ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To determine the frequency of cardiovascular diseases, their risk factors as well as their evolution in two cardiology departments of Lomé. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out among patients attending two cardiology departments of Lomé, from June 2004 to May 2009, who had a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. RESULTS: A total of 7959 patients were included. Female gender predominated. The mean age was of 49.5 ± 17.2 years. The number of admissions increased from 958 in 2004 to 2399 in 2009. Arterial hypertension (62.7%) and ischemic heart diseases (10.6%) were the most frequent diagnoses. Among patients with a diagnosis of heart failure, the etiology was not recorded for 12.2%. Overweight and dyslipidemia were significantly more frequent in women (P<0.001), while smoking and physical inactivity were significantly more frequent in men (P<0.001). During the period, there was a moderate rise of the prevalence of overweight, dyslipidemia, and physical inactivity, whereas the prevalence of diabetes and smoking remained almost unchanged. CONCLUSION: Admissions for cardiovascular diseases increased from 2004 to 2009. This epidemiological transition may be related to poor awareness of cardiovascular disease among the low-income population and the financial burden of health care.
