Prevalence and characteristics of primary left-sided valve disease in a cohort of 15,000 patients undergoing echocardiography studies in a tertiary hospital in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Although rheumatic heart disease remains the leading cause of valve heart disease (VHD) in developing countries, other forms of valve disease have been over shadowed and not regarded as a public health problem. However, several facts suggest that the role of non-rheumatic VHD as a significant cardiovascular disease should be reconsidered. We aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of different forms of primary left sided valve diseases from a series of 15,009 echocardiographic studies. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of echocardiographic reports for studies performed between January 2012 and December 2013 (24 months) at Uganda Heart Institute. All patients with primary left-sided valve disease were classified into one of five major diagnostic categories and in each diagnostic category; patients were sub-classified into stages A-D of primary valve disease as defined by the American College of Cardiology. RESULTS: Three thousand five hundred eighty-two echocardiography reports qualified for final data analysis. The "sclerotic valve changes with normal valve function", a Stage A sub-class of "degenerative valve disease" overwhelmingly overshadowed all the other diagnostic categories in this stage. "Rheumatic Heart Disease", "Degenerative Valve Disease", "Bicuspid Aortic Valve", "Mitral Valve Prolapse" and "Endomyocardial Fibrosis" diagnostic categories accounted for 53.0%, 41.8%, 2.2%, 1.4% and 1.7% respectively in stages B-D of primary VHD. Rheumatic heart disease disproportionately affected the young, productive age groups. It was the major risk factor for infective endocarditis; and was the indication for valve surgery in 44 of 50 patients who had undergone valve replacement procedures. CONCLUSIONS: We acknowledge that rheumatic heart disease remains a leading cause of progressive and severe primary left-sided valve disease among young adults in Uganda. But we bring to light the contemporary footprints of other forms of primary valve disease that require coordinated multidisciplinary approach to research, education and clinical management to ensure improved patient outcomes.

Access to medicines and diagnostic tests integral in the management of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases in Uganda: insights from the ACCODAD study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the burgeoning burden of diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in low and middle income countries (LMIC), access to affordable essential medicines and diagnostic tests for DM and CVD still remain a challenge in clinical practice. The Access to Cardiovascular diseases, Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease, Diabetes mellitus and Asthma Drugs and diagnostics (ACCODAD) study aimed at providing contemporary information about the availability, cost and affordability of medicines and diagnostic tests integral in the management of DM and CVD in Uganda. METHODS: The study assessed the availability, cost and affordability of 37 medicines and 19 diagnostic tests in 22 public hospitals, 23 private hospitals and 100 private pharmacies in Uganda. Availability expressed as a percentage, median cost of the available lowest priced generic medicine and the diagnostic tests and affordability in terms of the number of days' wages it would cost the least paid public servant to pay for one month of treatment and the diagnostic tests were calculated. RESULTS: The availability of the medicines and diagnostic tests in all the study sites ranged from 20.1% for unfractionated heparin (UFH) to 100% for oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHA) and from 6.8% for microalbuminuria to 100% for urinalysis respectively. The only affordable tests were blood glucose, urinalysis and serum ketone, urea, creatinine and uric acid. Parenteral benzathine penicillin, oral furosemide, glibenclamide, bendrofluazide, atenolol, cardiac aspirin, digoxin, metformin, captopril and nifedipine were the only affordable drugs. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the majority of medicines and diagnostic tests essential in the management of DM and CVD are generally unavailable and unaffordable in Uganda. National strategies promoting improved access to affordable medicines and diagnostic tests and primary prevention measures of DM and CVD should be prioritised in Uganda.

High intracardiac clot burden in a young mother with peripartum cardiomyopathy in Uganda.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic cardiomyopathy presenting with a reduction in left ventricular systolic function towards the end of pregnancy or in the months after delivery. It is a life-threatening condition with a substantial mortality rate ranging from six to 25%, commonly due to heart failure or sudden cardiac death. Pregnancy is a prothrombotic state. Due to poor systolic function, women with PPCM are prone to intracardiac thrombi and a high risk of thromboembolic events. Early diagnosis with echocardiography and treatment plays a critical role. We describe a case of a woman with PPCM and biventricular thrombi, with the aim of creating awareness for early echocardiographic screening for thrombi and appropriate implementation of care.

Outcomes and Care Quality Metrics for Women of Reproductive Age Living With Rheumatic Heart Disease in Uganda.

Background Rheumatic heart disease disproportionately affects women of reproductive age, as it increases the risk of cardiovascular complications and death during pregnancy and childbirth. In sub-Saharan Africa, clinical outcomes and adherence to guideline-based therapies are not well characterized for this population. Methods and Results In a retrospective cohort study of the Uganda rheumatic heart disease registry between June 2009 and May 2018, we used multivariable regression and Cox proportional hazards models to compare comorbidities, mortality, anticoagulation use, and treatment cascade metrics among women versus men aged 15 to 44 with clinical rheumatic heart disease. We included 575 women and 252 men with a median age of 27 years. Twenty percent had New York Heart Association Class III-IV heart failure. Among patients who had an indication for anticoagulation, women were less likely than men to receive a prescription of warfarin (66% versus 81%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.96). Retention in care (defined as a clinic visit within the preceding year) was poor among both sexes in this age group (27% for men, 24% for women), but penicillin adherence rates were high among those retained (89% for men, 92% for women). Mortality was higher in men than women (26% versus 19% over a median follow-up of 2.7 years; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.18-2.33). Conclusions Compared with men, women of reproductive age with rheumatic heart disease in Uganda have lower rates of appropriate anticoagulant prescription but also lower mortality rates. Retention in care is poor among both men and women in this age range, representing a key target for improvement.

Burden, predictors and short-term outcomes of peripartum cardiomyopathy in a black African cohort.

BACKGROUND: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an idiopathic cardiomyopathy presenting with acute heart failure during the peripartum period. It is common in patients of African ancestry. Currently, there is paucity of data on the burden, predictors and outcomes of PPCM in Uganda. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, predictors and six-month outcomes of PPCM in an adult cohort attending a tertiary specialised cardiology centre in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: This study consecutively enrolled 236 women presenting with features of acute heart failure in the peripartum period. Clinical evaluation and echocardiography were performed on all the enrolled women. PCCM was defined according to recommendations of the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on PPCM. Poor outcome at six months of follow-up was defined as presence of any of the following: death of a mother or her baby, New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III-IV or failure to achieve complete recovery of left ventricular function (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤55%). RESULTS: The median age, BMI and parity of the study participants was 31.5 (25.5-38.0) years, 28.3 (26.4-29.7) and 3 (2-4) respectively. The prevalence of PPCM was 17.4% (n = 41/236). Multiple pregnancy was the only predictor of PPCM in this study population (OR 4.3 95% CI 1.16-16.05, p = 0.029). Poor outcome at six-months was observed in about 54% of the patients with PPCM (n = 4, 9.8% in NYHA functional class III-IV and n = 22, 53.7% with LVEF <55%). No maternal or foetal mortality was documented. CONCLUSION: PPCM is relatively common in Uganda and is associated with multiple pregnancy. Poor outcomes especially absence of complete recovery of left ventricular function are also common. Large studies to further investigate long-term maternal and foetal outcomes in Uganda are justified.

Motivations of women in Uganda living with rheumatic heart disease: A mixed methods study of experiences in stigma, childbearing, anticoagulation, and contraception.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a leading cause of premature mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Women of reproductive age are a unique and vulnerable group of RHD patients, due to increased risk of cardiovascular complications and death during pregnancy. Yet, less than 5% of women of childbearing age with RHD in LMICs use contraceptives, and one in five pregnant women with RHD take warfarin despite known teratogenicity. It is unclear whether this suboptimal contraception and anticoagulant use during pregnancy is due to lack of health system resources, limited health literacy, or social pressure to bear children. METHODS: We conducted a mixed methods study of 75 women living with RHD in Uganda. Questionnaires were administered to 50 patients. Transcripts from three focus groups with 25 participants were analyzed using qualitative description methodology. RESULTS: Several themes emerged from the focus groups, including pregnancy as a calculated risk; misconceptions about side-effects of contraceptives and anticoagulation; reproductive decision-making control by male partners, in-laws, or physicians; abandonment of patients by male partners; and considerable stigma against heart disease patients for both their reproductive and financial limitations (often worse than that directed against HIV patients). All questionnaire respondents were told by physicians that their hearts were not strong enough to support a pregnancy. Only 14% used contraception while taking warfarin. All participants felt that society would look poorly on a woman who cannot have children due to a heart condition. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study of female RHD patients and their attitudes toward cardiovascular disorders and reproduction. Our results suggest that health programs targeting heart disease in LMICs must pay special attention to the needs of women of childbearing age. There are opportunities for improved family/societal education programs and community engagement, leading to better outcomes and patient empowerment.

Microalbuminuria and left ventricular hypertrophy among newly diagnosed black African hypertensive patients: a cross sectional study from a tertiary hospital in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Microalbuminuria is an early manifestation of kidney damage and independently predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is also an early marker of cardiac manifestation of target organ damage among hypertensive patients. The prognostic significance of microalbuminuria and its correlation with left ventricular hypertrophy has not been extensively studied in African adult hypertensive populations. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of microalbuminuria, LVH in patients with microalbuminuria and the correlation between microalbuminuria and LVH among newly diagnosed black adult hypertensive patients attending a large outpatient hypertension clinic or admitted on the cardiology ward at Mulago national referral and teaching hospital and Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 256 newly diagnosed eligible black adult hypertensive patients attending the outpatient hypertension clinic or admitted on the cardiology ward at Mulago national referral and teaching hospital and the Uganda Heart Institute, Kampala Uganda were consecutively recruited over a period of 5 months. Data on socio-demographics, clinical and laboratory findings of the study participants was collected using a pre tested questionnaire. Two spot urine samples were collected to assess for microalbuminuria. Echocardiography (ECHO) was done to assess for the left ventricular mass index using the formula of Teicholz as evidence for early hypertensive heart disease. RESULTS: The mean age/standard deviation of the study participants was 54.3 ± 6.2 years with a female predominance (162, 63.3%). The prevalence of microalbuminuria among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients was 39.5%. The prevalence of LVH among patients with microalbuminuria was found to be 17%. There was a positive correlation between microalbuminuria and left ventricular hypertrophy among the newly diagnosed adult hypertensive patients at Mulago Hospital (r = 0.185, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that microalbuminuria is highly prevalent among newly diagnosed black hypertensive patients and in the presence of LVH. There is also a positive correlation between microalbuminuria and LVH among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients. Since it is a less costly and readily available test, it can be used to predict presence of LVH especially in resource limited settings where ECHO services are not readily available.