Coronary angiographic findings in dilated cardiomyopathy in a sub-Saharan African population.

AIM: To describe the coronary angiographic aspects observed in patients with dilated cardiomyopathies (DCM) in a sub-Saharan African country in order to improve their management. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from 1 January 2010 to 31 March 2016. All patients aged 18 years and older, presenting with DCM and admitted to Abidjan Heart Institute, who underwent coronary angiography were included. One hundred and eight patients were selected. We analysed and compared the coronary angiographic features observed. RESULTS: The median age of our patients was 52 years (46-61). There was a male predominance (sex ratio = 3). Hypertension (53.7%) was the major cardiovascular risk factor found. Coronary angiography was abnormal in 37 patients (34.3%). Twenty-three patients (21.3%) had obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients with CAD were older than those with normal coronary arteries, but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.06). Hypertension (p < 0.001) and diabetes (p = 0.0003) were statistically significantly more commonly reported in patients with CAD. CONCLUSIONS: Ischaemic heart disease is likely to be underdiagnosed in sub-Saharan Africa. A coronary angiographic assessment of patients receiving treatment for DCM, especially in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, should help optimise their management and improve prognosis.

Development of the certificate course in the management of hypertension in Africa (CCMH-Africa): proceedings of the first continental faculty meeting, Nairobi, Kenya, 25-26 February 2018.

BACKGROUND: In response to the call by the World Health Organisation to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by 25% by the year 2025 (25×25), the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), in partnership with several organisations, including the World Heart Federation, have developed an urgent 10-point action plan to improve detection, treatment and control of hypertension in Africa. Priority six of this action plan is to promote a task-shifting/task-sharing approach in the management of hypertension. AIM: This capacity-building initiative aims to enhance the knowledge, skills and core competences of primary healthcare physicians in the management of hypertension and related complications. METHODS: In a collaborative approach with the International Society of Hypertension, the British and Irish Hypertension Society, the Public Health Foundation of India and the Centre for Chronic Disease Control, the PASCAR hypertension taskforce held a continental faculty meeting in Kenya on 25 and 26 February 2018 to review and discuss a process of effective contextualisation and implementation of the Indian hypertension management course on the African continent. RESULTS: A tailored African course in terms of evidence-based learning, up-to-date curriculum and on-the-job training was developed with a robust monitoring and evaluation strategy. The course will be offered on a modular basis with a judicious mix of case studies, group discussions and contact sessions, with great flexibility to accommodate participants' queries. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension affects millions of people in Africa and if left untreated is a major cause of heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. CCMH-Africa will train in the next 10 years, 25 000 certified general physicians and 50 000 nurses, capable of adequately managing uncomplicated hypertension, thereby freeing the few available specialists to focus on severe or complicated cases.

Roadmap to Achieve 25% Hypertension Control in Africa by 2025.

BACKGROUND: The Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) has identified hypertension as the highest area of priority action to reduce heart disease and stroke on the continent. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this PASCAR roadmap on hypertension was to develop practical guidance on how to implement strategies that translate existing knowledge into effective action and improve detection, treatment and control of hypertension and cardiovascular health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by the year 2025. METHODS: Development of this roadmap started with the creation of a consortium of experts with leadership skills in hypertension. In 2014, experts in different fields, including physicians and nonphysicians, were invited to join. Via face-to-face meetings and teleconferences, the consortium made a situation analysis, set a goal, identified roadblocks and solutions to the management of hypertension and customized the World Heart Federation roadmap to Africa. RESULTS: Hypertension is a major crisis on the continent but very few randomized controlled trials have been conducted on its management. Also, only 25.8% of the countries have developed or adopted guidelines for management of hypertension. Other major roadblocks are either government and health-system related or health care professional or patient related. The PASCAR hypertension task force identified a 10-point action plan to be implemented by African ministries of health to achieve 25% control of hypertension in Africa by 2025. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension affects millions of people in SSA and if left untreated, is a major cause of heart disease and stroke. Very few SSA countries have a clear hypertension policy. This PASCAR roadmap identifies practical and effective solutions that would improve detection, treatment and control of hypertension on the continent and could be implemented as is or adapted to specific national settings.

Building and strengthening capacity for cardiovascular research in Africa through technical training workshops: a report of the joint course on health research methods by the Clinical Research Education Networking and Consultancy and the Ivorian Society of Cardiology.

Africa bears a quarter of the global burden of disease but contributes less than 2% of the global research publications on health, partially due to a lack of expertise and skills to carry out scientific research. We report on a short course on research methods organised by the Clinical Research Education Networking and Consultancy (CRENC) during the third international congress of the Ivorian Cardiac Society (SICARD) in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire. Results from the pre- and post-test evaluation during this course showed that African researchers could contribute more to scientific research and publications, provided adequate support and investment is geared towards the identification and training of motivated early-career scientists.

Roadmap to achieve 25% hypertension control in Africa by 2025.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) has identified hypertension as the highest area of priority for action to reduce heart disease and stroke on the continent. The aim of this PASCAR roadmap on hypertension was to develop practical guidance on how to implement strategies that translate existing knowledge into effective action and improve detection, treatment and control of hypertension and cardiovascular health in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) by the year 2025. METHODS: Development of this roadmap started with the creation of a consortium of experts with leadership skills in hypertension. In 2014, experts in different fields, including physicians and non-physicians, were invited to join. Via faceto-face meetings and teleconferences, the consortium made a situation analysis, set a goal, identified roadblocks and solutions to the management of hypertension and customised the World Heart Federation roadmap to Africa. RESULTS: Hypertension is a major crisis on the continent but very few randomised, controlled trials have been conducted on its management. Also, only 25.8% of the countries have developed or adopted guidelines for the management of hypertension. Other major roadblocks are either government and health-system related or healthcare professional or patient related. The PASCAR hypertension task force identified a 10-point action plan to be implemented by African ministries of health to achieve 25% control of hypertension in Africa by 2025. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension affects millions of people in SSA and if left untreated, is a major cause of heart disease and stroke. Very few SSA countries have a clear hypertension policy. This PASCAR roadmap identifies practical and effective solutions that would improve detection, treatment and control of hypertension on the continent and could be implemented as is or adapted to specific national settings.

Development of the roadmap for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality through the detection, treatment and control of hypertension in Africa: report of a working group of the PASCAR Hypertension Task Force.

The fourth Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR) hypertension taskforce meeting was held at the Yaoundé Hilton Hotel on 16 March 2016. Its main goals were to update and facilitate understanding of the PASCAR roadmap for the control of hypertension on the continent, to refine the PASCAR hypertension algorithm, and to discuss the next steps of the PASCAR hypertension policy, including how the PASCAR initiative can be customised at country level. The formation of the PASCAR coalition against hypertension, the writing group and the current status of the PASCAR hypertension policy document as well as the algorithm were presented to delegates representing 12 French-speaking countries. The urgency to finalise the continental policy was recognised and consensus was achieved by discussion on the main points and strategy. Relevant scientific issues were discussed and comments were received on all points, including how the algorithm could be simplified and made more accessible for implementation at primary healthcare centres.

Optimizing the management of acute coronary syndromes in sub-Saharan Africa: A statement from the AFRICARDIO 2015 Consensus Team.

BACKGROUND: Whereas the coronary artery disease death rate has declined in high-income countries, the incidence of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) is increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, where their management remains a challenge. AIM: To propose a consensus statement to optimize management of ACS in sub-Saharan Africa on the basis of realistic considerations. METHODS: The AFRICARDIO-2 conference (Yamoussoukro, May 2015) reviewed the ongoing features of ACS in 10 sub-Saharan countries (Benin, Burkina-Faso, Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo), and analysed whether improvements in strategies and policies may be expected using readily available healthcare facilities. RESULTS: The outcome of patients with ACS is affected by clearly identified factors, including: delay to reaching first medical contact, achieving effective hospital transportation, increased time from symptom onset to reperfusion therapy, limited primary emergency facilities (especially in rural areas) and emergency medical service (EMS) prehospital management, and hence limited numbers of patients eligible for myocardial reperfusion (thrombolytic therapy and/or percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]). With only five catheterization laboratories in the 10 participating countries, PCI rates are very low. However, in recent years, catheterization laboratories have been built in referral cardiology departments in large African towns (Abidjan and Dakar). Improvements in patient care and outcomes should target limited but selected objectives: increasing awareness and recognition of ACS symptoms; education of rural-based healthcare professionals; and developing and managing a network between first-line healthcare facilities in rural areas or small cities, emergency rooms in larger towns, the EMS, hospital-based cardiology departments and catheterization laboratories. CONCLUSION: Faced with the increasing prevalence of ACS in sub-Saharan Africa, healthcare policies should be developed to overcome the multiple shortcomings blunting optimal management. European and/or North American management guidelines should be adapted to African specificities. Our consensus statement aims to optimize patient management on the basis of realistic considerations, given the healthcare facilities, organizations and few cardiology teams that are available.

Hypertension management in an outpatient clinic at the Institute of Cardiology of Abidjan (Ivory Coast).

BACKGROUND: Elevated blood pressure is one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. AIM: To evaluate blood pressure management in Côte d'Ivoire. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted among 2575 hypertensive patients from the Institute of Cardiology of Abidjan, who were followed for at least 10 years, between January 2000 and December 2009. RESULTS: The patients' mean age ± standard deviation was 59.1 ± 12.5 years; 54.3% were women. At first presentation, hypertension was stage 1 in 21.7%, stage 2 in 32.3% and stage 3 in 46.0% of patients. According to the European guidelines' stratification of the cardiovascular risk-excess attributable to high blood pressure, 46.7% had a very high added risk, 37.8% had a high added risk and 14.9% had a low-to-moderate added risk. Pharmacological therapy was prescribed in 97.8% of patients; more than 66% were receiving at least two antihypertensive drugs, including fixed-dose combination drugs. The most common agents used were diuretics (59.7%) followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (59.6%). The most common agents for monotherapy were calcium antagonists. When two or more drugs were used, diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers were most commonly used. Blood pressure control was achieved in 43.7% of cases. CONCLUSION: In our series, severe hypertension with high added risk or very high added risk was very common. Treatment--mostly diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers--required at least two antihypertensive drugs to meet the recommended blood pressure target.

Invasive measurements of atrioventricular conduction parameters prior to and following ventricular septal defect closure with the amplatzer device.

BACKGROUND: Because of anatomical proximity, closure of paramembranous ventricular septal defect (pm-VSD) with an Amplatzer occluder has the potential to affect the atrioventricular (AV) conduction system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Electrophysiology studies (EPS) were performed prior to and following closure of the pm-VSD in 19 children aged 8.9 +/- 4.5 years. Data from electrocardiograms, Holter monitoring and exercise tests before intervention and at follow up (1.9 +/- 0.8 years) were reviewed. RESULTS: There were no EPS catheter-induced complications. Incidence of total conduction anomalies was 31.6% with 21% of patients having permanent conduction anomalies. Complete AV block was not recorded in any subject and transitory 1st-degree AV block occurred in 2 patients. Permanent complete right bundle branch block was observed in 2 patients and incomplete right bundle branch block in 2 others. Prolongation in EPS parameters was significant for His ventricle interval (p = 0.017). Otherwise, EPS parameters with increased measurements > 15% were observed in 18 patients (95%). Prolongation of retrograde Wenckebach cycle length was predictive of new onset conduction abnormalities (p = 0.003). Other parameters changes did not correlate with the observed conduction disturbances however. With respect to device implantation characteristics, a large Amplatzer device was the only predictive risk factor for new conduction abnormalities (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Closure of pm-VSD with an Amplatzer device promotes relative changes of the AV conduction system, mainly with large devices. In our limited series, these changes have no apparent clinical impact in the immediate and intermediate terms.

Differential pulmonary perfusion scan after percutaneous occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus: one-decade consecutive longitudinal study from a single institution.

Reduced left lung perfusion has been described following percutaneous occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We aimed to identify the incidence of lung perfusion abnormalities and the associated risk factors in our consecutive series. Between November 1994 and December 2003, 150 procedures were performed on 145 patients, age 4.6 +/- 4 years. Gianturco coil was used in 88.2%, Amplatzer duct occluder in 6.7%, and Rashkind Umbrella in 5.5%. Lung perfusion scan was scheduled within 48 h (LPS-1), at 6-12 months (LPS-2) and later (LPS-3) in the case of persistent abnormalities. Left lung perfusion <40% was considered abnormal. LPS-1 was obtained in 95.8% and was abnormal in 31%. LPS-2, available in 48.2%, returned to normal in 65.7% (p < 0.001). LPS-3, required in 6.2%, was normal in 55.6% (p = 0.07). Identifiable risk factors were low age and height (p < 0.01), higher Q(p)/Q(s) ratio (p < 0.05), and larger PDA size indexed for height (p < 0.001) or body surface area (p < 0.01). The number of coils or loops deployed in the pulmonary end of the PDA did not influence lung perfusion. In conclusion, we describe a high incidence of left lung perfusion reduction following percutaneous PDA occlusion, more likely in the young with large PDA. However, spontaneous recovery usually occurs within a few months.