Management of Heart Failure in the Yaounde Military Hospital - Cameroon

Aim: To describe clinical features and management of patients with heart failure at the Yaounde Military Hospital (YMH). Methods: Retrospective study carried out at cardiology unit of YMH from January 2014 to December 2014. Clinical features and mode of treatment of patients were recorded and analyzed. Results: 86 patients were studied comprising 63 men (73.2%) and 23 women (26.7%). The mean age was 64.8 ±13. All the patients presented with NYHA functional class III or IV. Alcohol was the most common etiological factor of HF (66.7%), followed by hypertension (37.5%). 20.9 % of the patients in heart failure were smokers. Global heart failure was the common clinical presentation (60.9%). Left bundle branch was present in 23.8% of electrocardiograms while 12.2% of the patients were in atrial fibrillation. Dilated cardiomyopathy was the most common lesion (80%) found at echocardiography. 66.6% of patients presented with severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. The mean ejection fraction (EF) of male subjects was 30.1%, while it was 38.7% for women (p=0.044). Current recommended pharmacology therapies were used in only 48% of patients. Conclusion: Cameroonian patients in heart failure usually present in the sixth decade and the severe heart failure is the rule. Alcohol seems to be the major etiological factor. Less than half the patients take the recommended treatment of HF.