Cardiac disease in pregnancy: The importance of early detection

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global mortality. The burden is not limited to high-income countries, as 80 percent of CVD deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. In Illinois, 140 of the 636 maternal deaths reported between 2002 and 2011 were attributed to cardiovascular causes,1 and in Texas, which has the highest maternal mortality (35.8 per 100000) in the United States and the second highest rate in the industrialized world, cardiovascular causes account for 20% of these deaths.

IUnderstanding the causes of this worrisome trend must become a research priority with plans to develop novel interventions to improve maternal outcomes, particularly as the birthrate in women >35 years of age and the associated comorbidities that go along with advanced maternal age continue to increase.

WHO recommends a woman see her health provider at least 8 times during her pregnancy to detect and manage potential problems and reduce the likelihood of a stillbirth or neonatal death. Antenatal care also offers an opportunity for health workers to provide a range of support and information to pregnant women, including on healthy lifestyles, preventing diseases, and family planning.

Data are taken from WHO, UNICEF, Collaborative Health and Environment