Heart Failure Occurring in the Perinatal Period: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.
- Open access
Perinatal heart failure affects up to 2% of women, yet its definition, diagnosis, and management remain unclear, risking adverse maternal outcomes.
- Why it matters: Understanding and effectively managing heart failure during pregnancy and postpartum is crucial because delayed diagnosis can lead to significant health risks for mothers, and current knowledge gaps hinder optimal care.
- What they did: The scientific statement reviews heart failure with reduced and mildly reduced ejection fraction caused by cardiomyopathies, emphasizing the need for standardized definitions, improved diagnostic criteria, and screening tools, based on existing research and clinical standards.
- The result: Implementing standardized approaches and early detection strategies can improve maternal outcomes, guide future research, and promote health equity by ensuring timely, effective treatment for obstetric patients with heart failure.