Electrocardiographic Changes in Normal Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a physiological condition which affects all the functions of maternal body, that brings a considerable alteration in hemodynamic activity of the maternal heart. It is very important to understand the cardiac functioning of maternal heart during normal pregnancy because apart from obstetric causes, cardiac disorders are the main cause of mortality in females. Pregnancy also brings about various changes in the electrocardiogram, further confusing with that of heart disease. This study is undertaken to highlight the effect of normal pregnancy on the Electrocardiogram and thereby helps us to distinguish it from that of pathological changes.

To study the effect of normal pregnancy on the electrocardiogram and to compare with that of normal non pregnant women.

50 normal pregnant women in 2nd and 3rd trimester each between 20- 35 years of age and 50 normal non pregnant women of the same age group were selected for the study. A 12 lead ECG was recorded by using ECG machine with special emphasis on changes in heart rate, PR interval, QT interval, QTC interval, and all the parameters were analyzed.

The ECG changes observed in our study include, significant increase in heart rate and QTC interval, increase in QT interval, significant decrease in PR interval (p < 0.05) when compared to normal non pregnant women.

There is alteration in circulatory dynamics during pregnancy which leads to significant variations in ECG from the average normal. Our findings highlight the need for caution in the interpretation of ECG in the antenatal period which in turn help us in better management of those with cardiac disease.