Sex Differences in Clinical and Angiographic Characteristics in Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients in Dakar, Senegal

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is in relentless progression, along with the adoption of western lifestyle in sub-Saharan Africa. In Senegal, the incidence of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) rose from 5% to 12% in Dakar during the last 20 years. That increase was observed in both women and men, and according to current data, the former paid the heaviest price in terms of mortality compared to men. In this study, we aim to retrospectively assess the clinical characteristics and angiographic profile of ACS in women compared to men in two tertiary care centers in Dakar. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed and compared data between men and women among 133 patients who underwent coronary angiogram for ACS in 2 tertiary centers from February 2019 to January 2020. Results: A total of 133 patients were included in our study of whom 97 (72.9%) were men. The mean age was 58 ± 13.6 years. Women were older than men (61.4 ± 14.3 years vs 56.6 ± 13.5 years (p = 0.07). Hypertension, sedentary lifestyle and obesity were significantly more frequent in women (69.4%, 52.7% and 19.4%) when compared to men (38.8%, 25.7% and 6.19%) respectively, (p = 0.001;0.002 and 0.03). Smoking was less frequent in women (2.8%) than in men (44.3%), (p Conclusion: In our study, women with ACS were older, had more cardiovascular risk factors but less angiographic extent of disease than men.

Low Cost Equipment and Short Duration Program Are Not Barriers to Good Outcomes of Cardiac Rehabilitation in Senegalese Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Cardiac rehabilitation is still underused in Africa, despite its cost effectiveness widely demonstrated around the world. Aim: To evaluate the results of a cardiac rehabilitation program in the first Senegalese outpatient center in low resource context. Patients and Method: We carried out a prospective and interventional study. It compared on one hand a group of coronary patients at baseline and after 6 months of our rehabilitation program and on the other hand a control group of patients not enrolled in rehabilitation. Results: We included 70 patients (30 in the rehabilitation group and 40 in the control group). After rehabilitation, the functional capacity improved: 6.99 ± 2.9 Mets at M0 vs 8.8 ± 2.23 Mets at M6, p = 0.0001. Patients of intervention group significantly increased motivation to lifestyle changes and knowledge about their disease. We found better control at 6 months of hypertension (84.50% vs 33.70%, p = 0.003), diabetes (70.00% vs 26.70%, p = 0.0042), LDL cholesterol (33.00% vs 5.00%, p = 0.002) in the group “Rehabilitation”. Prevalence of psychosocial issues like anxiety and depression decreased in intervention group: 50.00% at M0 to 23.33% at M3 (p = 0.021), then 30.00% at M6 (p = 0.18). Return to work and resuming sexual activity were not significantly different. Conclusion: Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation program, with low cost equipment in a short duration, could have real benefits in the management of coronary artery disease by reducing anxiety and depression, improving treatment compliance, control of cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle changes and disease knowledge.

Myocardial Infarction Complicating Vasospastic Angina in a Female Patient—Case Report

Coronary artery vasospasm is an infrequent cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A 50-year-old female developed persistent chest discomfort related to anterior STEMI. After an unsuccessful thrombolysis attempt, due to delay concern, the patient was then sent to the catheterization laboratory for rescue PCI. The coronary angiogram revealed a TIMI 3 flow proximal LAD significant stenosis with spastic appearance of the coronary arteries which has improved after intracoronary nitrates administration. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) excluded coronary artery dissection and haematoma also revealed thrombus on moderate atherosclerotic plaque. The patient was then pain-free;she was managed medically and discharged after few days of monitoring. Three weeks later, she developed transient chest pain with ST segment elevation while cycling during rehabilitation program. Provocation test by Ergonovine was positive with complete occlusion of proximal RCA (right coronary artery) complicated by transient complete heart block and shock. She was stabilized with 7 mg of intracoronary nitrates injection. She was discharged after close monitoring with calcium channel blocker and tobacco cessation. ACS may complicate prolonged coronary artery vasospasm making the diagnosis challenging. OCT may help understand ACS mechanism and exclude spontaneous coronary artery dissection. Provocation test is crucial for confirmation.

Coronary Angioplasty in a Low Income Sub-Saharan Country: Situational Analysis

Introduction: Coronary angioplasty is not widely conducted in sub-Saharan Africa in general and Senegal in particular. The objective of this work was to describe the indications, techniques, results and difficulties of coronary angioplasty in Senegal. Patients and Methods: We prospectively included all patients who underwent coronary angioplasty between July 2012 and November 2014. We evaluated the clinical characteristics, techniques used, and the peri-procedural complications. Results: 110 coronary angioplasties were performed at the cardiac catheterisation unit of the Clinique du Golf in Dakar. The average age of patients was 60.41 ± 10.93 years. A male predominance was noted with a sex ratio of 6.3. Hypertension was found in 57% of patients. The principal indications for coronary angioplasty were for the management of acute coronary syndromes with or without ST elevation, in 29 and 39 patients respectively. The femoral artery was the puncture site in 104 patients. The lesions treated were type A/B1 or B2/C in 53 and 57 cases respectively. The success rates of coronary angioplasties and 30-day mortality were 91% and 0.9% respectively. Conclusion: In sub-Saharan Africa, Senegal in particular, the practice of coronary angioplasty is low. Indeed, many factors linked to socioeconomic status limit the development of coronary angioplasty in Senegal.

Conservative Approach Might Be the Strategy by Default in Stable Angina Patients: A Case Report

Management of stable angina is still a matter of debate. Whether a conservative or invasive approach is better remains unclear. Even though recent large-scale randomized trials depict the conservative strategy as safe and efficient. In this report, we present a case of a 53-year-old male patient with cardiovascular risk factors of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. He complained about typical chest pain at exertion. The coronary angiogram (CA) revealed severe stenosis of the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD) ostium. After heart team discussion, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was advocated. However, due to a lack of means, the CABG was postponed. Meanwhile, he was managed with guideline-based medical therapy. In addition, he exercised regularly and adopted a healthy diet. Evolution was favorable with excellent symptoms control. A regular follow-up was organized with his cardiologist. A new CA before an eventual CABG six years later showed a significant plaque volume regression of the proximal LAD. We decided to continue conservative management. The stress echocardiogram to assess symptoms and exercise tolerance was normal. Our patient was sent to surgery on top of optimal medical therapy even though angioplasty was a good indication and was feasible. However, while he was struggling to afford the CABG procedure, he adopted a very healthy lifestyle along with medical therapy. Six years later, the result of that approach was without appeal, suggesting and reinforcing the conservative management of stable heart disease over invasive strategy. The recent ISCHEMIA trial is a major argument supporting that approach.