J NDJEBET,  P  NKO’OWO’ , I  NGO BAYEMI, ABANDA, J  ABAH.

Centre Cardiovasculaire de Douala

Background: Atrial Fibrillation is the commonest sustained arrhythmia, but scan data exist on the epidemiology and clinical characteristics in our context. The present study's objective isto analyze epidemiological data and associated conditions related to atrial fibrillation (AF) in a single referral cardiology center in Douala on a 6-year period.

Methods: A standardised questionnaire was filled from files of adults patients hospitalized in the Medical Unit of the Douala Cardio-Vascular Center between January 2010 and December 2015and presenting clinical data AF.

Results: During this study, a total of 1225 adult patients were admitted in hospitalization The 69 patients with AF, aged 66.5 years on average (prevalence 5.6%) and the difference between men and women was statistically significant 61 versus 71 years respectively. There were 33 men (47.8%) and 36 women (52.2%) for a sex ratio of 0.91.The main symptoms at the admission was paroxystic dyspnea (24.6%) and palpitations (28.9%). 27.5%presented ischemic stroke and 26% patients was admitted for cardiac insufficiency. Heart disease was diagnosed on 43.4% of case including hypertensive cardiopathy, rheumatic valvular heart disease (RHD) and dilated cardiomyopathy. Hypertension was associated in 79% of case in AF.The thromboembolic risk was moderate in 33% of patients (CHADS2 score, between 1 and 2) and high in 67% (CHADS2 score ≥ 3).