Harville EW, et al. - Researchers examined the link between pre-pregnancy cardiovascular risk and racial disparities in birth outcomes. Female subjects (3,095) were linked to their children’s birth certificates for Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas births from 1982 to 2009, as part of a larger study of cardiovascular and reproductive health (“Bogalusa Babies”). The desired link was examined using logistic models adjusted for covariates. They found only a few cardiovascular risk factors were related to birth outcomes. Among whites, a higher risk of low birthweight (LBW) was observed in relation to triglycerides. In addition, a reduction in risk of small for gestational age (SGA) for black women, but not whites, was seen in relation to higher glucose. Findings showed clear racial disparities, which were attenuated modestly (LBW/SGA) or not at all [preterm birth (PTB)/large for gestational age (LGA)] after CVD risk factors were adjusted for. Overall, findings did not offer evidence for preconception cardiovascular risk being a strong contributor to racial disparities.