Relationship Between Fragmented QRS Complex and Maternal Demographic Features and Echocardiographic Parameters in Pregnancy

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the presence of fragmented QRS (f-QRS) complex on electrocardiography (ECG) and maternal demographic characteristics and left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction on echocardiography. Materials and Methods: 473 pregnant women enrolled in this study and divided into two groups. (f-QRS positive group n=77, f-QRS negative group n=396 ). Maternal demographic features and echocardiographic parameters of all participants were recorded and compared between two groups. Results: The mean age of the study population was 27.70 ± 5.62 and mean gestational week was 7.37 ± 1.55. Parity in f-QRS positive group was higher than in control group (p=0.01). There was a statistically significant trend between fragmentation frequency and parity number (p=0.002). There were no significant differences between two groups in terms of age, gestational week, heart rate, body mass index. Left ventricle end-systolic and diastolic diameters and left ventricular ejection fraction were similar between the two groups Conclusions: The presence of f-QRS was correlated with increase in number of parity and we suggest that multiparity may be a risk factor for cardiac events during pregnancy. Pregnant women with f-QRS on their rest ECG need extra attention in terms of cardiovascular disease. By demonstrating clinical significance of f-QRS, this simple tool might be used to determine women who could be at risk for developing cardiac dysfunction in pregnancy.