Year: 2026
Type: review
Abstract: Heart disease affects approximately 4% of pregnancies and is the leading non-obstetric cause of maternal death during pregnancy in many countries. The physiological hormonal and haemodynamic changes that occur during this period can unmask previously undiagnosed cardiac disease and destabilise pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. Acute heart failure during pregnancy is uncommon; however, it can lead to severe maternal and fetal complications. Although the diagnostic criteria are the same as those used in the general population, diagnosis can be challenging because the cardinal signs and symptoms of heart failure overlap with several symptoms and clinical findings that commonly occur during pregnancy. A comprehensive clinical history therefore remains fundamental to the diagnostic approach, enabling the rational use of complementary investigations and, in many cases, guiding treatment. Management of acute heart failure during pregnancy must be highly individualised and may involve decisions regarding continuation of the pregnancy and the optimal mode of delivery. Care should therefore be led by an experienced multidisciplinary team with expertise in the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease during pregnancy, with the aim of achieving the best possible outcomes for both the mother and the fetus.
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7203791202