Pregnancy and cardiovascular disease in developing countries of South Asia-A narrative review

Farhala Baloch1, Alveena Zafar2, Momina Faisal2

  • 1Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.

Npj Women'S Health
|October 10, 2025
PubMed

According to the World Health Organization, low-middle-income countries report higher maternal mortality rates in South Asia compared to higher-income countries. Pregnancy with cardiovascular diseases is a prominent contributor to these preventable deaths. Reasons behind poor maternal outcomes are multifactorial, including unstable healthcare systems, knowledge gaps, and sociocultural factors. This review discusses the concept of iceberg model, a tool for health system analysis to identify potential factors behind poor maternal outcomes.

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