Relationship between Younger Age, Autoimmunity, Cardiometabolic Risk, Oxidative Stress, HAART, and Ischemic Stroke in Africans with HIV/AIDS

Background and Purpose. It now appears clear that both HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral therapy (HAART) use are associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease such as stroke. In this study, we evaluated the prevalence, the risk factors, and the cardiometabolic comorbidities of stroke in HIV/AIDS Central African patients. Methods. This hospital-based cross-sectional study collected clinical, laboratory, and imaging data of black Central African heterosexual, intravenous drug nonuser, and HIV/AIDS patients. Results. There were 54 men and 62 women, with a female to male ratio of 1.2 : 1. All were defined by hypercoagulability and oxidative stress. Hemorrhagic stroke was reported in 1 patient, ischemic stroke in 17 patients, and all stroke subtypes in 18 patients (15%). Younger age <45 years (P = .003), autoimmunity (P < .0001), and metabolic syndrome defined by IDF criteria (P < .0001) were associated with ischemic stroke. Conclusions. Clustering of several cardiometabolic factors, autoimmunity, oxidative stress, and lifestyle changes may explain accelerated atherosclerosis and high risk of stroke in these young black Africans with HIV/AIDS. Prevention and intervention programs are needed

Profil épidémio-clinique et évolutif des cardiomyopathies dilatées au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Brazzaville, Congo

L'objectif de cette étude est de contribuer à l'amélioration de la prise en charge des patients porteurs de cardiomyopathies dilatées (CMD) à Brazzaville. Cette étude prospective et analytique, a été réalisée au CHU de Brazzaville entre le 1er&nbsp;Janvier 2014 et le 30 Juin 2015. Elle a inclus les patients hospitalisés dans le service de cardiologie pour une insuffisance cardiaque (IC) en rapport avec une CMD. L'étude a porté sur 100 patients. La fréquence hospitalière de la CMD était de 32,1%. Il s'agissait de 38 hommes (38%) et 62 femmes (62%), âgés en moyenne de 52,9 ± 17,1 ans. L'IC était globale dans 72 cas (72%). L'ECG s'inscrivait en rythme sinusal (95%), et objectivait une hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche (40%), un bloc de branche gauche (16%), et une fibrillation auriculaire (5%). La fraction d'éjection du ventricule gauche (VG) était en moyenne de 33,4 ± 6,8%, et le diamètre télédiastolique du VG de 65,5 ± 7,0 mm. Le traitement comportait un diurétique de l'anse (100%), un IEC/ARA2 (100%), un bêtabloquant (38%), un digitalique (30%), un anti-aldostérone (16%), et un anti-vitamine K (11%). Au terme d'un suivi de 12 mois, le taux de létalité globale était de 9%, le taux de réhospitalisation de 12%, et le taux de perdus de vue de 41%. Cette étude a montré que la CMD est une affection fréquente, et une des principales causes d'insuffisance cardiaque. La durée de suivi brève et le nombre important de perdus de vue ne permettent pas d'en évaluer la survie dans notre contexte

May Measurement Month 2018: a pragmatic global screening campaign to raise awareness of blood pressure by the International Society of Hypertension

Aims Raised blood pressure (BP) is the biggest contributor to mortality and disease burden worldwide and fewer than half of those with hypertension are aware of it. May Measurement Month (MMM) is a global campaign set up in 2017, to raise awareness of high BP and as a pragmatic solution to a lack of formal screening worldwide. The 2018 campaign was expanded, aiming to include more participants and countries. Methods and results Eighty-nine countries participated in MMM 2018. Volunteers (≥18 years) were recruited through opportunistic sampling at a variety of screening sites. Each participant had three BP measurements and completed a questionnaire on demographic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Hypertension was defined as a systolic BP ≥140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg, or taking antihypertensive medication. In total, 74.9% of screenees provided three BP readings. Multiple imputation using chained equations was used to impute missing readings. 1 504 963 individuals (mean age 45.3 years; 52.4% female) were screened. After multiple imputation, 502 079 (33.4%) individuals had hypertension, of whom 59.5% were aware of their diagnosis and 55.3% were taking antihypertensive medication. Of those on medication, 60.0% were controlled and of all hypertensives, 33.2% were controlled. We detected 224 285 individuals with untreated hypertension and 111 214 individuals with inadequately treated (systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg) hypertension. Conclusion May Measurement Month expanded significantly compared with 2017, including more participants in more countries. The campaign identified over 335 000 adults with untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. In the absence of systematic screening programmes, MMM was effective at raising awareness at least among these individuals at risk

Left Ventricle Pseudoaneurysm: Contribution of Multimodality Imaging to the Diagnosis

The left ventricle pseudoaneurysm is an anomaly of the left ventricle and is severed and joined with a pocket look. There may be secondary to a myocardial infarction, trauma, or surgical procedure. Sometimes the cause is not found. Complications are heart failure, arrhythmias, vascular embolism, and sudden death. The treatment is surgical only. The authors report the case of a black patient of 64 years old, without medical history, had seen to a deformation of the cardiac shadow in radiography. The left ventricle pseudoaneurysm and in situ thrombus are visualized in echocardiography and CT scan. The patient is waiting for heart surgery

Prehypertension and Hypertension among Schoolchildren in Brazzaville, Congo

Background. To determine the prevalence and associated factors of prehypertension (pre-HT) and hypertension (HT) in schoolchildren at Brazzaville (Congo). Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to May 2011 in five representative urban schools in Brazzaville. American Pediatric Society’s definition of pre-HT and HT was used. The measurement of blood pressure was obtained using auscultator method. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to establish associations between blood pressure levels and sociobiographical factors. Results. 603 children were included. The mean age was 11.8±3.6 years (range 5–18 years). The prevalence of pre-HT was 20.7% (n=125). Factors associated with pre-HT were secondary school (P=0.02), private schools (P<0.004), migrants (P=0.03), the obese (P=0.004), high socioeconomic level (P<0.01), and overweight (P=0.02). In logistic regression, the independent determinants of pre-HT were secondary school (P=0.0001), migration (P=0.04), obesity (P=0.004), and overweight (P=0.01). The prevalence of HT was 10.1% (n=61) during the first screening and 3.3% (n=20) in second screening. The independent determinants of HT were obesity (P=0.0001) and overweight (P=0.0001). Conclusion. Pre-HT and HT are emerging as a mass problem in Congolese schoolchildren with urban migration and overweight/obesity to be controlled and prevented