Peripartum Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition that predominantly affects women, particularly during pregnancy or postpartum period. We present a case of peripartum spontaneous coronary artery dissection in a 41-year-old African woman, highlighting the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and management strategies.

Coronary Artery Disease: A Key Issue in Type 2 Myocardial Infarction: Systematic Review and Recent Findings.

Underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasingly considered to be a key issue in the pathophysiology of type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI). In T2MI, which is attributable to a mismatch between oxygen supply/demand, CAD is common and appears to be more severe than in type 1 myocardial infarction (T1MI). Little is known about the heterogeneous mechanisms that cause supply/demand imbalance and non-coronary triggers leading to myocardial ischemia or about how they are potentially modulated by the presence and severity of CAD. CAD seems to be underrecognized and undertreated in T2MI, even though previous studies have demonstrated both the short and long-term prognostic value of CAD in T2MI. In this literature review, we attempt to address the prevalence and severity of CAD, challenges in the discrimination between T2MI and T1MI in the presence of CAD, and the prognostic value of CAD among patients with T2MI.

[Characteristics and predictive factors of death in acute coronary syndromes among the elderly: data from the Acute coronary syndrome registry at the Abidjan Heart Institute]. / Caractéristiques et facteurs prédictifs de décès dans les syndromes coronariens aigus du sujet âgé: données du Registre des syndromes coronariens aigus de l'Institut de cardiologie d'Abidjan.

Introduction-Objective: Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) are the leading cause of death among the elderly in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of ACS among the elderly at the Abidjan Heart Institute. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional study from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019. All patients aged 18 or more admitted to the Abidjan Heart Institute for ACS were included. These patients were divided into two groups: elderly (≥ 65 years old) and non-elderly (< 65 years old). Clinical data, management and outcomes were compared and analyzed in both groups. Results: A total of 570 patients were included, of which 137 (24%) were elderly. Sixty percent (60%) of elderly patients presented with ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was less performed among elderly patients (21.1% vs 30.2%, p = 0.039). Heart failure was the most important complication among the elderly group (56.9% vs 44.6%, p = 0.012). In-hospital mortality was 8% among the elderly. Predictive factors for in-hospital mortality were history of hypertension (HR 2.58; CI95% 1.10-6.08) and STEMI presentation (OR 11.60; CI95% 2.70-49.76). PCI was a protective factor for in-hospital mortality (OR 0.14; IC95% 0.03-0.62). Conclusion: ACS occur with increasing frequency with age. Poor outcomes among the elderly are determined by the clinical presentation and comorbidities. PCI appears to significantly reduce in-hospital mortality.

Hypertension treatment in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces the highest rate of hypertension worldwide. Blood pressure (BP) control rests on the association of lifestyle modification and antihypertensive medicines. We aimed to systematically review antihypertensive strategies implemented in SSA to achieve BP control. A systematic search beginning in 2003 was performed in MEDLINE, COCHRANE and EMBASE. We included only original and observational studies in SSA countries. Thirty studies were included from 11 countries. No study was multinational. The number of patients varied from 111 to 897 (median: 294; IQR: 192-478). Overall, 21% of patients received monotherapy, 42.6% two-drug and 26.6% three-drug combinations. Out of all the strategies, renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers were mostly prescribed, followed by diuretics and calcium channel blockers. In monotherapy, RAS blockers were the first to be prescribed. Only 10 articles described antihypertensive strategies beyond triple combinations. BP control was highly variable (range: 16.4 to 61.2%). Multicentre studies performed in several SSA countries are needed to ensure international guidelines actually do improve outcomes in SSA.

Use of traditional medicine and control of hypertension in 12 African countries.

BACKGROUND: Use of traditional medicine (TM) is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa as a treatment option for a wide range of disease. We aimed to describe main characteristics of TM users and estimate the association of TM use with control of hypertension. METHODS: We used data on 2128 hypertensive patients of a cross-sectional study (convenience sampling), who attended cardiology departments of 12 sub-Saharan African countries (Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Togo). To model association of TM use with odds of uncontrolled, severe and complicated hypertension, we used multivariable mixed logistic regressions, and to model the association with blood pressure (systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP)) we used mixed linear models. All models were adjusted for age, sex, wealth, adherence to hypertension conventional treatment and country (random effect). RESULTS: A total of 512 (24%) participants reported using TM, varying across countries from 10% in the Congo to 48% in Guinea. TM users were more likely to be men, living in rural area, poorly adhere to prescribed medication (frequently due to its cost). Use of TM was associated with a 3.87 (95% CI 1.52 to 6.22)/1.75 (0.34 to 3.16) mm Hg higher SBP/DBP compared with no use; and with greater odds of severe hypertension (OR=1.34; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.74) and of any hypertension complication (OR=1.27; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.60), mainly driven by renal complication (OR=1.57; 95% CI 1.07 to 2.29) after adjustment for measured confounders. CONCLUSIONS: The use of TM was associated with higher blood pressure, more severe hypertension and more complications in Sub-Saharan African countries. The widespread use of TM needs to be acknowledged and worked out to integrate TM safely within the conventional healthcare.

Barriers to up-titrated antihypertensive strategies in 12 sub-Saharan African countries: the Multination Evaluation of hypertension in Sub-Saharan Africa Study.

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces the highest rate of hypertension worldwide. The high burden of elevated blood pressure (BP) in black people has been emphasized. Guidelines recommend two or more antihypertensive medications to achieve a BP control. We aimed to identify factors associated with prescription of up-titrated antihypertensive strategies in Africa. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on outpatient consultations for hypertension across 12 SSA countries. Collected data included socioeconomic status, antihypertensive drugs classes, BP measures, cardiovascular risk factors and complication of hypertension. We used ordinal logistic regression to assess factors associated with prescription of up-titrated strategies. RESULTS: The study involved 2123 treated patients with hypertension. Patients received monotherapy in 36.3 vs. 25.9%, two-drug in 42.2 vs. 45% and three and more drugs strategies in 21.5 vs. 29.1% in low (LIC) and middle (MIC) income countries, respectively. Patients with sedentary lifestyle [OR 1.4 (1.11-1.77)], complication of hypertension [OR 2.4 (1.89-3.03)], former hypertension [OR 3.12 (2.3-4.26)], good adherence [OR 1.98 (1.47-2.66)], from MIC [OR 1.38 (1.10-1.74)] and living in urban areas [OR 1.52 (1.16-1.99)] were more likely to be treated with up-titrated strategies. Stratified analysis shows that in LIC, up-titrated strategies were less frequent in rural than in urban patients (P for trend <0.01) whereas such difference was not observed in MIC. CONCLUSION: In this African setting, in addition to expected factors, up-titrated drug strategies were associated with country-level income, patient location and finally, the interplay between both in LIC. These results highlight the importance of developing policies that seek to make multiple drug classes accessible particularly in rural and LIC.

Acute Coronary Syndromes in Sub-Saharan Africa: A 10-Year Systematic Review.

Background Data in the literature on acute coronary syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. Methods and Results We conducted a systematic review of the MEDLINE (PubMed) database of observational studies of acute coronary syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2020. Acute coronary syndrome was defined according to current definitions. Abstracts and then the full texts of the selected articles were independently screened by 2 blinded investigators. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses standards. We identified 784 articles with our research strategy, and 27 were taken into account for the final analysis. Ten studies report a prevalence of acute coronary syndrome among patients admitted for cardiovascular disease ranging from 0.21% to 22.3%. Patients were younger, with a minimum age of 52 years in South Africa and Djibouti. There was a significant male predominance. Hypertension was the main risk factor (50%-55% of cases). Time to admission tended to be long, with the longest times in Tanzania (6.6 days) and Burkina Faso (4.3 days). Very few patients were admitted by medicalized transport, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire (only 34% including 8% by emergency medical service). The clinical presentation is dominated by ST-elevation sudden cardiac arrest. Percutaneous coronary intervention is not widely available but was performed in South Africa, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Sudan, and Mauritania. Fibrinolysis was the most accessible means of revascularization, with streptokinase as the molecule of choice. Hospital mortality was highly variable between 1.2% and 24.5% depending on the study populations and the revascularization procedures performed. Mortality at follow-up varied from 7.8% to 43.3%. Some studies identified factors predictive of mortality. Conclusions The significant disparities in our results underscore the need for a multicenter registry for acute coronary syndrome in sub-Saharan Africa in order to develop consensus-based strategies, propose and evaluate tailored interventions, and identify prognostic factors.

Blood pressure-lowering medicines implemented in 12 African countries: the cross-sectional multination EIGHT study.

OBJECTIVE: In Africa, the number of patients with hypertension is expected to reach 216.8 million by 2030. Large-scale data on antihypertensive medications used in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are scarce.Here, we describe antihypertensive drug strategies and identify treatment factors associated with blood pressure (BP) control in 12 Sub-Saharan countries. SETTING: Outpatient consultations for hypertension in urban tertiary cardiology centres of 29 hospitals from 17 cities across 12 SSA countries between January 2014 and November 2015. PARTICIPANTS: Patients ≥18 years of age with hypertension were enrolled at any visit during outpatient consultations in the cardiology departments MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We collected BP levels, demographic characteristics and antihypertensive treatment use (including traditional medicine) of patients with hypertension attending outpatient visits. BP control was defined as seated office BP <140/90 mm Hg. We used logistic regression with a random effect on countries to assess factors of BP control. RESULTS: Overall, 2198 hypertensive patients were included and a total of 96.6% (n=2123) were on antihypertensive medications. Among treated patients, 653 (30.8%) patients received a monotherapy by calcium channel blocker (n=324, 49.6%), renin-angiotensin system blocker (RAS) (n=126, 19.3%) or diuretic (n=122, 18.7%). Two-drug strategies were prescribed in 927 (43.6%) patients including mainly diuretics and RAS (n=327, 42% of two-drug strategies). Prescriptions of three-drugs or more were used in 543 (25.6%) patients. Overall, among treated patients, 1630 (76.7%) had uncontrolled BP, of whom 462 (28.3%) had BP levels ≥180/110 mm Hg, mainly in those on monotherapy. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, the use of traditional medicine was the only factor significantly associated with uncontrolled BP (OR 1.72 (1.19 to 2.49) p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Our study provided large-scale data on antihypertensive prescriptions in the African continent. Among patients declared adherent to drugs, poor BP control was significantly associated with the use of traditional medicine.

Post hoc study to investigate the potential causes of poor quality of cardiovascular medicines collected in sub-Saharan countries.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing and there is a growing need to provide access to quality cardio drugs in Africa. In the SEVEN study, we analysed 1530 cardiovascular drug samples randomly collected from 10 African countries. By that time, of the seven drugs products analysed, only those containing amlodipine and captopril had very low assay values with active substance contents that could be less than 75% of those expected. In this article we investigate complementary aspects of the amlodipine and captopril samples so to explain the previously observed low assays for these two drugs. DESIGN: Post hoc analysis of the captopril and amlodipine drugs samples and their packages collected in the context of the SEVEN study. SETTING: 10 countries were concerned: Benin, Burkina Faso, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. PARTICIPANTS: Local scientists and hospital practitioners collected the drug samples in the 10 African countries. OUTCOME MEASURES: The drug amount and the relative amounts of drug impurities, as well as the main compounds of the drugs packaging, were analysed. RESULTS: Identification of the blister packaging of the samples led to separate both amlodipine and captopril drug samples in two groups. Mann Whitney's bilateral test showed a significant difference (p<0.0001) between the median value of the captopril dosage when tablets are packaged in blisters providing higher protection to humidity (n=105) as opposed to the tablets packaged in blisters providing lower humidity protection (n=130). CONCLUSION: Based on these results, particular attention should be paid to the materials and types of packaging used in order to minimise the lack of control over the exposures and drug circuits present in these different countries.

Prognostic value of admission hyperglycaemia in black Africans with acute coronary syndromes: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between acute hyperglycaemia and in-hospital mortality in black Africans with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: From January 2002 to December 2017, 1 168 patients aged ≥ 18 years old, including 332 patients with diabetes (28.4%), consecutively presented to the intensive care unit of the Abidjan Heart Institute for ACS. Baseline data and outcomes were compared in patients with and without hyperglycaemia at admission (> 140 mg/dl; 7.8 mmol/l). Predictors for death were determined by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of admission hyperglycaemia was 40.6%. It was higher in patients with diabetes (55.3%). In multivariate logistic regression, acute hyperglycaemia (hazard ratio = 2.33; 1.44-3.77; p < 0.001), heart failure (HR = 2.22; 1.38-3.56; p = 0.001), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HR = 6.41; 3.72-11.03; p < 0.001, sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation (HR = 3.43; 1.37-8.62; p = 0.008) and cardiogenic shock (HR = 8.82; 4.38-17.76; p < 0.001) were predictive factors associated with in-hospital death. In sub-group analysis according to the history of diabetes, hyperglycaemia at admission was a predictor for death only in patients without diabetes (HR = 3.12; 1.72-5.68; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In ACS patients and particularly those without a history of diabetes, admission acute hyperglycaemia was a potentially threatening condition. Appropriate management, follow up and screening for glucose metabolism disorders should be implemented in these patients.

Primary PCI in the management of STEMI in sub-Saharan Africa: insights from Abidjan Heart Institute catheterisation laboratory.

BACKGROUND: Implementation of primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in sub-Saharan Africa remains a challenging issue. The aim of this study was to report the results of primary PCI and outcomes in the catheterisation laboratory of the Abidjan Heart Institute. METHODS: Between April 2010 and March 2019, all patients aged 18 years presenting to the Abidjan Heart Institute for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) over the study period and who underwent primary PCI were included. We considered primary PCI when it was performed within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Baseline data, PCI characteristics and outcomes were analysed. RESULTS: Among a total of 780 patients hospitalised for STEMI, 471 were admitted within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. One-hundred and sixty six patients underwent primary PCI, with a ratio of primary PCI/STEMI of up to 21.3%. One hundred and six patients (63.9%) were admitted within 12 hours of the onset of symptoms. The femoral approach was the most commonly used (78.3%). Primary PCI was performed with stent implantation in 84.3% of patients. Drug-eluting stents (DES) were used in 42.1% of patients. In most cases, angiographic success was observed (157/166, 94.6%). Non-fatal complications were mainly haematomas (3.6%). Peri-procedural mortality rate was 1.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Primary PCI can be performed safely in some small-volume centres in sub-Saharan Africa. Healthcare policies and regional networks must be encouraged in order to improve management of STEMI patients.

Factors associated with poor adherence to medication among hypertensive patients in twelve low and middle income Sub-Saharan countries.

INTRODUCTION: Over the past few decades, the prevalence of hypertension has dramatically increased in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poor adherence has been identified as a major cause of failure to control hypertension. Scarce data are available in Africa. AIMS: We assessed adherence to medication and identified socioeconomics, clinical and treatment factors associated with low adherence among hypertensive patients in 12 sub-Saharan African countries. METHOD: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in urban clinics of both low and middle income countries. Data were collected by physicians on demographics, treatment and clinical data among hypertensive patients attending the clinics. Adherence was assessed by questionnaires completed by the patients. Factors associated with low adherence were investigated using logistic regression with a random effect on countries. RESULTS: There were 2198 individuals from 12 countries enrolled in the study. Overall, 678 (30.8%), 738 (33.6%), 782 (35.6%) participants had respectively low, medium and high adherence to antihypertensive medication. Multivariate analysis showed that the use of traditional medicine (OR: 2.28, 95%CI [1.79-2.90]) and individual wealth index (low vs. high wealth: OR: 1.86, 95%CI [1.35-2.56] and middle vs. high wealth: OR: 1.42, 95%CI [1.11-1.81]) were significantly and independently associated with poor adherence to medication. In stratified analysis, these differences in adherence to medication according to individual wealth index were observed in low-income countries (p<0.001) but not in middle-income countries (p = 0.17). In addition, 26.5% of the patients admitted having stopped their treatment due to financial reasons and this proportion was 4 fold higher in the lowest than highest wealth group (47.8% vs 11.4%) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study revealed the high frequency of poor adherence in African patients and the associated factors. These findings should be useful for tailoring future programs to tackle hypertension in low income countries that are better adapted to patients, with a potential associated enhancement of their effectiveness.

[Coronary lesions in black African patients with acute coronary syndromes]. / Lésions coronaires chez le noir africain dans les syndromes coronariens aigus.

INTRODUCTION: acute coronary syndromes (ACSs) have been increasing in sub-Saharan Africa. Coronary angiography data have been rarely reported. This study aims to investigate coronary lesions observed in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in Abidjan. METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional study from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2014. All patients with ACS admitted to the Abidjan Heart Institute and undergoing coronary angiography during the study period were included. Two hundred and fifty-six patients were selected. We investigated and compared coronary lesions in patients with ACS associated with persistent ST-segment elevation (ACS ST+) and in those with ACS without ST-segment elevation (ACS ST-). RESULTS: the average age of patients was 53.2 ± 10.8 years; there was a male predominance, with a sex ratio of 6.1. Abnormal coronary angiography rate was significantly higher in the STEMI group (95.4% and 64.2% respectively, p < 0.001). Three hundred and four coronary lesions were found in the STEMI group against 43 in the NSTE-ACS group. Stenotic lesions were predominantly one-vessel disease (45.3%) in the STEMI group and two or three-vessel disease in the NSTE-ACS group (68.0%). Type B1 lesions were more common in the NSTE-ACS group (62.8% versus 36.5%, p = 0.002). The most complex type C lesions were more commonly found in the STEMI group (17.8%), with no significant difference. The majority of patients had SYNTAX score less than 22, whatever the type of ACS (87.4% in the STEMI group and 90.1% in the NSTE-ACS group). CONCLUSION: coronary lesions in the patients group with STEMI were predominantly one-vessel disease and they were more diffuse in the NSTE-ACS group, but with a higher proportion of angiographically normal coronary arteries. The management of patients with these lesions is based in the majority of cases on coronary angioplasty.

Coronary angiographic findings in dilated cardiomyopathy in a sub-Saharan African population.

AIM: To describe the coronary angiographic aspects observed in patients with dilated cardiomyopathies (DCM) in a sub-Saharan African country in order to improve their management. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from 1 January 2010 to 31 March 2016. All patients aged 18 years and older, presenting with DCM and admitted to Abidjan Heart Institute, who underwent coronary angiography were included. One hundred and eight patients were selected. We analysed and compared the coronary angiographic features observed. RESULTS: The median age of our patients was 52 years (46-61). There was a male predominance (sex ratio = 3). Hypertension (53.7%) was the major cardiovascular risk factor found. Coronary angiography was abnormal in 37 patients (34.3%). Twenty-three patients (21.3%) had obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients with CAD were older than those with normal coronary arteries, but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.06). Hypertension (p < 0.001) and diabetes (p = 0.0003) were statistically significantly more commonly reported in patients with CAD. CONCLUSIONS: Ischaemic heart disease is likely to be underdiagnosed in sub-Saharan Africa. A coronary angiographic assessment of patients receiving treatment for DCM, especially in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, should help optimise their management and improve prognosis.

Coronary artery disease in black African patients with diabetes: Insights from an Ivorian cardiac catheterization centre.

BACKGROUND: Coronary angiography data are scarce for black patients with diabetes. AIM: To assess coronary angiography findings in patients with diabetes at the Abidjan Heart Institute. METHODS: This observational cross-sectional survey was conducted between 1 April 2010 and 31 December 2014. All patients admitted for known or suspected coronary artery disease who underwent coronary angiography were included in the Registre Prospectif des Actes de Cardiologie Interventionnelle de l'Institut de Cardiologie d'Abidjan. We analysed and compared coronary angiographical findings in patients with and without diabetes. RESULTS: Eighty patients with diabetes were compared with 353 patients without diabetes. Patients with diabetes were significantly older (58.7±8.9 vs 52.1±11.5 years; P<0.001). Hypertension and hypertriglyceridaemia were significantly associated with diabetes (P<0.001 and P=0.04, respectively). A higher proportion of patients with diabetes had an abnormal coronary angiogram (85.0% vs 67.7%; P=0.002). Coronary artery disease in patients with diabetes was predominantly characterized by multivessel disease (P<0.001). Cardiovascular risk factors associated with diabetes influenced the severity of coronary lesions. A SYNTAX score≥33 was found in a higher proportion of patients with diabetes (12.5% vs 7.1%). In the multivariable logistic regression, after adjustment, age>60 years (hazard ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.59-4.04; P<0.001) and diabetes (hazard ratio 2.12, 95% confidence interval 1.26-3.57; P=0.004) were associated with multivessel coronary artery disease. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, diabetes emerged as a risk factor for multivessel coronary artery disease. Future studies should help to define the long-term prognosis of these patients, and to assess the benefits of myocardial revascularization procedures.

Medium and long-term follow-up after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in a sub-Saharan Africa population: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Major in-hospital mortality rate in patients with ST-segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in Sub-Saharan Africa has been reported. Data on follow-up in these patients with STEMI are scarce. We aimed to assess medium and long-term prognosis in patients with STEMI admitted to Abidjan Heart Institute. METHODS: Prospective cohort study including 260 patients admitted for STEMI to Abidjan Heart Institute, from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015. We compared mortality and nonfatal cardiovascular complications in revascularized and non-revascularized groups. Survival curve was generated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Predictors of mortality after STEMI were determined by multivariable Cox regression. RESULTS: Of the 260 patients followed up on a median period of 39 months [28-68 months], 94 patients (36.1%) were revascularized and 166 (63.8%) were non-revascularized. Crude all-cause mortality was 10.4%. It was significantly higher in non-revascularized patients (p = 0.04). There was no difference in the occurrence of nonfatal cardiovascular complications in the 2 groups. In multivariable Cox regression, age ≥ 70 years, female gender and heart failure were the predictive factors for death after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: STEMI remains an important cause of mortality in our practice. Healthcare policies should be developed to improve patient care and long-term outcomes.

Prevalence of severe hypertension in a Sub-Saharan African community.

BACKGROUND: Though some data from in-hospital or selected populations are available, there are no studies reporting community-level prevalence of Severe Hypertension (SH) in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: Study participants were recruited within the framework of The Heart Fund's global health initiative. Data were collected in August 2016 from 6 randomly selected sites, ensuring representativeness of both urban and rural areas. Blood pressure (BP) was measured twice, 10 â€‹min apart, after optimal resting time. SH was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥180 and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 â€‹mmHg â€‹at both readings. Demographics and data on cardiovascular history/risk factors were collected in the field. RESULTS: Among 1785 subjects examined, 1182 aged between 18 and 75 years were included in this analysis. The prevalence of SH was 14.1% (12.5% females vs 17.0% males; P â€‹= â€‹.03) (Fig. 1). Among participants with severe hypertension, 28.9% were either undiagnosed or untreated. Alarmingly, subjects at high cardiovascular risk (age â€‹≥ â€‹60 years and/or obese) had even higher prevalence of overall SH (29.6% and 24.9%, respectively) as well as undiagnosed/untreated SH (29.4% and 24.6%). SH prevalence was almost double in urban compared to rural areas (17.0% vs. 9.2%, P â€‹= â€‹.02); however, conversely, undiagnosed/untreated SH was significantly higher in rural areas (50.4% vs 21.9%). CONCLUSION: (s): Our community-based study revealed very high prevalence of SH among adults in Abidjan area, with almost one out of every seven having SH. This underscores SH as a growing public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa.