Highest national order for Prof Karen Sliwa-Hahnle

World-renowned clinical cardiologist Professor Karen Sliwa-Hahnle, who has dedicated her career to advancing research in priority heart-health areas – including peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) – has received the Order of Mapungubwe. The award is South Africa’s highest civilian national honour, conferred by the president to citizens who have achieved excellence and made international impact in various disciplines.

Professor Sliwa-Hahnle is the director of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Cape Heart Institute. As a cardiologist for pregnant women with heart disease, she has dedicated her career to researching pathophysiology, treatment options and awareness of PPCM – a life-threatening form of heart failure that occurs in 1 in 1 000 women in the last month of pregnancy or up to five months post-partum. The condition weakens the heart muscle and dramatically reduces its pumping efficiency. Without therapy, PPCM leads to death in up to 20% of women. This global disease is particularly prevalent in African populations. 

Over the years, Sliwa-Hahnle’s work has led to disease-specific therapy for PPCM. She continues to lead several African and global research projects, which have made massive inroads with creating knowledge on cardiovascular diseases common in Africa and other low- to middle-income countries – leading to notable changes in policy.

Meaningful recognition

For Sliwa-Hahnle, who was born in Germany and made South Africa her home when she first moved here in 1992, the award carries deep meaning.

“I am deeply honoured to receive this prestigious award, bestowed by the president of South Africa – my home country of choice. It is a meaningful recognition of more than two decades of dedication, collaboration and teamwork with outstanding colleagues, patients and researchers,” she said.

“By receiving the Order of Mapungubwe, it highlights the importance of cardiovascular disease in pregnant women.”

Sliwa-Hahnle said PPCM piqued her interest when her daughter’s nanny developed the condition. It was then that she realised that little was known about this serious disease. Their nanny’s diagnosis, she explained, sparked her commitment to conducting research in the field.

Enormous contribution

Since then, Sliwa-Hahnle has led research in the field of immune-activation, proteomic characterisation and advanced imaging, which led to better understanding the complex pathophysiology of the disease. In addition, she also discovered a novel disease-specific therapeutic option (bromocriptine) for PPCM, which reduced one year mortality by more than 50% and led to improved heart recovery with better long-term survival. To date, bromocriptine is the only proven specific intervention for PPCM, and the treatment is included in the European Society of Cardiology Guidelines for reducing mortality.

Through her work over the years, Sliwa-Hahnle has redefined cardiovascular research and care across South Africa, Africa and the world. She has also been named the most prolific cardiovascular researcher from Africa. She is a highly cited researcher with more than 500 publications in leading medical journals.

“By receiving the Order of Mapungubwe, it highlights the importance of cardiovascular disease in pregnant women and the urgent need to reduce maternal mortality, particularly in Africa and other underserved regions,” Sliwa-Hahnle said.