Determining predispositions and impact of pregnancy on future cardiovascular risk of Australian women: Mother’s Heart Study protocol

Background: Pregnancy provides a critical window for evaluating cardiovascular health, given the substantial physiological adaptations that may reveal or contribute to long-term coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) comprises a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors, including central obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and dyslipidaemia, which collectively increase the risk of future CAD. The Mother’s Heart Study aims to examine the associations between early pregnancy cardiometabolic risk profiles, maternal hemodynamic adaptations across gestation, and the subsequent development of postpartum MetS. Methods: This is a prospective observational cohort study of pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at the Lyell McEwin Hospital in South Australia. Eligible women are recruited before 16 weeks’ gestation following written informed consent. Data are collected at four time points: <16 weeks (Visit 1), 24–28 weeks (Visit 2), ≥34 weeks (Visit 3), and six months postpartum (Visit 4). Demographics, medical and family history, and lifestyle behaviours (smoking, alcohol use, diet, and physical activity) are recorded. Hemodynamic parameters are assessed at each visit using the USCOM BP+ device. Blood samples are obtained at visits 1 and 4 to measure lipids, glucose, insulin, and C-reactive protein. Pregnancy outcome data are extracted from medical records. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval was obtained from the Women’s and Children’s Health Network HREC (2023/SSA00204). Data are securely stored, and findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific conferences. The study is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12625000756426).