Associations between bacterial infections and blood pressure in pregnancy.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To test the hypothesis that bacterial infections in pregnancy are related to maternal blood pressure.

Study design

Bacterial infection was assessed using antibiotic usage as a surrogate and its association with blood pressure in pregnancy tested in the Cambridge Baby Growth Study.

Main outcome measures

Antibiotic usage in pregnancy was self-reported in questionnaires. Blood pressure measurements at four time points in pregnancy were collected from the hospital notes of 622 women.

Results

Using all the available blood pressure readings (adjusted for weeks gestation) antibiotic usage was associated with a higher mean arterial blood pressure across pregnancy: antibiotics used 85(84, 87)mmHg vs. no antibiotics used 83 (83, 84) mmHg (β=2.3 (0.6, 4.0) mmHg

SUBMITTER: Petry CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5710763 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature