Patient characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in pregnancy: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized by reversible left ventricular dysfunction and predominantly affects post-menopausal women. However, it is rarely identified as a cause of acute heart failure in pregnancy. Objective We aimed to determine patient characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of TCM occurring in pregnancy. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the United States - National Inpatient Sample (NIS) Database from 2010–2014 to assess TCM in pregnant women ≥18 years using international classification of diseases 9th revision clinical modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. We compared patient demographics, co-morbidities and in-hospital outcomes between pregnant and non-pregnant women with TCM aged 18–49 years. Patients with a diagnosis of peripartum cardiomyopathy were excluded. Chi-square test and Student-t test or Mann- Whitney U test were used for categorical and continuous variables with normal and skewed distribution, respectively. Results TCM occurred at a younger age in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (Age [Mean ±SD]: 31.2±7.2 years vs. 41.8±7.1 years; p<0.001). Rates of TCM were higher during pregnancy in African American (19% vs. 11.5%; p=0.008), Hispanic (27.3% vs. 9.6%; p<0.001) and Asian women (11.3% vs. 2.6%; p<0.001) compared to non-pregnant women of similar race. However, among Caucasian women rates of TCM were higher in non-pregnant women (42.4% vs. 72.7%; p<0.001). There were no in-hospital deaths among pregnant women with TCM (0% vs. 5.2%; p=0.005), however they had higher rates of cardiogenic shock (13.8% vs. 5.8; p<0.001) and respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation (51.7% vs. 20.9%; p<0.001). The average length of hospitalization was also longer among pregnant women with TCM (Days [Mean±SD]: 5.8±4 vs. 5.5±7.5; p<0.001). Pregnant women had lower rates of diagnostic angiography (24.1% vs. 55.6%; p<0.001). Pregnant women with TCM had higher rates of ventricular fibrillation (6.9% vs. 2.9%; p=0.02), but had no atrial fibrillation (0% vs. 2.6%; p=0.05), atrial flutter (0% vs. 0.4%; p=0.43), paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (0% vs. 0.5%; p=0.4) and ventricular tachycardia (0% vs. 4.8%; p=0.07). Pregnant women with TCM had lower rates of psychiatric and certain medical co-morbidities: anxiety (6.9% vs. 20.4%; p<0.001), depression (0% vs. 2.6%; p=0.05), bipolar disorder (0% vs. 0.8%; p=0.3), hypertension (27.6% vs. 40.3%; p=0.002), hyperlipidemia (3.4% vs. 25.7%; p<0.001) and smoking (6.9% vs. 40.2%; p<0.001). The rates of diabetes (13.8% vs. 15.9%; p=0.5) and obesity (10.3% vs. 8.2%; p=0.37) were similar between the two groups. Conclusion There was no in-hospital mortality observed in pregnant women who developed TCM, however, they had increased rates of cardiogenic shock, mechanical ventilation, ventricular fibrillation and had longer hospitalizations. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None