A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals that Black mothers living in disadvantaged neighborhoods face a significantly higher risk of developing peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a rare and potentially deadly form of heart failure. The research, led by Curisa Tucker, PhD, RN, from the University of South Carolina, examined over 7.3 million births in California between 1997 and 2019. The findings indicate that living in poor neighborhoods with fewer resources increases the risk of PPCM by 20% to 70%.
PPCM, which occurs towards the end of pregnancy and up to five months postpartum, is characterized by the heart’s reduced ability to pump blood, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and leg swelling. The study found that Black women in the most under-resourced neighborhoods had the highest risk, even after accounting for factors like income, race, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Alarmingly, Black women living in better neighborhoods were still more than three times as likely to develop PPCM compared to others.
Tucker emphasized the role of social determinants of health, such as access to nutritious food, stable housing, and quality healthcare, in contributing to these disparities. She urged policymakers to consider these factors when developing interventions to prevent PPCM and improve maternal health outcomes. Addressing these disparities requires a concerted effort to redistribute resources and funding to support at-risk women and promote health equity.
See: “Poor Neighborhoods Linked to Heart Failure in New Black Mothers” (March 25, 2025)