Echocardiographic specrtrum of heart disease in a secondary missionary healthcare facility in Onitsha south east Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death world wide with 80% of these deaths occurring in low and middle income countries. Echocardiography has become the most common and cost effective cardiac imaging modality available in the diagnosis of heart disease. The non-invasive nature of echocardiography has made it the preferred imaging modality in the evaluation of cardiac structure and function.In Nigeria echocardiography is widely available in tertiary  hospitals which are predominantly government funded. Echocardiography is increasingly becoming available in secondary health facilities and private health facilities.There is dearth of data on echocardiographic pattern of heart disease in Anambra state.

Aim:The aim of this study was to identify the spectrum of heart disease on echocardiography in a large mission hospital in the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra state.

Materials and Methods: A 3- year retrospective audit of 725  vechocardiogram reports at a specialist mission hospital in the commercial city of Onitsha, South East Nigeria from January 2014 to December 2016 was carried out.Data was analyzed for demographics,indication for echocardiography and diagnosis.

Result: There were 364 males (50.2% ) and 361(49.8%) females.The age range of the subjects was 6months to 100 years.The mean age was 54.6 ±17.4. Hypertensive heart disease (HHD) (42.9%) was the most common indication for echocardiography followed by heart failure (21.6%).HHD (58%) was the most common heart disease followed by dilated  cardiomyopathy (7.4%) and valvular heart disease(6.1%).61(8.1%) subjects had normal echocardiogram.

Conclusion:Hypertensive heart disease is the most common indication for echocardiography and also the predominant cause of heart disease in Onitsha,South East Nigeria followed by dilated cardiomyopathy and valvular heart disease.