New congenital heart disease epidemiology research reported from Sungkyunkwan University, Cardiac and Vascular Center
December 1st, 2008
2008 DEC 1 -- Research findings, 'Outcomes of pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease: a single center experience in Korea,' are discussed in a new report. According to a study from Seoul, Korea, "Pregnancy outcomes in patients with congenital heart disease have not been fully assessed in Korea. Forty-nine pregnancies that occurred in 34 women with congenital heart disease who registered at our hospital between September 1995 and April 2006 were reviewed."
"Spontaneous abortions occurred in two pregnancies at 6+1 and 7 weeks, and another two underwent elective pregnancy termination. One maternal death in puerperium occurred in a woman with Eisenmenger syndrome. Maternal cardiac complications were noted in 18.4%, pulmonary edema in 16.3%, symptomatic arrhythmia in 6.1%, deterioration of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class by >or=2 in 2.0%, and cardiac death in 2.0%. Independent predictors of adverse maternal cardiac events were an NYHA functional class of >or=3 (odds ratio [OR], 20.3), right ventricular dilation (OR, 21.2), and pulmonary hypertension (OR, 21.8). Neonatal complications occurred in 22.4% of pregnancies and included preterm delivery (16.3%), small for gestational age (12.2%), and neonatal death (2.0%). Independent predictors of adverse neonatal events were pulmonary hypertension (OR, 6.8) and NYHA functional class >or=3 (OR, 23.0). Pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease was found to be significantly associated with maternal cardiac and neonatal complications," wrote Y.B. Song and colleagues, Sungkyunkwan University, Cardiac and Vascular Center.
The researchers concluded: "Pre-pregnancy counseling and multidisciplinary care involving cardiologists and obstetricians are recommended for women with congenital heart disease contemplating pregnancy."
Song and colleagues published the results of their research in the Journal of Korean Medical Science (Outcomes of pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease: a single center experience in Korea. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 2008;23(5):808-13).
For additional information, contact Y.B. Song, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Dept. of Medicine, Grown-Up Congenital Heart Disease Clinic, Cardiac and Vascular Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
The publisher of the Journal of Korean Medical Science can be contacted at: Korean Acad Medical Sciences, 302 75 Dong du Ichon, Dong Yongsan Ku, Seoul 140 031, South Korea.
