Cardiovascular Fellowship Training in Cardio-Obstetrics: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

The United States has the highest maternal mortality in the developed world with cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths. In response to this, the emerging subspecialty of cardio-obstetrics has been growing over the past decade. Cardiologists with training and expertise in caring for patients with cardiovascular disease in pregnancy are essential to provide effective, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and high-quality care for this vulnerable population. This document provides a blueprint on incorporation of cardio-obstetrics training into cardiovascular disease fellowship programs to improve knowledge, skill, and expertise among cardiologists caring for these patients, with the goal of improving maternal and fetal outcomes.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Risks Diagnosis and Management.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare cause of heart failure that occurs during late pregnancy or in the early postpartum period. Delays in diagnosis may occur as symptoms of heart failure mimic those of normal pregnancy. The diagnosis should be considered in any pregnant or postpartum woman with symptoms concerning for heart failure. If there are clinical concerns, labs including N-terminal pro-BNP should be checked, and an echocardiogram should be ordered to assess for systolic dysfunction. Prompt medical treatment tailored for pregnancy and lactation is essential to prevent adverse events. Outcomes are variable, including complete recovery, persistent myocardial dysfunction with heart failure symptoms, arrhythmias, thromboembolic events, and/or rapid deterioration requiring mechanical circulatory support and cardiac transplantation. It is essential that care is provided as part of a multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics team including obstetrics, cardiology, maternal fetal medicine, anesthesiology, and nursing. All women with peripartum cardiomyopathy should have close follow-up with a cardiologist, although optimal duration of medical therapy following complete recovery is unknown. Women considering a subsequent pregnancy require preconception counseling and close collaboration between obstetrics and cardiology throughout pregnancy.

Cardiac medications in obstetric patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review summarizes recent literature, updated safety data, and major clinical considerations for commonly used medications for arrhythmias, heart failure, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and anticoagulation during pregnancy and lactation. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have shown a benefit to more aggressive treatment of mild chronic hypertension to a blood pressure goal of <140/90 with oral labetalol and nifedipine remaining first-line agents. Aspirin is now routinely used for preeclampsia prevention, while experience with other antiplatelet agents, such as purinergic receptor P2Y G protein-coupled 12 (P2Y12) inhibitors, continues to grow. Data on statin therapy are rapidly changing and recent studies suggest this class may not be associated with fetal harm and can be continued in select cases. SUMMARY: As data regarding medication safety continues to evolve, a multidisciplinary team is needed for full consideration of maternal and fetal risks and benefits. Ongoing studies are needed to improve and expand our understanding of medication safety during pregnancy and lactation.

Trends, Predictors, and Outcomes of Cardiovascular Complications at Delivery Associated With Gestational Diabetes: A National Inpatient Sample Analysis (2004-2019).

Background Gestational diabetes (GD) is associated with increased risk of long-term cardiovascular complications. However, data on acute peripartum cardiovascular complications are not well established. Hence, we aimed to investigate the association of GD with acute cardiovascular outcomes at the time of delivery admission. Methods and Results We used data from the National Inpatient Sample (2004-2019). International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) or Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes were used to identify delivery hospitalizations and GD diagnosis. A total of 63 115 002 weighted hospitalizations for deliveries were identified, of which 3.9% were among individuals with GD (n=2 435 301). The prevalence of both GD and obesity increased during the study period (P trends<0.01). Individuals with GD versus those without GD had a higher prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. After adjustment for age, race or ethnicity, comorbidities, insurance, and income, GD remained independently associated with cardiovascular complications including preeclampsia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.97 [95% CI, 1.96-1.98]), peripartum cardiomyopathy (aOR, 1.15 [1.08-1.22]), acute kidney injury (aOR, 1.16 [1.11-1.21]), stroke (aOR, 1.15 [1.09-1.23]), and arrhythmias (aOR, 1.48 [1.46-1.50]), compared with no GD. Moreover, delivery hospitalizations among individuals with GD were associated with increased length (3 versus 2 days, P<0.01) and cost of hospitalization ($4909 versus $3682, P<0.01). Even in the absence of preeclampsia, GD was associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. Conclusions Individuals with GD had a higher risk of preeclampsia, peripartum cardiomyopathy, acute kidney injury, stroke, and arrhythmias during delivery hospitalizations. As rates of GD are increasing globally, efforts to improve preconception cardiometabolic health and prevent GD may represent important strategies to improve peripartum maternal outcomes and mitigate long-term cardiovascular risk.

Ischemic Heart Disease in Young Women: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

The Cardiovascular Disease in Women Committee of the American College of Cardiology convened a working group to develop a consensus regarding the continuing rise of mortality rates in young women aged 35 to 54 years. Heart disease mortality rates in young women continue to increase. Young women have increased mortality secondary to ischemic heart disease (IHD) compared with comparably aged men and similar mortality to that observed among older women. The authors reviewed the published evidence, including observational and mechanistic/translational data, and identified knowledge gaps pertaining to young women. This paper provides clinicians with pragmatic, evidence-based management strategies for young women at risk for IHD. Next-step research opportunities are outlined. This report presents highlights of the working group review and a summary of suggested research directions to advance the IHD field in the next decade.

Cardiovascular Complications of Pregnancy-Associated COVID-19 Infections.

Cardiovascular complications are frequently present in coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) infection. These include microvascular and macrovascular thrombotic complications such as arterial and venous thromboembolism, myocardial injury or inflammation resulting in infarction, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Data suggest increased risk of adverse outcomes in pregnant compared with nonpregnant women of reproductive age with COVID-19 infection, including need for intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation utilization. Current statements addressing COVID-19-associated cardiac complications do not include pregnancy complications that may mimic COVID-19 complications such as peripartum cardiomyopathy, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, and preeclampsia. Unique to pregnancy, COVID-19 complications can result in preterm delivery and modify management of the pregnancy. Moreover, pregnancy has often been an exclusion criterion for enrollment in research studies. In this review, we summarize what is known about pregnancy-associated COVID-19 cardiovascular complications.

Gender Differences in Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy for Cardiovascular Disease Among Young Veterans.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure (HF), among women Veterans. Clinical practice guidelines recommend multiple pharmacotherapies that can reduce risk of mortality and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To determine if there are disparities in the use of guideline-directed medical therapy by gender among Veterans with incident CAD and HF. DESIGN: Retrospective. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans (934,504; 87.8% men and 129,469; 12.2% women) returning from Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn. MAIN MEASURES: Differences by gender in the prescription of Class 1, Level of Evidence A guideline-directed medical therapy among patients who developed incident CAD and HF at 30 days, 90 days, and 12 months after diagnosis. For CAD, medications included statins and antiplatelet therapy. For HF, medications included beta-blockers and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors. KEY RESULTS: Overall, women developed CAD and HF at a younger average age than men (mean 45.8 vs. 47.7 years, p<0.001; and 43.7 vs. 45.4 years, p<0.02, respectively). In the 12 months following a diagnosis of incident CAD, the odds of a woman receiving a prescription for at least one CAD drug was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.68-1.08) compared to men. In the 12 months following a diagnosis of incident HF, the odds of a woman receiving at least one HF medication was 0.54 (95% CI, 0.37-0.79) compared to men. CONCLUSIONS: Despite guideline recommendations, young women Veterans have approximately half the odds of being prescribed guideline-directed medical therapy within 1-year after a diagnosis of HF. These results highlight the need to develop targeted strategies to minimize gender disparities in CVD care to prevent adverse outcomes in this young and growing population.

Need for Better and Broader Training in Cardio-Obstetrics: A National Survey of Cardiologists, Cardiovascular Team Members, and Cardiology Fellows in Training.

Background Team-based models of cardio-obstetrics care have been developed to address the increasing rate of maternal mortality from cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular clinician and trainee knowledge and comfort with this topic, and the extent of implementation of an interdisciplinary approach to cardio-obstetrics, are unknown. Methods and Results We aimed to assess the current state of cardio-obstetrics knowledge, practices, and services provided by US cardiovascular clinicians and trainees. A survey developed in conjunction with the American College of Cardiology was circulated to a representative sample of cardiologists (N=311), cardiovascular team members (N=51), and fellows in training (N=139) from June 18, 2020, to July 29, 2020. Knowledge and attitudes about the provision of cardiovascular care to pregnant patients and the prevalence and composition of cardio-obstetrics teams were assessed. The widest knowledge gaps on the care of pregnant compared with nonpregnant patients were reported for medication safety (42%), acute coronary syndromes (39%), aortopathies (40%), and valvular heart disease (30%). Most respondents (76%) lack access to a dedicated cardio-obstetrics team, and only 29% of practicing cardiologists received cardio-obstetrics didactics during training. One third of fellows in training reported seeing pregnant women 0 to 1 time per year, and 12% of fellows in training report formal training in cardio-obstetrics. Conclusions Formalized training in cardio-obstetrics is uncommon, and limited access to multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics teams and large knowledge gaps exist among cardiovascular clinicians. Augmentation of cardio-obstetrics education across career stages is needed to reduce these deficits. These survey results are an initial step toward developing a standard expectation for clinicians' training in cardio-obstetrics.

The Association of Preterm Birth With Maternal Nativity and Length of Residence Among Non-Hispanic Black Women.

Background: Preterm birth (PTB) is associated with future cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and disproportionally affects non-Hispanic Black (NHB) women. Limited data exist on the influence of length of US residence on nativity-related disparities in PTB. We examined PTB by maternal nativity (US born vs foreign born) and length of US residence among NHB women. Methods: We analyzed data from 2699 NHB women (1607 US born; 1092 foreign born) in the Boston Birth Cohort, originally designed as a case-control study. Using multivariable logistic regression, we investigated the association of PTB with maternal nativity and length of US residence. Results: In the total sample, 29.1% of women delivered preterm (31.4% and 25.6% among US born and foreign born, respectively). Compared with foreign born, US-born women were younger (25.8 vs 29.5 years), had higher prevalence of obesity (27.6% vs 19.6%), smoking (20.5% vs 4.9%), alcohol use (13.2% vs 7.4%), and moderate to severe stress (73.5% vs 59.4%) (all P < 0.001). Compared with US-born women, foreign-born women had lower odds of PTB after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol use, stress, parity, smoking, body mass index, chronic hypertension, and diabetes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-0.97). Foreign-born NHB women with < 10 years of US residence had 43% lower odds of PTB compared with US-born (aOR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.43-0.75), whereas those with ≥ 10 years of US residence did not differ significantly from US-born women in their odds of PTB (aOR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.54-1.07). Conclusions: The prevalence of CVD risk factors and proportion of women delivering preterm were lower in foreign-born than US-born NHB women. The "foreign-born advantage" was not observed with ≥ 10 years of US residence. Our study highlights the need to intensify public health efforts in exploring and addressing nativity-related disparities in PTB.

Introduction: L'accouchement avant terme (AAT) est associé à un risque futur de maladie cardiovasculaire (MCV) et touche disproportionnellement les femmes noires non hispaniques (NNH). Les données sur l'influence de la durée de résidence aux É.-U. sur les disparités de l'AAT liées au lieu de naissance sont limitées. Nous avons examiné l'AAT en fonction du lieu de naissance de la mère (née aux É.-U. vs née à l'étranger) et la durée de résidence aux É.-U. chez les femmes NNH. Méthodes: Nous avons analysé les données de 2 699 femmes NNH (1 607 nées aux É.-U.; 1 092 nées à l'étranger) de la Boston Birth Cohort, conçue à l'origine comme une étude cas-témoins. À l'aide de la régression logistique multivariée, nous avons examiné l'association de l'AAT au lieu de naissance de la mère et à la durée de résidence aux É.-U. Résultats: Dans l'échantillon total, 29,1 % des femmes qui avaient accouché avant terme (soit 31,4 % des femmes nées aux É.-U. et 25,6 % des femmes nées à l'étranger). Comparativement aux femmes nées à l'étranger, les femmes nées aux É.-U. étaient plus jeunes (25,8 vs 29,5 ans), montraient une prévalence plus élevée d'obésité (27,6 % vs 19,6 %), du tabagisme (20,5 % vs 4,9 %), de la consommation d'alcool (13,2 % vs 7,4 %) et de stress modéré à important (73,5 % vs 59,4 %) (toutes les valeurs P < 0,001). Comparativement aux femmes nées aux É.-U., les femmes nées à l'étranger avaient un risque inférieur d'AAT après l'ajustement des caractéristiques sociodémographiques, de la consommation d'alcool, du stress, de la parité, du tabagisme, de l'indice de masse corporelle, de l'hypertension chronique et du diabète (ratio d'incidence approché ajusté [RIAa], 0,79; intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 %, 0,65-0,97). Les femmes NNH nées à l'étranger de < 10 ans de résidence aux É.-U. avaient une probabilité 43 % plus faible d'AAT que les femmes nées aux É.-U. (RIAa, 0,57; IC à 95 %, 0,43-0,75), tandis que les femmes de ≥ 10 ans de résidence aux É.-U. ne montraient pas de différence significative dans leur probabilité d'AAT par rapport aux femmes nées aux É.-U. (RIAa, 0,76; IC à 95 %, 0,54-1,07). Conclusions: La prévalence des facteurs de risque de MCV et la proportion de femmes qui accouchent avant terme étaient plus faibles chez les femmes NNH nées à l'étranger que chez les femmes NNH nées aux É.-U. L'« avantage d'être nées à l'étranger ¼ n'était pas observé lors de ≥ 10 ans de résidence aux É.-U. Notre étude illustre la nécessité d'intensifier les efforts de santé publique pour explorer et remédier aux disparités liées au lieu de naissance dans l'AAT.

Heart rate as an early predictor of severe cardiomyopathy and increased mortality in peripartum cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Delays in diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) are common and are associated with worse outcomes; however, few studies have addressed methods for improving early detection. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that easily accessible data (heart rate [HR] and electrocardiograms [ECGs]) could identify women with more severe PPCM and at increased risk of adverse outcomes. METHODS: Clinical data, including HR and ECG, from patients diagnosed with PPCM between January 1998 and July 2016 at our institution were collected and analyzed. Linear and logistic regression were used to analyze the relationship between HR at diagnosis and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at diagnosis. Outcomes included overall mortality, recovery status, and major adverse cardiac events. RESULTS: Among 82 patients meeting inclusion criteria, the overall mean LVEF at diagnosis was 26 ± 11.1%. Sinus tachycardia (HR > 100) was present in a total of 50 patients (60.9%) at the time of diagnosis. In linear regression, HR significantly predicted lower LVEF (F = 30.00, p < .0001). With age-adjusted logistic regression, elevated HR at diagnosis was associated with a fivefold higher risk of overall mortality when initial HR was >110 beats per minute (adjusted odds ratio 5.35, confidence interval 1.23-23.28), p = .025). CONCLUSION: In this study, sinus tachycardia in women with PPCM was associated with lower LVEF at the time of diagnosis. Tachycardia in the peripartum period should raise concern for cardiomyopathy and may be an early indicator of adverse prognosis.

Sex Differences in Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) continues to be a major contributor of morbidity and mortality for men and women alike, yet how the predisposition for, course and management of HF differ between men and women remains underexplored. Sex differences in traditional risk factors as well as sex-specific risk factors influence the prevalence and manifestation of HF in unique ways. The pathophysiology of HF differs between men and women and may explain sex-specific differences in clinical presentation and diagnosis. This in turn, contributes to variation in response to both pharmacologic and device/surgical therapy. This review examines sex-specific differences in HF spanning prevalence, risk factors, pathophysiology, presentation, and therapies with a specific focus on highlighting gaps in knowledge with calls to action for future research efforts.

Socioeconomic Determinants of Health and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Women: JACC Review Topic of the Week.

Socioeconomic disparities in cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes exist among women, particularly those of minority racial or ethnic backgrounds. Barriers to optimal cardiovascular health begin early in life-with inadequate access to effective contraception, postpartum follow-up, and maternity leave-and result in excess rates of myocardial infarction, stroke, and cardiovascular death in at-risk populations. Contributing factors include reduced access to care, low levels of income and social support, and lack of diversity among cardiology clinicians and within clinical trials. These barriers can be mitigated by optimizing care access via policy change and improving physical access to care in women with geographic or transportation limitations. Addressing structural racism through policy change and bolstering structured community support systems will be key to reducing adverse cardiovascular outcomes among women of racial and ethnic minorities. Diversification of the cardiology workforce to more closely represent the patients we serve will be beneficial to all women.

Cardiovascular Deaths in Pregnancy: Growing Concerns and Preventive Strategies.

There has been an increase in maternal deaths from cardiovascular disease in many countries. In high-income countries, cardiovascular deaths secondary to cardiomyopathies, ischemic heart disease, sudden arrhythmic deaths, aortic dissection, and valve disease are responsible for up to one-third of all pregnancy-related maternal deaths. In low- and middle-income countries, rheumatic heart disease is a much more common cause of cardiac death during pregnancy. Although deaths occur in women with known heart conditions or cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, many women present for the first time in pregnancy with unrecognised heart disease or with de novo cardiovascular conditions such as preeclampsia, peripartum cardiomyopathy, spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Not only has maternal cardiovascular mortality increased, but serious cardiac morbidity, or "near misses," during pregnancy also have increased in frequency. Although maternal morbidity and mortality are often preventable, many health professionals remain unaware of the impact of cardiovascular disease in this population, and the lack of awareness contributes to inappropriate care and preventable deaths. In this review, we discuss the maternal mortality from cardiovascular causes in both high- and low- and middle-income countries and strategies to improve outcomes.

Cardiac Surgery in Women in the Current Era: What Are the Gaps in Care?

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality for women in United States and worldwide. One in 3 women dies from cardiovascular disease, and 45% of women >20 years old have some form of CVD. Historically, women have had higher morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery. Sex influences pathogenesis, pathophysiology, presentation, postoperative complications, surgical outcomes, and survival. This review summarizes current cardiovascular surgery outcomes as they pertain to women. Specifically, this article seeks to address whether sex disparities in research, surgical referral, and outcomes still exist and to provide strategies to close these gaps. In addition, with the growing population of women of reproductive age with cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors, indications for cardiac surgery arise in pregnant women. The current review will also address the unique issues associated with this special population.

Considering environmental exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as risk factors for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), including preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, lead to significant maternal morbidity and in some cases, maternal mortality. Environmental toxicants, especially those that disrupt normal placental and endothelial function, are emerging as potential risk factors for HDP. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of ubiquitous chemicals found in consumer products, the environment, and increasingly in drinking water. PFAS have been associated with a multitude of adverse health effects, including dyslipidemia, hypertension, and more recently, HDP. In this review, we present epidemiological and mechanistic evidence for the link between PFAS and HDP and recommend next steps for research and prevention efforts. To date, epidemiological studies have assessed associations between only ten of the thousands of PFAS and HDP. Positive associations between six PFAS (PFOA, perfluorooctanoic acid; PFOS, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid; PFHxS, perfluorohexane sulfonic acid; PFHpA, perfluoroheptanoic acid; PFBS, perfluorobutanesulfonic acid; and PFNA, perfluoronanoic acid) and risk for HDP have been reported in some, but not all, studies. PFAS disrupt placental and immune function, cause oxidative stress, and disrupt lipid metabolism. These physiological disruptions may be mechanisms through which PFAS can lead to HDP. Overall, limited epidemiological evidence and plausible mechanisms support PFAS as risk factors for HDP. More research is needed in diverse, well-powered cohorts that assess exposures to as many PFAS as possible. Such research should consider not only individual PFAS but also the totality of exposures to PFAS and other environmental chemicals. Pregnant women may be a group that is vulnerable to PFAS exposure, and as such HDP risk should be considered by policymakers setting PFAS exposure limits. In the interim, medical and public health professionals in regions with PFAS contamination could provide short-term solutions in the form of patient-level prevention, increased monitoring, and early intervention for HDP.

Team-Based Care of Women With Cardiovascular Disease From Pre-Conception Through Pregnancy and Postpartum: JACC Focus Seminar 1/5.

The specialty of cardio-obstetrics has emerged in response to the rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) during pregnancy. Women of childbearing age with or at risk for CVD should receive appropriate counseling regarding maternal and fetal risks of pregnancy, medical optimization, and contraception advice. A multidisciplinary cardio-obstetrics team should ensure appropriate monitoring during pregnancy, plan for labor and delivery, and ensure close follow-up during the postpartum period when CVD complications remain common. The hemodynamic changes throughout pregnancy and during labor and delivery should be considered with respect to the individual cardiac disease of the patient. The fourth trimester refers to the 12 weeks after delivery and is a key time to address contraception, mental health, cardiovascular risk factors, and identify any potential postpartum complications. Women with adverse pregnancy outcomes are at increased risk of long-term CVD and should receive appropriate education and longitudinal follow-up.

Management of Women With Congenital or Inherited Cardiovascular Disease From Pre-Conception Through Pregnancy and Postpartum: JACC Focus Seminar 2/5.

Maternal morbidity and mortality continue to rise in the United States, with cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of maternal deaths. Congenital heart disease is now the most common cardiovascular condition encountered during pregnancy, and its prevalence will continue to grow. In tandem with these trends, maternal cardiovascular health is becoming increasingly complex. The identification of women at highest risk for cardiovascular complications is essential, and a team-based approach is recommended to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes. This document, the second of a 5-part series, will provide practical guidance from pre-conception through postpartum for cardiovascular conditions that are predominantly congenital or heritable in nature, including aortopathies, congenital heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, and valvular heart disease.

Diagnostic Cardiovascular Imaging and Therapeutic Strategies in Pregnancy: JACC Focus Seminar 4/5.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in pregnancy, both diagnosed and previously unknown, is rising, and CVD is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Historically, women of child-bearing potential have been underrepresented in research, leading to lasting knowledge gaps in the cardiovascular care of pregnant and lactating women. Despite these limitations, clinicians should be familiar with the safety of frequently used diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to adequately care for this at-risk population. This review, the fourth of a 5-part series, provides evidence-based recommendations regarding the use of common cardiovascular diagnostic tests and medications in pregnant and lactating women.