Association between the Number of Childbirths and the Progress of Atherosclerosis among Women with Diabetes: A Cohort Study Based on Chinese Population

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to explore the association between the number of childbirths and the progress of atherosclerosis among Chinese women with hypertension or diabetes. METHODS: In total, 1159 Chinese parous women from a community longitudinal survey conducted in the communities of Shijingshan district, Beijing, China, were included in our study. They were divided into three groups according to the number of childbirths, and the change in pulse wave velocity (PWV) was as an indicator of the progression of atherosclerosis because the increased PWV reflected the more serious atherosclerosis. After 3 years, we conducted follow-up visits to the subjects. Logistical regression analyses were applied to investigate the relationship between the number of childbirths and the progression of atherosclerotic stiffness and a stratification analysis was performed for history of hypertension and diabetes. RESULTS: After 3-year follow-up, among women with diabetes, the OR of women with 2 childbirths was significant [3.5 (95% confidence interval 1.5, 7.9)] in model I, [3.1 (95% confidence interval 1.3, 7.2)] in model II, and the OR of women with ≥3 childbirths was significant [4.4 (95% confidence interval 1.3, 14.5)] in model I, [4.1 (95% confidence interval 1.2, 14.3)] in model II. Among women with hypertension, the risk of the progress of atherosclerosis was not significant. CONCLUSION: The increasing number of childbirths is associated with the progression of atherosclerotic stiffness among Chinese women with diabetes, independent of a variety of confounding factors.