# Cardiovascular Risks Associated with Pregnancy in African American Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

> **NIH NIH F31** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $45,520

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) primarily affects women during their reproductive years. African
American women are at 3 times the risk of SLE compared with white women. Historically, women with SLE
were advised against becoming pregnant. More recently, medical advice focuses on timing pregnancy to
periods when SLE is well-controlled. Research suggests that women with SLE may be at risk of poor birth
outcomes, but African American women have been underrepresented in these studies. Further, individuals with
SLE are at high risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and adverse birth outcomes are associated with later
CVD in the general population. The association between birth and pregnancy outcomes and later CVD health
in women with SLE has not been examined. The overall goal of this dissertation is to characterize the
associations between pregnancy and cardiovascular health among African American women with SLE. In Aim
1, we will evaluate the association between SLE and the pregnancy outcomes preterm birth and small-for-
gestational age (SGA) among African American women. In Aim 2, we will examine whether African American
women with SLE who gave birth are more likely to be hospitalized for CVD compared to African American
women with SLE who never gave birth. Finally, in Aim 3, we will examine whether African American women
with SLE who had adverse birth outcomes or maternal complications are more likely to be hospitalized for CVD
compared to African American women with SLE who did not have any of these complications during
pregnancy. This research will use data from both the Georgia Lupus Registry (GLR) and the Georgians
Organized Against Lupus (GOAL) Cohort. In Aim 1, female participants in GLR/GOAL will be linked to Georgia
birth certificates on which they are identified as the mother. A comparison set of birth certificates to women
without SLE will also be identified. The risk of preterm birth and SGA birth will be compared for women with
and without SLE using log-risk regression models. Risks both before and after clinical diagnosis of SLE will be
examined. For Aims 2 and 3, hospitalizations for CVD and deaths attributable to CVD will be identified for
GLR/GOAL participants using linked Georgia hospital discharge data and death records. In Aim 2, we will
compare the hazard of CVD among women with SLE who have given birth to women with SLE who have not
given birth using Cox proportional hazards regression models. In Aim 3, we will compare the hazard of CVD
among women with SLE who gave birth and had adverse birth outcomes or maternal complications to women
with SLE who gave birth but did not have adverse birth outcomes or maternal complications using marginal
Cox models. As treatments and life expectancy for SLE improve, more of the estimated 200 per 100,000
African American women living with SLE will attempt pregnancy and childbearing. This research has the
potential to contribute to informing the care and management of women ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10068910
- **Project number:** 1F31AR078047-01
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Meghan Angley
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,520
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10068910

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10068910, Cardiovascular Risks Associated with Pregnancy in African American Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (1F31AR078047-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10068910. Licensed CC0.

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