Assessment of the cardiovascular risk profile of infants exposed to pre-eclampsia in utero

Cooperating countries: Nigeria and Austria

Coordinating institution: Medical University of Graz, Nandu Goswami, nandu.goswami@medunigraz.at

Partner institution: Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu

Project duration: 1 July 2024 - 30 June 2026

Abstract: 

Multiple reports in Africa indicate a surge of cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure and obesity in young children. Recent reports have attributed increased cardiovascular risk factors in offspring to be related to the gestational environment. Pre-eclampsia (PE), a condition characterized by sudden rise in blood pressure during pregnancy, is associated with placenta endothelial dysfunction. Indeed, scientific literature suggests that the foeto-placental vascular endothelial dysfunction may cause epigenetic alteration in the intrauterine environment of the foetus which may be at the origin of chronic diseases in children, thus predisposing them to risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, very few of such studies have been carried out in Nigeria. Hence, this study intends to investigate the relationship between pre-eclampsia and cardiovascular risk in children born to pre-eclampsic mothers in the Nigerian population. A prospective case-control design will be employed to recruit pre-eclamptic and normotensive pregnant women at 30 weeks of gestation who will be followed up along with their offspring from birth and six weeks later. The cardiovascular risk profile of these offspring will be assessed and correlated to their maternal health profile.  Findings of this study will provide information on the cardiovascular health of children exposed to pre-eclampsia in-utero. This knowledge will advise policy on the management of pre-eclampsia in women with a view of preventing CVDs in their offspring. Furthermore, the project will provide opportunity for scientific research capacity building in staff and students of Godfrey Okoye University and foster research collaboration between Nigeria and Austria.