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Original article
A nationwide evaluation of spontaneous coronary artery dissection in pregnancy and the puerperium
  1. Majed S Faden1,2,
  2. Natalie Bottega3,
  3. Alice Benjamin1,
  4. Richard N Brown1
  1. 1McGill University Health Centre, Montreal QC, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, GLEN campus, 1001 Decarie, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4A 3J1
  2. 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  3. 3McGill Adult Unit for Congenital Heart Disease Excellence, McGill University Health Center, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  1. Correspondence to Dr Majed S Faden, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal QC; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, GLEN campus, 1001 Decarie, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4A 3J1; drmfaden{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Objective Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare and potentially lethal cause of myocardial infarction (MI). The purpose of our study was to estimate the prevalence and maternal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by SCAD.

Materials and methods A population-based cohort study on all births identified in the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project from 2008 to 2012. Disease prevalence was calculated and logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for risk factors and different maternal complications.

Results A total of 4 363 343 pregnancy-related discharges were evaluated. 79 cases of SCAD were identified resulting in a prevalence of 1.81 per 100 000 pregnancies. The mean maternal age at the time of diagnosis was 33.4 years (±5.2). Chronic hypertension (aOR, 2.67; 95% CI 1.18 to 6.03), lipid profile abnormalities (aOR, 48.22; 95% CI 24.25 to 95.90), chronic depression (aOR, 3.56; 95% CI 1.43 to 8.83) and history of migraine (aOR, 3.93; 95% CI 1.52 to 10.17) were associated with an elevated risk for SCAD. MI was diagnosed in 66 (85.5%) cases of SCAD with anterior and subendocardial territories being the most common locations. Thirty one patients (40%) with SCAD underwent angioplasty with the majority receiving stents, which was associated with a longer hospital stay than those treated conservatively or with bypass.

Conclusions SCAD is a rare aetiology of MI; risk factors and outcomes are illustrated in the current study. The puerperium is an important period for the development of pregnancy-related SCAD. Careful evaluation of pregnant and postpartum women with chest pain is warranted, especially if these risk factors are identified.

https://doi.org/10.1136/heartjnl-2016-309403

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter Follow Majed Faden at @majfad

    • Contributors MSF contributed greatly to the analysis, organisation of the data and writing the manuscript. AB's effort in reviewing the manuscript, initiating the project and her valued input and participation were of pertinent importance in completing this project. NB input and evaluation from the cardiologist point of view was a cornerstone in this project. RNB provided a great valued input with providing the data and was an integral part of the team to write and review the manuscript.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.