Peripartum management and outcomes of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy: a single-centre retrospective cohort study from Australia (2012–2021)
Authors' conclusion
This study of peripartum management and outcomes in women with mWHO I-IV cardiovascular risk demonstrated low levels of maternal mortality and morbidity, but increased risk of several adverse outcomes in high-risk CVD.
Study context
- Population
- Pregnant women with cardiovascular disease (CVD) (modified World Health Organization (mWHO) I–IV), stratified by mWHO risk category, vs a control obstetric population; single centre, Australia508 pregnancies with CVD
- Participants
- 323 / 185 / 55,153
- Exposure
- Low-risk and high-risk CVD in pregnancy vs control obstetric population
- Low-riskn = 323
- High-riskn = 185
- Controln = 55,153reference
- Outcome
- Maternal mortality and cardiac failure
Methodological detailssingle-centre
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Maternal mortality and cardiac failure (CVD pregnancies)
Maternal deaths
0
Cardiac failure
3 %
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
%
| Outcome | Low-risk | Control | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caesarean deliveryHigh-risk vs Control · more likely in high-risk | P < 0.01 | ||
| Caesarean deliveryLow-risk vs Control · no difference | P = 1.0 | ||
| Neonatal deathComparable | 0.3 | 0.3 |
Postpartum haemorrhage
- No difference between groups (P = 0.91)
Preterm birth, low Apgar score, stillbirth
- Preterm birth higher in High-risk than Low-risk and Control
- P < 0.01
- Low Apgar score higher in High-risk than Low-risk and Control
- P = 0.01
- Stillbirth higher in High-risk than Low-risk and Control
- P = 0.02
- Maternal cardiac disease influenced decision for preterm birth
- 15 %
Anaesthetic management
%
- Spinal anaesthesia most frequent for caesarean delivery (CD) in Low-risk
- 61
- CSE most frequent for CD in High-risk
- 31
- Labor epidural analgesia predominant for vaginal deliveries in Low-risk and High-risk
Safety
Major anaesthetic complications
- Rare
- 0.2 %
Original publication
Peripartum management and outcomes of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy: a single-centre retrospective cohort study from Australia (2012–2021). Int J Obstet Anesth. Published 1 September 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →