Search Results (12)

Background/Objectives: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but few studies have explored the efficacy of lifestyle interventions to improve CVD risk post-HDP. This study compared the 6 month (6M) and 12 month (12M) dietary and physical activity outcomes of women post-HDP participating in one of three lifestyle interventions. Methods: This sub-study of the Blood Pressure Postpartum (BP²) randomised controlled trial included participants from six hospitals across Sydney, Australia, randomly assigned to one of three groups: Group 1 (usual care) received general postpartum health information; Group 2 (brief education) received usual care plus an individualised cardiovascular risk assessment and lifestyle counselling; Group 3 (extended lifestyle) received all Group 2 components plus enrolment in a six-month telephone coaching programme. Baseline and post-intervention data were collected at 6M and 12M, respectively. Diet and physical activity were assessed using the NSW Population Health Survey, alongside cardiometabolic measures. Results: Overall, 405 women provided complete 6M and 12M data (Group 1 n = 129, Group 2 n = 137, Group 3 n = 139). From 6M to 12M, Group 3 increased their vegetable serves/day (3.0 vs. 2.0, p = 0.001). No significant changes in fruit intake and physical activity levels were observed among groups. Groups 2 and 3 reported that nutritional information had a greater influence on their food choices at 12M (p = 0.010 and p < 0.001, respectively). At 12M, higher vegetable and fruit intake correlated with lower body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.006, p = 0.003) and waist circumference (p = 0.035, p = 0.014), and increased vigorous and strength exercise correlated with lower BMI (p = 0.005, p = 0.003) and waist circumference (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Intensive lifestyle interventions improved vegetable intake and nutrition awareness in post-HDP women at 12M, holding promise for long-term cardiometabolic health benefits. Full article

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have significant implications for women’s long-term health, including at least a twofold increased lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Blood Pressure Postpartum (BP²) Study was a three-arm randomised trial evaluating follow-up and lifestyle behaviour change strategies during the first year after HDP. Methods: This qualitative sub-study, embedded within the BP² Study, explored women’s experiences of life in the first year following HDP. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with 34 women, approximately 10–12 months postpartum. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a thematic analysis was undertaken. Results: Participants reflected on their experiences post-HDP; three major themes were identified: Navigating life with a newborn, The value of support, and Processing and Moving forward. Some women felt informed and empowered to make positive lifestyle changes; others were still processing their HDP experience and/or feeling overwhelmed by the demands of early motherhood. Responses were influenced by their HDP experience, available support, prior experience with healthy behaviours, and financial stability. Conclusions: The findings highlight that postpartum women who experienced HDP face unique challenges, including physical recovery, emotional processing, and intensive infant care. It often takes time for these women to begin prioritising their own health, as they navigate these challenges. The insights generated from women’s experiences suggest that flexible, accessible, and individually tailored support may facilitate postpartum health, promote lifestyle change, and help reduce long-term CVD risk. Full article

Background: Previous research has linked hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) with assisted reproductive technology (ART). It is not clear whether this reflects the background population cardiovascular profiles or whether ART independently increases the long-term risk for CVD and alters cardiovascular function. Furthermore, CVD has been associated with pathological cardiovascular function before and after the establishment of the disease. The aim of this study was to compare cardiac function in women attending for ART between those who had previous treatment and those who had not after controlling for demographic characteristics which have been shown to affect cardiovascular function. Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study at a London fertility clinic. Women were consecutively enrolled between May 2021 and March 2022. Maternal demographics and cardiac function using transthoracic echocardiography were assessed before the current treatment cycle in the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Maternal demographics included age, body mass index, smoking, race, and parity. Cardiovascular parameters included blood pressure and indices of left-ventricular systolic and diastolic function. Differences between cardiac variables after controlling for maternal demographics and history of previous ART were assessed by multivariate linear regression. Results: There were 232 healthy women who agreed to participate in the study; of those, 153 (58%) had undergone previous ART. After controlling for maternal demographic characteristics, previous assisted reproductive technology was not an independent predictor of cardiac function. Conclusions: Previous ART is not associated with significant changes in cardiac function. Full article

Background: Previous research demonstrates that adopting, abandoning, and re-adopting (i.e., cycling) a healthy dietary pattern (HDP) improved, reverted, and re-improved cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. In addition, changes in CVD risk factors are associated with dietary modifications of gut microbiota. Objective: We sought to assess the effects of cycling an HDP on gut microbiota and CVD risk factors. Methods: Retrospectively, we used data from a randomized controlled, crossover trial with three 3-week controlled dietary interventions, each separated by a 5-week period of participant-chosen, uncontrolled food intake. Seventeen participants (10 males, 7 females, age 26 ± 4 years old, BMI 23 ± 3 kg/m²) all consumed intervention diets that followed healthy U.S.-style dietary patterns. Gut microbiota composition and cardiovascular risk factors were measured before and after each HDP. Results: Repeatedly adopting and abandoning an HDP led to a cycling pattern of changes in the gut microbial community and taxonomic composition. During the HDP cycles, relative abundances of several bacterial taxa (e.g., Collinsella, Mediterraneibacter, Romboutsia, and Dorea) decreased and returned to baseline repeatedly. Similar HDP cycling occurred for multiple CVD risk factors (i.e., serum total cholesterol and LDL-C concentrations). Consistent negative associations were observed between changes in Mediterraneibacter or Collinsella and serum total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio. Conclusions: These results support previous findings that HDP cycling affected multiple CVD risk factors and expand the HDP cycling phenomenon to include several bacterial taxa. Young adults are encouraged to adopt and sustain a healthy dietary pattern to improve cardiovascular health, potentially through modifying gut microbiota composition. Full article

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. Clinical guidelines for postpartum follow-up after HDP often recommend lifestyle counseling to reduce this risk. However, knowledge about lifestyle behaviors and perceptions among women with a history of HDP is limited. We linked data from the fourth survey of the population-based Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4) with data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. The associations between HDP and postpartum lifestyle behaviors and perceptions were examined using multivariable logistic regression. In a secondary analysis, HUNT4 participants with a recent history of pre-eclampsia were compared with women with a recent history of pre-eclampsia participating in a postpartum pilot intervention study. Lifestyle behaviors and perceptions were self-reported and included diet (intake frequency of fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and sugar-sweetened beverages), alcohol intake, physical activity, sleep, smoking, lifestyle satisfaction, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Among 7551 parous HUNT4 participants, 610 had a history of HDP. We found no differences in lifestyle behaviors between women with and without a history of HDP. However, women with HDP had higher odds of being unsatisfied with their lifestyle. Women with pre-eclampsia participating in a postpartum lifestyle intervention study tended to have a healthier lifestyle at baseline than women participating in HUNT4. Future studies should explore how lifestyle intervention programs could be adapted to the needs of women who have experienced HDP or other pregnancy complications that are associated with an increased risk of CVD. Full article

Women with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Guidelines recommend that women diagnosed with HDP should be advised of their increased CVD risk, have regular blood pressure monitoring by their general practitioner (GP), and adopt healthy lifestyle behaviours. However, within Australia, the current practice in primary health care is unknown. The aim of this study was to describe current practices, barriers, and facilitators to the provision of CVD preventative services for women after HDP in the primary care setting and to identify potential strategies to support GPs in providing recommended care. Separate cross-sectional online surveys were undertaken with 35 GPs and 105 women with a history of HDP. Surveys included both closed- and open-ended questions. Closed-ended questions were analysed using basic descriptive statistics, and open-ended questions were themed and tallied. The survey of GPs revealed that GPs are more likely to assess traditional CVD risk markers than lifestyle risk factors or HDP history. GPs identified a lack of resources and skills as barriers to providing CVD preventative care post-HDP. The survey with women after HDP revealed that women with a history of HDP are more likely to be assessed for blood pressure than lifestyle CVD risk factors, and that the women’s barriers to obtaining care included difficulty obtaining an appointment and time required for attending appointments. Strategies to improve CVD preventative care were consistent between surveys, where 70% of GPs and 59% of women chose ‘increasing women’s awareness of increased CVD risk’ and 67% of GPs and 55% of women chose ‘improving communication between hospitals and primary care’ as their preferred strategies. While the findings suggest that women with a history of HDP are receiving advice consistent with guidelines for traditional CVD risk markers, such as blood pressure, they are less likely to receive CVD preventative care for lifestyle or female-specific CVD risk factors. Full article

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) complicate 5–10% of pregnancies, with resultant lifelong increased risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to describe lifestyle behaviours at 6 months post-HDP in four HDP subgroups, and their association with markers of cardiometabolic health. Subgroups were chronic hypertension (CH), gestational hypertension (GH), preeclampsia, and preeclampsia superimposed on chronic hypertension (CH + PE). The BP² study is a multi-site, three-arm, randomised controlled trial. At 6 months postpartum, the NSW Population Health Survey and BP² surveys collected lifestyle behaviours and demographic data. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and blood pressure (BP) were also assessed. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used. Of 484 women (16% CH, 23% GH, 55% preeclampsia, and 6% CH + PE), 62% were overweight or obese. Only 6% met the recommended five vegetable and two fruit serves per day, and 43% did not meet the recommended 150 min of moderate–vigorous physical activity in five sessions per week. Adherence to both diet and physical activity recommendations was correlated with more favourable cardiometabolic outcomes, including lower BMI, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic BP. Lifestyle interventions that improve diet and physical activity post-HDP are needed to reduce BP, BMI, and long-term CVD in this high-risk population. Full article

This study identified time-varying harmonic characteristics in a high-density plasma (HDP) chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chamber by depositing low-k oxide (SiOF). The characteristics of harmonics are caused by the nonlinear Lorentz force and the nonlinear nature of the sheath. In this study, a noninvasive directional coupler was used to collect harmonic power in the forward and reverse directions, which were low frequency (LF) and high bias radio frequency (RF). The intensity of the 2nd and 3rd harmonics responded to the LF power, pressure, and gas flow rate introduced for plasma generation. Meanwhile, the intensity of the 6th harmonic responded to the oxygen fraction in the transition step. The intensity of the 7th (forward) and 10th (in reverse) harmonic of the bias RF power depended on the underlying layers (silicon rich oxide (SRO) and undoped silicate glass (USG)) and the deposition of the SiOF layer. In particular, the 10th (reverse) harmonic of the bias RF power was identified using electrodynamics in a double capacitor model of the plasma sheath and the deposited dielectric material. The plasma-induced electronic charging effect on the deposited film resulted in the time-varying characteristic of the 10th harmonic (in reverse) of the bias RF power. The wafer-to-wafer consistency and stability of the time-varying characteristic were investigated. The findings of this study can be applied to in situ diagnosis of SiOF thin film deposition and optimization of the deposition process. Full article

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) affect 5–10% of pregnancies worldwide, and are an independent risk factor for CVD. A greater understanding of the rates of modifiable CVD risk factors in women with a history of HDP can inform CVD prevention priorities in this group. The aim of this study was to understand the rates of individual and multiple modifiable risk factors for CVD (body mass index, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, sitting time, smoking, alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms) among women with a history of HDP, and assess whether they differ to women without a history of HDP. This study is a cross-sectional analysis of self-reported data collected for the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health (ALSWH). The sample included 5820 women aged 32–37 years old, who completed survey 7 of the ALSWH in 2015. Women with a history of HDP had a higher multiple CVD modifiable risk factor score compared to those without HDP (mean (SD): 2.3 (1.4) vs. 2.0 (1.3); p < 0.01). HDP history was significantly associated with a higher body mass index (p < 0.01), high-risk alcohol consumption (p = 0.04) and more depressive symptoms (p < 0.01). Understanding that women with a history of HDP have higher CVD risk factors, specifically body mass index, alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms, allows clinicians to provide appropriate and tailored CVD interventions for this group of women. Full article

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD), which may be mediated by diminished cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we summarize evidence linking CRF with HDP before, during, and after pregnancy. We searched relevant databases to identify observational or randomized studies that measured CRF (VO₂ max or peak, VO₂ at anaerobic threshold, or work rate at peak VO₂) in women with and without HDP. We pooled results using random effects models. Fourteen studies (n = 2406 women) reporting on CRF before, during, and after pregnancy were included. Before pregnancy, women who developed HDP had lower CRF (e.g., VO₂max < 37 vs. ≥37 mL O₂/min) than those without HDP (two studies, 811 women). VO₂max at 14–18 weeks of pregnancy was marginally lower among women who developed preeclampsia vs. normotensive women (three studies, 275 women; mean difference 0.43 mL/kg/min [95% CI 0.97, 0.10]). Postpartum, there was a trend towards lower VO₂peak in women with previous preeclampsia (three studies, 208 women; 0.26 mL/kg/min [−0.54, 0.02]). While exploratory, our findings raise the possibility that CRF can identify women at risk for HDP, and furthermore, that HDP confers a hit to a woman’s cardiorespiratory reserve. Full article

Over the last thirty years, evidence has been accumulating that Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) and, specifically, Preeclampsia (PE) produce not only long-term effects on the pregnant woman, but have also lasting consequences for the fetus. At the core of these consequences is the phenomenon known as defective deep placentation, being present in virtually every major obstetrical syndrome. The profound placental vascular lesions characteristic of this pathology can induce long-term adverse consequences for the pregnant woman’s entire arterial system. In addition, placental growth restriction and function can, in turn, cause a decreased blood supply to the fetus, with long-lasting effects. Women with a history of HDP have an increased risk of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) compared with women with normal pregnancies. Specifically, these subjects are at a future higher risk of: Hypertension; Coronary artery disease; Heart failure; Peripheral vascular disease; Cerebrovascular accidents (Stroke); CVD-related mortality. Vascular pathology in pregnancy and CVD may share a common etiology and may have common risk factors, which are unmasked by the “stress” of pregnancy. It is also possible that the future occurrence of a CVD may be the consequence of endothelial dysfunction generated by pregnancy-induced hypertension that persists after delivery. Although biochemical and biophysical markers of PE abound, information on markers for a comparative evaluation in the various groups is still lacking. Long-term consequences for the fetus are an integral part of the theory of a fetal origin of a number of adult diseases, known as the Barker hypothesis. Indeed, intrauterine malnutrition and fetal growth restriction represent significant risk factors for the development of chronic hypertension, diabetes, stroke and death from coronary artery disease in adults. Other factors will also influence the development later in life of hypertension, coronary and myocardial disease; they include parental genetic disposition, epigenetic modifications, endothelial dysfunction, concurrent intrauterine exposures, and the lifestyle of the affected individual. Full article

In-line anomaly detection (AD) not only identifies the needs for semiconductor equipment maintenance but also indicates potential line yield problems. Prompt AD based on available equipment sensory data (ESD) facilitates proactive yield and operations management. However, ESD items are highly diversified and drastically scale up along with the increased use of sensors. Even veteran engineers lack knowledge about ESD items for automated AD. This paper presents a novel Spectral and Time Autoencoder Learning for Anomaly Detection (STALAD) framework. The design consists of four innovations: (1) identification of cycle series and spectral transformation (CSST) from ESD, (2) unsupervised learning from CSST of ESD by exploiting Stacked AutoEncoders, (3) hypothesis test for AD based on the difference between the learned normal data and the tested sample data, (4) dynamic procedure control enabling periodic and parallel learning and testing. Applications to ESD of an HDP-CVD tool demonstrate that STALAD learns normality without engineers’ prior knowledge, is tolerant to some abnormal data in training input, performs correct AD, and is efficient and adaptive for fab applications. Complementary to the current practice of using control wafer monitoring for AD, STALAD may facilitate early detection of equipment anomaly and assessment of impacts to process quality. Full article