University Health has opened the first Women’s Heart Center in South Texas, focusing on diagnosing and treating heart disease in women of all ages, with a special emphasis on mothers-to-be whose pregnancies may be complicated by heart conditions. Dr. Ildiko Agoston, the founding medical director of the center, brings her expertise in cardio obstetrics to address what she describes as an urgent mission.
According to the American College of Cardiology, maternal deaths related to heart problems have more than doubled between 1999 and 2022. The United States currently holds the highest rate of maternal deaths among developed countries, with heart-related issues being the leading cause.
“Pregnancy is nature’s stress test,” said Dr. Agoston. “You’re caring for two patients, the mother and the baby.”
The center’s approach includes multispecialty teams made up of obstetricians, gynecologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, anesthesiologists, cardiovascular surgeons and pulmonologists. This allows patients to see multiple specialists in one location and helps address complications that can emerge during or after pregnancy.
Malea Potter’s experience highlights the center’s work. Born with a defective heart valve and having undergone an aortic valve procedure as a child, Potter faced significant risks when planning for children. She was referred to Dr. Agoston at University Health, where a team monitored her pregnancy closely and prepared for any possible complications during delivery. As a result of this care, Potter now has two healthy children.
Some women treated at the center are aware they have congenital heart problems before pregnancy; others only discover their risk factors after being diagnosed with high blood pressure or other conditions such as preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.
The Women’s Heart Center develops individualized pregnancy and delivery plans for each patient. These plans may include screenings to monitor developments, repairing heart defects before or during pregnancy, scheduling early deliveries if necessary to reduce strain on the mother’s heart or advising against pregnancy if it poses too great a risk.
Dr. Agoston encourages women to be screened for heart health prior to becoming pregnant: “A woman’s primary care doctor or OB-GYN can refer her for cardiovascular care if they detect problems, giving the mother-to-be the best chance for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby.”
