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Background The cumulative effect of postpartum weight retention from each pregnancy in a woman’s life may contribute to her risk of ultimately developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, there is limited direct evidence supporting this hypothesis. Thus, we sought to characterize the impact of postpartum weight retention on the trajectories of cardiovascular risk factors over the first 5-years after pregnancy. Methods In this prospective observational cohort study, 330 women (mean age 35.7±4.3 years, mean prepregnancy body mass index 25.2±4.8 kg/m2 , 50.9% primiparous) underwent serial cardiometabolic characterization (anthropometry, blood pressure, lipids, oral glucose tolerance test, insulin sensitivity/resistance (Matsuda index, HOMA-IR), C-reactive protein (CRP), adiponectin) at 1-year, 3-years, and 5-years postpartum. Based on the magnitude of weight change between pre-pregnancy and 5-years postpartum, they were stratified into the following 3 groups: weight loss (n=100), weight gain 0–6% (n=110), and weight gain≥6% (n=120). Results At 1-year postpartum, cardiovascular risk factors did not differ between the groups. However, an adverse risk factor profile progressively emerged in the weight retention groups at 3- and 5-years. Indeed, after covariate adjustment, there was stepwise worsening (from the weight loss group to weight gain 0–6% to weight gain≥6% group) of the following cardiovascular risk factors at 5-years: triglycerides (p=0.001), HDL (p=0.02), LDL (p=0.01), apolipoprotein-B (p=0.003), Matsuda index (p<0.0001), HOMA-IR (p<0.0001), fasting glucose (p=0.07), and CRP (p=0.01). Moreover, on logistic regression analyses, weight gain≥6% emerged as an independent predictor of prediabetes/diabetes at 5-years (adjusted OR=3.40, 95%CI: 1.63–7.09). Conclusion Postpartum weight retention predicts trajectories of worsening cardiovascular risk factors and glucose intolerance over the first 5-years after delivery, consistent with its postulated contribution to future vascular disease in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Insulin resistance is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recently, we have developed a novel index, FLAIS (Fasting Laboratory Assessment of Insulin Sensitivity), which accurately reflects insulin sensitivity, measured with hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, in different groups of subjects. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship of FLAIS with cardiovascular risk factors in a population-based study. Methods: The study group comprised 339 individuals from the ongoing Białystok Plus study, without previously known diabetes. Clinical examination, oral glucose tolerance test and the measurement of blood laboratory parameters were performed. Results: Prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose and/or impaired glucose tolerance) was diagnosed in 165 individuals whereas type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in 19 subjects. FLAIS was lower in individuals with prediabetes and diabetes in comparison with individuals with normal glucose tolerance. FLAIS was significantly related to waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in the entire study group and in the subgroups with normal glucose tolerance and with prediabetes/diabetes. HOMA-IR, QUICKI and Matsuda index were not related to blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol in individuals with normal glucose tolerance. Majority of the adjusted models with FLAIS were characterized by better fit with the data in comparison with other indices for all cardiovascular risk factors except waist circumference. Conclusions: FLAIS represents useful index to assess the cluster of insulin resistance-associated cardiovascular risk factors in general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]