May Measurement Month 2018: an analysis of blood pressure screening results from Benin.

Hypertension is the strongest cardiovascular risk factor worldwide. May Measurement Month (MMM) is an international campaign for blood pressure (BP) screening initiated by the International Society of Hypertension. This work aims to estimate the proportion and the levels of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in participants of the MMM survey in Benin in 2018. A cross-sectional survey focused on people aged ≥18 years was conducted in May 2018 in nine rural and urban areas in Benin. A sampling of volunteers was done. BP was measured following the MMM protocol. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg and/or a diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg (mean of the second and third readings) and/or taking antihypertensive medication. Linear regression was used to identify BP associations. A total of 2035 people were screened, including 55.9% women. The mean age was 44.2 ± 15.9 years. The percentage with hypertension was 35.4%. Of 721 participants with hypertension, 56.2% were aware of their diagnosis, 39.7% were on antihypertensive medication, and 13.6% were controlled (<140/90 mmHg). The results confirm the significant proportion of hypertension in Benin. Education programs on risk factors, early detection, and better management strategies should be developed.

A Prospective Analysis of Potential and Observed Drug-Drug Interactions, Adverse Events and its Associated Risk Factors in Hospitalized Cardiology Patients in Benin.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The objective is to ascertain the pattern of potential drug-drug interactions (pDDIs) and record any observed DDIs and adverse events (AEs) in hospitalized Beninese cardiology patients from Sub-Saharan Africa and analyze all risk factors associated with DDIs and AEs. METHODS: It was a prospective study in which data including AEs were assessed from medical files and interview of patients and their relatives. Patients who were treated with more than two drugs and who remained in the hospital for at least 48 hours were included. A computerized database system Pharma IAM- VIDAL version 2011 was used to identify the pattern for potential DDIs. RESULTS: 156 patients were included in this study. The prevalence of potential DDIs was estimated at 93 % (145/156). Forty (5.1%) among 804 potential DDIs identified were observed clinically. The observed DDIs were attributable to low blood pressure (27.5%), hyponatremia (22.5%), hemorrhage (20.0%), hyperkalemia (17.5%) and nephrotoxicity (7.5%). The combination of spironolactone and furosemide resulted in hyponatremia while the combination of enoxaparin and potassium resulted in hyperkalemia. ACE inhibitor (or ARAII) in combination with furosemide resulted in the nephrotoxicity cases observed. Enoxaparin, Acetyl salicylic acid, Acenocoumarol and Clopidogrel were decreasingly involved in the pairs of drugs responsible for observed hemorrhages. 29 patients out of 156 (18.6%) had at least one AE. AEs were mainly (34.2%) of metabolic type. Severe AEs, which represented 18.4% was mostly from nephrotoxicity and metabolic disorders. More than 14 active substances multiplied the risk factor for AEs occurrence by 42, while more than 14 days hospitalization increased this risk by 42. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need to optimize treatments by strictly regulating blood pressure, serum sodium and potassium levels, coagulation parameters and looking for clinical signs of hemorrhage. Physician should be aware of certain drug associations that may carry a risk of severe adverse events.

Factors associated with noncompliance of sodium restriction in hypertensive and heart failure patients at the National Hospital of Cotonou, Benin.

INTRODUCTION: Nutritional therapy in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure is a real challenge in terms of compliance of sodium restriction for success of the treatment. The study aims to assess the level of patient compliance with the sodium restriction by salt consumption, prescribed by care providers and the associated factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total daily salt intake was estimated in a cross-sectional study of 166 hypertensive and heart failure subjects monitored in the cardiology department of the "Centre Hospitalier Universitaire - Hubert Koutoukou Maga" (CNHU-HKM), using two 24-hour recalls combined with a food frequency questionnaire for salt-providing foods. RESULTS: Out of the study, 83.7% of patients had a daily intake above recommendations. Factors associated with the non-compliance of salt restriction were the lack of knowledge of palliative spices and herbs of salty taste (p=0.009) and the consumption of salty snack foods and salty peanuts (p=0.032). CONCLUSION: Nutritional education and support activities should be carried out to improve the salt reduction compliance for these patients.

Absolute cardiovascular risk of women using hormonal contraception in Porto-Novo.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this work was to determine the absolute cardiovascular risk (ACVR) of women using hormonal contraception in Porto-Novo. METHODS: We carried out a descriptive, cross-sectional study, including women at the time of renewal of a hormonal contraceptive method. Blood pressure, fasting venous blood glucose level, body mass index and electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy were studied. The determination of ACVR was dual based on the World Health Organisation (WHO/ISH) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC/ESH) models. RESULTS: The mean age of the women was 35.3 ± 8.2 years. Blood pressure and blood glucose levels were high in 24 and 1.5% of cases, respectively. Left ventricular hypertrophy was present in 7.1% of cases. A high ACVR was found in 5.2% of these women, using the ESC/ESH model. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of women with high ACVR in this group raises the problem of cardiovascular eligibility to the contraceptive method used.

[Isolated double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV): a case study conducted at the National University Hospital CNHU-HKM in Cotonou, Benin]. / Ventricule droit à double chambre (VDDC) isolé: à propos d'un cas au CNHU, Cotonou, Bénin.

Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is a very rare cardiac defect in which the right ventricle is divided by anomalous muscle bundle into two chambers. It is associated with other malformations in 80-90% of cases. Clinical presentation varies and depends on the extent of the intraventricular obstruction. We here report the case of a 16-year old teenager with isolated DCRV revealed by recurrent syncopes. The diagnosis was made using Doppler echocardiography. The patient underwent successful surgical resection of the abnormal muscle band.