Abstract 13041: Effects of Parity on Arterial Stiffness Persists Into Old Age, Independent of Chronological Ageing
Keerthana Thangaraja, Gayathri Basker, Fei Gao, Ru S Tan, Gina S Lee, Charmaine Cheng, Loon Yee Teo, See H Ewe, Ling-Jun Li, Angela S Koh- Physiology (medical)
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Introduction: Persistent effects of reproductive factors on vascular ageing, over chronological ageing, as examined through objective measurements of arterial stiffness, are rarely studied.
Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the effects of parity and maternal age at first birth (AFB) on vascular ageing will persist over time independent of chronological ageing, in older Asian women.
Methods: Among a community-based cohort of older Asian adults without cardiovascular disease, we prospectively studied demographics, parity, AFB, and cardiovascular risk factors, at baseline and 5-year examination timepoints. Arterial stiffness was measured through pulse wave velocity (PWV) using a cuff-based auscultatoric oscillometric pulse wave analysis machine.
Results: 170 women (baseline mean age 60.76±13.75 years) were included. Parity ranged from 0 to 8 (mean parity 2±1.3). AFB ranged from 18 to 44 (mean age 28±4.4) years. By regression, univariate determinants of 5-year PWV were parity (β=0.491, p=<.001), αFB (β=-0.107, p=.011), baseline age (β=3.884, p=<.001), body mass index (βμΙ) (β=0.147, p=.006), waist circumference (β=0.076, p=<.001), diabetes (β=1.681, p=<.004), hypertension (β=2.383, p=<.001), dyslipidemia (β=2.220, p=<.001), 5-year age (β=3.886, p=<.001),waist circumference (β=0.085, p=<.001), diabetes (β=1.723, p=.001), hypertension (β=2.485, p=<.001). Based on multivariate regression, parity (β=0.345, 95% CI 0.105, 0.586, p=.005), but not AFB, was independently associated with 5-year PWV, independent of age.
Conclusions: Parity and AFB correlated with PWV, a marker of arterial stiffness, in old age in Asian women. Accounting for chronological ageing and clinical factors across 5 years, parity exerted a persistent independent effect on arterial stiffness in older women. Other biological factors surrounding parity in these women apart from traditional cardiovascular risk factors may explain these observations.