[Prevalence survey of cardiovascular risk factors in the general population in St. Louis (Senegal)]

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases are becoming with their risk factors a real health problem in Africa. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in the general population in Saint-Louis, Senegal.

METHODOLOGY

This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical made in May 2010, in the Senegalese aged 15, residing in the city of Saint-Louis, Senegal. A systematic random sampling and stratified cluster has been achieved. Cardiovascular risk factors for research were: hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, smoking, obesity, physical inactivity and metabolic syndrome.

RESULTS

The survey involved 1424 individuals with 983 women (69%). The average age was 43.4±17.8years. The prevalence of risk factors was: hypertension (46%), diabetes (10.4%), total cholesterol (36.3%), hyperLDLcholesterol (20.6%), obesity (body mass index≥30kg/m(2)) (23%), abdominal obesity (48.7% according to International Diabetes Federation and 33.2% according to National Cholesterol Education Program) physical inactivity (64.7%), smoking (5.8%) and metabolic syndrome (15.7%). There was predominance in women of risk factors except for smoking and diabetes. The overall cardiovascular risk was high in 24.9% according to the Framingham model, 28.8% (European Society of Hypertension) and 6.1% (SCORE).

CONCLUSION

This survey found a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in a general population in Senegal, predominant in women. This should lead to better develop a strategy to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

[Prevalence and factors related to therapeutic adherence among black African outpatients with stable coronary artery disease in a cardiology department of Dakar in Senegal]

INTRODUCTION

The management of coronary artery disease has made important progress. Adherence to therapeutic measures is a great challenge for improving the long-term prognosis. In this work, we evaluate factors related to therapeutic adherence in black African patients with stable coronary artery disease.

METHODOLOGY

We conducted a survey over three months (February-May 2008) in three cardiology departments in Dakar. We studied the regularity of drug intake, the adherence to the dietary advices and the appointments for consultation as well as the factors related to adherence. Good adherence was defined by a compliance rate greater or equal to 80% and a compliance rate less than 40% defined poor adherence.

RESULTS

We included 105 patients (61 men) with a mean age of 60.67±11.29 years. Good compliance was noted in 56.2% of cases for drug treatment, 42% for dietary advices and 65% for appointments for consultation. A history of acute coronary events (P=0.04), a good knowledge of the disease (P=0.03) and a healthcare (P=0.02) were the factors related to a good adherence to drug treatment, whereas ischemic cardiomyopathy was a factor for poor adherence (P=0.002). Knowledge of coronary disease was the only factor correlated with good adherence to lifestyle (P=0.014).

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic adherence remains unsatisfactory in Black African patients with stable coronary artery disease, hence the importance of patient education to reach a good adherence for therapeutic, because better adherence improves long-term prognosis of coronary artery disease.

[A familial form of ventricular non compaction in a mother and two of his sons in St. Louis, Senegal]

We report a familial form of ventricular non compaction in a mother and two of her sons. It was a young man of 25 years who presented with NYHA stage III dyspnea and a cough with bloody sputum. The clinical examination found left ventricular failure. The echocardiogram done showed left ventricular dilatation with large trabeculae separated by deep intertrabecular recesses in both ventricles suggestive of a non-biventricular compaction. It was possible to note from the family screening by echocardiography of the mother and half-brother a left ventricular non compaction while they were asymptomatic. Thus we concluded a familial form of ventricular non-compaction. This is the first familial case described in Senegal.

Vascular complications of infective endocarditis

The complications of infective endocarditis (IE) are frequent and severe. Our objectives were to analyze the clinical, paraclinical, and prognostic features of IE vascular complications observed in two cardiology units, in Dakar.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively studied 90 patients presenting with of IE, hospitalized between January 2005 and February 2011. The diagnostic criteria for IE were modified Duke University criteria. We selected in our study population, patients with vascular complications.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients (18.8%) presented with one or more vascular complications of IE: eight male and nine female patients, with a mean age of 28 years. Infective endocarditis occurred on an abnormal valve in 15 cases. We identified 22 vascular lesions: ten neurological complications, seven arterial complications in the limbs, two myocardial infarctions, two cases of pulmonary embolism, and one splenic infarction. The vascular complication revealed an IE in seven cases. The vascular complication occurred during antibiotic treatment, in 15 cases including seven cases before the 14th day, nine of the 17 patients died. Death was related to vascular complications in six cases, in one case it was related to septic shock.

CONCLUSION

Vascular complications of IE are frequent, the most common are neurological. Their prevention requires early and adequate management of IE.

[Epidemiological, clinical and ultrasonographic aspects of right-sided infective endocarditis in Senegal: 6 cases]

Right-sided infective endocarditis accounts for 5 to 10% of endocarditic involvement and usually affects the tricuspid valve. The purpose of this report is to describe epidemiological, clinical and echocardiographical aspects of 6 cases of right-sided infective endocarditis observed in the Cardiology Department of Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar, Senegal from December 2007 to February 2010. Diagnosis was based on Duke's modified criteria. There were 3 men and 3 women with a mean age of 28.2 years (range: 20 and 43). Five of the 6 patients presented tricuspid endocarditis including one case associated with pulmonary endocarditis. In another case, pulmonary endocarditis was associated with aortic endocarditis. Infective endocarditis was acute in three cases and primary in four. One case of infective endocarditis was observed in a tetralogy of Fallot. Fever was present in 4 cases with an mean temperature of 38.4 degrees C (range, 37.2 to 40 degrees C) and heart failure was present in 5 cases. In 2 patients, blood cultures were positive for Staphylococcus aureus. All patients had leucocytosis with a neutrophilic predominance. Doppler echocardiography depicted vegetations in all cases. Contributing factors included congenital heart disease in 1 case, insertion of a venous catheter in 2 and dental infection in 2. No patient was addicted to intravenous drugs or infected by HIV. Outcomes included one in-hospital death with signs of refractory heart failure. Right-sided endocarditis is often primary and is dominated by the tricuspid involvement. It affects both sexes. Contributing factors include venous catheterization during the postpartum period and dental infection. Prevention requires strict asepsis during venous catheter insertion, treatment of dental infections and improved management of congenital heart disease.