# Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients With Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Prevalence, Predictors, and Associated In-Hospital Adverse Events

## TL;DR

This study found that 6.5% of patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy develop ventricular tachycardia, with risk factors including coagulopathy and atrial fibrillation.

## Contribution

The study identifies novel predictors of ventricular tachycardia in peripartum cardiomyopathy patients using a large national database.

## Key findings

- Ventricular tachycardia occurred in 6.5% of peripartum cardiomyopathy patients.
- Coagulopathy and atrial fibrillation were significant predictors of ventricular tachycardia.
- Pre-eclampsia was associated with a reduced risk of ventricular tachycardia.

## Abstract

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) among patients admitted with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) as well as to analyze the independent association of VT with in-hospital outcomes among PPCM patients.

Methods

Data were obtained from the National Inpatient Sample from January 2016 to December 2019. We assessed predictors of VT in patients admitted with PPCM. We also assessed the independent association of VT with clinical outcomes among patients admitted with PPCM.

Results

From 2016 to 2019, 4730 patients with PPCM were reported to the national inpatient sample database, 309 of which developed VT (6.5%). Using multivariate analysis, we found predictors of VT to include patient characteristics and factors such as age (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.020, p=0.023), chronic kidney disease (aOR=1.440, p=0.048), coagulopathy (aOR=1.964, p=0.006), and atrial fibrillation (aOR=3.965, p<0.001). Conversely, pre-eclampsia was significantly associated with a decreased risk of VT in PPCM patients (aOR=0.218, p=0.001).

Conclusion

In a large cohort of patients admitted with peripartum cardiomyopathy, we found the prevalence of VT to be 6.5%. Risk factors for VT in this patient population included conditions such as coagulopathy and atrial fibrillation.