Pregnancy and Heart Disease encompasses the evaluation and management of cardiovascular conditions occurring during pregnancy, including congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, valvular disease and hypertensive disorders. As maternal age increases and more women with pre-existing cardiac issues reach childbearing years, clinicians face growing complexity in managing pregnancy safely. This session supports healthcare professionals seeking deeper understanding through advanced cardiology conference programmes that provide guideline-based frameworks for evaluation, risk stratification and multidisciplinary planning. The interplay between physiologic pregnancy changes and underlying cardiac disorders can result in significant hemodynamic stress, making early detection essential. Because many cases overlap with cardio-obstetric care, clinicians benefit from integrated insights that optimise outcomes for both mother and fetus.

The session begins by explaining cardiovascular adaptations during pregnancy, including increased blood volume, elevated stroke volume, reduced systemic vascular resistance and enhanced cardiac output. These changes can worsen symptoms or reveal previously undiagnosed conditions. Participants learn structured evaluation pathways, including symptom assessment, echocardiography, ECG interpretation and risk classification tools such as CARPREG and WHO guidelines.

Clinicians explore congenital heart disease in pregnancy, reviewing conditions compatible with safe delivery and those posing high maternal or fetal risk. Valvular conditions, such as severe mitral stenosis or aortic disease, are discussed in relation to hemodynamic tolerance and delivery planning. The session also addresses arrhythmias, highlighting which antiarrhythmic medications are preferred during pregnancy, fetal safety considerations and when electrophysiology consultation is warranted.

Hypertensive disorders—including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia—receive detailed attention for their interplay with cardiac stress, endothelial dysfunction and long-term cardiovascular risk. Management includes blood-pressure control, monitoring of organ involvement and delivery timing decisions.

Participants will also examine cardiomyopathies, especially peripartum cardiomyopathy, discussing risk markers, diagnostic approaches and medical therapy considerations. Medication safety is emphasised, outlining which drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy or lactation.

Delivery planning requires careful collaboration among obstetrics, anesthesiology, neonatology and cardiology teams. Strategies include monitoring levels, anesthesia choices, mode of delivery and postpartum surveillance. The postpartum period is especially critical due to shifting hemodynamics and risk of decompensation.

Future directions include precision risk assessment, cardio-obstetric models, digital maternal monitoring and expanded genetic screening. This session equips clinicians with structured approaches to ensure safe pregnancy outcomes and long-term cardiovascular health.