Heart Disease encompasses a wide variety of conditions of the heart, some of the most common being hypertension, arrhythmia, congenital heart disease, and coronary artery disease. While cardiovascular disease (CVD) only affects approximately 1-4% of pregnancies, it can have a variety of effects on the mother--some being critical--and it is important for medical professionals and women who are looking to become pregnant to understand these effects [1].
Facts:
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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects approximately 1-4% pregnancies, and the rate of mortality due to CVD during pregnancy has been increasing over the years [2]
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Maternal CVD appears to be increasing likely due to women becoming pregnant at a later age, and due to the prevalence cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension [2].
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Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common preexisting heart condition during pregnancy and hypertension is the most common acquired condition [3].
Sources:
- CHD's impact on females. American Heart Association Web site. https://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/CongenitalHeartDefects/TheImpactofCongenitalHeartDefects/CHDs-Impact-on-Females_UCM_307113_Article.jsp. Published April 19, 2016. Accessed June 27, 2017.
- Naderi, S, Raymond R. Pregnancy and heart disease. Dis manag. 2014. http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/cardiology/pregnancy-and-heart-disease/.
- Lam WW. Heart Disease and Pregnancy. Coulter SA, ed. Tex Heart Inst J. 2012;39(2):237-239. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3384045/.