Association of physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep with maternal vascular function in women with a history of preeclampsia.

A history of preeclampsia (hxPE) is associated with persistent vascular dysfunction and elevated risk of chronic hypertension. Twenty-four-hour activity behaviors, including physical activity, sedentary time (SED), and sleep, are modifiable factors that may promote favorable vascular function and blood pressure in women with a hxPE. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional relations between habitual physical activity, SED, and sleep with aortic stiffness and 24-h blood pressure patterns in young women with a hxPE and healthy pregnancy controls. Participants ( = 68; aged 21-42 yr, 1-5 yr after delivery) wore a thigh-mounted activity monitor (activPAL) for 7 days and maintained a sleep log to assess habitual physical activity, SED, and sleep duration. Participants underwent measures of aortic stiffness (measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, CFPWV) and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Women with a hxPE ( = 33) did not differ in physical activity, SED, or sleep compared with healthy pregnancy controls ( = 35). SED (β = 0.214, 95CI [0.004, 0.416]) and light-intensity physical activity (β = -0.204, 95CI [-0.397, -0.004]) were independently related to CFPWV. Frequency of sleep disturbances, but not shorter sleep duration, was associated with higher 24-h diastolic blood pressure (β = 0.258, 95CI [0.009, 0.525]). Select perceived benefits and barriers to exercise were more pronounced among women with hxPE, and benefits were associated with higher moderate-vigorous physical activity (ρ = 0.43, = 0.003). Our findings link habitual activity, pregnancy history, and perceived exercise benefits with aortic stiffness and identify population and behavioral targets to improve cardiovascular health in young parous women. Preeclampsia is associated with persistent vascular dysfunction and incident hypertension, but the contributing behavioral factors are unclear. We demonstrate that greater light-intensity physical activity and lower sedentary time are associated with lower aortic stiffness, and link sleep disturbances to 24-h blood pressure among women with a recent history of preeclampsia and healthy pregnancy controls. Time spent in light intensity activity and sedentary behavior may represent interventional targets to mitigate elevated cardiovascular risk in postpartum women.