Risk-stratification and outcomes of Congolese patients with atrial fibrillation: a descriptive cohort study

• Main Authors: Francis Beya, Cody Dinganga Malaika, Marc Tshilanda, Raissa Kuembove Kongue, Yvan Zolo, Ulrick Sidney Kanmounye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAMJ 2020-06-01
• Series: PAMJ Clinical Medicine
• Subjects: atrial fibrillation; democratic republic of congo; diabetes; hypertension; risk assessment
• Online Access: https://www.clinical-medicine.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/3/75/pdf/75.pdf

Introduction: atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of tachycardia. In low-income countries, the proportion of valvular AF concomitantly with rheumatic heart diseases. On the other hand, cardiovascular risk factors are increasing together with non-valvular AF. AF is responsible for 20% of strokes in patients aged 80 or older. The predicted increase in life expectancy and the epidemiologic transition in sub-Saharan Africa are expected to increase the burden of AF. This study aimed to assess the risk profile of Congolese patients with AF. Methods: this descriptive cross-sectional study was done using data from patients admitted between 2014 and 2018 at a Congolese tertiary health facility. All AF patients admitted to the department of internal medicine during the study period were included. Measures of central tendency, hospital frequency, case fatality rate, odds ratios, and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for bivariate analysis, and an alpha value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: the hospital prevalence of AF was 0.9%. Twenty-four patients were recruited, and 54.2% were female. 83.3% of patients had a history of congestive heart failure, 37.5% had a stroke history, 37.5% had an ischemic heart disease history, 33.3% had a history of hypertension, and 25.0% had a history of diabetes. 75.0% of patients had a valvulopathy, and 70.8% had a left ventricular ejection fraction greater than 50%. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.3 ± 2.1, and the case fatality rate was 20.8%.Conclusion: Congolese AF patients present a high stroke risk.