Postpartum Weight Retention and Mortality Over 50 Years of Follow-up

ObjectiveTo evaluate the link between postpartum weight retention (PPWR) and long-term mortality. MethodsIn this secondary analysis of 8165 women with [≥]2 pregnancies in the Collaborative Perinatal Project(CPP), U.S., 1959-1966, with vital status follow-up through 2016, we used interconception weight change (ICWC) and interpregnancy weight change (IPWC) as proxies of PPWR. ICWC was defined as the difference between self-reported pre-pregnancy weights from the 1st and 2nd CPP pregnancies, while IPWC was the difference between weight recorded at delivery of the 1st and pre-pregnancy weight of the 2nd CPP pregnancies. All-cause and cause-specific mortality models were adjusted for sociodemographic, behavioral, clinical, and pregnancy-related characteristics from the 1st CPP pregnancy. ResultsCompared to women with ICWC >0 to 1.8 kg (quintile 3), those with ICWC > -1.4 to 0 kg (quintile 2) had a lower risk of all-cause mortality [aHR (95% CI): 0.85 (0.76-0.96)], with the most notable reduction observed in diabetes-related risk of mortality [aHR (95% CI): 0.45 (0.23-0.87)]. Lower quintiles of IPWC (i.e., greater weight loss) were suggestive of reduced all-cause and cause-specific risk of mortality, though the estimates were not statistically significant. ConclusionsMinimizing PPWR was linked to reduced mortality risk over 50 years of follow-up.