Aug 25, 2026 · 6 min · 7 segments
Cardiovascular disease is a major threat to maternal health during pregnancy and the peripartum period, particularly for women with preexisting heart conditions. A UC San Diego cardiologist describes…
Laith AlshawabkehGuest
So this is very exciting since I've been here nine years at UCSD and immediately after we launched the ACSD program, we recognized the importance of collaboration between MFM and cardiology.
We know from numerous epidemiologic studies that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death.
You have also included cerebrovascular accidents as well as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
So it's by and large the number one killer of women in the peripartum period.
And that has to do with both access but also delivery of care where women who are seemingly stable experience deterioration immediately after arrival to the hospital due to healthcare system inequities for caring for women with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
There was a rising referrals to UCSD as a quaternary center for women from all over Southern California who have pre-existing cardiovascular disease desiring a continuation of pregnancy.
So this is very exciting since I've been here nine years at UCSD and immediately after we launched the ACSD program, we recognized the importance of collaboration between MFM and cardiology.
We know from numerous epidemiologic studies that cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death.
You have also included cerebrovascular accidents as well as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
So it's by and large the number one killer of women in the peripartum period.
And that has to do with both access but also delivery of care where women who are seemingly stable experience deterioration immediately after arrival to the hospital due to healthcare system inequities for caring for women with pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
There was a rising referrals to UCSD as a quaternary center for women from all over Southern California who have pre-existing cardiovascular disease desiring a continuation of pregnancy.
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