Precipitating factors and maternal and neonatal outcomes of heart failure in pregnancy: a retrospective analysis in a large tertiary hospital in China, 2012-2017

Purpose To investigate the precipitating factors of heart failure (HF) and to investigate the maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with HF. Methods We reviewed the medical records of pregnant women with HF who were treated at West China Second University Hospital between September 2012 and September 2017. We recorded baseline characteristics, onset and treatment of HF, comorbidities, modes of delivery, and maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Chi-square tests or Fisher's exact tests were used to explore the comorbidities in different subgroups. Results Seventy pregnant women with HF were identified. The most common pregnancy-specific conditions were severe preeclampsia (36/70, 51.43%) and multiple pregnancies (16/70, 22.86%). The most common nonpregnancy-specific conditions were lung infections (34/70, 48.57%) and cardiac problems (25/70, 35.71%). Sixty patients (85.71%) developed HF during pregnancy. Sixty-seven pregnancies (95.71%) ended in cesarean section. Three maternal deaths (4.29%) from HF were recorded. Of the 87 fetuses, three fetuses (3.45%) ended in miscarriages and stillbirth occurred in 5.75% of fetuses. The mean birth weight of a neonate was 2174.49 +/- 609.57 (817-3430) g. There were eight neonatal deaths (8/79, 10.13%). The incidence of lung infection (P = 0.031) or cardiac problems (P = 0.044) differs between patients with NYHA classes II and patients with NYHA classes III/IV. The incidence of lung infection (P = 0.006) was also different in patients with prenatal HF and patients with postpartum HF. Conclusion Peripartum HF is associated with high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, lung infections, and cardiac problems are most common precipitating factors of HF in pregnancy.