Syncope during the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with a higher rate of preterm birth compared to pregnancies without syncope (18.3% vs 15.0%; P<0.01).
Cohort (n=481,930)
Yes
Does syncope during pregnancy increase the risk of adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes?
Syncope during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester or when recurrent, is associated with increased risks of preterm birth, congenital anomalies, and postpartum maternal arrhythmias and syncope.
Absolute Event Rate: 18.3% vs 15%
p-value: p=<0.01
Background We examined temporal trends, timing, and frequency, as well as adverse neonatal and maternal outcomes occurring in the first year postpartum among women experiencing syncope during pregnancy. Methods and Results This was a retrospective study of pregnancies between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2014, in the province of Alberta, Canada. Of 481 930 pregnancies, 4667 had an episode of syncope. Poisson regression analysis found a 5% increase/year (rate ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04-1.06) in the age-adjusted incidence of syncope. Overall, 1506 (32.3%) of the syncope episodes first occurred in the first trimester, 2058 (44.1%) in the second trimester, and 1103 (23.6%) in the third trimester; and 8% (n=377) of pregnancies had >1 episode of syncope. Compared with women without syncope, women who experienced syncope were younger (age <25 years; 34.7% versus 20.8%; P<0.001), and primiparous (52.1% versus 42.4%; P<0.001). The rate of preterm birth was higher in pregnancies with syncope during the first trimester (18.3%), compared with the second (15.8%) and third trimesters (14.2%) and pregnancies without syncope (15.0%; P<0.01). The incidence of congenital anomalies among children born of pregnancies with multiple syncope episodes was significantly higher (4.9%) compared with children of pregnancies without syncope (2.9%; P<0.01). Within 1 year after delivery, women with syncope during pregnancy had higher rates of cardiac arrhythmias and syncope episodes than women with no syncope during pregnancy. Conclusions Pregnant women with syncope, especially when the syncopal event occurs during the first trimester, may be at a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes as well as an increased incidence of cardiac arrhythmia and syncope postpartum.
Chatur et al. (Wed,) conducted a cohort in Syncope during pregnancy (n=481,930). Syncope during pregnancy vs. No syncope during pregnancy was evaluated on Preterm birth (first trimester syncope vs no syncope) (p=<0.01). Syncope during the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with a higher rate of preterm birth compared to pregnancies without syncope (18.3% vs 15.0%; P<0.01).