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Pregnancy and congenital heart disease

Wedlund, Frida LU (2026) In Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
Abstract
Background and aim
Pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease (CHD) increases but complications may occur. To improve health care more research is needed. This thesis aims to study pregnancy complications, healthrelated quality of life in relation to pregnancy and in vitro fertilization complications in women with CHD.

Methods
Papers I–II studied local data and Papers III–IV national data. Paper I investigated health-related quality of life in relation to pregnancy (128 pregnancies). Paper II examined obstetric and neonatal complications (149 pregnancies). Papers III–IV used the Medical Birth Register, the Swedish Register of CHD and controls from Statistics Sweden. Paper III studied obstetric complications (7,998... (More)
Background and aim
Pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease (CHD) increases but complications may occur. To improve health care more research is needed. This thesis aims to study pregnancy complications, healthrelated quality of life in relation to pregnancy and in vitro fertilization complications in women with CHD.

Methods
Papers I–II studied local data and Papers III–IV national data. Paper I investigated health-related quality of life in relation to pregnancy (128 pregnancies). Paper II examined obstetric and neonatal complications (149 pregnancies). Papers III–IV used the Medical Birth Register, the Swedish Register of CHD and controls from Statistics Sweden. Paper III studied obstetric complications (7,998 pregnancies in women with CHD). Paper IV investigated major adverse cardiovascular events up to 12 weeks after in vitro fertilization and up to one year after in vitro fertilization pregnancy (223 pregnancies in women with CHD). Paper IV also used National Cause of Death Register, National Patient Register and Q-IVF.

Results
In Paper I, women with CHD experienced increased pain/discomfort and worse mobility during the third trimester compared with before pregnancy. Women with CHD delivering by caesarean section had increased anxiety/depression before pregnancy.
Paper II showed an increased risk of prematurity, caesarean section and foetal growth restriction in women with complex CHD compared with less complex CHD.
Paper III found an increased likelihood of prematurity, caesarean section and small-for-gestational-age neonates in women with CHD compared with controls.
Paper IV reported increased incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events up to 1 year after an in vitro fertilization pregnancy in women with CHD compared with controls.

Conclusion
Women with CHD may have increased risk of caesarean section, small-for-gestational-age neonates, prematurity, and worse health during pregnancy. They may also have increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events during an in vitro fertilization pregnancy. However, serious complications seem rare. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Docent Sederholm Lawesson, Sofia, Department of Cardiology in Linköping, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
congenital heart disease, pregnancy, health-related quality of life, caesarean section, small-for-gestational-age, prematurity, foetal growth restriction, in vitro fertilization, major adverse cardiovascular events
in
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
issue
2026:117
pages
85 pages
publisher
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine
defense location
Föreläsningssal 1, Centralblocket, Entrégatan 7, Skånes Universitetssjukhus i Lund. Join by Zoom: https://lu-se.zoom.us/j/61987993557
defense date
2026-09-25 13:00:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-8021-915-0
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
a93621b8-c3ee-4171-85ef-e0672194a6e7
date added to LUP
2026-08-30 13:53:11
date last changed
2026-09-03 10:12:27
@phdthesis{a93621b8-c3ee-4171-85ef-e0672194a6e7,
  abstract     = {{Background and aim<br/>Pregnancy in women with congenital heart disease (CHD) increases but complications may occur. To improve health care more research is needed. This thesis aims to study pregnancy complications, healthrelated quality of life in relation to pregnancy and in vitro fertilization complications in women with CHD. <br/><br/>Methods<br/>Papers I–II studied local data and Papers III–IV national data. Paper I investigated health-related quality of life in relation to pregnancy (128 pregnancies). Paper II examined obstetric and neonatal complications (149 pregnancies). Papers III–IV used the Medical Birth Register, the Swedish Register of CHD and controls from Statistics Sweden. Paper III studied obstetric complications (7,998 pregnancies in women with CHD). Paper IV investigated major adverse cardiovascular events up to 12 weeks after in vitro fertilization and up to one year after in vitro fertilization pregnancy (223 pregnancies in women with CHD). Paper IV also used National Cause of Death Register, National Patient Register and Q-IVF.<br/><br/>Results<br/>In Paper I, women with CHD experienced increased pain/discomfort and worse mobility during the third trimester compared with before pregnancy. Women with CHD delivering by caesarean section had increased anxiety/depression before pregnancy.<br/>Paper II showed an increased risk of prematurity, caesarean section and foetal growth restriction in women with complex CHD compared with less complex CHD.<br/>Paper III found an increased likelihood of prematurity, caesarean section and small-for-gestational-age neonates in women with CHD compared with controls.<br/>Paper IV reported increased incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events up to 1 year after an in vitro fertilization pregnancy in women with CHD compared with controls.<br/><br/>Conclusion<br/>Women with CHD may have increased risk of caesarean section, small-for-gestational-age neonates, prematurity, and worse health during pregnancy. They may also have increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events during an in vitro fertilization pregnancy. However, serious complications seem rare.}},
  author       = {{Wedlund, Frida}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8021-915-0}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{congenital heart disease; pregnancy; health-related quality of life; caesarean section; small-for-gestational-age; prematurity; foetal growth restriction; in vitro fertilization; major adverse cardiovascular events}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2026:117}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine}},
  series       = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Pregnancy and congenital heart disease}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/259423374/Frida_Wedlund_-_thesis.pdf}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}