RESUMO
Endomyocardial Fibrosis (EMF) is a restrictive myocardiopathy of unknown aetiology, which is specific to tropical areas. In order to document the geographical distribution of this disease in Southern Mozambique, we reviewed the medical records of patients treated at Maputo Central Hospital between 1987 and 1999. Analysis was restricted to cases originating from the 3 provinces of Southern Mozambique. Cumulative incidences were computed for the period of 1987-1999, by age group, sex and residential district at disease onset. The geographical distribution of the disease in the 34 districts (administrative subdivisions) of the study area was mapped. Between 1987 and 1999, 118 cases of EMF originating from Maputo, Gaza and Inhambane provinces were diagnosed at Maputo Central Hospital. Seventy seven patients (65%) were living in Inhambane Province at the time of disease onset. Cumulative incidence for this province was 6.9/100,000 over the study period of 1987-1999. Comparatively, cumulative incidences were respectively 1.7/100,000 for Maputo and 1.0/100,000 for Gaza Province (chi 2 = 64.3, p < 10(-5)). All the patients were native from 22 out of the 34 districts of these 3 provinces. Affected districts were all located in the coastal area and higher cumulative incidence was computed for Inharrime district (18.3/100,000). This study confirmed that endomyocardial fibrosis is endemic in some areas of South Mozambique, but did not allow to measure the true magnitude of the disease which is probably grossly underestimated. The geographical distribution of EMF in South Mozambique reinforce the environmental hypothesis of aetiologic disease.
