September 17, 2025

Importance of the Cardio-Obstetrics Team

In the USA, maternal mortality has been rising since the 1980s. Cardiovascular

disease is recognized as the leading cause of this worrisome trend, and a multidisciplinary approach to the care of patients with cardiovascular conditions during pregnancy is becoming increasingly important. We outline the literature supporting this multidisciplinary approach, highlight our center’s experience in building and expanding an integrated cardio-obstetrics practice, and provide guidance regarding patient selection and management within a combined practice.

Antenatal management patterns and delivery planning for patients with cardiovascular disease during pregnancy vary substantially among cardiovascular and obstetric and maternal fetal medicine practices in the USA. The need for multidisciplinary care between cardiologists and obstetricians is evident and has been supported by best practice statements from the American Heart Association, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy Study (CARPREG) investigators, whose CARPREG II risk score included “late first antenatal visit” as a predictor of adverse outcomes of pregnancy.

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Register for the Cardiac Conditions in Obstetric Care Fall Learning Session

Our fall meeting will be held virtually on October 22 from 1200 – 1400 and will feature -

1200 – 1300, Dr. Cat Albright, Maternal Fetal Medicine from University of Washington will present on Cardiac Disease in Pregnancy.



Catherine Albright, MD MS is a board-certified Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist. Her primary focus is on high risk maternal conditions such as maternal cardiac disease and hypertension. Dr. Albright is the director of the Obstetric Hypertension Program and co-director of the Cardio-Obstetrics Program at UW Medical Center - Montlake.

Dr. Albright strives to help women through their complex and often emotional pregnancies by ensuring they understand each step of the process and by actively engaging them, their partners and their families at every visit.

Dr. Albright earned her MD from Columbia then did her OB/Gyn residency, MFM fellowship, and MS in Clinical and Translational research from Brown University. Her clinical and research interests include medical complications, critical care, cardiac disease including adult congenital heart disease, and sepsis in pregnancy, as well as cost-effectiveness analysis.

1300 – 1400, presentation of various QI projects from your colleagues throughout the state

-with discussion throughout

We look forward to meeting with you.

Keith M Cochran

qiadvisor@pqcnc.org

984-974-7871

'Unoffice' hours - click here to schedule a Zoom meeting