Small changes in blood lipids and blood sugar can indicate an increased risk of preeclampsia, even before pregnancy, according to a Swedish study. The researchers divided the women into four groups based on their blood marker profiles, and those in the highest-risk group had a 13% increased risk of developing preeclampsia, while even those in the lowest-risk quarter had a 4% increased risk.
According to the study, about five percent of all pregnant women develop preeclampsia, a serious condition caused by the placenta not functioning properly, leading to high blood pressure and reduced oxygen supply to both mother and baby. The condition can emerge after the 20th week of pregnancy and may result in severe complications, including organ damage and preterm birth. The research, published in JAMA Open Network, demonstrates that changes in blood lipids and sugar indicative of later preeclampsia can be detected even before a woman becomes pregnant. The team analyzed pre-pregnancy blood marker data from a large Swedish cohort, using detailed laboratory records, and tracked who later developed hypertension during pregnancy or preeclampsia.
The study findings indicate that even women with borderline marker values—those not high enough to trigger medical treatment—face an increased risk. The markers studied are ones commonly associated with metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and many are influenced by lifestyle factors including diet, exercise, and body weight. Currently, these blood markers are not part of routine prenatal screening. Only pregnant women already considered at high risk, for example due to obesity, diabetes, or a personal history of preeclampsia, are tested at their first maternity care visit. As a result, many at-risk women may go undetected until preeclampsia develops later in pregnancy.
The researchers also highlighted contextual factors that may amplify the population risk. About 46% of pregnant women in the region are overweight or obese when they enroll in maternity care, and the average age of first-time mothers has been steadily rising. Both obesity and advanced maternal age are known contributors to preeclampsia, and the study authors suggest these trends could be increasing the overall burden of the condition. The study, which appears in the journal JAMA Open Network, received funding from the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation. Overall, the research underscores that a woman's metabolic state prior to pregnancy may be an important predictor of preeclampsia risk.