Search

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing a rising burden of hypertension. Antihypertensive medications and diet are the cornerstone of effective hypertension control., Aims: To assess adherence to medication and salt restriction in 12 sub-Saharan countries, and to study the relationship between adherence and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in urban clinics in twelve sub-Saharan countries. Data were collected on demographics, treatment and adequacy of blood pressure control in patients with hypertension attending the clinics. Adherence was assessed by questionnaires completed by the patients. Hypertension grades were defined according to European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Association between adherence and blood pressure control was investigated using multilevel logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age, sex and country., Results: Among the 2198 patients, 77.4% had uncontrolled blood pressure, 34.0% were poorly adherent to salt restriction, 64.4% were poorly adherent to medication and 24.6% were poorly adherent to both. Poor adherence to salt restriction (odds ratio [OR] 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.72), medication (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.25-1.93) or both (OR 1.91 1.39-2.66) was related to uncontrolled blood pressure. Moreover, poor adherence to both medication and salt restriction was related to a 1.52-fold (95% CI 1.04-2.22), 1.8-fold (95% CI 1.22-2.65) and 3.08-fold (95% CI 2.02-4.69) increased likelihood of hypertension grade 1, 2 and 3, respectively., Conclusions: High levels of poor adherence to salt restriction and medication were noted in this urban sub-Saharan study; both were significantly associated with uncontrolled blood pressure, representing major opportunities for intervention to improve hypertension control in sub-Saharan Africa., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Authors report about a left ventricular thrombus as a complication of thyrotoxic heart disease, on a 45 years old woman. Clinical state featured signs of thyrotoxicosis, global cardiac failure and hypertension. The electrocardiogram showed a left axis deviation, the chest X-ray a cardiac enlargement (cardio-thoracic index = 0.55) on behalf of left movement of heart walls and severe left ventricule dysfunction (Ejection fraction about 18%). This exam also found a big thrombus at he left ventricule apex. The treatment disappearance of the thrombosis and improvement of cardiac failure signs and echographic parameters. Authors discuss circumstances leading to thrombosis in thyrotoxic heart disease, and the usefulness of anticoagulant drug therapy.

Authors report the results of a prospective study in a sample of the district of Thiadiaye, a rural area in Senegal. They studied blood pressure, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio of 329 adults. The mean systolic blood pressure is 123 +/- 24.3 mm Hg and the mean diastolic blood pressure is 71.7 +/- 13.2 mm Hg. There is a positive correlation between blood pressure and age (p < 10(-9)). The prevalence of hypertension is 20.18% and one can note a female predominance (21% for women versus 18% for men). The mean body mass index is 21.1 +/- 10.6. There is no correlation between corpulence and age. Conversely, the body mass index is higher in female in all age groups (p < 10(-7)). The prevalence of obesity is 5%. Abdominal fat distribution is 41.6%: 64% for women and 9.7% for men (p = 0.003).