Complete heart block ensuing from a metastatic small cell carcinoma: a case report.

Introduction: Notwithstanding the diagnostic and therapeutic advancements, the incidence of cardiac metastases has increased in recent decades. Lung cancers are the most common primary malignant neoplasms with cardiac metastasis potential. The clinical presentation of cardiac metastases is either silent or vague, and largely depends on the infiltrated location and tumor burden.

Burden and correlates of cognitive impairment among hypertensive patients in Tanzania: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The evolution of cognitive impairment of vascular origin is increasingly becoming a prominent health threat particularly in this era where hypertension is the leading contributor of global disease burden and overall health loss. Hypertension is associated with the alteration of the cerebral microcirculation coupled by unfavorable vascular remodeling with consequential slowing of mental processing speed, reduced abstract reasoning, loss of linguistic abilities, and attention and memory deficits. Owing to the rapidly rising burden of hypertension in Tanzania, we sought to assess the prevalence and correlates of cognitive impairment among hypertensive patients attending a tertiary cardiovascular hospital in Tanzania.

Obesity epidemic in urban Tanzania: a public health calamity in an already overwhelmed and fragmented health system.

Background: Worldwide, the epidemiological and demographic transitions have resulted in nutrition shift characterized by an increased consumption of high energy fast food products. In just over 3 decades, overweight and obesity rates have nearly tripled to currently affecting over a third of the global population. Notwithstanding the ever present under-nutrition burden, sub Saharan Africa (SSA) is witnessing a drastic escalation of overweight and obesity.

Knowledge of cardiovascular risk factors among caretakers of outpatients attending a tertiary cardiovascular center in Tanzania: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Health literacy on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) plays an effective role in preventing or delaying the disease onset as well as in impacting the efficacy of their management. In view of the projected low health literacy in Tanzania, we conducted this cross-sectional survey to assess for CVD risk knowledge and its associated factors among patient escorts.

Methods: A total of 1063 caretakers were consecutively enrolled in this cross-sectional study.

A Case of Wellens Syndrome in a 30-Year-Old Woman From Sub-Saharan Africa: A Perplexing Clinical Entity With Invaluable Lessons.

With an estimated contribution of up to 6% of all acute coronary events, young adults are experiencing an escalating burden and mortality attributable to coronary artery disease (CAD) worldwide. Wellens syndrome, a preinfarction clinical entity with distinctive electrocardiographic (ECG) features and high propensity for extensive anterior wall infarctions, affects about 15% of unstable angina subpopulation. We report challenges and lessons learnt from the first ever documented case of Wellens syndrome in Tanzania.

Massive Bilateral Hydroureteronephrosis and End-Stage Renal Disease Ensuing From Chronic Schistosomiasis: A Case Report.

Globally, schistosomal infections affect over 200 million people resulting in the loss of 70 million disability-adjusted life years. In the sub-Saharan Africa region, where over 85% of the global schistosomal infections are found, it is estimated that about 120 million people become symptomatic, over 20 million have severe disease, and nearly 200 000 die every year. Renal impairment is a severe consequence of schistosomiasis occurring in about 6% of all infected individuals and in 15% of those with the hepatosplenic form.

Medication adherence and survival among hospitalized heart failure patients in a tertiary hospital in Tanzania: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: Management of heart failure is complex and multifaceted but adherence to medications remains the cornerstone of preventing avoidable readmissions, premature deaths, and unnecessary healthcare expenses. Despite of evidence-based efficacy on anti-failure drugs, poor adherence is pervasive and remains a significant barrier to improving clinical outcomes in heart failure population.

Results: We enrolled 459 patients with diagnosis of heart failure admitted at a tertiary cardiovascular hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Takayasu Arteritis Mistaken for Epilepsy: A Case Presenting With Convulsive Syncope.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by granulomatous vasculitis that predominantly manifests as panaortitis. This occlusive thromboaortopathy lacks pathognomonic features often resulting in a diagnostic dilemma leading to its under-recognition, misdiagnosis and delayed management. Although neurological manifestations are not uncommon in TA, convulsive syncope as an initial clinical presentation is extremely rare.