[Aortic infectious endocarditis on native valve]. / L'endocardite infectieuse aortique sur valve native.

Between 1990 and 2002, 32 patients with mean age of 34 years has been treated for an aortic infective endocarditis on native valve. All the patients had recognised heart disease before developing the infection. 24 patients are operated for aortic valve replacement. The hospital mortality was 15.6% (5 patients). The mean follow-up was 47.4 months. The survival rate was 75%. Aortic infective endocarditis remains a serious affection with poor prognosis, despite the contribution of echocardiography and advances in antimicrobial therapy and cardiac surgery. Significants morbidity and mortality are usually caused by sequele of the disease rather than by the infection itself.

[Knowledge, treatment and control of hypertension. Results of a multicenter study of patients hospitalized for cardiac ischemia]. / Connaissance, traitement et controle de l'hypertension arterielle. Resultats d'une enquete multicentrique aupres de malades hospitalises pour cardiopathies ischemiques.

The study objective was to assess the prevalence, level of treatment, and control of hypertension in CHDs patients. We conducted a cross-sectional survey on 1109 patients hospitalised for a first episode of MI in the main hospitals of the District of Tunis during the period 1999-2000. Hypertension and control level are defined according to the JNC recommendations. HBP is defined as SBP > = 140 and or DBP > = 90 mm Hg and the use of blood pressure-lowering medication for the indication of hypertension. Hypertension is controlled by medication if SBP < 140 and DBP < 90 mm Hg. We conduct analysis by socio demographic variables, medical history and CHDs risk factors. 54.9% men and 72.1% women were hypertensive. The prevalence of hypertension increases with age in both genders. The logistic regression have shown that the age-adjusted odds ratios were statically significant for diabetes, obesity, high cholestrolemia and cigarettes smoking. Only 68.9% of the hypertensive were aware of having hypertension, women were more aware than men (84.6% versus 61.7%, p < 0.001). Awareness increase with age and education level. Among hypertensive, 94.4% were treated but only 41.3% were controlled. The study highlights the problem of the hypertension, and contributes to identify the iceberg of this CHDs risk factor. An effort must be done to involve the health personnel for educating patients, the population for changing their life style and manager for enhancing the availability of drugs. The question is how much will be the cost of HBP and CVDs control for a country which has a limited resources.