Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare and potentially fatal complication of pregnancy. Multiple risk factors have been demonstrated, including an increased association with development in women of African descent. However, less is known about the association of race with in-hospital outcomes at the time of delivery. This study reviewed data from the 2016-2018 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Patients with a diagnosis of PPCM were identified using the Tenth Revision of International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) codes. The proportion of patients with various cardiovascular outcomes in each racial group was determined.

Dr. Ellise Gambahaya is a cardiology fellow in her second year of training at the University of Cape Town, based at Groote Schuur Hospital in South Africa.

She is originally from Zimbabwe and intends to return home after training to pursue both an academic and clinical career in cardiology. 

Dr. Gambahaya received her basic medical degree from the University of Zimbabwe in 2006, followed by a Masters of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the same institution in 2014.  Dr. Gambahaya is a keen researcher and has been awarded several research fellowships including the Fogarty Global Health Fellowship in 2016-2017. Her main area of interest is in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy, and she has created a registry of patients with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in Zimbabwe. She has published her research findings in peer reviewed journals and presented at various local, regional, and international conferences.  

Dr Gambahaya’s long term goals are to establish a formal cardiology service in Zimbabwe as well as to continue to build cardiovascular research capacity and training.