Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States, accounting for over one-third of all pregnancy-related deaths, primarily due to a lack of suspicion and delays in diagnosis. About one-third of these deaths are potentially preventable. Additionally, CVD is responsible for maternal morbidity including longer length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and future pregnancy risks. Diagnosis of CVD is challenging, as symptoms of cardiovascular disease are often mistaken for normal symptoms of pregnancy, leading to delays and misdiagnosis. Early identification of CVD risk allows for engaging in preventive measures after delivery which may prevent the onset of CVD in the future.
One in four maternal deaths are due to CVD, including cardiomyopathy. While most other causes of maternal deaths have declined over time, those due to CVD have increased. The identification of CVD during pregnancy is challenging, as symptoms of CVD are often mistaken for normal symptoms of pregnancy, leading to delays and misdiagnosis. Early identification of CVD risk allows for preventative measures after delivery, which may prevent future CVD onset.
The development of a clinical quality measure is essential in improving the diagnosis of CVD in pregnant and postpartum patients. Integrating cardiovascular risk assessment tools into routine pregnancy/postpartum care allows for early identification of a patient’s CVD risk. It will lead to better monitoring and early intervention to prevent pregnancy complications and death.
The cardio-obstetric program at the University of California, Irvine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, developed and evaluated a cardiovascular risk assessment tool for pregnant and postpartum people. The program is led by Dr. Afshan Hameed, MD, FACC, FACOG, specializing in maternal-fetal medicine and cardiology. With funding from the Diagnostic Excellence Initiative of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and a grant from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Dr. Hameed is partnering with major national healthcare systems to implement a quality measure and evaluate the CVD risk assessment tool for pregnant and postpartum patients for cardiovascular disease.