A Study of Incidence and outcome of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital

Background: Heart failure in women associated with pregnancy and the peripartum period is now recognized as a distinctive form of cardiomyopathy. Its prevalence and mortality vary in different geographical locations. There is a paucity of data from our group of the population regarding peripartum cardiomyopathy hence we conducted the study to determine the incidence, aetiology of PPCM in our study group along with treatment and maternal outcomes. Methods: Patients with any parity and age, which are in their peripartum period i.e. one month before delivery or within five months of delivery. Patients presenting with moderate to severe breathlessness at rest or on exertion with palpitations, ankle oedema, or with signs and symptoms of heart failure. Documented systolic dysfunction with the echocardiographic finding of Ejection fraction of <45% and or Fractional shortening