Rationale and design of the African Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis Registry Program: The IMHOTEP study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Genetics
• Public Health

Background:

• Heart failure is a major cardiovascular disease in Africa, often caused by hypertension, rheumatic heart disease, and cardiomyopathy.
• Cardiomyopathies present significant challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to their high prevalence and poor prognosis.
• Etiology and outcomes of cardiomyopathy in Africa, particularly the roles of myocarditis and genetic factors, remain largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical characteristics, genetic causes, prevalence, management, and outcomes of cardiomyopathy and myocarditis in African children and adults.
• To identify barriers to evidence-based care implementation for cardiomyopathy.
• To establish a platform for clinical trials and interventions to reduce cardiomyopathy morbidity and mortality.

Main Methods:

• The African Cardiomyopathy and Myocarditis Registry Program (IMHOTEP study) is a pan-African, multi-center, hospital-based cohort study.
• It includes both prospective (incident) and retrospective (prevalent) patient cohorts.
• A standardized 3-stage diagnostic process is applied to all patients with cardiomyopathy and myocarditis.

Main Results:

• The pilot phase has recruited 750 patients across multiple centers.
• Comprehensive data on clinical features, genetic causes, prevalence, and outcomes are being collected.
• The study focuses on all forms of cardiomyopathy and myocarditis in African populations.

Conclusions:

• The IMHOTEP study will generate novel data on cardiomyopathy and myocarditis in Africa.
• Findings are expected to inform the development of effective management and prevention strategies for cardiomyopathies in LMICs.
• This research aims to improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of heart disease in the region.