Clinical Characteristics and Short-term Outcomes in Patients with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: A Retrospective Descriptive Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Southern India
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a lifethreatening condition characterised by heart failure that occurs towards the end of pregnancy or in the months following delivery, with no identifiable cause for the heart failure. Despite its severity, the clinical characteristics of PPCM remain relatively unexplored in the Indian subcontinent. Aim: To investigate the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients with PPCM and to analyse the maternal and foetal outcomes of those affected by PPCM. Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted among PPCM patients admitted over the past 10 years in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Department of Cardiology at PSG Hospitals, a tertiary healthcare centre in in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The study was carried out over a period of 6 months, from May 2021 to November 2021. A sample size of 34 cases was determined and included in the study. Essential data for the study were gathered from the hospital’s electronic medical records, including patient demographics and clinical parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, haemoglobin, creatinine, electrolyte levels), medical history, treatment details (hospitalisation history, drug intake, inotrope use, readmissions, mortality), echocardiographic findings and medication status. Maternal outcomes recorded included heart failure hospitalisation, the need for inotropes and mortality. Continuous variables were expressed using mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values, while categorical variables were represented in terms of frequency and percentage. Results: The study encompassed 34 participants with a mean age of 29.26±5.73 years. Hypertension was the most common co-morbidity, observed in 7 patients (20.59%), followed by diabetes in 4 patients (11.76%). According to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification, 15 patients (44.12%) fell into Class II, while 14 patients (41.18%) were classified as Class III. The study revealed a readmission rate of 13 patients (38.24%) and unfortunately, 3 patients (8.82%) succumbed to the disease. Diuretics were the predominant type of medication used, prescribed to 26 patients (76.47%), with Tab Digoxin being the most commonly used inotrope, administered to 12 patients (47.37% of those on inotropes). Conclusion: The PPCM poses a significant challenge in diagnosis due to its symptom overlap with normal pregnancy. Timely identification of PPCM is crucial for successful treatment outcomes.
Authors: A Poorani Devi, Saju Denishya Prabhakaran, Richu Ravikumar, Tamilarasu Kaliappan
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $275
OpenAlex ID: W7083191924
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