Pattern of ECG abnormalities in Nigerian hypertensive patients seen in University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Objective: The aim of the study was to document the pattern of EGG abnormalities in the hypertensive patients in Port Harcourt and to compare their prevalence with what obtains in the apparently normal population as documented in previous studies. Methods: The electrocardiographic profile of one hundred and thirty two consecutive hypertensive patients seen at the consultant medical clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital were studied prospectively. All patients were above 15 years of age with blood pressures above 140/90 mmHg taken at more than two visits. As part of their investigations, twelve lead surface electrocardiograms were recorded. They were interpreted by either of the authors and data were analyzed by simple statistical methods. P value was taken as significant if up to or below 0.5. Results: The abnormalities identified were left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH)in37.1%, left axis deviation(LAD) in 30.3%, sinus tachycardia 25.0%,left atrial enlargement(LAE) in 21.2%, atrial fibrillation(AF) in 3.8%, right bundle branch block (RBBB) in 1.5% and left anterior hemi block (LAH) in 0.8%. There were no cases of myocardial infarction nor pathological Q waves. Conclusion: The study concluded that ECG abnormalities are prevalent in our hypertensive patients and given their prognostic significance, the surface ECG remains relevant as one of the first line investigations in these patients

The Pattern and distribution of communicable diseases among medical admissions in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Background: Global and regional estimates show that non-communicable diseases are rising in importance relative to other causes of ill health as populations age and the fight continues against communicable diseases. However; communicable diseases remain a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the developing world.Aim: The study was carried out to determine the pattern of communicable diseases in the medical wards of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital; (UPTH) over four consecutive years (June2000 June 2004). Methods: The study was retrospective and data were obtained from the medical registers in the medical wards and the records department of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Medical admissions due to communicable diseases were carefully selected and analyzed.Results: There were 1441 cases of various communicable diseases out of a total of 3294 medical admissions constituting 43.8; while non-communicable diseases accounted for 56.2.The top ten communicable diseases identified were tuberculosis; HIV/AIDS; septicaemia; lobar pneumonia; acute viral hepatitis; chronic liver disease(viral); enteric fever; malaria; urinary tract infections and amoebic liver disease. Conclusion: Communicable diseases still remain a major cause of morbidity in Port Harcourt hence the double burden of disease. There is need for improvement in housing; provision of portable water; immunization; health education and improved sanitation amongst other social amenities to reduce the scourge of communicable diseases in Nigeria

Echocardiography in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital: April 2000 to March 2003

Background: Echocardiography is a cheap and non-invasive technique for the investigation of cardiac diseases with reliable levels of accuracy. Echocardiography services commenced in the Cardiac unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in April 2000. There is a need to establish an accurate pattern of cardiac diseases seen in the centre based on echocardiography assessment. The aim of the study was to review the pattern of cardiac diseases diagnosed by echocardiography in the cardiology unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching hospital. Method: A prospective descriptive study of patients referred to the cardiology unit of UPTH for echocardiography for a variety of cardiac complain was done. Subjects had two dimensional and M-mode echocardiography assessment using a Siemens Sonoline SL 1 machine with a 3.5 MHz sector probe. Results: One hundred and forty one subjects aged between 16-84 years with a mean age of 44.2 ± 11.5 years had echocardiography assessment over the three year period. Eighty two (58.2%) of the subjects were males while 59(41.8%) were females. Fourty eight (34.0%) of subjects had hypertensive heart disease, 28(19.9%) had Cardiomyopathies, 13(9.2%) had rheumatic heart disease. Pericardial disease, congenital heart disease and cor pulmonale was found in 6(4.3%), 2(1.4%) and 1(0.7%) respectively. Fourty three (30.5%) of subjects had normal findings on echocardiography. Conclusion: Hypertensive heart disease was found to be the most prevalent cardiac condition followed by the cardiomyopathies and rheumatic heart disease in that order. This trend is very similar to what obtains in sub Saharan Africa as documented by similar studies