Types and risk factors of cardiac arrhythmias and its effects on pregnancies in 266 hospitalized pregnancy women

Abstract

Objective To investigate the types and risk factors of cardiac arrhythmias and its influence during pregnancy. Methods A total of 266 cases of pregnancies complicated with arrhythmias admitted and delivered were reviewed from June 1993 to June 2012 in Peking University People's Hospital. Results The most common cardiac arrhythmias during pregnancy was sinus tachycardia (41.4%)(110/266). In all kinds of arrhythmia, gestational hypertension was the most common cause of arrhythmia. Single factor analysis showed that, among all the risk factors and the influence on outcomes during pregnancy complicated with arrhythmias, 74.8%(199/266)of cases were normal cardiac structure, and 25.2% (67/266) of cases were abnormal cardiac structure. There was no significant difference in maternal mortality between pregnancy with or without abnormal cardiac structure(P>0.05). In addition, 86.5%(230/266) of cases were in NYHA grading Ⅰ-Ⅱ, 13.5%(36/266) were in NYHA grading Ⅲ-Ⅳ. The difference of maternal mortality between pregnancy in NYHA grading Ⅲ-Ⅳ and grading Ⅰ-Ⅱ has significance(P<0.01). Conclusions The most common cardiac arrhythmias during pregnancy is sinus tachycardia. Gestational hypertension is the most common cause of arrhythmia. Pregnancy in NYHA grading Ⅲ-Ⅳ has an obvious bad effect on maternal mortality. Key words: Pregnancy; Cardiac arrhythmias; Risk factor; Heart disease