Author(s)

Alpha Koné^1,2*, Alpha Mamadou Diallo³, Sana Samoura^1,2, Ibrahim Sory Barry⁴, Diane Kapché⁵, Mamadou Bassirou Bah^1,4, Mamadou Saliou Diallo⁴, Souleymane Diakité⁴, Ibrahima Sory Sylla⁴, Elhadji Yaya Baldé⁴, Zézé Onivogui⁶, Nicolas Zoumanigui⁶, Mariame Beavogui^1,2, Mamadou Dadhi Baldé^1,4

¹Faculty of Health Sciences and Techniques, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Conakry, Guinea.
²Department of Cardiology, Sino-Guinean Hospital, Conakry, Guinea.
³Department of Diabetology and Endocrinology, National Hospital Donka, Conakry, Guinea.
⁴Department of Cardiology, National Hospital Ignace Deen, Conakry, Guinea.
⁵Department of Cardiology, Mountain University of Bangangte Cameroon, Bafousam, Cameroon.
⁶Department of Surgery Cardiovascular, National Hospital Donka, Conakry, Guinea.

Introduction: Obliterative arterial disease of the lower limbs is a marker of advanced atherosclerosis. It is one of the world’s most common cardiovascular diseases, present in one in five people over the age of 60, and carries an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of patients and their carers about obliterative arteriopathy of the lower limbs at Conakry University Hospital. Material and Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study lasting 3 months, from March 12 to June 12, 2022 in the hospitals of the University Hospital of Conakry (Donka and Ignace Deen). Following free and informed consent, they were interviewed on the basis of a pre-established questionnaire. Socio-demographic data (age, gender, level of education) were collected, and knowledge of obliterative arterial disease of the lower limbs. Results: The study involved 159 people, comprising 106 patients (66.66%) and 53 accompanying persons (33.34%) in the hospitals of the University Hospital of Conakry (Donka and Ignace Deen). The 60 to 79 age group was the most represented (44.7%), with an average age of 55.4 ± 15.9 years and extremes of 20 to 84 years. Half (47.8%) had not attended school, and almost all (96.4%) of those who had attended school had a low level of education (primary and secondary). Almost all of them (91.2%) had never heard of AOMI. Only 5% identified at least one risk factor, diabetes, hypertension and smoking. Amputation was the most frequently identified complication. About 98% did not know that AOMI is associated with myocardial infarction and stroke, and 93.7% did not know of any complications. Almost all the participants (99.4%) had poor knowledge of the following complications. Conclusion: Obliterative arterial disease of the lower limbs could be prevented or delayed by screening and controlling risk factors. Our results show a huge deficit in knowledge of this pathology, including risk factors, preventive measures, clinical signs and complications among patients and their relatives. A study conducted outside the hospital environment would provide a better understanding of the extent to which the general population is unaware of this disease.

Obliterative Arterial Disease of the Lower Limbs, Knowledge, Patients

Koné, A. , Diallo, A. , Samoura, S. , Barry, I. , Kapché, D. , Bah, M. , Diallo, M. , Diakité, S. , Sylla, I. , Baldé, E. , Onivogui, Z. , Zoumanigui, N. , Beavogui, M. and Baldé, M. (2023) Knowledge of Patients and Their Accompanying Persons about Obliterative Arteriopathy of the Lower Limbs at Conakry University Hospital in 2022. World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases, 13, 511-519. doi: 10.4236/wjcd.2023.139044.