Studies have shown that preeclampsia is associated insulin resistance and cardiovascular events later in life. However, knowledge is lacking regarding a possible association between PE and abnormal glucose tolerance/prediabetes. Thus, the current study aimed to compare the prevalence of prediabetes in women with previous severe preeclampsia to women with previous normotensive pregnancies. Women with severe preeclampsia (index women, n = 45) admitted to Danderyds University Hospital in 1999-2004 were compared to women with normotensive pregnancies, matched for age, parity, and year of delivery (control women, n = 53). In 2013-2016 BMI, blood pressure, waist circumference, insulin, C-peptide, hsCRP, Cystatin C, HDL, triglycerides, and HbA1c were measured and an OGTT was performed. Index women had a higher BMI (p < 0.001) and blood pressure (p < 0.001) in early pregnancy. At follow-up, prediabetes was more common among index women (p = 0.001), as were hypertension (p = 0.003), heredity for diabetes/cardiovascular disease (p = 0.020), and a larger waist circumference (p = 0.024). Preeclampsia increased the risk of having a fasting plasma glucose ≥ 5.6 mmol/l (aOR 7.28, 95% CI 2.44-21.76) and of prediabetes 11-16 years after index pregnancy (aOR 4.83, 95% CI 1.80-12.97). In conclusion, preeclampsia increases the risk of prediabetes independent of heredity, hypertension, and waist circumference. These findings may have implications for screening and prevention.
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