Study of 1,000 women nationwide intends to combat maternal mortality

University of Missouri Health Care has kicked off a nationwide study of pregnant women with heart disease to better understand how their care influences the outcomes of mother and baby.

The rate of maternal mortality is on the rise across the U.S., and Missouri ranks as one of the worst states in the country in this category.  

Deaths from cardiovascular disease are among the most preventable, so MU Health Care is teaming up with the University of Missouri-Kansas City Healthcare Institute for Innovations in Quality and Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Insititute to launch the Heart Outcomes in Pregnancy Expectations (HOPE) study. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute is providing $8.3 million dollars to fund the project, which will track 1,000 pregnant women with heart disease.

MU Health Care maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Karen Florio is the co-principal investigator for the project, and MU Health Care will be the first of 36 institutions nationwide to enroll participants in the study.

“Our goal is to develop standardized care protocols to ensure pregnant women get the care they need to combat maternal mortality and morbidity,” Florio said. “We are so excited to be the first health system in the country to begin enrolling pregnant women in this study, and we hope this is a step forward in the fight against Missouri’s maternal mortality crisis.”

The study began enrolling patients at MU Health Care in mid-December and will continue for four years. Each patient participant will receive an initial screening during pregnancy, then periodic follow-ups that continue through one year after delivery.

Pregnant women with heart problems who are interested in participating or physicians who wish to refer patients to the study should call (573) 882-4107.  

Contact: Eric Maze, mazee@health.missouri.edu, 573-884-3656