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Table 2 Fetal cardiovascular and circulation measures

From: In utero origin of sex-related differences in future cardiovascular disease

 

Fetal sex

 

Female fetuses

Male fetuses

n = 496

n = 532

p value

Preload

 Ductus venosus PIV

ref

0.02 (0.01; 0.05)

<0.05

 E wave tricuspid valvea

ref

−1.02 (−1.81; −0.24)

<0.05

 A wave tricuspid valvea

ref

−0.49 (−1.55; 0.58)

NS

 E/A ratio tricuspid valvea

ref

−0.01 (−0.03; −0.00)

<0.05

 E wave mitral valvea

ref

−1.28 (−2.11; −0.46)

<0.05

 A wave mitral valvea

ref

−0.55 (−1.59; 0.50)

NS

 E/A ratio mitral valvea

ref

−0.02 (−0.03; −0.01)

<0.05

Afterload

 Umbilical artery PI

ref

−0.03 (−0.05; −0.01)

<0.05

 Middle cerebral artery PI

ref

−0.03 (−0.07; 0.01)

NS

 Ascending aorta PSV (cm/s)a

ref

−0.94 (−2.60; 0.71)

NS

 Pulmonary artery PSV (cm/s)a

ref

−1.33 (−2.63; −0.03)

<0.05

Fetal heart rate (beats/min)

ref

−1.71 (−2.90; −0.53)

<0.05

Combined cardiac output (ml/min)a

ref

−21.8 (−71.00; 27.38)

NS

  1. Results from multiple linear regression analyses. Values are regression coefficients (95 % confidence interval (CI)) and reflect differences in fetal cardiovascular and circulation measures of male fetuses compared with female fetuses (reference category) in the third trimester of pregnancy (median 30.4 weeks; range 27.4–35.1 weeks). All analyses were adjusted for gestational age and estimated fetal weight at the time of measurement
  2. PI pulsatility index, PIV pulsatility index for veins, PSV peak systolic velocity, NS not significant
  3. aCardiac measurements were additionally adjusted for fetal heart rate