Titia P E Ruys1, Aldo Maggioni2, Mark R Johnson3, Karen Sliwa4, Luigi Tavazzi5, Markus Schwerzmann6, Petros Nihoyannopoulos7, Mirta Kozelj8, Ariane Marelli9, Uri Elkayam10, Roger Hall11, Jolien W Roos-Hesselink12. 1. Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands. 2. ANMCO Research Centre, Florence, Italy. 3. Imperial College London, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, United Kingdom. 4. Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. 5. GVM Care & Research, E.S. Health Science Foundation, Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cotignola, Italy. 6. Inselspital (University Hospital), Bern, Switzerland. 7. Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. 8. Ljubljana University Medical Center, Ljubljana, Slovenia. 9. McGill Adult Congenital Heart Disease Unit, Montreal, Canada. 10. University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 11. Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Norwich, United Kingdom. 12. Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Electronic address: j.roos@erasmusmc.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Data on pharmacological management during pregnancy are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the type and frequency of cardiac medication used in pregnancy in patients with cardiovascular disease and to assess the relationship between medication use and fetal outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2011 sixty hospitals in 28 countries enrolled 1321 pregnant women. All patients had structural heart disease (congenital 66%, valvular 25% or cardiomyopathy 7% or ischemic 2%). Medication was used by 424 patients (32%) at some time during pregnancy: 22% used beta-blockers, 8% antiplatelet agents, 7% diuretics, 2.8% ACE inhibitors and 0.5% statins. Compared to those who did not take medication, patients taking medication were older, more likely to be parous, have valvular heart disease and were less often in sinus rhythm. The odds ratio of fetal adverse events in users versus non-users of medication was 2.6 (95% CI 2.0-3.4) and after adjustment for cardiac and obstetric parameter was 2.0 (95% CI 1.4-2.7). Babies of patients treated with beta-blockers had a significantly lower adjusted birth weight (3140 versus 3240 g, p = 0.002). The highest rate of fetal malformation was found in patients taking ACE inhibitors (8%). CONCLUSION: One third of pregnant women with heart disease used cardiac medication during their pregnancy, which was associated with an increased rate of adverse fetal events. Birth weight was significantly lower in children of patients taking beta-blockers. A randomized trial is needed to distinguish the effects of the medication from the effects of the underlying maternal cardiac condition.
BACKGROUND: Data on pharmacological management during pregnancy are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the type and frequency of cardiac medication used in pregnancy in patients with cardiovascular disease and to assess the relationship between medication use and fetal outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2007 and 2011 sixty hospitals in 28 countries enrolled 1321 pregnant women. All patients had structural heart disease (congenital 66%, valvular 25% or cardiomyopathy 7% or ischemic 2%). Medication was used by 424 patients (32%) at some time during pregnancy: 22% used beta-blockers, 8% antiplatelet agents, 7% diuretics, 2.8% ACE inhibitors and 0.5% statins. Compared to those who did not take medication, patients taking medication were older, more likely to be parous, have valvular heart disease and were less often in sinus rhythm. The odds ratio of fetal adverse events in users versus non-users of medication was 2.6 (95% CI 2.0-3.4) and after adjustment for cardiac and obstetric parameter was 2.0 (95% CI 1.4-2.7). Babies of patients treated with beta-blockers had a significantly lower adjusted birth weight (3140 versus 3240 g, p = 0.002). The highest rate of fetal malformation was found in patients taking ACE inhibitors (8%). CONCLUSION: One third of pregnant women with heart disease used cardiac medication during their pregnancy, which was associated with an increased rate of adverse fetal events. Birth weight was significantly lower in children of patients taking beta-blockers. A randomized trial is needed to distinguish the effects of the medication from the effects of the underlying maternal cardiac condition.
Authors: Karishma P Ramlakhan; Daniel Tobler; Matthias Greutmann; Markus Schwerzmann; Lucia Baris; Anji T Yetman; Petros Nihoyannopoulos; Pravin Manga; Eric Boersma; Aldo P Maggioni; Mark R Johnson; Roger Hall; Jolien W Roos-Hesselink Journal: Heart Date: 2020-10-29 Impact factor: 5.994