title: Peripartum cardiomyopathy among cardiovascular patients referred for echocardiography at Parirenyatwa Teaching Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main aim was to evaluate the outcome of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) within six months of diagnosis. The secondary aim was to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with PPCM in Harare, Zimbabwe.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study in which patients recruited into a detailed PPCM registry were followed up for six months. Echocardiograms were performed at enrolment, and three and six months after diagnosis, to determine left ventricular function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1 August 2012 to 31 July 2013, 43 patients with a new diagnosis of PPCM were recruited at Parirenyatwa Hospital in Harare. At six months, mean ejection fraction improved from 29.7 ± 9.8 to 44.9 ± 14.9%, p < 0.001 and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class improved significantly (p < 0.0001). Five (11.6%) patients died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Left ventricular function improved in a substantial number of patients (42.9%) in this Zimbabwean cohort compared to other African cohorts. However the mortality rate remained high.
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. Email: egambahaya@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ellise Tapiwa
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Gambahaya
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Noleen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Munyandu
authors.affiliation: College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matenga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D058725:Peripartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology