Assessment of the relationship between maternal cardiometabolic health and fetal growth in pregnant women living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in Mthatha, South Africa

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy among women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may adversely affect their cardiometabolic health, but its influence on fetal growth remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between maternal cardiometabolic health and fetal growth in pregnant women living with HIV receiving ART in Mthatha, South Africa. METHODS: ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: ≤ 0.05) was found between maternal UtA PI and fetal growth parameters such as AC, FL and HC. CONCLUSION: Vascular dysfunction was observed in pregnant women living with HIV on ART coupled with an inverse association between maternal vascular function and fetal growth suggesting that impaired maternal vascular function may limit placental blood flow and potentially affect fetal growth.