RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Spectrum of cardiovascular diseases in six main referral hospitals of Ethiopia
JF Heart Asia
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, British Cardiovascular Society and Asia Pacific Heart Association
SP e010829
DO 10.1136/heartasia-2016-010829
VO 9
IS 2
A1 Dejuma Yadeta
A1 Senbeta Guteta
A1 Bekele Alemayehu
A1 Dufera Mekonnen
A1 Etsegenet Gedlu
A1 Henock Benti
A1 Hagazi Tesfaye
A1 Samuel Berhane
A1 Abraha Hailu
A1 Abadi Luel
A1 Tedros Hailu
A1 Wandimu Daniel
A1 Abraham Haileamlak
A1 Esayas Kebede Gudina
A1 Gari Negeri
A1 Desalew Mekonnen
A1 Kindie Woubeshet
A1 Tariku Egeno
A1 Kinfe Lemma
A1 Vibhu R Kshettry
A1 Endale Tefera
YR 2017
UL http://heartasia.bmj.com/content/9/2/e010829.abstract
AB Background The spectrum of cardiovascular diseases varies between and within countries, depending on the stage of epidemiological transition and risk factor profiles. Understanding this spectrum requires regional and national data for each region or country. This study was designed to determine the spectrum of cardiovascular diseases in six university hospitals in Ethiopia.Methods This is a cross-sectional study of the spectrum of cardiovascular diseases in six main referral/teaching hospitals located in different parts of the country. Consecutive patients visiting the follow-up cardiac clinics of these hospitals from 1 January to 30 June 2015 were included in the study. Data were collected on a pretested questionnaire.Results A total of 6275 patients (58.5% females) were included in the study. Nearly 61% of the patients were from urban areas. The median age was 33 years (IQR 14–55 years). Valvular heart disease was the most common diagnosis, accounting for 40.5% of the cases. Of 2541 patents with valvular heart disease, 2184 (86%) were cases of chronic rheumatic heart disease.Conclusion Our study shows that chronic rheumatic valvular heart disease is the most common cardiovascular diagnosis among patients seen at cardiology clinics of six referral/teaching hospitals in the country, followed by congenital heart diseases. Hypertensive and ischaemic heart diseases also accounted for a significant proportion of the cases. Therefore, strategies directed towards primary and secondary prevention of acute rheumatic fever as well as prevention of risk factors for hypertension and ischaemic heart disease may need to be strengthened.