Oxfordshire Women and Their Children's Health (OxWATCH): protocol for a prospective cohort feasibility study

Abstract

IntroductionSome specific pregnancy disorders are known to be associated with increased incidence of long-term maternal ill health (eg, gestational diabetes with late onset type 2 diabetes; pre-eclampsia with arterial disease). To what degree these later health conditions are a consequence of the woman's constitution prior to pregnancy rather than pregnancy itself triggering changes in a woman's health is unknown. Additionally, there is little prospective evidence for the impact of pre-pregnancy risk factors on the outcome of pregnancy. To understand the importance of pre-pregnancy health requires the recruitment of women into a long-term cohort study before their first successful pregnancy. The aim of this feasibility study is to test recruitment procedures and acceptability of participation to inform the planning of a future large-scale cohort study.MethodsThe prospective cohort feasibility study will recruit nulliparous women aged 18–40 years. Women will be asked to complete a questionnaire to assess the acceptability of our recruitment and data collection procedures. Baseline biophysical, genetic, socioeconomic, behavioural and psychological assessments will be conducted and samples of blood, urine, saliva and DNA will be collected. Recruitment feasibility and retention rates will be assessed. Women who become pregnant will be recalled for pregnancy and postpregnancy assessments.Ethics and disseminationThe study protocol was approved by South Central Portsmouth REC (Ref: 12/SC/0492). The findings from the study will be disseminated through peer reviewed journals, national and international conference presentations and public events.Trial registration numberhttp://www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT02419898.

Hypertension and cardiovascular risk in young adult life: insights from CAVI

“…Typically, to assess cardiac structure and function, cardiovascular magnetic resonance allows for the most robust and detailed measures of left and right ventricular mass and geometry. Combined with echocardiography the imaging protocol allows a comprehensive study of systolic and diastolic function as well as valvular function 18,19 . During the magnetic resonance scan it is also possible to image the aorta directly to measure aortic size, geometry and function, in the form of distensibility or pulse wave velocity 20,21 .…”

Pregnancy and Long-Term Maternal Cardiovascular Health

“…[95][96][97] Another, the Norwegian MoBa study 98,99 including >70 000 women and 100 000 pregnancies also has a long-term followup goal. One longitudinal United Kingdom study, OxWatch, 100 is studying women from before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and beyond. The Preeclampsia Registry, developed and managed by the Preeclampsia Foundation and associated with CoLab, is accepting participants worldwide and has currently enrolled 2000 women, most of whom have had preeclampsia.…”