ABSTRACT
Background : Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been demonstrated to be a powerful predictor of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality in diabetic as well as hypertensive patients. However; less is known about the prevalence of electrocardiographic LVH (ECG-LVH) and its relation to other CV risk factors in diabetic patients in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore; the aim was to assess the prevalence of ECG-LVH in diabetic patients in Dar es Salaam; Tanzania; and its relation to other cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: Two hundred and thirty-seven consecutive patients attending the Muhimbili diabetic clinic were studied. ECGlvH was diagnosed by Sokolow-Lyon voltage and Cornell voltage-duration product criteria. Q waves; ST-segment deviation; T-wave abnormalities and intraventricular conduction defects were classified by the Minnesota codes. Blood pressure (BP); serum creatinine; cholesterol and triglyceride levels; and HbA1c and urinary albumin and creatinine concentrations were determined. Results: The prevalence of LVH in patients was 16by either ECG criteria; 12.2by Sokolow-Lyon and 5.1by Cornell product criteria. Patients with LVH had significantly higher systolic and mean BP and pulse pressure; and a higher prevalence of ST-segment abnormalities; T-wave inversion and albuminuria than those without LVH (all p 0.05). in multivariate logistic regression analysis; systolic BP was the only independent predictor of ECG-LVH. The prevalence of ECG-LVH increased by 15per 10 mmHg higher systolic BP [OR 1.151 (95CI 1.00921.314); p 0.05]. Clustering of cardiovascular risk factors differed significantly between type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. On average; type 1 patients had 0.8 and type 2 had 2.2 additional CV risk factors. Conclusion: ECG-LVH was present in 16of diabetic patients in Tanzania. Systolic BP was the most important predictor of ECG-LVH. Clustering of CV risks was significantly higher in type 2 than in type 1 diabetics; demonstrating the need for systematic multiple risk-factor assessment in these patients