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.

Peri-Annular and Septal Abscesses in Infectious Endocarditis. About 3 Cases Observed at the University Hospital of Brazzaville

Infectious endocarditis (IE) is a relatively rare but serious condition. We report 3 cases of infectious endocarditis complicated by peri-annular and/or septal abscess. The patients aged 24, 25 and 28 were all male. Global heart failure was observed in 2 cases. Atrioventricular block was noted in 2 cases (complete syncopation: 1 time;2nd degree Mobitz 2 1 time). Transthoracic echocardiography made it possible to diagnose abscess in all cases (aortic and septal peri-annulus: once, septal only: twice). The aortic insufficiency was grade 2 in all cases, mitral insufficiency grade 2 in 1. The front door was found once, with a dental location. Blood cultures were negative in all cases. A bi-probabilistic antibiotic therapy made it possible to control the infectious process in all the patients. Cardiac surgery, indicated in all cases, was performed in 1 case, consisting of flattening the abscesses and then placing a pacemaker in the patient with complete syncopal atrioventricular block. The outcome of all patients was favorable. Return to permanent sinus rhythm, associated with complete left bundle branch block, was noted at the 4th year of development in the pacemaker wearer. The other 2 patients are still awaiting medical evacuation.