Antiabortion Laws and Implications for Patients With Cardiovascular Disease in Pregnancy

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the US.¹ State-based antiabortion legislation is associated with maternal mortality, particularly among those with CVD.^2,3 Conditions such as aortopathies, cardiomyopathies, valvular heart disease, and complex congenital heart disease place patients at high risk for complications during pregnancy.^4,5 Shared decision-making regarding pregnancy termination occurs when high maternal risk exists or when pregnancy interferes with medical or surgical treatment.⁴ State antiabortion laws limit abortion access,^2,6 impede shared decision-making with patients, and increase racial and socioeconomic disparities in maternal mortality.² The pending decision of the Supreme Court of the US (SCOTUS) in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization could eliminate abortion rights for patients, including those with CVD, further perpetuating unequal pregnancy outcomes. Identify all potential conflicts of interest that might be relevant to your comment. Conflicts of interest comprise financial interests, activities, and relationships within the past 3 years including but not limited to employment, affiliation, grants or funding, consultancies, honoraria or payment, speaker's bureaus, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, royalties, donation of medical equipment, or patents planned, pending, or issued. Err on the side of full disclosure. If you have no conflicts of interest, check "No potential conflicts of interest" in the box below. The information will be posted with your response. Not all submitted comments are published. Please see our commenting policy for details.