Heart disease in pregnancy—clinical pattern and prevalence: initial data from the first cardio-maternal unit in Iraq

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study to determine the clinical pattern and prevalence of heart disease in pregnancy at the first established cardio-maternal unit in Iraq over the last 4 years; since January 2015 till May 2019. Data are presented as number and percentage. RESULTS: A total of 252 pregnant women presented to cardio-maternal unit included in this study. According to the collected data, among the main diagnosis of heart disease during pregnancy was valvular heart disease 34.1%, followed by congenital heart disease 30.5%, cardiomyopathy 29.8%, pulmonary hypertension 4%, and ischemic heart disease 1.6%. Among subtypes of the main heart diseases in pregnant women, the most clinical pattern was: the prosthetic heart valve (26.7%) in valvular heart disease, both atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect (35%) in congenital heart disease, and peripartum cardiomyopathy (76%) among cardiomyopathies.