High school diploma is associated with longer postpartum leukocyte telomere length in a cohort of primarily Latina women.

Objective: This study investigates correlates of maternal leukocyte telomere length (LTL) in the immediate postpartum period using a cross-sectional study design from an existing prospective longitudinal birth cohort of primarily Latina women. The study focuses on the role of maternal health and dietary habits in pregnancy and maternal education level and LTL at delivery.

Study design: Latina mothers were recruited during the immediate postpartum period prior to 24 h at two San Francisco hospitals and dried blood spots were collected for LTL analysis via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). We used multivariable linear regression models to determine independent predictors of maternal LTL during the postpartum period.

Results: In multivariable regression models, increasing maternal age was associated with shorter LTL during the immediate postpartum period (Coeff - 0.015; p < 0.01) whereas having a high school diploma was associated with longer LTL versus not having graduated from high school (Coeff 0.12; p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Maternal education level as a potential marker of exposure to life stressors and socioeconomic status was associated with maternal LTL after adjusting for age and other potential confounders in women of reproductive age.