Influence of cigarette smoking on the Index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance in apparently healthy Angolans.

Tobacco use accelerates atherosclerosis and is one of the predictors of death from ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden death. A new non-invasive parameter, the Index of Cardiac Electrophysiological Balance (iCEB) between depolarization and repolarization of the action potential, was considered a new biomarker for the identification of patients at increased arrhythmic risk. We aimed to evaluate the iCEB in apparently healthy Angolans with habitual cigarette smoking compared to non-smokers.

Electrocardiographic findings in pregnant women in Angola.

Background: Studies on the electrocardiogram findings in African pregnant women are limited. There is no information available in the literature on the electrocardiographic parameters of pregnant Angolan women.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe electrocardiographic findings in women with normal pregnancies in Bengo Province, Angola.

Prevalence of major and minor electrocardiographic abnormalities and their relationship with cardiovascular risk factors in Angolans.

Aims: To identify the prevalence of major and minor electrocardiographic abnormalities and their association with the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease in a population in the province of Bengo, northern Angola.

Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted and a representative random sample stratified by sex and age was selected. In total, 2379 black individuals were included in the final analysis.

Normal limits of the electrocardiogram in Angolans.

Introduction: Studies on the normal electrocardiogram limits in African populations are limited, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. There is no literature describing normal ECG limits in Angolans.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to establish the normal ECG limits for adult Angolans, without established heart disease, stratified by gender and age.

Role of malnutrition and parasite infections in the spatial variation in children's anaemia risk in northern Angola.

Anaemia is known to have an impact on child development and mortality and is a severe public health problem in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the consistency between ecological and individual-level approaches to anaemia mapping by building spatial anaemia models for children aged ≤15 years using different modelling approaches. We aimed to (i) quantify the role of malnutrition, malaria, Schistosoma haematobium and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) in anaemia endemicity; and (ii) develop a high resolution predictive risk map of anaemia for the municipality of Dande in northern Angola.

Epidemiology of malaria, schistosomiasis, geohelminths, anemia and malnutrition in the context of a demographic surveillance system in northern Angola.

Background: Malaria, schistosomiasis and geohelminth infection are linked to maternal and child morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Knowing the prevalence levels of these infections is vital to guide governments towards the implementation of successful and cost-effective disease control initiatives.

Methodology/principal Findings: A cross-sectional study of 1,237 preschool children (0-5 year olds), 1,142 school-aged children (6-15 year olds) and 960 women (>15 year olds) was conducted to understand the distribution of malnutrition, anemia, malaria, schistosomiasis (intestinal and urinary) and geohelminths in a north-western province of Angola.