Ba Hamadou1,2, Jérôme Boombhi1,3, Audrey Joyce Makougang Foka4, Sylvie Ndongo Amougou1,5, Liliane Kuate Mfeukeu1,2, Chris Nadège Nganou1,2, Alain Menanga1,3, Kingue Samuel1,3

Authors’ affiliations:

1Department of Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; 2Cardiology Unit, Central Hospital of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon;

 3Cardiology Unit, Medicine B, General Hospital of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon;

4Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon;

5Cardiology Unit, University Teaching Hospital of Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Correspondence to: Audrey Joyce Makougang Foka4, MD. Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Email: Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots spammeurs. Vous devez activer le JavaScript pour la visualiser. .

Abstract

Introduction: Normal heart rate has been associated to better prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). It is a simple tool useful to evaluate heart rate control especially in limited resources setting such as sub Saharan Africa. However, data on the topic are scarce in our context. Therefore, we sought to investigate heart rate control amongst patients followed for chronic heart failure in Cameroon.

Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study from January to September 2017 in 3 specialized cardiology centers of Cameroon. We included patients with chronic heart failure, normal sinus rhythm without recent cardiac events. Resting heart rate was measured by pulse palpation after 05 minutes of rest, three (03) times over 60 seconds. Uncontrolled heart rate was defined as HR ≥70bpm.

Results: Overall, 213 patients with a mean age of 63±15 years were included. About 64,8 % of patients has heart rate above recommended targets (≥70 bpm). Age, gender, NYHA stage, cardiovascular risk factors or current therapies were unrelated to the non-achievement of target heart rates. There was a trend towards higher heart rates in hypertensive patients, diabetes patients and in those with obesity but these were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Increase heart rate is frequent among chronic heart failure patients in our context with more than half presenting resting heart rate above normal values, despite recent guidelines for the management of CHF. This may prevent patients gaining the proven benefits of heart rate control.

Key words: heart rate, stable chronic heart failure, Yaoundé