Cardiac disease distribution among patients referred for echocardiography in Harare, Zimbabwe.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the distribution of cardiac diseases seen in a tertiary referral hospital.


METHODS
Cross sectional survey.


METHODS
Harare Central Hospital, Harare, Zimbabwe.


METHODS
1,507 patients referred for echocardiographic evaluation.


METHODS
Cardiac diagnosis.


RESULTS
1,153 (76.5%) echocardiographic studies were abnormal, while 354 were normal. Rheumatic heart disease was the predominant diagnosis (25.1%) with 208 (74.3%) of cases being females. The main valvular lesion in females was mitral stenosis (48.1%), while in males it was mitral regurgitation (61.1%). Other diagnoses were: pericardial disease 250 (22.4%), dilated cardiomyopathy 245 (22.0%), hypertensive heart disease 148 (13.3%) and others (17.4%). There were 65 cases of peripartum cardiomyopathy among the cases of dilated cardiomyopathy and 34 cases of acute myocarditis among "others".


CONCLUSIONS
A detailed clinical, radiological and echocardiographic assessment at the time of echocardiography enabled a credible diagnosis to be assigned to the majority of patients. Echocardiography is appropriate technology in this setting given the range of "echo-friendly" cardiac lesions found.
Hakim
J G
JG
Department of Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Manyemba
J
J
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014504:Urban Health; D015030:Zimbabwe