Zipursky JS, Thiruchelvam D, Redelmeier DA. Prenatal electrocardiogram testing and postpartum depression: A population-based cohort study.
Obstet Med 2022;
15:31-39. [PMID:
35444726 PMCID:
PMC9014547 DOI:
10.1177/1753495x211012502]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Cardiovascular symptoms in pregnancy may be a clue to psychological distress. We examined whether electrocardiogram testing in pregnant women is associated with an increased risk of subsequent postpartum depression.
Methods
We conducted a population-based cohort study of pregnant women who delivered in Ontario, Canada comparing women who received a prenatal ECG to women who did not.
Results
In total, 3,238,218 women gave birth during the 25-year study period of whom 157,352 (5%) received an electrocardiogram during prenatal care. Receiving an electrocardiogram test was associated with a one-third relative increase in the odds of postpartum depression (odds ratio 1.34; 95% confidence interval 1.29-1.39, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The association between prenatal electrocardiogram testing and postpartum depression suggests a possible link of organic disease with mental illness, and emphasizes that cardiovascular symptoms may be a clinical clue to the presence of an underlying mood disorder.
Collapse