Improving cardiovascular workforce competencies in cardio-obstetrics: Current challenges and future directions

Abstract

Maternal mortality in the United States is the highest among all developed nations, partly because of the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy and beyond. There is growing recognition that specialists involved in car-ing for obstetric patients with cardiovascular disease need training in the new discipline of cardio-obstetrics. Training can include integrated formal cardio-obstetrics curricula in general cardiovascular disease training programs, and developing and disseminating joint cardiac and obstetric societal guidelines. Other efforts to help strengthen the cardio-obstetric field include increased collaborations and advocacy efforts between stakeholder organizations, development of US-based registries, and widespread establishment of multidisciplinary pregnancy heart teams. In this review, we present the current challenges in creating a cardio-obstetrics community, present the growing need for education and training of cardiovascular disease prac-titioners skilled in the care of obstetric patients, and identify potential solutions and future efforts to improve cardiovascular care of this high-risk patient population.