Tele-ECG improves diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome and ST-elevation myocardial infarction in Côte d'Ivoire.

Introduction: The emergence of cardiovascular risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa suggests an increasing incidence of acute coronary syndromes and STEMI. The aim of the study was to define the prevalence of STEMI and to describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with STEMI within the tele-electrocardiogram (ECG) network in Côte d'Ivoire. Method: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2015 to August 2019. All adult patients managed by one of the six hospitals within the telemedicine network who benefited from a remote interpretation of their ECG by the cardiology department of Bouaké University Hospital were included. The main reason for ECG interpretation, patient and ECG characteristics, diagnosis, response time and treatment were described. Results: A total of 5649 patients were included. The prevalence of STEMI was 0.7% (n = 44 cases) with a mean age of 58.6 ± 11.8 years and a M/F sex ratio of 1.93. Among STEMI patients, chest pain was the main reason for ECG testing (56.8%). Most ECGs were interpreted within 12 hours (72.8%). The anterior inter-ventricular artery location (59.1%, n = 26) was predominant. The Q wave of necrosis was absent in 18% (n = 8) of cases. All patients received double anti-platelet aggregation and 50% (n = 22) additional heparin therapy. No patient underwent primary angioplasty or thrombolysis, 65.9% (n = 29) were referred to the Bouaké Cardiology Department and 34.1% (n = 15) to the Abidjan Heart Institute. Scheduled angioplasty was performed in 20% (n = 3) of patients in Abidjan. Conclusion: Tele-ECG was an effective means of STEMI screening in Côte d'Ivoire. Systematic telethrombolysis of all patients diagnosed could improve their prognosis.

[Characteristic and evolution of pacemaker complications in a Subsaharan Africa Heart Centre]. / Caractéristiques et évolution des complications de la stimulation cardiaque dans un centre de cardiologie de l'Afrique de Subsaharienne.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The working environment and the low rate of pacemaker insertions increase the risk of complications in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of our work was to assess the impact of specific preventive measures on these complications over the long term. PATIENT AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all pacemaker implantations from June 2006 to June 2016 at the Abidjan Heart Institute. We evaluated the incidence of pacemaker complications, their risks factors and their impact on the overall prognosis of patients. RESULTS: Three hundred and two procedures were performed in 286 patients (49% male, mean age: 67±12 years), with a predominance of primary implantation (82.8%) of single-chamber ventricular pacemakers (66.6%). Twenty-five major complications (8.27%) and 14 minor (4.6%) occurred with a predominance of lead displacements (3.64%). The major complications were favored by the subclavian approach (P=0.018; OR=2.34; 95% CI [1.16-4.75]) and intraoperative incidents (P=0.02; OR=2.17; 95% CI [1.16-4.75]. The preventive measures taken made it possible to achieve a significant (P=0.017) and linear (P=0.009) reduction of these complications, with no effect the patients prognosis (Log-Rank=0.217; P=0.64). CONCLUSION: Quality cardiac stimulation is possible in Sub-Saharan Africa with preventive measures adapted to the environment.

[Burden of comorbidities in heart failure patients hospitalized at the Abidjan Heart Institute]. / Poids des comorbidités chez les insuffisants cardiaques hospitalisés à l'Institut de cardiologie d'Abidjan.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our work was to appreciate the importance of comorbidities of heart failure individually and globally in patients hospitalized at the Cardiology Institute of Abidjan. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of adult heart failure patients hospitalized from January to December 2015, and followed up over 12 months. Co-morbidities were analysed through their prevalence, their relationship with the etiologies, and their impact on the prognosis. RESULTS: Three hundred and two patients (mean age: 55.5±16.9 years, 61.6 % male) were recruited. High blood pressure, anaemia and kidney dysfunction were the most common co-morbidities (48 %, 43.7 % and 41.3 % respectively). There was an average of 3.4±1.8 comorbidities per patient with an increase in the number of comorbidities with age (P<0.05) and a more frequent association with hypertensive and ischemic heart disease (P<0.001). During the one-year follow-up, 96 patients died. Apart from hepatic dysfunction (RR=1.97, 95 % CI [1,19-3.25], P=0.008, a high score of Charlson index appeared as a risk factor of death as much in univariate analysis (RR=4.15 95 % CI [2.32-7.41], P<0.001), as in multivariate analysis according to the Cox model (RR=2.48. 95 % CI [1.08-5.09], P=0.03) confirmed by Kaplan Meier curves (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Comorbidities are common in our heart failure patients and significantly affect their prognosis.

[Usefulness of patient education in antihypertensive treatment compliance in black Africans]. / Intérêt de l'éducation thérapeutique dans l'observance du traitement antihypertenseur chez le noir Africain.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the compliance for antihypertensive treatment and to assess the effects of patient education as tool to improve the compliance in hypertensive patients. METHODS: We include prospectively all hypertensive patients followed in consultation in the cardiology department of the national police hospital in Ivory Coast. Compliance evaluation was made with the Girerd scale. After evaluation, all the patients benefit from an individual and/or collective education sessions. All the patients were followed and reevaluated after 1 year. RESULTS: We included consecutive 1000 hypertensive patients (mean age 40±20 years, 80 % male). Among these, 50 % have been treated by a single therapy, 30 % by a fixed double therapy and 25 % by a fixed triple combined therapy. At the start of the study, a low compliance is observed in 60 % of patients, 25 % have minimal problems of observance and 15 % are compliant. In 70 %, the low compliance may be explained by misconceptions and is associated with a persistent hypertension. One year after the education program, the compliance is improved: non-compliant patients represent 5 % of the population, 10 % having slight problems on compliance and 85 % have a good compliance. CONCLUSION: In hypertension, the therapeutic compliance is poor, and associated with various factors. However, patient education improves the therapeutic compliance and this should be systematically proposed in antihypertensive management in Africa.

Infarctus du myocarde a coronaires saines chez un sujet apres consommation de marijuana

"Introduction. Encore appele ""Cannabis""; la marijuana est la drogue illicite la plus consommee dans le monde avec des effets psychoactifs et medicinaux. Sa consommation peut avoir des consequences gravissimes. L'objectif de ce travail etait de rapporter un cas d'un homme de 32 ans; sans risque cardiovasculaire. Cas clinique et commentaire. Nous rapportons le cas d'un patient de 32 ans; sans facteur de risque cardiovasculaire; admis aux urgences de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan pour une douleur thoracique infarctoide prolongee survenue cinq heures auparavant. L'interrogatoire retrouvait une prise de marijuana une heure avant le debut de la douleur. Les elements cliniques et l'electrocardiogramme avaient permis de retenir le diagnostic de syndrome coronarien aigu avec sus-decalage persistant du segment ST. Une revascularisation coronaire par thrombolyse a ete realisee; avec des suites simples. La coronarographie a retrouve des coronaires saines. L'hypothese retenue etait un spasme coronaire prolonge; du a la consommation de marijuana. Conclusion. Ce cas clinique doit attirer l'attention des praticiens et de la population sur les consequences cardiovasculaires possibles inherentes a la consommation de marijuana "

Infarctus du myocarde a coronaires saines chez un sujet jeune apres consommation de marijuana

"Introduction. Encore appele "" Cannabis ""; la marijuana est la drogue illicite la plus consommee dans le monde avec des effets psychoactifs et medicinaux. Sa consommation peut avoir des consequences gravissimes. L'objectif de ce travail etait de rapporter un cas d'un homme de 32 ans; sans risque cardiovasculaire.Cas clinique et commentaire. Nous rapportons le cas d'un patient de 32 ans; sans facteur de risque cardiovasculaire; admis aux urgences de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan pour une douleur thoracique infarctoide prolongee survenue cinq heures auparavant. L'interrogatoire retrouvait une prise de marijuana une heure avant le debut de la douleur. Les elements cliniques et l'electrocardiogramme avaient permis de retenir le diagnostic de syndrome coronarien aigu avec sus-decalage persistant du segment ST. Une revascularisation coronaire par thrombolyse a ete realisee; avec des suites simples. La coronarographie a retrouve des coronaires saines. L'hypothese retenue etait un spasme coronaire prolonge; du a la consommation de marijuana. Conclusion. Ce cas clinique doit attirer l'attention des praticiens et de la population sur les consequences cardiovasculaires possibles inherentes a la consommation de marijuana."

Pression arterielle pulsee elevee comme facteur de risque d'insuffisance cardiaque chez le sujet age (noir africain)

Objectif : Il s'agissait de mettre en evidence le role pronostique de la pression pulsee elevee dans la survenue d'insuffisance cardiaque chez le sujet age Noir Africain. Population et methode : Dans un travail retrospectif portant sur 2000 patients admis a l'Institut de cardiologie d'Abidjan de 1991 a 2011; Nous avions apparie les facteurs de risques cardio-vasculaires; susceptibles d'entrainer de facon significative une insuffisance cardiaque chez le sujet age noir africain. Neuf facteurs ont ete prise en compte: l'age; le sexe; le diabete; le tabac; la dyslipidemie; l'obesite et le stress; les hypertensions arterielles moyenne et pulsee. Resultats : Les patients a PP elevee ont deux fois plus de risque de presenter une insuffisance cardiaque de type diastolique que ceux ayant une pression pulsee normale (Khi2= 207; 91 dd=1 P 0; 05 OR