Echocardiographic pattern of acquired heart diseases in Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Acquired heart diseases (AHDs) are present from childhood to old age, and the frequency of pathology differs according to age and the geographical region of the patients. The aim of this study was to document the echocardiographic patterns of AHDs in our setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of echocardiographic diagnosis of AHD was done for age, sex, and echocardiographic pattern. RESULTS: There were 190 diagnoses in the 163 patients with 27 patients having a double diagnosis, consisting of 88 (54%) males and 75 (46%) females. The mean age was 50.4 years (age range 9-85 years). Ten types of acquired heart pathologies were identified and they included hypertensive heart disease in 49.47%, rheumatic heart disease in 26.32%, cardiomyopathy in 11.05%, endomyocardial fibrosis in 4.74%, and pericarditis in 3.68%. Others were cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension, intracardiac thrombi, left atrial myxoma and degenerative heart disease which accounted for the remaining 4.74%. CONCLUSION: This study identifies 10 types of AHDs among the study population. The huge impact of hypertensive heart disease and rheumatic heart disease is a big indicator pointing to the existence of a sub-optimal level of healthcare in the country.