There are few prospective reports of 1-year outcomes for women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). We report findings from the European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme PPCM Registry.
The registry enrolled women from 51 countries from 2012-2018. Eligibility included: 1) a peripartum state, 2) signs or symptoms of heart failure, 3) LV ejection fraction ≤45%, 4) exclusion of alternative causes of heart failure. We report mortality, thromboembolism, stroke, re-hospitalization, LV recovery and remodelling at 1 year. Differences between regions were compared. One-year mortality data were available in 535 (71%) women and follow-up differed across regions. At 1 year, death from any cause occurred in 8.4% of women, with regional variation (Europe 4.9%, Africa 6.5%, Asia-Pacific 9.2%, Middle East 18.9%, p < 0.001). The frequencies of thromboembolism and stroke were 6.3% and 2.5%, respectively, and were similar across regions. A total of 14.0% of women had at least one re-hospitalization and 3.5% had recurrent re-hospitalizations (i.e. two or more). Overall, 66.1% of women had recovery of LV function (22% between 6 months and 1 year), with a mean LVEF increase from baseline of 21.2% [±13.6]). Recovery occurred most frequently in Asia-Pacific (77.5%) and least frequently in the Middle East (32.7%). There were significant regional differences in the use of heart failure pharmacotherapies.
Approximately 1 in 12 women with PPCM had died by 1 year and thromboembolism and stroke occurred in 6.3% and 2.5%, respectively. Around 1 in 7 women had been re-hospitalized and, in 1 in 3, LV recovery had not occurred. PPCM is associated with substantial mortality and morbidity globally.

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