Prevalence and characteristics of arrhythmias during the pregnancy

FUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Type of funding sources: None. BACKGROUND: Arrhythmias in pregnancy has been increasing due to the aging of the pregnant women and psychosocial and economic conditions in developing countries. Some of them are benign and do not require special treatment while others will be needed treatment in order to improve subjective feelings. Aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of cardiac arrhythmias in pregnant women with hypertension and without other cardiac structural pathologies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 110 pregnant women with hypertension were analyzed during 2018-2021 years. Mean age of the pregnant women were 28.65±11.45 years. Electrocardiogram, echocardiography and if necessary 24 hour Holter monitoring was recorded and analyzed along with other clinical and instrumental data. All statistical analysis were performed using STATA software. RESULTS: The most frequent type of heart rhythm disorder was supraventricular arrhythmia 34%, followed by premature contractures (24%) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (12%). 24% of supraventricular tachycardia was detected in the first trimester, 35% in second trimester and 41% in the last trimester. Among premature contractures only 26% was detected in the first trimester. 29% of premature contractures was detected in the second and 44% in the third trimester of the pregnancy. Regarding the atrial fibrillation, it was detected in 6 (46%) pregnant women in the first trimester, 4 (31%) in the second trimester and 3 (23%) in the third trimester. Pregnant women with supraventricular arrhythmias tended to have higher level of diastolic blood pressure than those without it (88.12±8.2 mmHG vs. 84.25±9.3 mmHg, P=0.034). Pregnant women with premature contractures tended to have higher level of systolic blood pressure than those without it (132.3±11.4 vs. 126.34±12.65 mmHg, P=0.031). Atrial fibrillation was not associated with blood pressure levels. CONCLUSION: Supraventricular arrhythmias and premature contractures are common in the third trimester of the pregnancy. High systolic blood pressure is associated with premature contractures whilst high diastolic blood pressure with supraventricular arrhythmias.