Περιγεννητική Μυοκαρδιοπάθεια στη Κύπρο
Αγησιλάου Κυριακή, Δρ Μίττλετον Νίκος, Δρ Λαμπρινού Αικατερίνη
Background: Cardiovascular disorders are a major cause of complications worldwide during pregnancy and the number of women developing heart disease during pregnancy is increasing. Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is one of the heart disorders that affects pregnant women towards the end of their pregnancy through about five months after giving birth. It is detected as a heart failure after left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), but its phenotype is similar to that of Dilated Cardiomyopathy.
Objective: The main purpose of this study to identify the cases of PPCM in Cyprus the last five years, the characteristics of these cases, and their outcomes and to create a Registry of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in the country.
Materials and Methods: It is a pilot feasibility study to develop, record, and implement a Registry of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in Cyprus, with retrospective and prospective design. It is a descriptive observational study with case series. The sample consists of women of all nationalities who were diagnosed with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy according to HFA definition of the ESC, during the period 2017 to March 2022 in Cyprus. The collection of the sample underwent convenience sampling.
Results: From a total of N=189 possible cases, only two (N=2) had the diagnosis of PPCM. A number of N=108 women with cardiovascular problems during pregnancy were diagnosed with preeclampsia, N=28 women with Gestational Hypertension and N=14 women with Chronic Hypertension. Thirty (30) medical files were not found and five (N=5) cases had different heart disease. One (N=1) case suffered from eclampsia and another one (N=1) was not found to have any pathological problem. Conclusion: The process of a pilot feasibility study, the development, recording, and implementation of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Registry in Cyprus are described. Difficulties were found for the collection of data and more work, including awareness and education of health professionals are needed in order to have a completely developed Registry and identification and reference of all cases appearing.
Keywords: “peripartum cardiomyopathy” or PPCM, “heart failure” or HF, “pregnancy cardiomyopathy”, “pregnancy heart failure”