Anaemia among patients with congestive cardiac failure in Uganda - its impact on treatment outcomes

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Published on: November 7, 2017

Julius Kabbali Kuule1, Emmanuel Seremba, Juergen Freers

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Gulu University, Uganda. jkkuule2000@yahoo.com

South African Medical Journal = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Geneeskunde
|May 13, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Anaemia is common in congestive cardiac failure (CCF) patients in Uganda, affecting over 64%. Anaemic CCF patients face significantly higher mortality risks within two weeks of treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hematology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Congestive cardiac failure (CCF) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.
  • Anaemia is a known complication of CCF, but its prevalence and impact in sub-Saharan Africa are understudied.
  • This study addresses the knowledge gap regarding anaemia in CCF patients in Uganda.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of anaemia in patients with congestive cardiac failure (CCF) in Kampala, Uganda.
  • To investigate the association between anaemia and treatment outcomes in CCF patients.
  • To identify factors associated with anaemia in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 157 patients with CCF admitted to Mulago Hospital were assessed.
  • Echocardiography and haemoglobin levels were determined for all participants.
  • Patients were followed for two weeks to record treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of anaemia was observed, with 101 (64.3%) patients having anaemia at admission.
  • Increasing age and hypertensive heart disease were significantly associated with anaemia.
  • In-hospital mortality within two weeks was 10.2% and was significantly higher in anaemic patients (OR 4.9, p<0.03).

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence of anaemia among CCF patients at Mulago Hospital is high.
  • Anaemia is a significant predictor of increased mortality in CCF patients within a two-week treatment period.
Abstract

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