Long-term cardiovascular outcomes after pregnancy in women with heart disease

BACKGROUND: Women with heart disease are at risk for pregnancy complications, but their long-term cardiovascular outcomes after pregnancy are not known. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined long-term cardiovascular outcomes after pregnancy in 1014 consecutive women with heart disease and a matched group of 2028 women without heart disease. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, stroke, myocardial infarction, or arrhythmia. Secondary outcomes included cardiac procedures and new hypertension or diabetes mellitus. We compared the rates of these outcomes between women with and without heart disease and adjusted for maternal and pregnancy characteristics. We also determined if pregnancy risk prediction tools (CARPREG [Canadian Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy] and World Health Organization) could stratify long-term risks. At 20-year follow-up, a primary outcome occurred in 33.1% of women with heart disease, compared with 2.1% of women without heart disease. Thirty-one percent of women with heart disease required a cardiac procedure. The primary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio, 19.6; 95% CI, 13.8–29.0; P\u3c0.0001) and new hypertension or diabetes mellitus (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.4–2.0; P\u3c0.0001) were more frequent in women with heart disease compared with those without. Pregnancy risk prediction tools further stratified the late cardiovascular risks in women with heart disease, a primary outcome occurring in up to 54% of women in the highest pregnancy risk category. CONCLUSIONS: Following pregnancy, women with heart disease are at high risk for adverse long-term cardiovascular outcomes. Current pregnancy risk prediction tools can identify women at highest risk for long-term cardiovascular events

Ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death in adults after a Mustard operation for transposition of the great arteries

Aims To examine the prevalence of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and sudden death (SD) in adults with atrial repair of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and to determine associated risk factors. Methods and results In a single-centre review, we studied the outcome of 149 adults (mean age 28 ± 7 years) who had undergone a Mustard operation for TGA. During a mean follow-up of 9 ± 6 years, sustained VT and/or SD occurred in 9% (13/149) of the cohort. Sustained VT/SD was more likely to occur in patients with associated anatomic lesions [hazard ratio (HR) 4.9, 95% CI 1.5-16.0], with NYHA class ≥III (HR 9.8, 95% CI 3.0-31.6) and with an impaired subaortic right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF) (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-4.0 per 10% decrease in EF). There was an inverse correlation between the RV-EF and both age and QRS duration. Patients with a QRS duration ≥140 ms were at highest risk of sustained VT/SD (HR 13.6, 95% CI 2.9-63.4). Atrial tachyarrhythmia was detected in 66 (44%) patients, but was not a statistically significant predictor of sustained VT/SD in our adult population (HR 2.7, 95% CI 0.6-13.0). Conclusion Sustained VT/SD in adults after a Mustard operation for TGA are more common than previously described. Age, systemic ventricular function, and QRS duration are interrelated and are associated with VT/SD. A QRS duration ≥140 ms helps to identify the high risk patien

Maternal cardiac output and fetal doppler predict adverse neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with heart disease

Background-The mechanistic basis of the proposed relationship between maternal cardiac output and neonatal complications in pregnant women with heart disease has not been well elucidated. Methods and Results-Pregnant women with cardiac disease and healthy pregnant women (controls) were prospectively followed with maternal echocardiography and obstetrical ultrasound scans at baseline, third trimester, and postpartum. Fetal/neonatal complications (death, small-for-gestational-age or low birthweight, prematurity, respiratory distress syndrome, or intraventricular hemorrhage) comprised the primary study outcome. One hundred and twenty-seven women with cardiac disease and 45 healthy controls were enrolled. Neonatal events occurred in 28 pregnancies and were more frequent in the heart disease group as compared with controls (n=26/127 or 21% versus n=2/45 or 4%; P=0.01). Multiple complications in an infant were counted as a single outcome event. Neonatal complications in the heart disease group were small-for-gestational-age/low birthweight (n=18), prematurity (n=14), and intraventricular hemorrhage/respiratory distress syndrome (n=5). Preexisting obstetric risk factors (P=0.003), maternal cardiac output decline from baseline to third trimester (P=0.017), and third trimester umbilical artery Doppler abnormalities (P \u3c 0.001) independently predicted neonatal complications and were incorporated into a novel risk index in which 0, 1, and \u3e 1 predictor corresponded to expected complication rates of 5%, 30%, and 76%, respectively. Conclusions-Decline in maternal cardiac output during pregnancy and abnormal umbilical artery Doppler flows independently predict neonatal complications. These findings will enhance the identification of higher risk pregnancies that would benefit from close antenatal surveillance

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in women with Mustard palliation for complete transposition of the great arteries

AbstractBackgroundWomen with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) following atrial redirection surgery are at risk of pregnancy-associated arrhythmia and heart failure. The cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) characteristics of these women and the relationship of CMR findings to pregnancy outcomes have not been described.MethodsWe included 17 women with atrial redirection surgery and CMR within 2years of delivery.ResultsAll women were asymptomatic at baseline (New York Heart Association Class 1). CMR studies were completed pre-pregnancy in 3, antepartum/peripartum in 2, and postpartum in 12 women. Three women (3/17, 18%) experienced major cardiovascular events related to pregnancy: cardiac arrest (n=1) and symptomatic atrial arrhythmia (n=2). Median gestational age at delivery was 38weeks (24–39weeks) and birth weight was 2770g (2195–3720g). Complications were seen in 3 offspring (3/17, 18%): death (n=1) and prematurity (n=2). CMR characteristics included median right ventricular end diastolic volume 119mL/m2 (range 85–214mL/m2) and median right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) 37% (range 30–51%). All women with cardiovascular complications had an RVEF <35% (range 32–34%). The association between RVEF <35% and cardiovascular complications trended towards statistical significance (p=0.05). No statistically significant differences in CMR measurements were found between those with and without neonatal complications.ConclusionsWhile the majority of women in this cohort had successful outcomes following pregnancy, important cardiovascular complications were seen in a significant minority, all of whom had an RVEF <35%. The preliminary findings of our study provide impetus for a larger prospective study to evaluate the prognostic role of CMR in pregnant women with atrial redirection surgery

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide in Pregnant Women With Heart Disease

ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to examine: 1) B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) response to pregnancy in women with heart disease; and 2) the relationship between BNP levels and adverse maternal cardiac events during pregnancy.BackgroundPregnancy imposes a hemodynamic stress on the heart. BNP might be a useful biomarker to assess the ability of the heart to adapt to the hemodynamic load of pregnancy.MethodsThis was a prospective study of women with structural heart disease seen at our center. Serial clinical data and plasma BNP measurements were obtained during the first trimester, third trimester, and after delivery (>6 weeks).ResultsSeventy-eight pregnant women were studied; 66 women with heart disease (age 31 ± 5 years), and 12 healthy women (age 33 ± 5 years). During pregnancy, the median peak BNP level was higher in women with heart disease compared with control subjects (median 79, interquartile range 51 to 152 pg/ml vs. median 35, interquartile range 21 to 43 pg/ml, p < 0.001). In women with heart disease, those with subaortic ventricular dysfunction had higher BNP levels (p = 0.03). A BNP >100 pg/ml was measured in all women with events during pregnancy (n = 8). Sixteen women had increased BNP levels during pregnancy but did not have clinical events. None of the women with BNP ≤100 pg/ml had events. BNP ≤100 pg/ml had a negative predictive value of 100% for identifying events during pregnancy.ConclusionsMany pregnant women with heart disease have increased BNP levels during pregnancy. Incorporating serial BNP levels in into clinical practice can be helpful, specifically in adjudicating suspected adverse cardiac events during pregnancy

Pregnancy in patients with the Fontan operation

Improved survival rates for patients with a Fontan circulation has allowed more women with this complex cardiac physiology to contemplate pregnancy. However, pregnancy in women with a Fontan circulation is associated with a high risk of adverse maternal and foetal outcomes, high rates of miscarriage, and preterm delivery. Factors associated with a successful pregnancy outcome are younger age, normal body weight, absence of significant functional limitation, no Fontan-related complications, and well-functioning single ventricle physiology. Appropriate care with timely preconception counselling and regular, frequent clinical reviews by a multidisciplinary team based at a tertiary centre improves the chance of a successful pregnancy. Empowerment of patients with education on their specific congenital cardiac condition and its projected trajectory helps them make informed choices regarding their health, reproductive choices, and assists them to achieve their life goals.</p

Cardiac outcomes after pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease

Objective: Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for adverse cardiac events during pregnancy; however, the risk of events late after pregnancy (late cardiac events; LCE) has not been well studied. A study was undertaken to examine the frequency and determinants of LCE in a large cohort of women with CHD. Design: Baseline characteristics and pregnancy were prospectively recorded. LCE (\u3e6 months after delivery) were determined by chart review. Survival analysis was used to determine the risk factors for LCE. Setting: A tertiary care referral hospital. Patients: The outcomes of 405 pregnancies were studied (318 women; median follow-up 2.6 years). Main outcome measures: LCE included cardiac death/ arrest, pulmonary oedema, arrhythmia or stroke. Results: LCE occurred after 12% (50/405) of pregnancies. The 5-year rate of LCE was higher in women with adverse cardiac events during pregnancy than in those without (27±9% vs 15±3%, HR 2.2, p=0.02). Women at highest risk for LCE were those with functional limitations/cyanosis (HR 3.9, 95% CI 1.2 to 13.0), subaortic ventricular dysfunction (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.4 to 6.6), subpulmonary ventricular dysfunction and/or significant pulmonary regurgitation (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.6 to 6.6), left heart obstruction (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.2) and cardiac events before or during pregnancy (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 4.9). In women with 0, 1 or \u3e1 risk predictors the 5-year rate of LCE was 762%, 2365% and 44610%, respectively (p\u3c0.001). Conclusions: In women with CHD, pre-pregnancy maternal characteristics can help to identify women at increased risk for LCE. Adverse cardiac events during pregnancy are important and are associated with an increased risk of LCE

Cardiac outcomes in adults with supravalvar aortic stenosis

Aims Supravalvar aortic stenosis is a rare form of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction that is often progressive in childhood. Little data are available on outcomes in the adult population. Our aim was to define cardiac outcomes in adults with supravalvar aortic stenosis. Methods and results This is a multicentre retrospective study of cardiac outcomes in adults (≥18 years) with supravalvar aortic stenosis. We examined: (i) adverse cardiac events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, sustained arrhythmias, and infective endocarditis) and (ii) the need for cardiac surgery in adulthood. One hundred and thirteen adults (median age at first visit 19 years; 55% with Williams-Beuren syndrome; 67% with surgical repair in childhood) were identified. Adults without Williams-Beuren syndrome had more severe supravalvar aortic stenosis and more often associated left ventricular outflow tract obstructions (P < 0.001). In contrast, mitral valve regurgitation was more common in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome. Eighty-five per cent of adults (96/113) had serial follow-up information (median follow-up 6.0 years). Of these patients, 13% (12/96) had an adverse cardiac event and 13% (12/96) had cardiac operations (7 valve repair or replacements, 4 supravalvar aortic stenosis repairs, 1 other). Cardiac surgery was more common in adults without Williams-Beuren syndrome (P = 0.007). Progression of supravalvar aortic stenosis during adulthood was rare. Conclusion Adults with supravalvar aortic stenosis remain at risk for cardiac complications and reoperations, while progression of supravalvar aortic stenosis in adulthood is rare. Valve surgery is the most common indication for cardiac surgery in adulthoo