Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Symptoms during pregnancy in primiparous women with congenital heart disease

Bay, Annika ; Berghammer, Malin LU ; Burström, Åsa ; Holstad, Ylva ; Christersson, Christina ; Dellborg, Mikael ; Trzebiatowska-Krzynska, Aleksandra ; Sörensson, Peder ; Thilén, Ulf LU and Johansson, Bengt (2024) In Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal 58(1).
Abstract

Background: 

As more women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are reaching childbearing age, it becomes more common for their symptoms to be evaluated during pregnancy. However, pregnancy-related symptoms are similar to those caused by heart disease. This study investigated the prevalence of factors associated with symptoms during pregnancy in women with CHD. Methods: The national birth register was searched for primiparous women with CHD who were registered in the national quality register for patients with CHD. Results: Symptoms during the third trimester were reported in 104 of 465 evaluated women. The most common symptom was palpitations followed by dyspnea. Factors associated with symptoms were tested in a univariable model;... (More)

Background: 

As more women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are reaching childbearing age, it becomes more common for their symptoms to be evaluated during pregnancy. However, pregnancy-related symptoms are similar to those caused by heart disease. This study investigated the prevalence of factors associated with symptoms during pregnancy in women with CHD. Methods: The national birth register was searched for primiparous women with CHD who were registered in the national quality register for patients with CHD. Results: Symptoms during the third trimester were reported in 104 of 465 evaluated women. The most common symptom was palpitations followed by dyspnea. Factors associated with symptoms were tested in a univariable model; higher NYHA classification (>1) (OR 11.3, 95%CI 5.5–23.2), low physical activity (≤3 h/week) (OR 2.1 95%CI 1.3–3.6) and educational level ≤ 12 years (OR 1.9 95%CI 1.2–3.0) were associated with having symptoms. In multivariable analysis, low physical activity level (OR 2.4 95%CI 1.2–5.0) and higher NYHA class (OR 11.3 95%CI 5.0–25.6) remained associated with symptoms during pregnancy. There were no cases with new onset of impaired systemic ventricular function during pregnancy. Conclusion: Symptoms during pregnancy are common in women with CHD but are often already present before pregnancy. Because ordinary symptoms during pregnancy often overlap with symptoms of heart disease, it is important to know if symptoms were present before pregnancy and if they became worse during pregnancy. These results should be included in pre-pregnancy counselling and considered in the monitoring during pregnancy.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Congenital heart disease, pregnancy, pregnancy symptoms, reproductive health
in
Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal
volume
58
issue
1
article number
2302135
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:38192047
  • scopus:85181968010
ISSN
1401-7431
DOI
10.1080/14017431.2024.2302135
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
57c01a6d-3d5f-40d4-8667-95308d5ed803
date added to LUP
2024-02-09 12:59:59
date last changed
2024-04-25 15:54:30
@article{57c01a6d-3d5f-40d4-8667-95308d5ed803,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: </p><p>As more women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are reaching childbearing age, it becomes more common for their symptoms to be evaluated during pregnancy. However, pregnancy-related symptoms are similar to those caused by heart disease. This study investigated the prevalence of factors associated with symptoms during pregnancy in women with CHD. Methods: The national birth register was searched for primiparous women with CHD who were registered in the national quality register for patients with CHD. Results: Symptoms during the third trimester were reported in 104 of 465 evaluated women. The most common symptom was palpitations followed by dyspnea. Factors associated with symptoms were tested in a univariable model; higher NYHA classification (&gt;1) (OR 11.3, 95%CI 5.5–23.2), low physical activity (≤3 h/week) (OR 2.1 95%CI 1.3–3.6) and educational level ≤ 12 years (OR 1.9 95%CI 1.2–3.0) were associated with having symptoms. In multivariable analysis, low physical activity level (OR 2.4 95%CI 1.2–5.0) and higher NYHA class (OR 11.3 95%CI 5.0–25.6) remained associated with symptoms during pregnancy. There were no cases with new onset of impaired systemic ventricular function during pregnancy. Conclusion: Symptoms during pregnancy are common in women with CHD but are often already present before pregnancy. Because ordinary symptoms during pregnancy often overlap with symptoms of heart disease, it is important to know if symptoms were present before pregnancy and if they became worse during pregnancy. These results should be included in pre-pregnancy counselling and considered in the monitoring during pregnancy.</p>}},
  author       = {{Bay, Annika and Berghammer, Malin and Burström, Åsa and Holstad, Ylva and Christersson, Christina and Dellborg, Mikael and Trzebiatowska-Krzynska, Aleksandra and Sörensson, Peder and Thilén, Ulf and Johansson, Bengt}},
  issn         = {{1401-7431}},
  keywords     = {{Congenital heart disease; pregnancy; pregnancy symptoms; reproductive health}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Cardiovascular Journal}},
  title        = {{Symptoms during pregnancy in primiparous women with congenital heart disease}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14017431.2024.2302135}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/14017431.2024.2302135}},
  volume       = {{58}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}