SOMANZ Poster Presentation Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society and Society of Obstetric Medicine Australia and New Zealand Joint Scientific Meeting 2025

Diet Quality and Physical Activity at 3 Years following a Hypertensive Pregnancy: A BP2 Cross-sectional Sub-Study (#157)

Yining Chen 1 2 3 , Megan Gow 1 4 , Katie Harris 1 , Lynne Roberts 3 5 , Amanda Henry 1 3 5
  1. The George Institute for Global Health, UNSW Medicine and Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  2. School of Medicine, Tsinghua Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
  3. School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. School of Population Health, UNSW Medicine and Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  5. Department of Women’s and Children's Health, St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Objectives

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a leading global cause of maternal mortality associated with lifelong increased risks of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). While lifestyle interventions may reduce postpartum HDP-associated CVD risks, evidence is limited. This study aimed to assess the dietary and physical activity profiles 3 years post-HDP and their association with CVD risk markers following prior intervention.

Methods

This cross-sectional follow-up sub-study of the 3-armed, multi-centre BP2 RCT (trialling 3 different strategies of 6-12 months post-HDP care/lifestyle intervention) evaluated women 3 years post-HDP. Co-primary outcomes were estimated diet quality and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), self-reported using the Australian Eating Survey and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. Correlations with clinical cardiovascular markers were also assessed. Subgroup analyses compared outcomes across BP2 lifestyle intervention strategies, HDP subtypes (chronic hypertension, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and superimposed preeclampsia), and baseline body mass index (BMI) (<30 vs ≥30 kg/m²).

Results

Of 180 participants, 61% had suboptimal diet quality evaluated as “needs work” or “getting there”, while 13% failed to meet the recommended 150 mins/week of MVPA. Diet quality and MVPA were comparable across all subgroups, although larger-bodied women had less fruits, carbohydrates, and more fats. There were no significant correlations between our co-primary outcomes and improved blood pressure, BMI, or waist circumference.

Conclusions

Suboptimal diet quality persists among women 3 years post-HDP despite prior intervention. Findings support the need for ongoing post-HDP contact and sustained postpartum lifestyle interventions to promote CVD-risk reduction in this population, especially for those with higher BMI.