Causes and clinical characteristics of chronic cor-pulmonale in Ethiopia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical characteristics and underlying causes of chronic cor-pulmonale in Ethiopian patients.


METHODS
A hospital based cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Tikur Anbessa Hospital, a large referral hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.


METHODS
Fourty two consecutive patients referred to the chest clinic of Tikur Anbessa Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.


RESULTS
Bronchial asthma (36%), chronic fibrocavitary tuberculosis (31%) and chronic bronchitis/emphysema (33%) were the most frequent underlying causes and occurred either singly or in combination in 36(86%) of patients. Interstitial lung disease occurred in five (11.9%) patients. Right-sided heart failure and cyanosis were the most common clinical presentations. Secondary polycythemia was noted in 32 of 40 patients (80%). The role of pulmonary vascular diseases including pulmonary schistosomiasis as a cause of pulmonary heart disease could not be ascertained but appeared to be insignificant.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic persistent asthma is a frequent underlying cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic cor-pulmonale compared to smoking related chronic bronchitis/emphysema in Ethiopia. The preventive strategy of chronic cor-pulmonale includes optimal treatment of bronchial asthma, early diagnosis and effective treatment of tuberculosis and health education to avoid cigarette smoking.
Aderaye
G
G
Chest Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 2380, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D029481:Bronchitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004646:Emphysema / Q000209:etiology; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011086:Polycythemia / Q000209:etiology; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications