5 The South African data are dominated by HIV-related mortality, accounting for 40 % of all deaths. 4 By contrast, South African data (also accumulated by means of statutory, confidential enquiry) reflect rates of 179 per 100,000 live births. In the UK, the rates of maternal mortality have been recorded in single digit figures per 100,000 live-births. 3Īccurate epidemiological data have been reported in a few countries that have pursued statutory notification of all maternal deaths.

Globally, indirect causes of maternal mortality account for a quarter of the deaths reported by industrialised countries with even higher rates in southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa: 29.3 and 28.6 %, respectively. 2 Medical and surgical disorders that cause indirect maternal deaths are a diverse group of diseases that include various medical, surgical and infective causes of maternal illness. Significance of Heart Failure as a Cause for Mortality and MorbidityĬardiac disease complicating pregnancy is categorised as an ‘indirect’ cause of maternal mortality, meaning that it is unrelated to any complication of the pregnancy itself. This article describes the cardiac causes of pulmonary oedema presenting in pregnancy with reference to other differential diagnoses. 1 The majority of women developing symptoms and signs of heart failure during pregnancy have no known pre-existing cardiomyopathy. The development of pulmonary oedema does not necessarily indicate a cardiac cause and of the cardiac causes for pulmonary oedema, not all can be attributed to left ventricular failure. ‘Heart failure’ is a term that may be loosely or precisely defined.

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