Clinical profile and risk factors of patients diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy and other causes of peripartum heart failure from 2012 to 2013 in Zamboanga City Medical Center.

INTRODUCTION: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is considered to be a cardiomyopathy of unknown cause that occurs in the peripartum period in women without pre-existing heart disease. PPCM is relatively rare but can have devastating outcomes with reported mortality rates between 18%-56%.
OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to determine the incidence, clinical profile and established risk factors of patients diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy as well as other causes of peripartum heart failure at ZCMC.
METHODS: A retrospective observational cohort design was conducted and included all women delivered and were diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy between 2012 and 2013.
RESULTS: Of the 4581 deliveries between 2012 and 2013, 1.40% (N=64) were referred for consideration of heart failure. Eleven percent (7/64) were diagnosed with peripartum dilated cardiomyopathy, with incidence rate of 0.15%. Clinical profile were the following; 2-4 average prenatal consultations, normal body mass index, no history of smoking, history of infection during pregnancy, chronic hypertension (HPN) and family history of heart failure. Of the 8 known established risk factors, 6 were found to be existing among the subjects.
CONCLUSION: Peripartum dilated cardiomyopathy is a rare cause of heart failure with high maternal cardiac event rates. Its incidence among the subjects is 0.15%.