Madras Medical College Registry Highlights Maternal Mortality in South Asia Due to Cardiovascular Disease

What's Happening?

The Madras Medical College Pregnancy and Cardiac Registry (M-PAC) in India has enrolled 1,029 pregnant women with known or newly diagnosed cardiovascular disease over 2.5 years to assess fetal and maternal outcomes. The study highlights significant maternal mortality and morbidity in women with cardiovascular disease during pregnancy in developing countries of South Asia. Factors contributing to delayed antenatal care include lack of knowledge, poor socioeconomic status, and financial constraints. The registry data underscores the prevalence of hypertension, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart diseases, and heart failure among pregnant women, with hypertension being the most common cardiovascular disease complicating up to 10% of pregnancies.

Why It's Important?

The findings from the M-PAC registry are crucial as they reveal the high maternal mortality rates associated with cardiovascular diseases in pregnancy, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like those in South Asia. This data is significant for public health policy as it highlights the need for improved antenatal care and cardiovascular monitoring for pregnant women. The study suggests that children born to mothers with preeclampsia are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases in adulthood, emphasizing the long-term health implications. Addressing these issues could lead to better maternal and fetal health outcomes and reduce preventable deaths.

What's Next?

The study calls for enhanced cardiovascular monitoring and preventive strategies for women who have experienced hypertension and preeclampsia during pregnancy. It suggests the need for structured multidisciplinary pregnancy heart teams and improved healthcare infrastructure in LMICs to provide timely and effective care. The findings advocate for policy reforms and capacity building to improve maternal health services, particularly in rural areas where healthcare access is limited. The study also highlights the importance of international collaborations to address maternal mortality and improve care for pregnant women with cardiovascular diseases.

Beyond the Headlines

The study reveals deeper socio-cultural factors affecting maternal health, such as gender inequality and lack of education, which contribute to poor antenatal care and high maternal mortality rates. It highlights the need for cultural shifts and awareness campaigns to empower women to seek timely medical attention. The study also points to the importance of research on cardiovascular disease in pregnancy to inform policy and practice, ultimately improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes in developing regions.