High prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in pregnant women in Benin.

Introduction: Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) are highly prevalent in SubSaharan African communities. In these countries the burden of CVRF during early pregnancy has been poorly documented.

Aim: The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of CVRF in pregnant women before the 20th week of gestation in Benin.

Diuretics and risk of major adverse limb events in patients with type-2 diabetes: An observational retrospective study.

Aim: In patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors are suspected to increase the risk of amputation. "Traditional" diuretics may increase major adverse limb events (MALEs), but the evidence is weak. We studied the association between common diuretics (i.

Performance of electrocardiographic criteria for detecting LVH in hypertensive Africans.

Aims: To evaluate the performance of the currently accepted LVH electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria from ethnic-specific normal values.

Methods And Results: We included 309 hypertensive subjects with both ECG (12‑leads device) and echocardiographic analysis. The diagnosis of LVH was established by echocardiography from specific norms.

Influenza vaccination coverage and determinants of vaccination in peripheral arterial disease patients.

In the latest American Heart Association guidelines, influenza vaccination is recommended for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The vaccination coverage in this specific population is currently unknown. This study aims to determine the adherence to influenza vaccination in a PAD population and identify associated determinants.

The functional disabilities of the dominant and opposite hands in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Hand involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) is responsible for 75% of the overall disability but varies greatly among individuals. No study has yet compared the functionalities between the two hands of SSc patients. We thus evaluated the joint limitations and extent of skin involvement in the dominant and contralateral hands.

Impact of Hypertension on Left Ventricular Geometry and Diastolic Function in Africa: Results from the Population-Based TAnve Health (TAHES) Cohort Study.

High blood pressure leads to morphologic changes and functional alterations of the myocardial structure. Transthoracic echocardiography is of great clinical interest to evaluate these alterations, using reference values proposed by the American Society of Echocardiography/European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging, largely based on studies in Caucasian Whites. We aimed to assess the impact of hypertension on echocardiographic parameters in a sub-Saharan African community, using ethnic-specific reference values.

Update About the Management of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Hypertriglyceridemia in Lower Extremity Peripheral Artery Disease Patients: Consensus of the French Society of Vascular Medicine and the French Society for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.

Background: A French intersociety consensus on behalf the Société Française de Médecine Vasculaire and the Société de Chirurgie Vasculaire et Endovasculaire was proposed in 2021 for the management of patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LEAD). Recent studies have been published and an update of this consensus about the management of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and hypertriglyceridemia was required.

Methods: A steering committee of 12 vascular physicians and surgeons defined questions of interest about LDLc and hypertriglyceridemia management.

Ultrasound-detected tibial artery calcification as a marker of cardiovascular and lower-limb risk in asymptomatic patients with type-2 diabetes.

Background: Medial arterial calcification (MAC) is a vascular disease distinct from atherosclerosis. Recently, several studies have demonstrated that MAC is an important marker of cardiovascular events. We aim to assess the presence of MAC during ultrasound screening of lower-limb vasculature and its association with both cardiovascular (CV) and lower-limb events in patients with type-2 diabetes.

Normal reference values of cardiac chamber sizes and functional parameters in a beninese community population: the TAHES study.

Reported ranges of normal values for echocardiographic measurements are mostly issued from studies performed in Caucasians. This study is a part of TAHES, a population-based prospective cohort study in Benin and aims to establish normal reference values for echocardiographic cardiac chambers dimensions and Doppler parameters in a Sub-Saharan African population. We included 486 healthy (non-diabetic, non-obese and normotensive) individuals (202 men and 284 women, age 37[30-47] years, BSA 1.

Risk of amputation under diuretics in patients with or at risk of lower extremity arterial disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recently, increased risk of amputation under sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors has been debated. Similar concerns have been raised with other "traditional" diuretics, more particularly in patients with or at risk of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD).

Aim: To collect all available data on any potential risk of amputation associated with diuretics in patients with or at risk of LEAD.

Cardiovascular risk factors in Sub-Saharan African women.

Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) are associated with major cause of death and disability in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially in women. The contribution of obstetrical, psychological, and socio-economic factors in CVRF are not yet well described in Africa. We aimed to compare the prevalence of CVRF between men and women, and to determine the factors associated to these sex-related differences.

Prevalence and factors associated with hyperglycemia in a rural population of Tanvè and Dékanmey in Benin in 2019.

Background: Hyperglycemia leads to serious damage to the body, especially the blood vessels and nerves. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with hyperglycemia in a rural population of Tanvè and Dékanmey in Benin in 2019.

Materials And Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study, nested in the Tanvè Health Study (TAHES) cohort.

Normal limits of electrocardiogram in Africans and their consequences on the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive individuals: Insights from the TAHES study.

Aims: To determine normal limits for major ECG variables, and the electrocardiographic impact of hypertension, in a rural sub-Saharan African setting.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included adults aged ≥25 years from Tanvè Health Study (TAHES) cohort. ECG were recorded at rest at 25 mm/s using a standard 12‑lead device.

Inter-arm difference in systolic blood pressure: Prevalence and associated factors in an African population.

Objectives: Inter-arm blood pressure difference (IABPD) can lead to underdiagnosis and poor management of hypertension, when not recognized and are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. However, the prevalence and associated risk factors of IABPD in sub-Saharan Africa are unknown. This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of IABPD among Tanve Health Study (TAHES) participants, a cohort about cardiovascular diseases in a rural area in Benin.

Correlation of nailfold capillaroscopy findings with history of digital ulcer on same finger: Results of SCLEROCAP study.

Unlabelled: Systemic sclerosis may be complicated by digital ulcers. Nailfold capillaroscopy on one finger might reflect an increased risk of digital ulcer (DU). In the present study we studied the correlations between a history of ulcer and capillary findings on the finger.

Normal values of proximal aorta diameters in healthy Sub Saharan Africans: The TAHES study.

Objectives: Reported ranges of normal values are mostly issued from studies performed with Caucasians. This study is a part of TAHES, a population-based prospective cohort study in Benin and aims to establish normal reference values for echocardiographic diameters of the proximal aorta in Africans.

Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) examinations were performed by four cardiologists following pre-defined protocols, and analyzed off-line by a single observer.

Toe Pressure Measurements in Patients Suspected of Critical Limb Ischemia.

An objective hemodynamic assessment is mandatory to confirm Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI). Toe pressure measurement is recommended. We compared toe measurements obtained using the Laser Doppler method (LD) (PERIMED PeriFlux, Sweden) considered as the reference test, with those obtained with a portable device using photoplethysmography (PPG) (Sys Toe Atys Medical, France).

Mortality, Cardiovascular and Limb Events in Patients With Symptomatic Lower Extremity Artery Disease and Diabetes.

The aim of this study was to compare the prognosis of patients according to diabetes status, during a 1-year follow-up after hospital admission for lower extremity artery disease, in the prospective COPART (COhorte de Patients ARTériopathes) registry. Inclusion criteria were intermittent claudication, ischemic rest pain, tissue loss, or acute limb ischemia, with radiological and hemodynamic confirmation. Among 2494 patients, 1235 (49.

Editor's Choice - External Applicability of the COMPASS and VOYAGER-PAD Trials on Patients with Symptomatic Lower Extremity Artery Disease in France: The COPART Registry.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the external applicability of the COMPASS and the VOYAGER-PAD trials in patients with lower extremity artery disease (LEAD) in the real world.

Methods: This was a multicentre retrospective analysis of prospectively collected COPART data, a French multicentre registry of patients hospitalised for symptomatic LEAD. The proportion of patients eligible for the combination of rivaroxaban 2.

Vascular ultrasound for cardiovascular risk stratification in asymptomatic patients with type-2 diabetes.

Aims: To identify new independent vascular markers to predict cardiovascular events in patients with type-2 diabetes (T2D), and their incremental value compared to the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) risk score.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 1332 asymptomatic patients with T2D, free from prior CV event, assessed for a cardiovascular work-up, including Duplex ultrasonography to detect plaque on carotid and femoral arteries. The extent of atherosclerosis was rated as atherosclerosis burden score (ABS).

HIV clinical stages and lower extremity arterial disease among HIV infected outpatients in Burundi.

Chronic disease of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are now approaching those of the general population. Previous, in vitro studies shown that HIV causes arterial injuries resulting in inflammation and atherosclerosis but direct relationship between HIV infection clinical stages and lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) remain controversial. No study assessed, with an accurate method, both the prevalence of LEAD and the influence of HIV severity on LEAD in HIV outpatients in Central Africa.