Effect of age and parity on maternal diastolic function in middle trimester pregnant women with normal left ventricular ejection fraction and potential link of diastolic function to pre-eclampsia

Abstract Background It has been suggested that maternal cardiac adaptations during pregnancy differ between nulliparous and multipara women and also vary according to the age. Impaired cardiac function precedes pre-eclampsia. Purpose To evaluate effect of age and parity on maternal cardiac diastolic function in middle trimester among pregnant women with normal left ventricular ejection fraction as well as correlation between impaired diastolic function and pre-eclampsia. Methods Pregnant women with singleton pregnancies carried from 13 weeks to 20 weeks and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% were identified. Diastolic function parameters were assessed using transthoracic echocardiography. Pre-eclampsia was identified from medical records. Results 376 pregnant women were included (median age: 30 years; median gestational age: 14 weeks; 171 multiparous women). LVEF was 66%. Impaired cardiac diastolic function was seen in 7.8% of pregnant women