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Pattern of heart failure in Abuja, Nigeria: an echocardiographic study

D B Ojji1, J Alfa, S O Ajayi

  • 1Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. dikeojji@yahoo.co.uk

Cardiovascular Journal of Africa
|December 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Untreated hypertension is the primary driver of heart failure in Nigeria, impacting 61.5% of patients. This study highlights the need for better hypertension management to reduce heart failure prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Echocardiography

Background:

  • Heart failure is a significant health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, yet comprehensive echocardiographic data remains scarce.
  • Understanding the specific etiological factors and clinical presentations of heart failure in this region is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of heart failure patients in a Nigerian tertiary institution.
  • To identify the leading causes and types of heart failure within this specific population.

Main Methods:

  • A study of 340 consecutive heart failure patients, diagnosed per European Society of Cardiology guidelines.
  • Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography was performed on all participants.

Main Results:

  • The average age of patients was 50.60 years, with a near-equal gender distribution (50.9% male, 49.1% female).
  • Hypertension was the most frequent cause of heart failure (61.5%).
  • Systolic heart failure (75.5%) was more prevalent than heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (23.5%).

Conclusions:

  • Untreated hypertension is the predominant cause of heart failure in Abuja, Nigeria, mirroring trends in broader sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Coronary artery disease is an infrequent contributor to heart failure in this population, underscoring the impact of hypertension.
Abstract

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