Selenium Deficiency as a Risk Factor for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nutritional Science
• Maternal Health

Background:

• Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a multifactorial heart condition with unknown etiology.
• Selenium deficiency has been hypothesized as a contributing factor to PPCM.
• Previous research has not quantified the risk of PPCM associated with selenium deficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if selenium deficiency is an independent risk factor for peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM).
• To quantify the association between selenium deficiency and PPCM in a Nigerian population.

Main Methods:

• A posthoc analysis of the peripartum cardiomyopathy in Nigeria (PEACE) registry data was conducted.
• Selenium levels (<70µg/L) were measured in 159 PPCM patients and 90 age-matched controls.
• Logistic regression models identified independent predictors of PPCM.

Main Results:

• Selenium deficiency was highly prevalent, found in 84.9% of PPCM patients versus 3.3% of controls.
• Selenium deficiency independently increased the odds of PPCM by 167-fold.
• Unemployment and lack of formal education also independently increased PPCM odds by 3.4-fold.

Conclusions:

• Selenium deficiency is a significant independent risk factor for PPCM in Kano, Nigeria.
• Screening reproductive-aged women for selenium deficiency is warranted, especially in high-incidence PPCM regions.
• A clinical trial of selenium supplementation for PPCM patients with deficiency is recommended.