History of infertility and long-term weight, body composition, and blood pressure among women in Project Viva

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the association of a history of infertility with long-term weight, body composition, and blood pressure.

Methods: We studied 1581 women from the prospective cohort Project Viva. History of infertility was based on self-reported time to pregnancy ≥12 months or use of medical treatment to conceive for the index or any prior pregnancy; a diagnosis of infertility; claims for infertility treatments/prescriptions abstracted from medical records. The outcomes were weight, waist circumference, and body fat assessed through 12 years postpartum; and blood pressure assessed through 3 years postpartum. We used linear mixed-effect models adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, income, education, marital status, parity, and age at menarche.

Results: Three hundred forty-two women (21.6%) had a history of infertility. In adjusted models, women with versus without infertility, had higher average weight (3.29 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-5.24), waist circumference (2.46 cm, 95% CI: 0.78-4.13) and body fat (1.76 kg, 95% CI: 0.09-3.43). Among younger (18-29 years), but not older (≥30 years) women, infertility was associated with higher systolic (4.08 mmHg, 95% CI: 0.93, 7.23) and diastolic blood pressure (2.16 mmHg, 95% CI: 0.11-4.20).

Conclusions: A history of infertility may serve as a marker to identify women at higher cardiometabolic risk.

Keywords: Blood pressure; Body composition; Cardio-metabolic risk; Female infertility; Weight.