Metabolic Syndrome Components in a Nondiabetic Afro-Caribbean Population: Influence of Gender and Age.

Background: Our aim was to describe the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components among Afro-Caribbean adults without diabetes and cardiovascular complications. Methods: Participants were recruited from a Health Center in Guadeloupe, French West Indies. MetS was defined according to the NCEP ATP III. Prevalence of MetS and MetS components were compared across age groups and sex. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were obtained using logistic regression. Results: There were 1011 participants (68.8% women, mean age 47.8 ± 11.8 years). Prevalence of MetS was 17.9% (21.1% women, 10.8% men) and increased by age in women. High blood pressure had the highest prevalence among men and among women ≥60 years. Prevalence of abdominal obesity (AbO) was higher in women than in men. High triglyceride levels were uncommon at all ages and, men and women <40 years, compared with the other groups had higher prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. With multiple logistic regression, compared with adults <40 years, those ≥60 years had the highest OR for prevalent hypertension 7.8 (4.8-12.8); P < 0.001, AbO 2.1 (1.3-3.3); P = 0.002 and high fasting blood glucose levels 5.5 (3.1-9.8); P < 0.001. They also had lower odds for having low HDL-C than the younger ones (G1: age <40 years). Among persons ≥60 years, OR for MetS was 1.9 (1.1-3.6); P = 0.013 compared with the referent group. Compared with men, women had higher odds of MetS 2.2 (1.5-3.3); P < 0.001. Conclusion: Women were more likely to have MetS than men and persons ≥60 years were significantly more likely to have MetS than persons <40 years. Preventive measures are required to reduce the prevalence of MetS.

Acute Coronary Syndromes in Sub-Saharan Africa: A 10-Year Systematic Review.

Background Data in the literature on acute coronary syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. Methods and Results We conducted a systematic review of the MEDLINE (PubMed) database of observational studies of acute coronary syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2020. Acute coronary syndrome was defined according to current definitions. Abstracts and then the full texts of the selected articles were independently screened by 2 blinded investigators. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards. We identified 784 articles with our research strategy, and 27 were taken into account for the final analysis. Ten studies report a prevalence of acute coronary syndrome among patients admitted for cardiovascular disease ranging from 0.21% to 22.3%. Patients were younger, with a minimum age of 52 years in South Africa and Djibouti. There was a significant male predominance. Hypertension was the main risk factor (50%-55% of cases). Time to admission tended to be long, with the longest times in Tanzania (6.6 days) and Burkina Faso (4.3 days). Very few patients were admitted by medicalized transport, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire (only 34% including 8% by emergency medical service). The clinical presentation is dominated by ST-elevation sudden cardiac arrest. Percutaneous coronary intervention is not widely available but was performed in South Africa, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Sudan, and Mauritania. Fibrinolysis was the most accessible means of revascularization, with streptokinase as the molecule of choice. Hospital mortality was highly variable between 1.2% and 24.5% depending on the study populations and the revascularization procedures performed. Mortality at follow-up varied from 7.8% to 43.3%. Some studies identified factors predictive of mortality. Conclusions The significant disparities in our results underscore the need for a multicenter registry for acute coronary syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa in order to develop consensus-based strategies, propose and evaluate tailored interventions, and identify prognostic factors.

[Pulmonary embolism at the University Hospital Campus of Lome (Togo): a retrospective study about 51 cases]. / L'embolie pulmonaire au centre hospitalier universitaire Campus de Lomé (Togo): étude rétrospective à propos de 51 cas.

INTRODUCTION: This study provides an analysis of the evolutionary, clinical and epidemiological aspects of pulmonary embolism at the University Hospital Campus of Lome. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, analytic and descriptive study over a period of 39 months (November 1 , 2011- January 31, 2015). All the medical records of patients hospitalized for PE in the Department of Cardiology at the University Hospital Campus were analyzed. RESULTS: The prevalence of PE was 3.1%. Female/male sex ratio was 2.2. The average age was 52.7 ± 14.4 years. Risk factors for venous thromboembolic disease VTD were dominated by: obesity (54.9%), bedrest (25.5%) and long journey (17.6%). The main symptoms were: dyspnoea (98.0%), chest pain (78.4%) and cough (60.8%). Wells' score was high in 29.4% of cases. ECG showed: tachycardia (78.4%), right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH)(49.0%), S1Q3T3 aspect (47.1%) and right block (39.2%). Transthoracic Doppler echocardiogram showed right cavitary dilation and right intraventricular thrombus in 5.6% of cases. Thoracic angioscanner was normal in 9.8% of cases and showed embolus in 82.4% of cases. Treatment was based on Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) at therapeutic doses with antivitamin K (AVK) relay. Thrombolysis was performed in 8 patients. Evolution was favorable in 86.3% of cases. Case-fatality rate was 13.7%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of PE is relatively low in our area but it is probably underestimated. PE is a therapeutic problem in Togo because of the high cost of complementary examinations and thrombolysis. Prevention is therefore the only effective weapon.

Particularites de la cardiomyopathie du peripartum en Afrique: le cas du Togo sur une etude prospective de 41 cas au Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire Sylvanus Olympio de Lome

Introduction: La cardiomyopathie du peripartum (CMPP) est une defaillance cardiaque dont l'etiologie demeure encore meconnue. Methodes: Il s'agit d'une etude prospective descriptive realisee dans le service de cardiologie du CHU Sylvanus olympio de Lome du 1er janvier 2010 au 30 avril 2012. Elle a concerne 41 patientes ayant presente une insuffisance cardiaque entre le 8eme mois de la grossesse et les 5 premiers mois du post-partum. Resultats: L'age moyen des patientes etait de 31;47 ans (extremes 21 et 44ans). L'incidence de la CMPP etait de 1/362 grossesses. La parite moyenne etait de 3;07 (extremes 1 et 6). Les symptomes etaient apparus dans le post-partum dans 90;24 des cas. Un retard important de diagnostic etait observe. L'insuffisance cardiaque globale etait le mode de decompensation dans 65;85. Les signes electrocardiographiques etaient essentiellement la tachycardie sinusale (97;56) et l'hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche (97;56). L'echographie cardiaque a montre dans tous les cas une cardiomyopathie dilatee. Quatre cas de thrombus intraventriculaire gauche etaient notes. La FEVG etait severement alteree. L'HTAP etait importante dans 56;09. Conclusion: La cardiomyopathie du peripartum est une complication cardiaque grave de la grossesse de cause inconnue; frequente dans la population africaine