TITLE:
Heart Failure in Children: Epidemiological, Etiological and Diagnostic Aspects in Diamniadio Children’s Hospital (Senegal)
AUTHORS:
M. Leye, I. Basse, R. Godonou, D. A. Affangla, D. M. Ba, N. N. Diawara, A. B. Sibabi Sibabi, A. Phiri, M. Dioum, F. Diaby, S. Akani, K. Gueye, N. R. Diagne, B. M. Diop
KEYWORDS:
Heart Failure, Children, Congenital Heart Disease, Senegal
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.10 No.1,
January
16,
2020
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The authors aimed to report the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of heart failure (HF) in children in Senegal. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at the Children’s Hospital of Diamniadio (CHD) from 01-01-2016 to 31-12-2017. Children aged 0 to 15 years with heart failure confirmed by echocardiography were included. Results: Sixty-six children were admitted for heart failure. The prevalence of HF was 5.3‰. The mean age of the children was 41.59 months ± 53.35 months (range: 0 to 168 months). The 0 - 5 age group was the most represented (n = 48; 72.72%). The HF concerned 38 boys and 28 girls, a sex ratio (M/F) of 1.36. The majority of our patients came from the semi-urban area (42.4%). The etiology of HF was represented in order of frequency by congenital heart disease, rheumatic heart disease and cardiomyopathy with 59.09% of cases, 22.73% of cases and 7.58% of cases respectively. It was unknown in 4.54% of the cases. At echocardiography, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was impaired (less than 50%) in 19 patients, in 29.2% of cases with an average of 64% +/- 15.16% (extremes: 24% and 86%). Anemia was the comorbidity most commonly associated with their condition (n = 33%; 50%). Conclusion: Heart failure in children is uncommon. The main etiology is represented by congenital heart disease.