Ba HAMADOU^{1, 2}*, Yaya Toure KALISSOU ¹, Ahmadou Musa JINGI ¹, Sandrine Edie DIKOSSO³,

Rodrigue NJOUOGUEP³, Samuel KINGUE ^1,4.

Authors’ affiliations:

1. Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties. Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. University of Yaounde 1. Cameroon.
2. Internal Medicine Service. Cardiology Unit. Yaounde Central Hospital.
3. Yaounde Emergency Center.
4. Internal Medicine Service. Cardiology Unit. Yaounde General Hospital.

Corresponding author: Dr Ba Hamadou. E-mail: Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. Tel: 696416842

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular emergencies have become a public health problem with a high burden in low-income settings. This is due to the high rates of cardiovascular risk factors that are fast reaching epidemic proportions. There is paucity of data on cardiovascular emergencies to guide repost strategies in our setting. Our aim was to determine the clinical presentation and outcome of cardiovascular emergencies Yaoundé Emergency Center.

Methods: We carried out this cross-sectional study between June 2015 and May 2017. We included all patients with confirm cardiovascular emergency. We consecutively collected data on socio-demography, symptoms on admission, past history, clinical findings, and final diagnosis at discharge or in the event of death.

Results: Of the 8285 patients admitted for medical emergencies, 388 (4.7%) were cardiovascular emergencies. Their mean age was 59.5 ± 13.8 years, and 59% were males. The Medical Emergency Aid Service was the means of transport 4% of patients. The median time of arrival at the hospital was 48 hours. Symptoms on admission were mainly weakness of a limb (43.8%), and altered consciousness (33.5%). The most common cardiovascular emergencies were ischemic stroke (30.9%), hypertensive emergency (21.4%), and hemorrhagic stroke (16.5%). The most common comorbidities were diabetes (21.9%). The death rate in the 24-72 hours was 14.4%. The causes of death were hypertensive emergency (35.7%), and hemorrhagic stroke (30.3%).

Conclusion: Stroke and hypertensive emergency were the most frequent cardiovascular emergencies. The early mortality was high. Hemorrhagic stroke and hypertensive emergencies accounted for most cases of death.

Keys words: Cardiovascular emergencies, Cameroon.