title: What is known about heart failure in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of the English literature.
abstract: We systematically reviewed and summarised existing knowledge on heart failure in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We searched the following databases Web of Science, EMBASE, Ovid MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Global Health, CINAHL and African Journals Online using a combination of key words: heart failure or congestive heart failure or cardiac failure. We limited our search to studies conducted in SSA and articles published 2000-2014. Twenty-seven articles met our inclusion criteria and all were quantitative studies. Existing knowledge is focused on 3 key areas: (1) epidemiology of heart failure, (2) psychological burden of heart failure, and (3) patient knowledge and compliance to treatment. SSA would benefit from longitudinal qualitative research on the experience of living with heart failure.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya.|Centre for Population Health Sciences, the Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Kellen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimani
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Sciences, the Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.|Makerere Palliative Care Unit, Department of Medicine, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Namukwaya
authors.affiliation: Global Health Academy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Liz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: Primary Palliative Care Research Group, The Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans
keywords: Heart failure; Psychological care; Social care; Spiritual care; Supportive care