Vol 63, No 1 (2012)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2013-02-18
Published online: 2012-06-05
Cardiomegaly in tropical Africa
Ryszard Tomaszewski
Vol 63, No 1 (2012)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2013-02-18
Published online: 2012-06-05
Abstract
The term cardiomegaly is found in 5–7% of chest X-ray film evaluations in tropical Africa.
However, cardiomegaly is a descriptive term, devoid of any aetiological meaning. Therefore,
providing information about the aetiological factors leading to heart enlargement in a group of
Africans (Nigerians) was the purpose of this study. In the years 2002–2011, 170 subjects (aged
17–80 years, mean age 42 years) in whom cardiomegaly was revealed by chest radiographs
were studied at the Madonna University Teaching Hospital, Elele. The patients underwent echocardiography,
electrocardiography, and several appropriate laboratory tests. Arterial hypertension
was found to be most frequently associated with heart enlargement (39.4%), followed by dilated
cardiomyopathy (21.76%), endomyocardial fibrosis (14.1%), valvular defects (9.4%), cardiac
enlargement in the course of sickle-cell anaemia (6.47%), and schistosomal cor pulmonale (3.52%).
This study is a contribution to a better aetiological elucidation of cardiomegaly in the tropics
and emphasizes the importance of arterial hypertension as one of its causative factors. The dire
need for effective treatment of hypertensive patients becomes evident. A high prevalence of
elevated blood pressure seems to reflect an impact of civilization-related factors on the African
communities.
Abstract
The term cardiomegaly is found in 5–7% of chest X-ray film evaluations in tropical Africa.
However, cardiomegaly is a descriptive term, devoid of any aetiological meaning. Therefore,
providing information about the aetiological factors leading to heart enlargement in a group of
Africans (Nigerians) was the purpose of this study. In the years 2002–2011, 170 subjects (aged
17–80 years, mean age 42 years) in whom cardiomegaly was revealed by chest radiographs
were studied at the Madonna University Teaching Hospital, Elele. The patients underwent echocardiography,
electrocardiography, and several appropriate laboratory tests. Arterial hypertension
was found to be most frequently associated with heart enlargement (39.4%), followed by dilated
cardiomyopathy (21.76%), endomyocardial fibrosis (14.1%), valvular defects (9.4%), cardiac
enlargement in the course of sickle-cell anaemia (6.47%), and schistosomal cor pulmonale (3.52%).
This study is a contribution to a better aetiological elucidation of cardiomegaly in the tropics
and emphasizes the importance of arterial hypertension as one of its causative factors. The dire
need for effective treatment of hypertensive patients becomes evident. A high prevalence of
elevated blood pressure seems to reflect an impact of civilization-related factors on the African
communities.
Keywords
cardiomegaly; heart enlargement; tropical cardiology
Keywords
cardiomegaly
heart enlargement
tropical cardiology
Authors
Ryszard Tomaszewski
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