Ten Recommendations for Accelerating Hypertension and Diabetes Control to Reduce Stroke, Heart, and Renal Disease with the Aim to Save Lives in Cameroon Through Partnerships and Collaborations.

Hypertension and diabetes are currently the most common, treatable, and controllable cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors for stroke, heart, and renal diseases in Cameroon. Hypertension affects 30% of adults aged ≥ 20 years with 90% as uncontrolled cases, while type 2 diabetes affects 6% of the same population, with 70% remaining underdiagnosed. Despite publication of the first Roadmap on raised blood pressure by the World Heart Federation in 2015, the Pan African Society of Cardiology Roadmap in 2017, and the technical package for cardiovascular disease management in primary health care (WHO-HEARTS) in 2020, very little progress has been made in improving the diagnosis, treatment, and control of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases in Cameroon.

Prevalence, clinical presentation, and risk factors of chronic venous disease in Cameroon: A general population-based study.

Introduction: Chronic venous disease is a global public health problem, with high morbidity and economic distress. There is scarcity of data on this disease in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We conducted the first population-based study over a period of 20 months from 1st February 2020 to 30th September 2021 in the 10 regions of Cameroon.

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Background: Full blood count is routinely performed in the evaluation of hypertensive patients. However, usefulness of leukocyte ratios in cardiovascular risk (CVR) assessment hasn't yet been proven in Cameroonians.

Objective: Evaluate the contribution of leukocyte ratios in CVR assessment of non-diabetic hypertensive adults.

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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.

Prevalence and determinants of silent myocardial ischemia in patients with type 2 diabetes in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: diabetes mellitus is a major health problem worldwide. It is associated with high cardiovascular morbi-mortality especially coronary artery disease. Myocardial ischemia is often asymptomatic (silent myocardial ischemia) in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus thus making early diagnosis difficult.

Barriers to up-titrated antihypertensive strategies in 12 sub-Saharan African countries: the Multination Evaluation of hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa Study.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces the highest rate of hypertension worldwide. The high burden of elevated blood pressure (BP) in black people has been emphasized. Guidelines recommend two or more antihypertensive medications to achieve a BP control.

Use of traditional medicine and control of hypertension in 12 African countries.

Background: Use of traditional medicine (TM) is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa as a treatment option for a wide range of disease. We aimed to describe main characteristics of TM users and estimate the association of TM use with control of hypertension.

Methods: We used data on 2128 hypertensive patients of a cross-sectional study (convenience sampling), who attended cardiology departments of 12 sub-Saharan African countries (Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Togo).

Prevalence and correlates of vascular plaques and high intima thickness in a group of patients with high cardiovascular risk in Cameroon.

Introduction: carotid and femoral intima-media thickness (IMT) and atherosclerotic plaques are considered as markers of generalized atherosclerosis and as independent predictors of cardiovascular events and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates between carotid and femoral intima-media thickness and plaques in patients with major cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs).

Methods: we carried out a cross-sectional study at the Yaoundé Central Hospital between December 2017 and May 2018.

[Epidemiology, clinical and therapeutic aspects of chronic coronary syndrome in Cameroonian cardiology, a look back at 10 years].

Aim: The present study aims to describe the epidemiology, clinical and therapeutic aspects of chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) in Cameroonian cardiology setting in order to highlight the current state of practice to guide efficient epidemiological interventions.

Method: We retrospectively analyzed over 10 years [2010; 2019] the records of patients hospitalized in two cardiology units of referral hospitals in the city of Yaoundé.

Result: Of the 2756 records retrieved, 47 (1.

Blood pressure-lowering medicines implemented in 12 African countries: the cross-sectional multination EIGHT study.

Objective: In Africa, the number of patients with hypertension is expected to reach 216.8 million by 2030. Large-scale data on antihypertensive medications used in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are scarce.

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.

COVID-19 pandemic: do we need systematic screening of patients with cardiovascular risk factors in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) for preventing death?

COVID-19 pandemic is an emergent cardiovascular risk factor and a major cause of mortality worldwide. Thromboembolism is highly suspected as a leading cause of death in these patients through vascular inflammation caused by SARS COV2. Until now there is no real treatment of COVID-19 and many proposed drugs are under clinical trials.

Thromboembolic risks in patients with COVID-19: major concern to consider in our management.

COVID-19 pandemic is an emergent cardiovascular risk factor and a major cause of mortality worldwide. Thromboembolism is highly suspected as a leading cause of death in these patients through vascular inflammation caused by SARS COV2. Until now there is no real treatment of COVID-19 and many proposed drugs are under clinical trials.

Poor adherence to medication and salt restriction as a barrier to reaching blood pressure control in patients with hypertension: Cross-sectional study from 12 sub-Saharan countries.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a rising burden of hypertension. Antihypertensive medications and diet are the cornerstone of effective hypertension control.

Aims: To assess adherence to medication and salt restriction in 12 sub-Saharan countries, and to study the relationship between adherence and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension.

Biventricular hypertrabeculations or noncompaction in a 54-year-old woman in Sub-Saharan Africa: A case report.

Ventricular noncompaction or hypertrabeculation is rare and unclassified cardiomyopathy that mostly affects the left ventricle. We report the case of biventricular hypertrabeculation in a 54-year-old woman who presented with congestive heart failure de novo associated with arrhythmia in a low-income setting. We also discussed the therapeutic challenges.

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.

Factors associated with poor adherence to medication among hypertensive patients in twelve low and middle income Sub-Saharan countries.

Introduction: Over the past few decades, the prevalence of hypertension has dramatically increased in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poor adherence has been identified as a major cause of failure to control hypertension. Scarce data are available in Africa.

Short-term effects of perindopril-amlodipine vs perindopril-indapamide on blood pressure control in sub-Saharan type 2 diabetic individuals newly diagnosed for hypertension: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Poor blood pressure (BP) control contributes to complications in sub-Saharan African (SSA) type 2 diabetic individuals. Experts have advocated the use of combination therapies for effective BP control in these patients. The suggested combinations should include a RAAS antagonist and either a CCB or a thiazide diuretic; however, their efficacy is yet to be established in SSA.

Late mortality after cardiac interventions over 10-year period in two Cameroonian government-owned hospitals.

Background: Cardiac surgery is a growing activity in Sub-Saharan Africa, however, data related to long-term mortality are scarce. We aimed to analyze outcome data of cardiac interventions in two hospitals in Cameroon over 10 years' period.

Methods: we conducted a retrospective analytical and descriptive study at the Douala General Hospital and Yaoundé General Hospital.

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.

Correlations of left ventricular systolic function indices with aortic root systolic excursion (ARSE): A cross-sectional echocardiographic study.

Background: Heart failure (HF), is a major public health issue globally. Echocardiography is cost-effective in the diagnosis in expert hands. This study was conducted to estimate the usefulness of Aortic Root Systolic Excursion (ARSE) as a simple and accurate measure to estimate Left Ventricular (LV) function.