A follow-up cohort study on the risk of prediabetes, comparing women with previous preeclamptic or normotensive pregnancies

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.