous studies indicate that there may be a quadratic or J-shaped relationship between parity and clinical outcomes, specifically mortality.⁵⁰ Our results indicate a significant increase in LV volumes with two or more live births; increase in mass even with one live birth and DD with five or more live births; however the relationship was not entirely linear. For example, EDV and ESV increased after two live births compared with nulliparous women with only minor increases thereafter. Further research is needed to further clarify if there is a cut-off in the number of live births after which women are at the highest risk for adverse cardiovascular outcomes and to clarify if having a low number of live births provides potential protective effects. Earlier studies do reveal a lower mortality in women with a low number of live births compared with nulliparous women and a higher mortality in grand-multiparous women. However, this relationship may have been due to a higher number of accidental deaths in nulliparous women and increased CVD-related deaths in grand-multiparous women.⁵⁰ It is possible that while the initial adaptations to pregnancy may have some overall benefits, recurrent adaptations across successive pregnancies leave insufficient time for complete return to baseline, thus preventing the cardiovascular system from being able to fully compensate.

Limitations

While our study has the benefit of a well-characterised population with high parity, our findings need to be verified in other populations. Our study was unable to account for the time interval between pregnancies, which could have a significant effect on the observed associations. However, this is a very difficult predictor to evaluate, especially since the intervals may vary considerably. Furthermore, we did not have information on the times since the last pregnancy though some of these factors may be partially accounted for by age and the total number of pregnancies. We could not confirm the presence of multiple births or the effects of abortions or miscarriages and there may be some misclassification of the predictor though we believe the effect would be minimal. We could not adjust for potential confounders such as history of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension, though some of these effects may be accounted for by the presence of prediabetes or higher SBP, which were included in the models. However despite adjustment for various risk factors for DD such as age, weight, hypertension and diabetes, residual confounding is a concern. We also lacked information on the presence of peripartum cardiomyopathy; however, relative to the magnitude of the effects we found, the prevalence of peripartum cardiomyopathy is not likely to be significant. We also lacked information on the psychosocial effects of raising children (childrearing) which could be a confounder given the association of stress with CVD.

Conclusions

High parity is associated with greater abnormalities of cardiac structure and function and in particular a significantly higher prevalence of DD among Hispanic/Latina women suggesting that parity is a novel risk factor for abnormalities of cardiac structure and function. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms for these apparent deleterious consequences of higher parity on the LV, to determine whether these changes translate into HF outcomes, particularly HFpEF, and lastly to determine if there are any potential preventive strategies.