Maternal Cardiovascular Adaptation to Pregnancy in Obese Pregnant Women

( Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand . 2024;103:907–916. doi:10.1111/aogs.14777) The prevalence of obesity has increased since 1975, with the World Health Organization approximating that 13% of adults (650 million) were obese in 2016. By 2020, 60% of women in the UK were overweight, with 29% being obese, a significant portion of whom are in their reproductive years, raising the chances of risky pregnancies. Excess weight affects heart health in nonpregnant individuals, with every 100 g of fat stored leading to a 30 to 50 mL/min rise in cardiac output (CO), resulting in left ventricular (LV) enlargement, thickening of the cardiac muscle, and problems with heart relaxation. Excess fat within the heart muscle can result in impaired heart function and, in cases of extreme and persistent obesity, may lead to the weakening of the heart’s pumping ability.