Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41286713›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

Modelling maternal cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy: a scoping review.

Kathryn Hunt, Ioannis Polydoros, Raoul van Loon, Rosemary C Townsend, Rebecca M Reynolds

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Kathryn HuntCentre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. khunt2@ed.ac.uk.
Ioannis PolydorosBiomedical Engineering Simulation and Testing Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
Raoul van LoonBiomedical Engineering Simulation and Testing Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK.
Rosemary C TownsendMedical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Rebecca M ReynoldsCentre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Funding

British Heart Foundation RE/18/5/34216Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe maternal cardiovascular system undergoes a profound transformation during pregnancy. Disordered cardiovascular adaptation is associated with pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction; however, these complications remain challenging to predict and manage. Computational modelling presents an opportunity to study the maternal circulation with unprecedented flexibility. We conducted a scoping review to assess the potential utility of computational models for studying maternal cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy and providing insights into disease. We aimed to identify research gaps and barriers to translating this emerging field into clinical practice.

methodsMedline, Embase, and Web of Science Core Collection were searched from 01/01/2013 to 01/09/2025, for articles related to computational haemodynamic models of pregnancy. English-language studies describing models of the maternal circulation in human pregnancy were identified. Information on system modelled, study design, participant or clinical specimen details, and key findings were extracted from original research studies and presented in a narrative synthesis.

resultsOf 662 citations, 37 met inclusion criteria, comprising 28 original research studies, two conference abstracts, and seven reviews. Amongst the original research studies, 27 were basic experimental papers and one was a retrospective cohort study. Nine experimental articles incorporated data from pregnant participants or clinical specimens into personalised models, with sample sizes between one and 21. Four of these included participants or specimens affected by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy or fetal growth restriction. The retrospective cohort study employed haemodynamic modelling to investigate blood loss in 480 patients with abnormally invasive placentas. Modelling approaches described included those simulating the entire maternal circulation, maternal cardiac remodelling, maternal renal autoregulation, the maternal pelvic circulation in isolation, uterine vascular adaptation, spiral artery remodelling, and blood flows within the placental intervillous space.

conclusionsComputational modelling could represent a powerful tool to advance understanding of maternal cardiovascular adaptation to pregnancy and guide future approaches to risk stratification, diagnosis, and management of pregnancy complications. Realising this promise will require cardiovascular models to be parameterised with scalable metrics, validated in large pregnancy cohorts, developed alongside robust computational processing pipelines, and integrated into existing clinical workflows. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The review protocol was registered prospectively with the Open Science Framework (osf.io/v3968).

Indexed as

Adaptation, PhysiologicalCardiovascular Physiological PhenomenaComputer SimulationModels, CardiovascularFemaleHemodynamicsHumansPre-EclampsiaPregnancyCardiovascular dysfunctionComputational modellingDigital twinsFetal growth restrictionPre-eclampsiaPregnancy

Identifiers

PMID41286713
PMCPMC12838005

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.