Perinatal outcomes among pregnant women with cardiac disease at tertiary care hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND

Cardiac disease in pregnancy is associated with increased maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Functional status, particularly as assessed by the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, plays a critical role in predicting outcomes.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with cardiac disease managed at a tertiary care center and to assess the impact of functional cardiac status on outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective descriptive study included pregnant women with diagnosed cardiac disease who were managed at tertiary care hospital, over a six-year period. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize baseline characteristics and outcomes by using SPSS version 20. Comparison between NYHA Class I-II and III-IV groups were assessed using odds ratios (OR) with 95% confident intervals (CI). A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 181 pregnancies complicated by maternal cardiac disease were included. Rheumatic heart disease was the most common acquired condition. Preterm birth occurred in 18.0% of NYHA I-II women compared to 55.6% in NYHA III-IV. ICU admission rates were 8.1% vs 44.4%, and cesarean delivery rates were 47.1% vs 77.8%, respectively. NICU admission was required for 23.8% of neonates, and congenital heart disease was identified in 25.2%.

CONCLUSION

Functional cardiac status is significantly associated with adverse outcomes. Multidisciplinary, risk-stratified care is essential to optimize outcomes.