Reports from Korea University Highlight Recent Findings in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Characteristics of…

Reports from Korea University Highlight Recent Findings in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Characteristics of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in South Korea)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- Current study results on Heart Disorders and Diseases - Peripartum Cardiomyopathy have been published. According to news reporting originating in Seoul, South Korea, by VerticalNews journalists, research stated, "Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare disorder associated with pregnancy that can lead to life-threatening conditions. The incidence and clinical characteristics of this condition remain poorly understood."

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from Korea University, "We aimed to perform the first population-based study of PPCM in South Korea, using the Korea National Health Insurance Claims Database of the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Patients who fulfilled predefined diagnostic criteria for PPCM from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2012, were identified from International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. To discriminate PPCM from other causes of heart failure, we excluded subjects who already had heart failure-related International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes at least 1 year before delivery. During the study period, there were 1404551 deliveries in South Korea, and we excluded 20159 patients who already had heart failure. In those, a total of 795 cases were identified as PPCM. Patients with PPCM were older, had a higher prevalence of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus, and were more likely to be primiparous and have multiple pregnancies. Moreover, cesarean section and pregnancy-related complications and in-hospital death were also more common in patients with PPCM. Intriguingly, a considerable number of heart failure cases (n=64; 8.1% of total PPCM) were noted between 5 and 12 months after delivery. The incidence of PPCM was 1 in 1741 deliveries in South Korea. Patients with PPCM were older, were more associated with primiparity and multiple pregnancy, had more pregnancy-related complications, and revealed higher in-hospital mortality than controls."

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: "The number of cases diagnosed as PPCM were decreased over time after delivery; however, a large number of patients were still noted through 12 months after delivery."

For more information on this research see: Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Characteristics of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in South Korea. Circulation-Heart Failure, 2018;11(4):10-17. Circulation-Heart Failure can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Two Commerce Sq, 2001 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA.

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting E.J. Kim, Korea University, Guro Hosp, Dept. of Cardiol, Seoul, South Korea. Additional authors for this research include G.J. Cho, G.U. Park, L.Y. Kim, T.S. Lee, D.Y. Kim, S.W. Choi, J.C. Youn, S.W. Han, K.H. Ryu, J.O. Na, C.U. Choi, H.S. Seo and S. Lee.

Keywords for this news article include: Seoul, South Korea, Asia, Cardiovascular Diseases and Conditions, Heart Disorders and Diseases, Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, Risk and Prevention, Health and Medicine, Health Insurance, Cardiomyopathies, Heart Disease, Heart Failure, Epidemiology, Cardiology, Hospitals, Korea University.

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