PREVALENCE OF PERIPARTUM CARDIOMYOPATHY AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG REPRODUCTIVE AGE WOMEN WITH DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY IN THREE TERTIARY HOSPITALS, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Summary Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy causes dilated cardiomyopathy, which develops late in pregnancy or early after childbirth, primarily impacting African women. Patients frequently experience more frequent partial or complete recovery compared to other forms of dilated cardiomyopathy, 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. Objective: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of peripartum cardiomyopathy and its associated factors among reproductive age women with dilated cardiomyopathy who were hospitalized or on cardiac follow-up at three tertiary hospitals in Addis Ababa. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted using universal sampling method at three hospitals. Medical records of reproductive-age women with dilated cardiomyopathy who were hospitalized or attended followup from October 2021 to September 2023 at the three hospitals were reviewed. Both descriptive and analytical statistical methods were employed using SPSS version 29 for analysis, with a significant level set at p value <0.05. Frequency tables, descriptive summaries, graphs, and charts were used for illustration. Result: Three hundred-four women of reproductive age with dilated cardiomyopathy were participated. The prevalence of Peripartum cardiomyopathy was 22.7%. After conducting both bivariate and multiple variable logistic regression analyses, it was found that factors such as preeclampsia (AOR 13.740, 95% CI 1.120-168.509), multiparity (AOR 6.01, 95% CI 1.91-18.93), gestational diabetes (AOR 10.95, 95% CI 1.62-74.09), anemia during pregnancy (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 associated with a higher risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: Peripartum cardiomyopathy stands out as a commonly encountered form of dilated cardiomyopathy among women of reproductive age. Multiple demographic and obstetric factors were associated with increased risk suggesting a need for appropriate risk assessment and further extensive research. Key words: Peripartum cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, pregnancy, Ethiopia