Publications by authors named "Jacob Alfa"
Article Synopsis
- Subclinical atherosclerosis is linked to cardiovascular diseases and is notably prevalent among adults living with HIV in Nigeria, especially those on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
- A study at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital examined 277 HIV-positive adults, finding a 43.32% prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis, with higher rates in those who have been on ART.
- Significant risk factors identified include male gender, older age, advanced HIV infection (≥WHO stage II), hypercholesterolemia, and longer duration on ART (≥5 years).
Aims: Our aim is to compare the impact of the 2 most widely used methods of indexing left ventricular mass (LVM) on the distribution of abnormal left ventricular (LV) geometric patterns, in a large sample of untreated asymptomatic black hypertensive subjects.
Methods And Results: All patients with hypertension referred to the Cardiology unit of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria from 2006 to 2013, who gave informed consent, and underwent physical examination and echocardiography. LVM indexation was classified into 4 geometric patterns after echocardiography: normal geometry, concentric hypertrophy, concentric remodeling, and eccentric hypertrophy.
Introduction: Right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction is now recognized widely as a strong and independent predictor of adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Reduction of RV systolic function more closely predicts impaired exercise tolerance and poor survival than does left ventricular (LV) systolic function. In spite of this, there is a dearth of data on RV function in hypertensive HF which is the commonest form of HF in sub-Saharan Africa.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hypertension has been established as one of the commonest causes of heart failure especially in sub-Saharan Africa. We have previously observed a high prevalence of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in hypertensive heart failure patients in Nigeria despite a low prevalence of ischemic heart disease. The present study was, therefore, undertaken to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic LV systolic dysfunction in hypertensive black African subjects with no history of heart failure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Marked changes have been made in the pharmacotherapy of hypertension over the years. In sub-Saharan Africa, hypertension pharmacotherapy is often thought to include only thiazide diuretics, beta blockers and centrally acting medications and, it is unclear if and how often calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers are used.
Objective: To examine the anti-hypertensive prescription pattern in a tertiary health centre in Nigeria to determine how it conforms to current guidelines.