Pattern and determinants of health-related quality of life of adolescents with congenital heart disease in Cameroon: A single-center cross-sectional study.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) assessment is necessary for the management of patients with congenital heart diseases (CHD). No study has yet been reported on Cameroonian adolescents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of and look for determinants of HRQoL in adolescents with CHD in Cameroon.

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Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare cause of heart failure occurring during pregnancy. Its prevalence seems more frequent in Africa but its epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary particularities remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological features and mortality risk factors of PPCM.

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Background: The automatic measurement of the ankle-brachial index (ABI) constitutes a reliable, simple, safe, rapid, and inexpensive alternative diagnostic screening test compared with the Doppler method for peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of automatic ABI measurement tests to Doppler ultrasound for PAD in a group of patients aged 65 years and above, in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: This was an experimental comparative study of the performance of Doppler ultrasound to the automated ABI test in the diagnosis of PAD in patients aged ≥ 65 years followed-up at the Yaoundé Central Hospital, Cameroon between January to June 2018.

Interpretation of A1C measurement in sub-Saharan Africa beyond the global A1C-Derived Average Glucose (ADAG) equation.

Introduction: optimal metabolic control is crucial for prevention of diabetes associated complications. HbA1c is a correlate of chronic hyperglycemia and is associated with long-term diabetes complications. We investigate the relationship between A1C and estimated average blood glucose (eAG) from the multicenter A1C-Derived Average Glucose (ADAG) study, in a sub-Saharan African population.

Prevalence, complications and factors associated with severely elevated blood pressure in patients with hypertension: a cross-sectional study in two hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Introduction: severely elevated blood pressure significantly increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive Black patients. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, complications and factors associated with severe high blood pressure in hypertensive patients in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in the outpatient and cardiology units of two teaching hospitals in Yaoundé.

Evaluation of the Efficiency of Telemedicine in the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases in Primary Healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Medico-Economic Study in Cameroon.

Objective: To assess the efficiency of tele-expertise (tele-ECG) for patients and for health facilities in managing patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in primary health care in Cameroon.

Method: This study was a medico-economic study combining two approaches: cost minimization and cost-effectiveness analysis. It was conducted alongside the previous published controlled multicenter study carried out in Cameroon's two health facilities where tele-ECG has been implemented (intervention centres) and two other where telemedicine has been not implemented (control centres).

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Objective: We sought to evaluate ginger's cardiovascular and metabolic effects (Zingiberofficinale) add-on therapy in type 2 diabetes patients over six weeks.

Methods: We performed a single-arm clinical trial. In well-to-moderately controlled Type 2 diabetic patients with unchanged treatment for at least three months, the intervention consisted of 6-week add-on oral supplementation of powdered ginger extracts in capsules at a dose of 399 mg three times per day.

Prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among school children and adolescents in urban and semi-urban areas in Cameroon.

Few data to date exist on pediatric hypertension (PH) prevalence and risk factors in semi-urban areas in Cameroon, and they are believed to be the same as urban areas. These data are needed to design targeted preventive strategies and contribute to reducing the burden of PH in Cameroon and countries with equivalent standards of care. The authors conducted a cross-sectional study, from November, 2017 to June, 2018, in primary and secondary schools, from semi-urban (Bamboutos, West Region) and urban (Mfoundi, Center Region) settings in Cameroon, including children and adolescent aged between 3 and 19 years, recruited on a stratified probability sampling.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Telemedicine in the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases in Primary Health Care in Cameroon: An Interventional Study.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of tele-expertise (tele-ECG) in primary health care in Cameroon for the management of patients with cardiovascular diseases or risk factors.

Method: It is a controlled multicenter study carried out in Cameroon's two health facilities where tele-ECG has been implemented (intervention centers) and two other where telemedicine has been not implemented (control centers). Patients having cardiovascular risk factors or diseases received usual primary health care in the control centers.

Persistent hypertension after preeclampsia in a group of Cameroonians: Result of a cross-sectional study and perspectives to reduce its burden in Limited Income Countries.

Preeclampsia/eclampsia significantly increases the risk of future hypertension. Several factors may be involved in this process. The purpose of this study was to identify them in Cameroonians.

Left atrial structural and functional remodeling study in type 2 diabetic patients in sub-Saharan Africa: Role of left atrial strain by 2D speckle tracking echocardiography.

Objective: To evaluate the role of peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) through speckle tracking 2D echocardiography for the assessment of structural and functional left atrial (LA) remodeling in a type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) population.

Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study during a 9-month period. T2DM adults aged 18 and above were included.

Prevalence and determinants of masked hypertension among obese individuals at the Yaoundé Central Hospital: a cross-sectional study in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of masked hypertension in obese patients in Yaounde.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study from January to September 2017 at the National Obesity Center of the Yaounde Central Hospital. Masked hypertension was defined when the mean 24 h SBP was greater than or equal to 130 mmHg and/or the mean 24 h DBP was greater than or equal to 80 mmHg with normal office blood pressure (SBP/DBP) <140/90 mmHg.

Short term optimization of glycaemic control using insulin improves sympatho-vagal tone activities in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Introduction: Diabetic cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is potentially life threatening and its severity might further be aggravated by poor glycaemic control. A decrease in Heart rate variability (HRV) is the earliest finding of CAN even at the sub clinical stage. While intensive glycaemic control prevents the development of CAN in patients with type 1 diabetes, it is not known whether the intensification of glycaemic control using insulin would improve cardiovascular autonomic functions in type 2 diabetes patients.

Heart rate variability in hyperthyroidism on sub Saharan African patients: a case-control study.

Objective: We aimed to determine heart rate variability in freshly diagnosed untreated hyperthyroidism patients. We enrolled 10 patients (9 females) and 10 matched controls for sex and age. Each eligible patient underwent five different tests according to Ewing battery tests for cardiac autonomic dysfunction assessment.

Poor glycemic control impacts heart rate variability in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross sectional study.

Objective: We aimed to determine and compare HRV parameters in poorly and well controlled type 2 diabetes. 54 normotensive type 2 diabetes patients without clinical signs of CAN were enrolled; 29 poorly controlled (HbA1c ≥ 7%) and 25 controls matched for age, sex and BMI. HRV analysis was performed using 24-h ambulatory ECG, with automatic estimation of the time and frequency domain ranges.

An interesting case of tricuspid aortic valve with a quadricuspid function.

Quadricuspid aortic valve (QAV) is a rare congenital heart defect, often related to severe aortic regurgitation, and usually detected by echocardiography or at the time of aortic valve surgery. We report a case of an interesting and extremely rare variant of "false" QAV, detected preoperatively by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, in a severely symptomatic patient, admitted to our hospital for dyspnea. Three leaflets of aortic valve appeared quadricuspid, because the left coronary cusp was divided into 2 parts, as confirmed by MRI and pathology.