Epidemiological, Clinical and Angiographic Profile of Chronic Coronary Syndromes in the Catheterization Room. Single-Centre Study Carried Out in the Cardiology Department of the Chu Aristide Le Dantec in Dakar (Senegal)

Background: Ischaemic heart disease is the cause of 7.4 million deaths per year. Their prevention is based on the management of cardiovascular risk factors, but also on the early detection and management of chronic coronary syndromes (CCS), for which few data are available in Africa. The main objective of our study was to determine the factors related to significative coronary artery disease in patients undergoing coronarography for suspected chronic coronary syndrome (CCS). Methodology: We conducted a retrospective descriptive and analytical study over 2 years (from January, 1st, 2018 to December 31st, 2019) in the Cardiology Department of the University Hospital Aristide Le DANTEC in Dakar. All patients admitted for coronary angiography for suspected chronic coronary syndrome were included. Results: One hundred and fifty-two patients were included with a mean age of 60.79 ± 9.73 years, the most represented age group was 60 - 69 years. Advanced age was the most frequent risk factor (77.63%) followed by sedentary lifestyle (56.58%) and hypertension (41.45%). Diabetes was present in 17.1% of cases. A history of angioplasty was found in 1.97% of patients. Typical pain was found in 71.05% of cases, atypical pain in 19.74% and exertional dyspnoea in 2.63%. The pre-test probability was intermediate in 67.1% of cases, low in 25% and high in 7.9%. Significative coronary lesion was found in 52.63% of the patients, while coronary angiography was normal in the remaining cases. Tritroncular status was observed in 37.50%, it was bitroncular in 26.25% and monotroncular in 36.25% of cases. Factors associated with significative coronary artery disease were age (p = 0.0001), diabetes (p = 0.006), previous angioplasty (p = 0.023), previous myocardial infarction (p = 0.018), typical angina (p = 0.001), intermediate pretest probability (p = 0.001). Low pretest probability was significantly correlated with the absence of a coronary lesion with a p = 0.001. Conclusion: Our study shows that screening for chronic coronary disease should be done especially in diabetics, elderly subjects and those with previous angioplasty taking into account symptoms and pretest probability to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.

Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Prolongation of the Management of Myocardial Infarctions Seen Late: A Cross-Sectional Study of 25 Cases Collected in the Cardiology Department of the Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar (Senegal)

Background: Timely management determines the prognosis of patients admitted for acute coronary syndrome with persistent ST-segment elevation (STEMI). Coronavirus COVID-19 appeared in China, in Wuhan in December 2019, which has spread at a lightning speed across the planet earth, becoming a pandemic. Senegal, as well as countries around the world, has also been affected by this pandemic, which has had a strong impact on all its sectors of activity, particularly the health system. The objective of this study was to identify and evaluate the factors that increase the time required to treat myocardial infarctions, received late at H?pital Aristide le Dantec and to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on these delays. Results: A total of 25 patients were included: 17 patients in pre-pandemic period and 8 patients in pandemic period. The predominance was male with a sex ratio of 2.5. The mean age was 59.20 years. Hypertension was the leading risk factor with a prevalence of 60% followed by sedentary lifestyle (48%). Typical chest pain was the most frequent clinical symptom found on admission (80%) followed by nausea and vomiting (40%). The first medical contact took place in a hospital in most patients (44%) and was made by a general practitioner (64%). The majority of patients (76%) were referred to the cardiology department. The personal car was the most frequently used means of transportation for our patients (60%). The average distance by car between the place of occurrence and the hospital was 22.6 km with extremes of 3.30 and 36 km. The average travel time from the place of occurrence to the cardiology department was 43 min 30 s with extremes of 11 and 57 min. When comparing the results according to the COVID-19 pandemic, a decrease in the number of incident cases is noted. Before the pandemic, a consultation in multiple units was noted in the majority of cases (41%) before admission. During COVID-19, the majority of patients (62.5%) had consulted only one site. The average time from pain to first medical contact was 06 h 30 min before the COVID-19 pandemic and 42 h06 min during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean time to electrocardiogram recording was 14 h 30 min before the Covid-19 pandemic and 27 h 22 min during the Covid-19 pandemic. Conclusion: There are significant delays in the management of STEMI patients. They are attributable to both the patients and the system. The main factors of system delay found in our study were the delay in ECG recording, its interpretation, and the organization of transfer via a medical ambulance. The Covid-19 disease has globally aggravated these delays that were already present before the pandemic. Consequent measures must be taken to reduce these delays that determine the vital prognosis of STEMI patients.

ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in Diabetics Patients in Four Dakar Cardiology Departments

Introduction: Diabetes is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease worldwide. But few data exist in our developing countries. The objective of this study was to study the particularities of STEMI in diabetic patients in Dakar. Methodology: It was a retrospective, multicenter and descriptive study, carried out over a period of 12 months from 19 September 2019 to 19 September 2020 in four cardiology centers in Dakar. Included was any diabetic patient admitted for STEMI. Data analysis was done with the SPSS (Statistical Package for Sciences Socials) software. Results: A total of 87 diabetic patients were included, for a prevalence of 29.7%. The average age of patients was 60 years. The predominance was male with a sex ratio of 1.1. Diabetes was mostly type 2 (99%) and most patients were on oral antidiabetics (56%). Glycemic imbalance was noted in 24.1% of patients. The associated cardiovascular risk factors were hypertension (51%), dyslipidemia (51%) and physical inactivity (41.4%). Chest pain was typical in 76% of cases. The average time between onset of pain and first medical contact was 47 hours. The electrocardiogram had reached mainly the anterior (25%) and inferior (27%) territories with necrosis Q waves in 37.9% of cases. The coronary angiography was done for 63 patients and found one hundred and twenty-three significant lesions distributed in three-vessel (48%), single-vessel (33%) and two-vessel (14%) disease. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed in 37 patients (42.2%) and thrombolysis in 7 patients. The evolution was favourable in most cases (82%). The reported complications were: 4 cardiogenic shocks, 3 rhythm disorders, 2 conduction disorders and 2 strokes. Four patients had died during hospitalization, for a hospital mortality of 4.59%. Conclusion: STEMI in diabetics are diagnosed with considerable delay in Dakar. The coronary involvement is severe. Their support under optimal. Improving management requires a multidisciplinary approach involving the diabetologist, emergency physician and cardiologist.

Acute Coronary Syndromes in Elderly: Multicentric Study about 76 Cases in 3 Cardiology Departments in Dakar

Background: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the elderly are often a problem in their diagnosis and treatment, explaining a high mortality. Our study aimed to evaluate diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutive aspects in 3 cardiology departments of Dakar. Patients and Methods: We conducted a multicentric, retrospective and descriptive study during 2 years from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018. All patients older than 75 years admitted for acute coronary syndromes were included. The diagnosis was based on clinical signs with typical electrocardiographic changes and troponin assays. Results: Seventy and six patients (76) were enrolled. The prevalence of ACS in the elderly was 2.5% of all hospitalized patients and 21.8% of all ACS. The average age was 78.76 years. The sex ratio male/female was 1.71. The cardiovascular risk factors were essentially physical inactivity (97%) and hypertension (6.84%). Angina pain was the master symptom, but the pain was atypical in the most cases (52.63%). The second sign was dyspnea (46.05%). The average admission time for patients with STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) was 27 hours. Among these patients, 67% had a STEMI, 24% had NSTEMI (non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction) and 9% had an unstable angina. Four patients had a thrombolysis with an average time of 5.75 hours. The thrombolysis was not successful for all patients. Eighteen (18) patients had a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), but only two had a primary PCI. DES (drug-eluting-stents) were the most used stents (55.5%). Eighty and nine (89%) of PCI were successful. Complications were essentially hemodynamic and rhythmic (26.6%). In-hospital mortality was 14.47%;n = 11. Conclusion: Our study revealed a delay in diagnosis and management of ACS in the elderly. Reperfusion therapy was less practiced in our context and the prognosis was poorer with a high mortality.

Epidemiological Aspect of ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in Saint-Louis of Senegal

Background: Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) has become the largest and most common cause of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) related deaths worldwide, accounting for more than 50%. In Senegal, a few studies done on the topic showed a low prevalence of acute coronary syndrome in hospital settings. In the city of Saint-Louis in Northern Senegal, there is little epidemiological data on Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) and no study specifically concerned with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) has been carried out to date. With this in mind, we conducted a study that focused on the analysis of STEMI patients hospitalized in the Cardiology Department of the Regional Hospital of Saint-Louis. The aim of our study was to collect and analyze the epidemiological aspect of STEMI. Results: There were 39 cases of STEMI, (i.e. 82.29% of ACS), giving a hospital prevalence of 8.21%. There was a slight male predominance with a male to female ratio of 1.05. The average age of our patients was 62.93 years ranging from 38 to 90 years. The average time between the onset of pain and arrival at the hospital was 50 hours, ranging from 1 hour to 720 hours. Patients received within the first 12 hours made up 66% (n = 26) of our population, among them, 80.76% (n = 21) (i.e. 53.84% of STEMIs) were able to benefit from thrombolysis. All thrombolysis was performed with Streptokinase. The mean time to thrombolysis was 6 hours ranging from 1 hour and 45 minutes to 11 hours. Arterial hypertension was the most frequent cardiovascular risk factor in our popular with a 43.6% prevalence, followed by diabetes (33.33%), then active smoking (23%). Chest pain was the most frequent symptom, reported in 34 patients (87.17%). The lesions on the Electrocardiogram (EKG) were located in the anterior territory in 64% of the cases (n = 25), in the inferior territory in 28% of the cases (n = 11), in the circumferential territory in 5% of the cases (n = 2), and lateral territory in 5% of the cases (n = 2). Twenty-five patients had a transthoracic echocardiogram, the left ventricular ejection fraction was preserved in 36% of the patients, 40% had moderate ventricular dysfunction and 24% had severe dysfunction. Segmental kinetic disorders of the left ventricle were noted in 18 patients (72%), akinesia in 7 patients (28%) and dyskinesia in 4 patients (16%). The average length of hospitalization was 8.43 days. Seven deaths (17.9%) were recorded during the study. Coronary angiography was performed in six patients (15.38%), and was abnormal in five cases. Conclusion: ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarctions remain a major public health issue in Senegal due to their increasing prevalence and poor prognosis due to delayed diagnosis and management.