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Cardiovascular Disease and Pregnancy: Clinical Outcomes From a Tertiary Center Experience in Saudi Arabia

Nouf Alanazi1,1, Sara M Abou Al-Saud1,1, Wareef Almousa2

  • 1Cardiac Sciences Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association
|March 2, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pregnancy with cardiovascular disease poses risks. Preeclampsia history, diabetes, and high BMI significantly increase adverse outcomes like preterm birth and NICU admission in Saudi Arabia.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Obstetrics
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) during pregnancy presents significant maternal and fetal risks.
  • Local data on pregnancy outcomes for women with CVD in Saudi Arabia is limited.
  • Tertiary centers manage high-risk pregnancies, necessitating local outcome analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine pregnancy outcomes in women with cardiovascular disease at a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia.
  • To identify risk factors associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in this high-risk obstetric population.
  • To inform clinical practice and improve management strategies for pregnant women with CVD.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study including 103 cardio-obstetric patients from 2015-2023.
  • Data collected from King Khalid University Hospital, a tertiary center.
  • Multivariable logistic regression and bivariate analysis were used to identify risk factors for adverse outcomes (p < 0.05).

Main Results:

  • High rates of pre-existing hypertension (45.6%) and preterm delivery (36.6%) were observed.
  • Adverse outcomes included maternal hypertension (14.7%), NICU admission (15.7%), and fetal loss (6.8%).
  • Preeclampsia history, pre-existing diabetes, and elevated BMI were significant risk factors for preterm birth, maternal hypertension, and NICU admission.

Conclusions:

  • A history of preeclampsia, diabetes, and elevated BMI are critical risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with CVD.
  • Multidisciplinary preconception counseling is essential for optimizing care.
  • Stringent antenatal monitoring is crucial for managing this high-risk obstetric population.

Keywords:
Cardio-obstetricsKeywords: Cardiovascular diseaseMaternal healthPregnancy outcomePreterm birthSaudi Arabia

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