Assessment of Oral Anticoagulation with Vitamin K Antagonists in Patients Living in a Low-Income Country of West Africa

Introduction: Despite the rise of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs), vitamin K antagonists (VKA) remain the most widely used oral anticoagulants in developing countries. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of good anticoagulation in patients treated with VKA in Lomé and describe associated factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from November 2019 to October 2020 in the cardiology departments of two University teaching hospitals in Lomé (CHU Sylvanus Olympio and CHU Campus), involving patients on VKA for ≥3 months, with a target international normalized ratio (INR) of 2.5 and a therapeutic margin between 2 and 3. The quality of anticoagulation was assessed by the time in therapeutic range (TTR) which was assessed by the Rosendaal method. Good anticoagulation was defined by a TTR > 70%. Results: A total of 344 patients were included (mean age = 58 ± 13.8 years, women = 56.1%). Indications for VKA treatment were represented by venous thromboembolic disease (43.3%), supraventricular arrhythmia (28.2%), severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (19.8%) and pulmonary hypertension (8.7%). The average TTR was 47.6 ± 20.8%. The rate of good anticoagulation was 17.7%. Factors associated with good anticoagulation were the use of fluindione vs acenocoumarol (OR = 11.17;95% CI: 3.2 - 39.6;p = 0.0002), concomitant low-dose aspirin (OR 4.44;95% CI: 1.4 - 13.9;p = 0.01) and INR monitoring exclusively by the patient himself (OR = 4.92;95% CI: 1.5 - 16.3;p = 0.008). The rate of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications was each 2.6% and was not correlated with the quality of anticoagulation. Quality of anticoagulation by VKAs was poor in our practice. Factors associated with good anticoagulation were the use of fluindione vs acenocoumarol, concomitant low-dose aspirin and monitoring of INR exclusively by the patient himself. Conclusion: The quality of oral anticoagulation by VKAs could be improved in our practice by the creation of anticoagulation clinics for better therapeutic education of patients and efficient management of VKA dose, and the use of prescription assistance software.

Economic and Psychosocial Impacts of Health Evacuations Abroad for Coronary Angioplasty in Togolese Patients

Introduction: Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of premature death worldwide. The management of its severe form requires angioplasty, not yet available a year ago in Togo, which motivated the evacuation of Togolese patients with this disease. Objectives: To evaluate the cost of angioplasty and the economic and psychosocial impacts in evacuated Togolese patients. Methodology: This was a three-year descriptive and prospective study (January 2015 to December 2018) that included all Togolese patients evacuated for coronary angiography from 4 health facilities in the city of Lomé. Results: The mean age was 56.8 ± 11 years. There was a male predominance with a sex ratio of 2.63. The main countries of evacuation were France (50%), Tunisia (25%) and Ivory Coast (20%). The main indications of coronary angiography were myocardial infarction in 47.5%, NSTEMI (22.5%) and ischemic heart disease (15%). Fifty-five percent of the patients had monotroncular involvement. Angioplasty was performed in 16 patients, 3 patients had bypass surgery and only one patient had medical treatment. Sixty percent of patients received an active stent and 20% a bare stent. The total cost of the 40 evacuations was four hundred and fifty one thousand four hundred and nineteen US dollars (US$451,419). The average cost per evacuation was eleven thousand two hundred and eighty-six US dollars (US$11,286), or 182 times the Togolese minimum wage. At the announcement of the disease and evacuation, 40% had been afraid and 35% had accepted their illness. Fifty-five percent perceived evacuation as a healthy outcome. In 25% of cases the coronary angiography was simple and 20% found it painful. After the coronary angiography 40% had regained hope of recovery, 37.5% had accepted their result and 37.5% were happy with the outcome. Conclusion: Coronary artery disease is a serious pathology in terms of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially its severe form, which is myocardial infarction, the treatment of which requires angioplasty. This comes back during an evacuation that is too expensive for the average Togolese;only its implementation in our country remains the solution to fight against its often fatal complications as well as the flight of capital and the stress of patients and their families.

Effect of Antihypertensive Drug Therapy on the Blood Pressure Control among Hypertensive Patients Attending Campus’ Teaching Hospital of Lome, Togo, West Africa

High blood pressure (HBP) is a health problem world—wide. In Togo, that affection constitutes a more and more pre-occupying cause of morbidity and mortality. This study is a prospective one which intended to identify the antihypertensive regimens prescribed and evaluate their effect on patients’ blood pressure (BP) control. Out of the 204 patients enrolled (mean: 55.01 ± 12.55 years;sex ratio: 1.3), 112/176 placed on antihypertensive therapy have controlled their BP (38.39% outpatients vs 61.61% inpatients). Related to the sex factor, we didn’t observe any significant difference in the BP control. Whereas, the mean median value of BP reduction of outpatients (30.00/15.00 mmHg) (p = 0.001) was half lower than that of inpatients (60.00/30.00 mmHg (p = 0.004)). Thirty five outpatients (81.40%) vs 64 inpatients (92.75%) were placed on combination therapy. The bitherapy was prescribed to 23 outpatients (53.49%) against 27 inpatients (39.13%) while the quadritherapy and more than 4 drugs combination were prescribed exclusively to inpatients (20.29%, n = 14). That quadritherapy induced a significant mean reduction of inpatients’ SBP compared to monotherapy (p = 0.043) and to bitherapy (p = 0.004). The favorite combinations were D + CCA, D + ACEI, D + CCA + ACEI and D + CCA + ACEI + CAAD of which the quadruple therapy showed a significant inpatients’ DBP control (p = 0.015) compared to D + CCA combination. The combinations including at least one diuretic induced a significant difference between outpatients (median value: 30.000/10.000 mmHg) (p < 0.001) and inpatients (median value: 60.000 mmHg/30 mmHg) (p < 0.001). The first-line molecules and fixe combinations prescribed in decreasing frequency were among others: hydrochlorothiazide + captopril, nicardipine, α methyldopa for outpatients;furosemide, nicardipine, captopril, α methyldopa, hydrochlorothiazide + captopril for inpatients. Diuretics, CCAs and ACEIs were the 3 favorite pharmacological groups for essential hypertension management in our African resource limited context. Combined to CAAD, they represented the best quadruple combination among inpatients having showed a significant difference in DBP control compared to D + CCA combination.

Ventricular Non-Compaction: About the First Cases Reported in Lomé(Togo)

Introduction: Ventricular non-compaction, a cardiomyopathy recently described as likely to be rare, belongs to the group of unclassified cardiomyopathy according to European Society of Cardiology. Few studies have been published on the ventricular non-compaction in sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to find out the various aspects, being diagnosis, therapeutic, in Togolese patients carrying the ventricular non-compaction. Methodology: This is a three-year prospective and descriptive study conducted from January 2017 to December 2019 in the two University Hospital of Lomé. Patients having echocardiographic criteria of ventricular non-compaction were included in our study. Results: 10 patients (6 men and 4 women) were diagnosed for ventricular non-compaction during the study period. The mean age of patients was 32.3 years. The most frequent clinical manifestation was heart failure (7 patients). The main electrocardiogram anomaly was left ventricle hypertrophy (9 patients). The preferential segments were: apical (9 cases), apicolateral (8 cases), and septoapical (7 cases). The average ratio of non-compaction/compaction was 3.31. The main complication was thromboembolic event (4 patients). Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers were essentially the medicines used. After a three (3) year follow-up, two (2) of the patients died. Conclusion: Tough ventricular non-compaction has been recently described. It is present in Togo. It displays many clinical manifestations and the prognosis is often guarded.

Brugada Syndrome Type 1 Electrocardiogram Pattern Induced by Fever in a Black African: A Case Report

Brugada syndrome is a channelopathy that can be familial or sporadic. It is a major cause of sudden death in young people with no obvious heart structural abnormality. The electrocardiogram can be dynamic over time with sometimes normalization. Several pathophysiological conditions are known to induce the electrocardiographic expression of the syndrome. We report here the case of a 65-year-old hypertensive man, without syncope or family sudden death history who was hospitalized for shigella gastroenteritis. Electrocardiogram during fever showed an incomplete block and ST segment elevation with negative T waves in V1 and V2 suggested type 1 Brugada syndrome. Troponin was negative. Electrocardiogram after fever recovered an incomplete right block and normalization of the ST segment. Electrocardiogram should be performed in patients admitted to the emergency unit for infectious syndrome in our countries. This may reveal a number of patients with Brugada syndrome abnormalities.

Complicated High Blood Pressure in Hospital Area in Lom&#233;

The target of the study was to identify patients living with Compound high blood pressure and describe the epidemiological, treatment and progressive aspects. We had realized retrospective and descriptive study completed throughout twelve months from 1st January to December 31, 2011. The study took into account 250 hypertensives known or not admitted in the cardiology and medical intensive care units at the Sylvanus Olympio Teaching Hospital in Lomé. In total, the frequency of complications of the High Blood Pressure was 33.3% with a male predominance. Patients’ average age was 52.4 years. The most frequent reasons of admission were coma (32%) and hypertensive eruption (28%). The excessive consumption of salt and alcohol were other dominant modifiable risks factors with respectively 36.8% and 22.8%. Neurologic complications were the most frequent of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) (66%) among which strokes represented 69.7%. Cardiac complications came in second position (31.2%). Double treatment was optional in 62.2% cases with IEC+ Ica++ associated. In 56.6% cases patients with renal disease in terminal stage had been dialysed. The level of total lethality was 34%. The main cause of death was CVA (cerebrovascular accidents) (85.9%). High Blood Pressure is then a very plague with regard to its complications. Its effective caretaking is nothing but through primary prevention based on sensitization, education of the entire grass-roots and it requires the mobilization of all social components.