Congestive cardiac failure in elderly Nigerians: a prospective clinical study

A prospective study of congestive cardiac failure in 221 elderly Nigerians seen at Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Zaria, and Ife University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife from 1974 to 1979 is reported. Hypertension, iodopathic cardiomegaly and pulmonary heart disease were major causes of cardiac failure. No case of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease was seen. Ventricular conduction defect was the commonest E.C.G. abnormality recorded. In over half of the patients, there was coexisting disease, mild to moderate anaemia being the most common.