[Accidents in patients under anticoagulant therapy in the Department of Cardiology at the Yalgado Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital, Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)]. / Les accidents du traitement anticoagulant dans le Service de Cardiologie du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Yalgado Ouedraogo de Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).

This study aimed to evaluate the profile of patients hospitalized for anticoagulant-induced hemorrhage. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study within the Department of Cardiology at the Yalgado Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital, in Ouagadougou, over a period of 2 years from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2008. All hospitalized patients with anticoagulant-induced hemorrhage were included in the study. The average age of patients was 49,31 ± 17,68 years, the sex-ratio was 2,17. Myocardial infarction was the first indication for anticoagulant treatment, with a rate of 21.05%. Anti vitamin K (AVK) was associated with hemorrhage in 63,16% (n=12) of patients versus 36,84% (n=7) of patients treated with low molecular weight heparins (LMWH); 10 patients had major hemorrhage while nine patients had minor hemorrhage. The average duration of Anti vitamin K (AVK) treatment was 16 ± 58 weeks. Hemorrhage in the digestive tract was the most frequent symptom (31,58%) and, in 89,47% of patients, treatment was associated with platelet aggregation. Treatment of hemorrhagic accident was based on definitive cessation of anticoagulant therapy in 73,68% of patients. Four patients (21.05%) died. The inaccessibility to antidotes such as protamine sulphate and PPSD (Prothrombin, Proconvertine, Stuart factor, and anti-haemophilia B factor) constitutes a real obstacle to adequate treatment for complications; a better education of patients receiving these drugs would be the most important preventive measure, because more than 50% of these accidents are preventable.

[Prevalence and knowledge of arterial hypertension in the elderly: cross-sectional study conducted in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso]. / Prévalence et connaissances de l'hypertension artérielle chez les personnes âgées: étude transversale menée à Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) in the elderly people as well as their knowledge of this disease. We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study in the town of Bobo-Dioulasso from October to November 2015 at the intervention sites of the Association of Medical Assistance to elderly people "KAFOLI". Patients aged 60 years and more, with or without hypertension, who wished to participate in the study were included. Subjects were considered to be hypertensive when they had systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or when they were under antihypertensive treatment. Socio-demographic and clinical data as well as the risk factors associated with the disease were collected. Knowledges on arterial hypertension were based on general knowledges about arterial hypertension as sources of information about it. A total of 88 subjects were included in this study. The study involved 56 women and 32 men (sex ratio 0.57). The average age of patients was 71 years (IQR:66-76). The prevalence of arterial hypertension was 61,36% and it was associated with knowledges about AH and with alcohol consumption; 68.18 % of patients had knowledge of AH. The majority of them were followed up in first-level health care nursing centres (64,81%). This study highlighted a high prevalence of hypertension in elderly people living in Bobo-Dioulasso. The majority of these persons were aware of this disease. In the majority of cases follow-up was ensured by nursing staff.