Prevalence and determinants of pulmonary hypertension in a group of Cameroonian patients without chronic lung disease: a cross-sectional echocardiographic study.

Objective: To study prevalence and determinants of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in a group of Cameroonian patients without chronic lung disease. We conducted a cross-sectional study conducted between April and December 2011 in a private cardiology clinic in Bafoussam, Cameroon. We included consenting participants aged ≥ 18, who underwent a Doppler echocardiography. Patients with chronic lung disease were excluded.

Results: A total of 178 participants were enrolled, of whom 44.4% were males with a mean age of 63.1 ± 17.3 years. The prevalence of PH was 25.3%. Among patients with PH 44.4% had severe disease, (11.2% of study population). Age ≥ 55 years, systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg, low left ventricular ejection fraction (< 55%), left atrial enlargement, left ventricular hypertrophy and presence of left heart disease (left ventricular hypertrophy with systolic dysfunction and left atrial enlargement) were predictors of echocardiography PH. Obesity was negatively associated with pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary hypertension is found in a quarter of the participants. Age, systolic hypertension, and any left heart disease were strongly associated to pulmonary hypertension.