Profil Clinique et Paraclinique des Patients Insuffisants Cardiaques à l'Hôpital Laquintinie de Douala, Cameroun, 2025 : Une Étude Transversale

Résumé

Objective: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to describe the clinical and paraclinical aspects of patients hospitalised for HF at Laquintinie Hospital in Douala, Cameroon in 2025.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study including patients hospitalised for HF who underwent echocardiography from January to December 2025. Demographic, clinical, paraclinical, and outcome variables were collected using standardised forms. Results were expressed as medians (interquartile ranges) and frequencies (percentages).

Results: Of 248 HF admissions, 193 patients (77.8%) with echocardiography were included. Median age was 65 years (52-75), with 50.8% male. Main symptoms were dyspnoea (88.1%) and fatigue (62.7%); 80.8% were NYHA class III-IV. Major comorbidities included hypertension (49.2%) and prior HF (31.1%). Dominant aetiologies were dilated cardiomyopathy (28%) and hypertensive heart disease (15%), with precipitating factors being arrhythmias (22.8%) and pulmonary infections (19.7%). HF types included reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, 44.6%), preserved (HFpEF, 36.3%), and mildly reduced (HFmrEF, 19.2%). Echocardiography showed median left ventricular diastolic diameter of 55.5 mm, Simpson EF of 34.4%, increased left ventricular mass (216.5 g), and pulmonary artery systolic pressure (55 mmHg). In-hospital mortality was 16.1%, with median length of stay 6 days.

Conclusion: HF in this urban setting presents at an advanced stage, dominated by HFrEF of hypertensive or dilated origin, with marked paraclinical abnormalities and high mortality. These findings advocate for strengthened hypertension control and early management of infections and arrhythmias.