Przegl Epidemiol. 2025 Dec 12;79(3):370-378. doi: 10.32394/pe/210657. Epub 2025 Sep 30.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) complicates pregnancies worldwide and remains a major contributor to maternal mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinical profiles, and outcomes of heart disease (HD) among pregnant women referred to the Joint Clinic of Pregnancy and Heart Disease at Al-Zahra Hospital and assess the utility and limitations of the modified World Health Organization (mWHO) risk classification system.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed a retrospective cohort of 389 pregnant women with confirmed heart disease managed at the Joint Clinic of Pregnancy and Heart Disease, a tertiary referral center, Al-Zahra Hospital (Isfahan, Iran), between March 2017 and March 2023. Participants were followed until hospital discharge after delivery or pregnancy termination. Patients were stratified into mWHO risk classes and categorized by disease type, including congenital heart disease (CHD), valvular heart disease (VHD), cardiomyopathy, and other conditions. Clinical outcomes, including maternal mortality, abortion and delivery methods were examined.
RESULTS: VHD was the most prevalent condition (35.99%), followed by CHD (20.82%). Severe mitral stenosis and prosthetic heart valves were the most common VHD subtypes. Among CHD cases, atrial septal defect was predominant. Class IV mWHO patients comprised 21.85%, highlighting the high-risk population. Cesarean deliveries were common (53%). Maternal mortality was 1.0%, with four deaths mostly due to pulmonary hypertension.
CONCLUSIONS: The observed outcomes in this high-risk cohort compare favorably to those reported in similar LMIC settings, suggesting that structured multidisciplinary care and mWHO-based risk assessment may contribute to improved maternal and fetal management. However, overlapping and unclassified conditions highlight the need to refine current risk stratification frameworks for pregnancy in cardiac patients.
PMID:41385193 | DOI:10.32394/pe/210657