OC11_01 Predictive Value of Frequent Premature Ventricular Complexes During Exercise Testing, on Long-Term Combined Arrhythmia Outcome

Introduction: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in Northern Nigeria and many other parts of the world. Although right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction was found to be common in PPCM, RV diastolic dysfunction (RVDD) and its determinants have not been previously described. Objectives: To assess RVDD and its predictors in PPCM patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 3 referral hospitals in Kano, Nigeria. Consecutive newly diagnosed PPCM patients who had satisfied the inclusion criteria were recruited. RVDD was defined and graded using its Doppler filling and myocardial tissue Doppler velocities obtained at the tricuspid annular level. Results: Forty three subjects with PPCM of mean age 26.6 7.0 years were recruited over 6 months. RVDD was found in 30 (69.8%) subjects, of whom 16 (53.3%) had grade I, 12 (40.0%) had grade II and 2 (6.7%) had grade III severity. In comparison, subjects with RVDD had significantly higher tricuspid E/e’ ratio(5.1 2.8 vs 3.5 1.0, p1⁄40.012) and lower serum selenium concentration (55.6 12.1 vs 72.5 12.0 mg/L, p1⁄40.001) than those with preserved RV diastolic function. Logistic regression analysis showed serum selenium as the only predictor of RVDD. A decrease in serum selenium by 0.131 mg/L increased the odds of RVDD by 14% (odds ratio1⁄41.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1⁄41.03-1.26; p1⁄40.009). Also, serum selenium <70 mg/L increased the odds of RVDD by 6.67 fold (CI1⁄41.18-37.78; p1⁄40.032). Furthermore, serum selenium only correlated with RV ‘A’ filling wave (Spearman’s correlation coefficient 1⁄4 -0.392; p1⁄40.027), suggesting that selenium deficiency is related to impaired RV relaxation in late diastole. Conclusion: RVDD is common in PPCM patients, and seems to be related to serum selenium levels, deficiency of which appears to be related to impaired late diastolic RV relaxation. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared