Cardiac output and related haemodynamics during pregnancy: a series of meta-analyses

Author
Meah, Victoria L.
Backx, Karianne
Shave, Rob
Cockcroft, John R.
Stöhr, Eric J.
Date
2016-01-21Type
Article
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
ISSN
1355-6037
1468-201X (ESSN)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Cardiac output, a fundamental parameter of cardiovascular function, has consistently been shown to increase across healthy pregnancy; however the time course and magnitude of adaptation remains equivocal within published literature. The aim of the present meta-analyses was to comprehensively describe the pattern of change in cardiac output during healthy pregnancy.
METHOD: A series of meta-analyses of previously published cardiac output data during healthy, singleton pregnancies was completed. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for studies published between 1996 and 2014. Included studies reported absolute values during a predetermined gestational age (non-pregnant, late first trimester, early and late second trimester, early and late third trimester, early and late postpartum). Cardiac output was measured through echocardiography, impedance cardiography or inert gas rebreathing. Observational data was meta-analysed at each gestational age using a random-effects model. If reported, related haemodynamic variables were evaluated.
RESULTS: In total, 39 studies were eligible for inclusion, with pooled sample sizes ranging from 259 to 748. Cardiac output increased during pregnancy reaching its peak in the early third trimester, 1.5 L∙min-1 (31%) above non-pregnant values. The observed results from this study indicated a non-linear rise to this point. In the early postpartum, cardiac output had returned to non-pregnant values.
CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that cardiac output peaks in the early third trimester, following a non-linear pattern of adaptation, however this must be confirmed using longitudinal studies. The findings provide new insight into the normal progression of cardiac output during pregnancy.
Journal/conference proceeding
Heart
Citation
Meah, V.L, Cockcroft, J.R., Backx, K., Shave, R., Stöhr, E.J. (2016) 'Cardiac output and related haemodynamics during pregnancy: a series of meta-analyses', Heart, 102, pp. 518-526.
Description
This article was published in Heart on 21 January 2016 (online), available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308476
Sponsorship
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
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