Women with spontaneous preterm birth in first pregnancy and a group of matched controls with spontaneous birth in normal time where invited to participate in the study. Participants were identified from the Biobank of Pregnant Women in Uppsala. Levels of cardiovascular biomarkers will be analyzed in plasma samples from the pregnancy and at a follow-up visit where investigators also collect information about other cardiovascular risk factors and lipid status.
Preterm birth is associated with maternal increased risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. In an observational case- control study, investigators want to evaluate whether women with preterm birth have increased levels of biomarkers for cardiovascular disease, to reveal potential pathophysiological mechanisms in common.