Pregnancy complicated with heart disease

Heart disease complicating pregnancy is a severe obstetric complication and the third leading cause of maternal death in China, ranking first among non-direct obstetric causes of death. Pregnancy increases cardiac burden due to uterine enlargement and increased blood volume. During delivery, uterine and skeletal muscle contractions cause a surge of blood to the heart. Postpartum increases in circulating blood volume can precipitate heart failure in hearts with pre-existing lesions. Additionally, chronic hypoxia may lead to intrauterine growth restriction and fetal distress. Clinically, rheumatic heart disease complicating pregnancy is most common, followed by pregnancy-induced hypertension heart disease, peripartum cardiomyopathy, and anemic heart disease. This condition warrants significant attention.