Peripartum cardiomyopathy: Characteristics and outcomes among women seen at a referral hospital in Lusaka, Zambia

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) disproportionately affects women of African descent, however knowledge about this disease in African countries is limited. To describe the phenotype of women with PPCM seen at a referral hospital in Zambia and examine outcomes at 6 months. A prospective observational study describing characteristics and 6-month outcomes was performed at the University Teaching Hospital Echocardiography Lab in Lusaka, Zambia. We enrolled 45 participants with PPCM and 38 were seen at 6-month follow up; 3 (7 %) died and 4 (9 %) were lost to follow up. Mean age was 32.9 years (SD:7.0); mean BMI was 25.3 kg/m2 (SD:4.1), mean parity was 3.4 (SD:2.2) children and twin pregnancies occurred in 4 (9 %). Median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 60 days (IQR: 1–280). 20 (44 %) reported gestational hypertension and 10 (22 %) reported preeclampsia. Baseline median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 36 % (IQR: 11–45), median left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) was 150 mL (IQR: 58–229) and 79 % described New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV symptoms. Median LVEF after 6 months was 49 % (IQR: 23–68; p < 0.001) and median LVEDV was 121 mL (IQR: 66–200; p < 0.001). At 6-month follow up 45 % had LVEF ≥ 50 %, 42 % had LVEDV ≤ 106 mL and 1 (3 %) had NYHA functional class IV symptoms. Hypertension was prevalent in this cohort. Overall mortality rate was low and clinically significant improvements in cardiac parameters were seen in over 40%. Further research is needed to identify and mitigate gaps in diagnosis and management.