Peripartum Cardiomyopathy and Social Vulnerability: An Epidemiological Analysis of Mortality Outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) outcomes have been previously linked to demographic and social factors. The social vulnerability index (SVI) is a measure of social vulnerability in the United States. We explored PPCM disparities and the impact of SVI on PPCM mortality.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Mortality from 1999 to 2020, SVI, and demographic data were obtained from CDC databases. County-specific SVI rankings were linked to PPCM age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs), allowing for a comparative analysis of AAMRs across both cumulative populations and subpopulations to identify disparities. All US counties were then stratified into low- and high-SVI groups, facilitating comparison of SVI rankings by estimation of excess-deaths per 1 000 000 person-years attributable to greater social vulnerability and rate ratios (RR) through univariable Poisson regression. We identified a total of 1026 deaths related to PPCM between 1999 and 2020. Overall AAMR increased from 0.180 in 1999 to 0.326 in 2020. Black populations (AAMR: 1.081) and Southern US counties (AAMR: 0.444) had the highest AAMRs compared with other racial and US census groups, respectively. Higher SVI accounted for 0.172 excess deaths per 1 000 000 person-years (RR=1.800). Among Black and White populations, higher SVI also accounted for 0.248 and 0.071 excess deaths per 1 000 000 person-years, respectively. Similar impacts of greater social vulnerability were observed when comparing the US census regions (Northeast RR=1.609, Midwest RR=1.819, South RR=1.934, West RR=1.776).

CONCLUSIONS

PPCM mortality disparities exist across racial and geographic populations in the United States. A greater burden of social vulnerability is associated with higher PPCM mortality on a national level.