OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the cardiovasc ul ar risk profile and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among women with a hist ory of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS:From a cohort of 3,799 nul liparous women prospectively recruited between 1989 and 1997, we performed an ob servational study on 168 case-control pairs 7.8 years after delivery. Participa nts were scheduled for a visit with a research nurse to evaluate their cardiovas cular risk profile using a questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and blood specimen analysis. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-eight women with prior PIH (105 w ith gestational hypertension and 63 with preeclampsia) and 168 controls matched for age and year of index delivery were evaluated. The women with PIH (34.6±4.4 years) were more obese and had higher systolic (115 mm Hg versus 108 mm Hg) and diastolic (75 mm Hg versus 70 mm Hg) blood pressures (P < .001) than the 168 co ntrols (35.1±4.5 years). They had lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol l evel (1.30 mmol/L versus 1.42 mmol/L; P < .001), increased fasting blood glucose concentration (5.2 mmol/L versus 5.0 mmol/L; P = .002), and higher insulin leve ls (119 versus 91 pmol/L; P < .001). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome wa s higher in the PIH group (unadjusted odds ratio = 4.9; 95%confidence interval 2.1-10.9) compared with controls, even after adjustment for confounders (adjust ed odds ratio = 3.6; 95%confidence interval 1.4 -9.0). CONCLUSION: In white wo men in their mid-30s, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is 3-to 5-fold increased in those with a history of PIH in their first pregnancy. This emphasi zes the importance of long-term follow-up assessment for cardiovascular risk f actors in these women. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the cardiovasc ul ar risk profile and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among women with a histological or pregnancy of induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS: From a cohort of 3,799 nul liparous women prospectively recruited between 1989 and 1997, performed an ob servational study on 168 case-control pairs 7.8 years after delivery. Participa nts were scheduled for a visit with a research nurse to evaluate their cardiovas cular risk profile using a questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and blood specimen analysis . RESULTS: One hundred sixty-eight women with prior PIH (105 w ith gestational hypertension and 63 with preeclampsia) and 168 controls matched for age and year of index delivery were evaluated. The women with PIH (34.6 ± 4.4 years) were more obese and had higher systolic (115 mm Hg versus 108 mm Hg) and diastolic (75 mm Hg versus 70 mm Hg) blood pressures (P <.001) than the 168 co ntrols (35.1 ± 4.5 years) ower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (1.30 mmol / L versus 1.42 mmol / L; P <.001), increased fasting blood glucose concentration (5.2 mmol / L versus 5.0 mmol / L; P = .002) leve ls (119 versus 91 pmol / L; P <.001). The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome wa s higher in the PIH group (unadjusted odds ratio = 4.9; 95% confidence interval 2.1-10.9) compared with controls, even after adjustment for confounders (adjusted ed odds ratio = 3.6; 95% confidence interval 1.4 -9.0) CONCLUSION: In white wo men in their mid-30s, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is 3-to 5-fold increased in those with a history of PIH in their first pregnancy. This emphasi zes the importance of long-term follow-up assessment for cardiovascular risk f actors in these women.