Congenital heart disease in pregnancy in a low-income country.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2014;
128:30-2. [PMID:
25270822 DOI:
10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.07.033]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2014] [Revised: 07/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To assess maternal and perinatal outcomes among pregnant women with congenital heart disease (CHD) in a low-resource country.
METHODS
A prospective, observational study was conducted at a teaching hospital in Kolkata, India, between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2010. All pregnant women with CHD were followed up from first prenatal visit to discharge. Both maternal and perinatal outcomes were analyzed.
RESULTS
Of 174 pregnant women with heart disease, 27 (16%) had CHD. Mean age was 23.5±3.6 years. Four (15%) patients were diagnosed with CHD during the index pregnancy. Nine (33%) women had undergone surgical correction before conception. Cesarean delivery was performed in 12 (44%) women. Fifteen (56%) neonates weighed less than 2500 g, and 4 (15%) were born preterm. Mean birth weight was slightly higher in women with corrected heart lesions than in those with uncorrected ones (2593±480 g vs 2294±620 g; P=0.22). Three (11%) neonates died, but no stillbirths occurred. One (4%) woman died after delivery owing to atonic postpartum hemorrhage.
CONCLUSION
Delayed diagnosis, lack of treatment, and unplanned pregnancy are major challenges for women with CHD, which need to be addressed to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes in low-resource countries.
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