European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background:Cardiac diseases complicate about 1% of pregnancies in women.
Pregnancy is a natural stress test and the cardiovascular system must undergo major
changes to its structure to sustain tremendous increases in blood volume. According to
the National Centre for Health Statistics, almost half of adults aged 20 and older have at
least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Detailed assessment of patient
throughout pregnancy may lead to initial discovery of heart diseases. Hence, the present
study was conducted at Tertiary Care Hospital to study the prevalence of heart diseases
in pregnancy, and is to assess the Sociodemographic Characteristics and Early
Pregnancy Behaviors among Pregnant Women with Heart Disease.
Materials and Methods: This prospective, hospital-based study was done in the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of a Teaching Institute of Goa from the 1stof
June 2012 to 31stof May 2014 and included all the pregnant women or puerperia with
heart disease who delivered during that time period. A written consent was obtained
from all participants and they were fully informed about the study. Clinical history was
gathered after admission, and patient-specific and pertinent information was acquired
through interviews in a structured data collection schedule. In addition to all routine
antenatal investigations, electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed.
Collected data was tabulated on a Microsoft Excel sheet and analyzed using simple
descriptive statistics like percentage, ratio and proportion.
Results: Out of total 10230 admissions in our hospital in year, 102 of women had
pregnancy complicated by diagnosed heart diseases (1.0%). In present study, most of
patients were having NYHA grade of 1 (67.6%) and 2 (26.5%). Two fifth of patients
(21.6%) were illiterate. Most of admitted patients were from rural area (67.6%). One
third of patients were having SES of class III (30.4%). In present study, 85.3% of
subjects have registered for the ANC care. Only one third of subjects had four or more
ANC visits (29.4%). Smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy was noticed
in 2.9% and 6.9% of patients. In our study out of 102 patients, there was one maternal
death in this study.
Conclusion: The incidence of heart disease in pregnancy was 1 % and most of the cases
were NYHA Grade 1 (67.6%) or grade II (26.5%). Most of admitted patients were from
rural area (67.6%). Only one third of subjects had four or more ANC visits (29.4%).
Therefore, educating the patient about heart disease and its complications reduces
maternal and perinatal mortality.