Epidemiological and Prognostic Aspects of Anemia during Heart Failure in Brazzaville (The Republic of the Congo)

To improve the management of patients with heart failure and anemia at the University Hospital of Brazzaville, a cross-sectional study of patients diagnosed with heart failure condition (left or global heart failure) was conducted over a period of nine months from January 1 to September 30, 2017. A total of 171 patients were included during the study period. Study participants were divided into two groups: Group A included patients with an additional anemic condition (n = 57) and Group NA patients without anemia (n = 114). Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin rate of < 12 g/dL for men and <11 g/dL for women. All eligible patients admitted to the Department of Cardiology were included in the study. The frequency of anemia was 33.3%, with a mean hemoglobin level of 9.4 ± 1.5 g/dL. Men accounted for 46.9% of cases (n = 79) and women 53.8% (n = 92). The mean age of eligible patients was 57.5 ± 16.5 years. Of these, 46.2% (n = 75) had a secondary educational level and 53.8% (n = 92) had a low socioeconomic status. Heart failure was global in 153 cases (89.5%). Patients were on NYHA III-IV functional class in 112 cases (65.5%), with a statistically significant difference between anemic and non-anemic patients (p = 0.0001). The main underlying heart diseases were dilated cardiomyopathy (75.1%), hypertensive heart disease (10.5%), ischemic heart disease (6.5%), and valvular disease (4.7%). The comparison between the two groups (A and NA) showed a longer hospital length of stay (18.4 ± 8.9 versus 12.9 ± 7.6 days;p = 0.00001) and a higher mortality rate (4 versus 2 deaths). The re-hospitalization rate was more important in group A (n = 4) than in group NA (n = 1). Anemia is a common condition in patients with heart failure. It worsens the clinical features and prognosis.

Aetiologic Factors of Anemia During Heart Failure in Brazzaville (The Republic of the Congo)

To contribute to improving the management of patients with heart failure and anemia in Brazzaville, a prospective and descriptive study was conducted in the University Hospital of Brazzaville for nine months (January 1st to September 30, 2017). Included 57 patients hospitalized for left or global heart failure and presenting anemia. Anemia was defined by an haemoglobin level < 12 g/dL in men and <11 g/dL in women. Proportionings of the reticulocytes rate, serum iron, ferritin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and/or C-reactive protein (CRP), electrophoresis of proteins, and evaluation of renal function by glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as well as the treatments of heart failure, and the auxiliary therapeutic ones, in particular the antithrombotic drugs, allowed aetiologic research. They were 20 men (35%) and 37 women (65%), old on average of 59 ± 17 years. The average rate of haemoglobin was 11.4 ± 1.4 g/dL. Heart failure was de novo in 24 cases (42.1%), old in 33 cases (57.9%);it was global in 54 cases (94.7%).The maintenance treatment associated diuretics in 32 cases (97%), angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) in 31 cases (94%), beta-blockers in two cases (6.1%), digoxin in four cases (12.1%), aspirin in five cases (15.1%) and anti-vitamin K in four cases (12.1%). Anemia was microcytic hypochromic in 30 cases (52.6%), normocytic normochromic in 20 cases (35.1%), and macrocytic normochromic in one case (1.7%). The main aetiologic factors were hemodilution in 46 cases (80.7%), renal insufficiency in 30 cases (52.3%), inflammation in 29 cases (50.8%), and iron deficiency in one case (1.7%). The HIV serology, carried out in 11 cases, was negative. Anemia is a frequent comorbidity among heart failure patients. Aetiologic research remains difficult in our context, and its often multifactorial origin.

Outcome of Patients with Lower Limbs Deep Vein Thrombosis at the University Hospital of Brazzaville (The Republic of the Congo)

The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the pelvic limbs at the time of diagnosis, and their course after hospitalization, in order to improve the management of DVT in our context. This was a descriptive longitudinal study, based on cases of deep vein thrombosis recorded between 1 January 2015 and 30 September 2018, in the cardiology and internal medicine department of the Brazzaville University Hospital Centre. During the study period, 4678 patients were hospitalized, including 52 with DVT. Thirty-three were reassessed. The frequency of DVT was 1.1% and the average hospitalization rate was 13.9 cases/year. The 33 patients were divided into 20 women and 13 men (sex ratio: 0.65). The mean age of the patients was 51.4 ± 17.8 years (extremes: 16 and 85 years). The main aetiological factors were cancer (19.1%), sickle cell disease (3%) and HIV immunosuppression (3%). The predominant risk factors were: prolonged immobilization (42.9%), pregnancy, long travel and obesity in the same number of cases (n = 3, i.e. 14.2%). The DVT involved the left pelvic limb in 75.8% of cases. Anticoagulants were administered in all patients, and compression stockings were worn in 97% of cases. The mean time to re-evaluation was 10.9 ± 9.4 months (extremes: three and 35 months). The mean measurements of the limb where the thrombosis had occurred at diagnosis and reassessment showed a significant difference. Venous Doppler showed compressible veins (60.6%), varicosities (36.3%), incompressible veins (30.3%) and thrombus (21.2%). Complications were: post-phlebitic disease (42.4%), death (21.2%), pulmonary embolism (18.2%), recurrence (18.2%). The DVT remains relatively rare, and its conventional therapeutic management is satisfactory. Systematic venous Doppler ultrasound reassessment should enable patients at risk of recurrence to be identified.

Epidemiological, Clinical and Etiological Profile of Rhythmic Emergencies at the University Hospital of Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

Objectives: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and etiological aspects of rhythmic emergencies at the University Hospital of Brazzaville. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study conducted in the cardiology and internal medicine department of the University Hospital of Brazzaville from January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2016. Were included, all patients admitted for a severe rhythm disorder diagnosed on the surface electrocardiogram. Rhythmic emergency was defined as a severe rhythm disorder of abrupt onset and required rapid management. Data entry and analysis were performed with Epi Info software version 3.5.1. Results: During the study period, 2269 patients were hospitalized, including 138 for a rhythmic emergency. The frequency of rhythmic emergencies was 6.1%. The patients were divided into 76 women and 62 men (sex ratio = 0.81). The mean age of the patients was 63.1 ± 16.9 years (extremes: 17 and 91 years). The socio-economic level was low for 103 patients (74.6%), medium for 26 (17.7%), and high for nine (6.6%). The average time to consultation was 13.7 ± 12.3 days. On admission, the signs were: heart failure (103 cases;74.6%) including 22 acute cases;dyspnea (94 cases;68%);palpitations (38 cases;27.5%);functional impotence (13 cases;9.4%);collapse (nine cases;6.5%);chest pain (two cases;1.4%). The type of rhythmic emergency was: rapid atrial fibrillation (103 cases;74.6%), ventricular tachycardia (14 cases;10.1%), junctional tachycardia (10 cases;7.2%), rapid atrial flutter (10 cases;7.2%), tachysystole (one case;0.7%). The context of occurrence was: hypokalemia (8 cases;5.8%), drunkenness (two cases;1.4%), acute gastroenteritis (one case;0.7%). Cardiovascular risk factors were: hypertension (62 cases;45.2%), smoking (17 cases;12.1%), dyslipidemia (12 cases;8.7%), diabetes (11 cases;8%), obesity (10 cases;7.2%). Underlying heart disease was: dilated cardiomyopathy (40 cases;29%), hypertensive cardiomyopathy (26 cases;18.8%), valvulopathy (24 cases;17.4%). Ischemic heart disease, chronic pulmonary heart disease, and cardiothyreosis were noted equally (n = 5;3.6%). No heart disease was noted in 24 patients (17.4%). Conclusion: Rhythmic emergencies are frequent in Brazzaville. They are dominated by atrial fibrillation and often occur on heart disease.