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Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is common in North-Western Nigeria. This study aimed to describe the 1-year survival and left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in a group of patients with PPCM from three referral hospitals in Kano, Nigeria. Methods: PPCM was defined according to recommendations of the Heart Failure (HF) Association of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on PPCM. LVRR was defined as absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by =10.0% and decrease in left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic dimension indexed to body surface area =33.0 mm/m2, while recovered LV systolic function as LVEF ≥55%, at 12 months follow-up. Results: A total of 54 newly diagnosed PPCM patients with mean age of 26.6 ± 6.7 years, presented with classical features of predominantly left-sided HF and 33 of them qualified for follow-up. Of the 17 survivors at 12 months, 8 patients (47.1%) satisfied the criteria for LVRR, of whom 5 (29.4%) had recovered LV systolic function (LVEF =55%), but LVRR was not predicted by any variable in the regression models. The prevalence of normal LV diastolic function increased from 11.1% at baseline to 35.3% at 12 months (P = 0.02). At 1-year follow-up, 41.4% of patients had died (two-thirds of them within the first 6 months), but mortality was not predicted by any variable including LVRR. Conclusions: In Kano, PPCM patients had modest LVRR but high mortality at 1-year. Further studies should be carried out to identify reasons for the high mortality and how to curb it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine if selenium deficiency, serum ceruloplasmin and traditional birth practices are risk factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), in Kano, Nigeria. This is a case-control study carried out in three hospitals, and PPCM patients were followed up for six months. Critically low serum selenium concentration was defined as <70 µg/L. A total of 39 PPCM patients and 50 controls were consecutively recruited after satisfying the inclusion criteria. Mean serum selenium in patients (61.7 ± 14.9 µg/L) was significantly lower than in controls (118.4 ± 45.6 µg/L) (p < 0.001). The prevalence of serum selenium <70 µg/L was significantly higher among patients (76.9%) than controls (22.0%) (p < 0.001). The mean ceruloplasmin and prevalence of socio-economic indices, multiparity, pregnancy-induced hypertension, obesity and twin pregnancy were not different between the groups (p > 0.05). Logistic regression showed that rural residency significantly increased the odds for serum selenium <70 µg/L by 2.773-fold (p = 0.037). Baseline serum levels of selenium and ceruloplasmin were not associated with six-month mortality. This study has shown that selenium deficiency is a risk factor for PPCM in Kano, Nigeria, and is related to rural residency. However, serum ceruloplasmin, customary birth practices and some other characteristics were not associated with PPCM in the study area.