Making an impossible mission possible.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is widespread in developing countries. Hypertension is a major contributor of CVD. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a risk marker in hypertensive populations. Identification of LVH and treatment of high-risk patients can result in more effective use of the limited resources. LVH is diagnosed by echocardiography, often unavailable in developing countries. In Gambia, we used a hand-carried ultrasound (HCU) to examine 1,997 people. Seventeen percent had hypertension; of these, LVH was found in 65%. The battery-powered HCU permits clinicians to detect LVH in areas with limited access to diagnostic equipment, allowing identification of a high-risk hypertensive population.
Kobal
Sergio L
SL
Cardiology Division, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
Czer
Lawrence S C
LS
Czer
Peter C
PC
Feldsher
Zhanna
Z
Hamilton
Robert
R
Siegel
Robert J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000295:instrumentation; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008403:Mass Screening; D008493:Medical Missions; D008875:Middle Aged