<p>Pattern of Cardiac Diseases and Co-Existing Morbidities Among Newly Registered Cardiac Patients in an Adult Cardiac Referral Clinic of Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Southern-Ethiopia</p>

Abstract

Background: Currently, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are rising in the world and require great concern because the consequences are not only morbidity and mortality, but also a high economic burden. However, the pattern of CVDs in Ethiopia is not well known. Therefore, this study aimed to describe CVD and co-existing morbidities among newly registered cardiac patients in Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to December 31, 2016 among newly registered cardiac patients in an adult cardiac referral clinic. Records and cardiac referral clinic logbooks were used to collect relevant information using structured checklists. Results: Of the total 310 records of cardiac patients, 236 were explored and included in the study, while the records of 74 patients were absent in the cards room when tracing and/or incomplete to assess cardiac pattern. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) was the leading cardiac problem and diagnosed in 70 (29.7%) cases followed by non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (55, 23.3%), ischemic heart disease (41, 17.4%), hypertensive heart disease (29, 12.3%), and cor pulmonale (14, 5.9%). The mean age of RHD patients was 28.7 (±13.1) years. Eighty-two (35%) females and 23 (19.8%) males had RHD, while 69 (29.2%) females and 23 (19.8%) males had non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. The overall rate of mitral stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and aortic regurgitation among patients with RHD were 39 (55.7%), 48 (68.6%), and 26 (37.1%), respectively. Moreover, the overall coexisted morbidity was 81 (34.3%), with a high rate of hypertension alone at 44 (18.6%) followed by hypertension with diabetes at 11 (4.7%). Conclusion: This study indicated that more than one-third of cardiac patients had at least one of the co-existing morbidities like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, asthma and other diseases. Therefore, careful diagnosis and management of cardiac patients plays an important role to minimize comorbidity-linked complications. Moreover, population-based studies are recommended for better representing and generalization.

Pattern of Cardiac Diseases and Co-Existing Comorbidity Among Newly Registered Adult Cardiac Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study at Jimma University Medical Center, Jimma, Southwest Ethiopia

“…It is also similar to the study conducted in SSA. [5,10,12] Hypertensive heart disease was the fourth commonest (13%) type of heart disease which is similar the study done in Hawassa (12.5%),but lower as compared to the nding of the previous study done at JUMC (24%) [5,14].Study from other developing countries showed HHD has become the rst leading cause of heart disease. [10,11] Hypertension was found to be the most common comorbidity associated with cardiac disease(21.3%) which similar to other studies done in Ethiopia.…”

“…On the other hand, the prevalence of RHD is comparable to the study conducted at southern Ethiopia which was 29.7% [14] and other studies done in different parts of Ethiopia but slightly lower than the same study done 12years back at JUMC which showed 32.8% [5]. The most common pattern of valvular lesion is combined mitral stenosis with mitral regurgitation (39.6%) while isolated MR and MS were found to be equal 13(22.4%) each.…”

Spectrum of cardiac diseases among young and older adults defined by echocardiography at Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute: A prospective cross-sectional study

“…In young adults RHD remain to be a common diagnosis similarly to the findings form a study done in Nigeria [ 24 ], Cameroon [ 22 ], rural Tanzania by Dominick et al [ 7 ]. However, on the contrary studies done in Ethiopia [ 31 , 32 ], found RHD to be the commonest overall echocardiographic diagnosis. These differences can be explained by the tertiary/urban nature of our study setting while those in Cameroon were conducted in rural settings where rheumatic heart disease is most prevalent.…”