ArticleCureus2026
Role of Antenatal 2D Echocardiography (Echo) in Predicting Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in High-Risk Pregnant Women.
Article in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background and aim Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a potentially life-threatening condition, and early diagnosis remains challenging due to overlap with physiological symptoms of pregnancy. Antenatal 2D echocardiography (echo) may aid in early detection, particularly in high-risk women. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of antenatal 2D echo in predicting PPCM in high-risk pregnancies and to assess associated maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods This prospective observational study was conducted on 100 high-risk pregnant women with gestational age >32 weeks at a district hospital. All participants underwent antenatal 2D echocardiographic evaluation. PPCM was diagnosed based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%. Maternal and fetal outcomes were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test and independent t-test, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Results PPCM was identified in 9 (9.0%) participants. Preeclampsia was the most common risk factor (41 (41.0%)) and showed a significant association with PPCM (6 (66.7%) vs 35 (38.5%), p = 0.04). All PPCM cases demonstrated reduced LVEF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction. The mean LVEF was significantly lower in the PPCM group compared to non-PPCM participants (p < 0.001). PPCM was associated with significantly adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including higher rates of ICU admission (6 (66.7%) vs 8 (8.8%)), maternal mortality (1 (11.1%) vs 0 (0.0%)), NICU admission (4 (44.4%) vs 12 (13.2%)), intrauterine growth restriction (3 (33.3%) vs 10 (11.0%)), and prolonged hospital stay (5 (55.6%) vs 12 (13.2%)). Conclusions Antenatal 2D echo is a valuable, noninvasive modality for the early detection of PPCM in high-risk pregnancies. The present study demonstrated a significant association between PPCM and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, particularly preeclampsia, highlighting the importance of targeted screening. Early echocardiographic identification of left ventricular systolic dysfunction facilitates timely multidisciplinary management and may help reduce adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. These findings support the incorporation of antenatal echocardiographic assessment into the routine evaluation of high-risk pregnant women, especially in resource-limited settings.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.