Gestational Exercise and Maternal and Child Health: Effects until Delivery and at Post-Natal Follow-up

We studied the influence of pregnancy exercise on maternal/offspring cardiometabolic health until delivery and at follow-up. We pooled data from two randomized controlled trials from our group that were performed following the same methodology (one unpublished). We also collected follow-up data de n...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Authors: Perales, María, Valenzuela Ruiz, Pedro Luis, Barakat, Rubén, Cordero, Yaiza, Peláez, Mireia, López, Carmen, Ruilope Urioste, Luis Miguel, Santos Lozano, Alejandro, Lucía Mulas, Alejandro
Format: article
Publication Date:2020
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Europea (UEM)
Repository:ABACUS. Repositorio de Producción Científica
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:abacus.universidadeuropea.com:11268/8869
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11268/8869
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Mujeres embarazadas
Ejercicio físico
Hábitos de salud
Embarazo
Deporte
Salud materno-infantil
Description
Summary:We studied the influence of pregnancy exercise on maternal/offspring cardiometabolic health until delivery and at follow-up. We pooled data from two randomized controlled trials from our group that were performed following the same methodology (one unpublished). We also collected follow-up data de novo from the participants of both trials and their offspring. In total, 1348 women with uncomplicated, singleton gestations were assigned to an intervention (n = 688, performing a supervised, moderate-intensity exercise program (three sessions/week)) or control group (n = 660). Maternal outcomes were excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG), gestational hypertension/diabetes and, at follow-up, return to pre-pregnancy weight within six months, hypertension, overweight/obesity, and other cardiometabolic conditions. Offspring outcomes were macrosomia and low-birthweight and, at follow-up, overweight/obesity, low-weight, and cardiometabolic conditions. Adherence to the intervention, which proved safe, was > 95%. Pregnancy exercise reduced the risk of EGWG, gestational hypertension, and diabetes (adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval: 0.60 (0.46–0.79), 0.39 (0.23–0.67), and 0.48 (0.28–0.84)), and it was associated with a greater likelihood of returning to pre-pregnancy weight (2.37 (1.26–4.54)) and a lower risk of maternal cardiometabolic conditions (0.27 (0.08–0.95)) at the end of follow-up (median 6.1 years (interquartile range 1.8)). Pregnancy exercise also reduced the risk of macrosomia (0.36 (0.20–0.63)) and of childhood overweight/obesity during the first year (0.20 (0.06–0.63)). Our findings suggest that pregnancy exercise might protect maternal/offspring health.