Status and Challenges of Care in Africa for Adults With Congenital Heart Defects.

The 54 countries in Africa have an estimated total annual congenital heart defect (CHD) birth prevalence of 300,486 cases. More than half (51.4%) of the continental birth prevalence occurs in only seven countries. Congenital heart disease remains primarily a pediatric health issue in Africa because of the deficient health-care systems: the adults with CHD made up just 10% of patients with CHD in Ghana, and 13.7% of patients with CHD presenting for surgery in Mozambique. With Africa's population projected to double in the next 35 years, the already deficient health systems for CHD care will suffer unbearable strain unless determined and courageous action is undertaken by the African leaders.

Conotruncal Heart Defect Repair in Sub-Saharan Africa: Remarkable Outcomes Despite Poor Access to Treatment.

BACKGROUND: The outcome of children born with conotruncal heart defects may serve as an indication of the status of pediatric cardiac care in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study was undertaken to determine the outcome of children born with conotruncal anomalies in SSA, regarding access to treatment and outcomes of surgical intervention. METHODS: From our institution in Ghana, we retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of surgery, in the two-year period from June 2013 to May 2015. The birth prevalence of congenital heart defects (CHDs) in SSA countries was derived by extrapolation using an incidence of 8 per 1,000 live births for CHDs. RESULTS: The birth prevalence of CHDs for the 48 countries in SSA using 2013 country data was 258,875; 10% of these are presumed to be conotruncal anomalies. Six countries (Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya) accounted for 53.5% of the birth prevalence. In Ghana, 20 patients (tetralogy of Fallot [TOF], 17; pulmonary atresia, 3) underwent palliation and 50 (TOF, 36; double-outlet right ventricle, 14) underwent repair. Hospital mortality was 0% for palliation and 4% for repair. Only 6 (0.5%) of the expected 1,234 cases of conotruncal defects underwent palliation or repair within two years of birth. CONCLUSION: Six countries in SSA account for more than 50% of the CHD burden. Access to treatment within two years of birth is probably <1%. The experience from Ghana demonstrates that remarkable surgical outcomes are achievable in low- to middle-income countries of SSA.

Experience from a single centre concerning the surgical spectrum and outcome of adolescents and adults with congenitally malformed hearts in West Africa.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to review the spectrum and surgical outcome of adolescents and adults with congenitally malformed hearts from January, 1993 to December, 2008. The lack of data on this emerging problem from the West African sub-region prompted this report. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This retrospective study is based on 135 adolescents and adults with congenitally malformed hearts. A review of their case notes and operative records was carried out and results analysed. RESULTS: Selected patients made up 23% of all congenital cardiac surgeries performed at our institution in the same period. A total of 23 patients (17%) were non-Ghanaian West Africans. There was a female preponderance of 53.3%. The ages ranged from 16 to 70 years (mean 28.6 plus or minus 10.3 years). The mean follow-up was 7.5 plus or minus 4.4 years. Patients were functionally classified (New York Heart Association) as class I (23%), II (58%), and III (19%). In 14 (10.4%) patients, the defects were discovered incidentally. Ventricular septal defects, oval fossa type atrial septal defects, Fallot's tetralogy, and patent arterial duct together accounted for 77.8% of the cases. Surgical correction was undertaken in 117 (86.7%) patients; the remainder had palliative procedures. There were six (4.3%) reoperations. The functional class improved to class I or II in 95% of patients within the first postoperative year. The overall hospital mortality was 3% with two late deaths (1.5%). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the feasibility of surgery for adolescents and adults with congenitally malformed hearts in the sub-region with a good outcome. Majority (77.8%) of patients present with less complex lesions.