Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, Ardabil Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ardabil, Iran
Abstract
Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a form of dilated cardiomyopathy of unclear etiology affecting women without preexisting heart disease during the last month of pregnancy or the first 6 months postpartum. Most of the women present in the first month postpartum with typical heart failure symptoms such as dyspnea, lower extremity edema, and fatigue. These symptoms are often initially erroneously diagnosed as part of the normal puerperal process. Diagnosis can be aided by the finding of an echocardiography. The reported incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy varies due to wide geographical variation, with reported incidences of 1:2289 to 1:4000 live births in the United States, 1:1000 in South Africa, 1:300 in Haiti, and 1:100 in Zaria and Nigeria.Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study in 2013, for all the pregnant women with the inclusion criteria who agreed to participate, a researcher-made questionnaire was filled and complete clinical examination including electrocardiography was done. For the patients who were hospitalized for cardiovascular reasons, echocardiography was done.Findings: During 1 year, in 8100 studied pregnancy, the incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy was 1:2700 live births; one case tended to death.Conclusion: Cardiovascular disease in women of reproductive age and postpartum period is serious and need perfect cares.
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