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.

Associated Factors to Poor Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensives Followed Up at the Campus University Hospital of Lome (Togo)

Introduction: Hypertension is a real public health issue and its control is very difficult. We aim to determine the frequency of uncontrolled hypertension in hypertensive patients followed up as an outpatient at the campus university hospital of Lome (Togo) and to search for the associated factors. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical, carried out from February (2022) to August 2022 in 260 hypertensive patients aged 22 years old, followed up (on an) as an outpatient for at least 3 months at the Lome University Hospital campus. A univariate then multivariate analysis were conducted in order to highlight the most common factors significantly linked to uncontrolled. Results: The mean age of hypertensives was 56.4 ± 12.7 years, the sex ratio (M/F) was 0.59. Prevalence of uncontrolled blood pressure was 42%. Associated Factors to poor blood pressure control in our study were age > 60 years (OR = 1.6 CI [1.17 - 2.50]), low socio-economic level (OR = 2.2 CI [1.96 - 4.33]), high cardiovascular risk level (OR = 3.1 CI [2.18 - 4.52]), non-adherence to regular blood pressure monitoring (OR = 3.3 CI [2.21 - 5.55]), low compliance to treatment (OR = 4.1 CI [2.33 - 6.76]) and a chronic renal failure (OR = 2.1 CI [1.21 - 3.10]). Conclusion: Nearly half of the hypertensives in our study had poorly controlled blood pressure by antihypertensive treatment medication. The factors of this poor control were age > 60 years, low socio-economic level, high or very high level of cardiovascular risk, low compliance to treatment, and renal failure.

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.

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.

Contribution of Diagnosis Examinations in Pulmonary Embolism

Background: We aimed to determine the specificities of pulmonary embolism (PE) investigations and their statistical link according to PE’s degrees of severity. Patients and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study on patient- records admitted in Cardiology Department for PE, from June 1st 2014 to April 30th 2019. We studied electrocardiogram (ECG), Chest X-ray, Echocardiographic, D-dimers, CT pulmonary angiographic (CTPA) data. PE diagnosis was retained at the CTPA. PE was classified according to its severity (low, intermediate, and severe). Patients were arbitrarily categorized in 4 groups (G1 - G4) according to D-dimer level. Results: We retained 110 patient- records of patients mean aged 56 ± 15 years, with female predominance (Sex-ratio F/M = 1.82). Patients with main pulmonary artery’s (MPA) embolism had D-dimer value > 5000 ng/mL. The more proximal embolism was located, the higher D-dimer level was, but no significant association was found between D-dimer level and PE’s severity. CTPA showed bilateral location of embolism in 52% of cases. Severe PE (SPE) was significantly associated to proximal location (main and segmental branches of PA), and repolarization disorders. S1Q3 aspect was associated to intermediate mortality risk PE. On chest X-ray, cardiomegaly and the left middle arch convexity were associated to SPE. PAH was significantly associated to SPE. Conclusion: PE, serious disease has the diagnostic challenge according to its clinical presentations. Several findings of PE investigations should be useful for SPE assessment in our areas, especially since CTPA is not often accessible, even in urban cities.