Prevalence and Risk Factors of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Among Reproductive-Aged Women with Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy causes dilated cardiomyopathy, which develops late in pregnancy or early after childbirth and primarily affects African women. Patients frequently experience more frequent partial or complete recovery than patients with other forms of dilated cardiomyopathy do, emphasizing the crucial role of early diagnosis and management. Despite its global prevalence, there is currently a lack of comprehensive data on the disease's impact and contributing factors in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of peripartum cardiomyopathy and its associated factors among reproductive-aged women with dilated cardiomyopathy who were hospitalized or on cardiac follow-up at three tertiary hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted via a universal sampling method at three hospitals. Medical records of reproductive-aged women with Dilated cardiomyopathies that were hospitalized or attended follow-up from October 2021 to September 2023 at the three hospitals were reviewed. Both descriptive and analytical statistical methods were employed via SPSS version 29 for analysis, with the significance level set at a p value <0.05. Frequency tables, descriptive summaries, graphs, and charts were used for illustration. Results: Three hundred four women of reproductive age with dilated cardiomyopathy participated. The prevalence of peripartum cardiomyopathy was 22.7%. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that preeclampsia [AOR 13.740, 95% CI 1.120--168.509], multiparty [AOR 6.01, 95% CI 1.91--18.93], gestational diabetes [AOR 10.95, 95% CI 1.62--74.09], pregnancy-related anemia [AOR 4.55, 95% CI 1.47--14.09], low socioeconomic status [AOR 6.83, 95% CI 2.06--22.68], and alcohol consumption during pregnancy [AOR 18.98, 95% CI 5.15--70.03] were significantly associated with an increased risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a common form of dilated cardiomyopathy in women of reproductive age. Its association with multiple demographic and obstetric risk factors highlights the need for improved risk assessment and further research. Clinical trial number: not applicable