An Overview of Arrhythmias in Pregnancy

Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J. 2024 Mar 14;20(2):36-50. doi: 10.14797/mdcvj.1325. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease significantly jeopardizes pregnancies in the United States, impacting 1% to 4% of pregnancies annually. Among complications, cardiac arrhythmias are prevalent, posing concerns for maternal and fetal health. The incidence of arrhythmias during pregnancy is rising, partly due to advances in congenital heart surgery and a growing population of women with structural heart disease. While most arrhythmias are benign, the increasing prevalence of more serious arrhythmias warrants a proactive approach. Guidance and reassurance suffice in many cases, but persistent symptoms require cautious use of antiarrhythmic drugs or other therapies for a safe outcome. Managing more serious arrhythmias requires a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach involving specialists, including maternal-fetal medicine physicians, cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and anesthesiologists.

Keywords: antiarrhythmic; cardio-obstetrics; maternal arrhythmias; pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents* / adverse effects
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / diagnosis
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / epidemiology
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • United States

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents

Grants and funding

Kamala Tamirisa is on the Speakers Bureau for Abbott and Sanofi; Estefania Oliveros is funded by a research grant from Johnson and Johnson; Annabelle Santos Volgman is a consultant for Sanofi, Pfizer, Janssen, Novartis, and NIH Clinical Trials and holds stock in Apple, Inc. The other authors have no competing interests to declare.