Maternal Mortality in the United States and the HOPE Registry

Purpose of review Maternal mortality in the United States is highest among all developed nations and continues to rise. The leading cause of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy and the postpartum period is cardiovascular disease. While there are large European and Canadian studies exploring the care and outcomes of moms with heart disease in pregnancy, there are no large prospective studies to guide the care of this growing group of patients in the US. We review the current approach to the management of patients with heart disease in pregnancy and the gaps in knowledge thereof. Recent findings Currently, antenatal management and delivery planning are highly variable for patients with heart disease in pregnancy and maternal risk models’ application to the US patient population is limited by their derivation from an international cohort of patients and their focus on patients with congenital heart disease. As the need for interdisciplinary care between cardiologists and obstetricians becomes evident, and as broad research efforts within this space are very much needed, we propose a research collaborative called the Heart Outcomes in Pregnancy: Expectations (HOPE) for Mom and Baby Registry. The HOPE Registry aims to address key clinical questions surrounding the preconception period, antenatal care, delivery planning and outcomes, and long-term postpartum care and outcomes of these unique patients. Summary We have made progress in recent years by recognizing the clinical need to address and standardize the management of patients with heart disease in pregnancy. We now must initiate and propel US-based cardio-obstetrics research to address key gaps in knowledge and variability in the care of patients with heart disease in pregnancy.