3.1. Study Population Characteristics
overweight, preeclampsia
OBESE, PREECLAMPSIA
Of the 484 women, 76 (16%) had CH, 113 (23%) had GH, 268 (55%) had preeclampsia, and 27 (6%) had CH + PE in the index pregnancy. Maternal age averaged 34.5 ± 5.2 years, the majority of women were Caucasian (59%), and for over two thirds, the index pregnancy was their first birth experience (67%). Women following a pregnancy affected by preeclampsia were significantly younger (mean age of 33.5) and had higher rates of first pregnancy (77%) when compared to other subgroups. There were no differences in ethnicity across HDP subgroups. Overall, demographics were similar between subgroups; however, differences were seen between highest level of education, gestation at diagnosis and birth, BMI at first antenatal appointment, maternal days spent in hospital at birth, and number of children at time of follow-up. At the first antenatal appointment for the index pregnancy, 50% of participants fell into the overweight or obese BMI range, with the highest rates for both in the CH subgroup. Those with CH + PE were more likely to have completed a university degree (