Pregnancy complications in women with heart disease

Abstract

Objective. To identify pregnancy complications of women with heart disease delivering at a university hospital.

Methods. A retrospective study was carried out of 193 pregnant women with heart disease delivered at a university hospital between January 1997 and December 2006.

Results. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), congenital heart disease (CHD), arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy were observed in 133 (68.9%), 26 (13.5%), 32 (16.6%) and 2 (1%) cases, respectively. Obstetric complication was found in 27 (14%) cases that was composed of preterm delivery (11.4%), gestational diabetes (1%), pregnancy induced hypertension (1%) and postpartum hemorrhage (0.5%). Cardiac complication was observed in 24 (12.4%) cases. Congestive heart failure was the most common cardiac complication which observed in 11 (5.7%) cases. There were four (2.1 %) maternal deaths, three cases in CHD group and one case in RHD group. Preterm infant was observed in 22 (11.4%) cases. Thirteen percent had low birth weight and 8.3% were small for gestational age. There were no perinatal deaths or congenital anomalies.

Conclusion. Form this study, RHD with pregnancy is still predominant. The most common obstetric complication was preterm delivery. The most common cardiac complication was congestive heart failure.

Keywords:

• Heart disease
• rheumatic
• cardiac
• complication
• pregnancy

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.