Heart disease during pregnancy in the KSA: a suggested plan

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Congenital heart disease in pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal death in developed countries while rheumatic fever is the commonest cause of valvular disease in pregnancy in developing countries. Improvement in neonatal and paediatric cardiac surgery has increased the incidence of congenital heart disease in pregnancy worldwide. Published data regarding heart disease in pregnancy [HDP] in KSA are scant and relatively old. This study examines the current status of HDP in KSA and describes the rationale and design of the suggested plan for HDP in KSA, i.e., the Registry of Saudi Heart Disease and Pregnancy [ROSHDAP]