Prognostic performance of ECG abnormalities compared to vital signs in acutely ill patients in a resource-poor hospital in Uganda.

Acute illness ECG Early warning scores Left ventricular hypertrophy Prolonged QTc Risk stratification

Journal

African journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence
ISSN: 2211-4203
Titre abrégé: Afr J Emerg Med
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101572277

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Jun 2019
Historique:
received: 03 04 2018
revised: 02 09 2018
accepted: 19 12 2018
entrez: 14 6 2019
pubmed: 14 6 2019
medline: 14 6 2019
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

There are few reports of electrocardiogram (ECG) findings and their prognostic value in acutely ill patients admitted to low resource hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa. We undertook an observational study of acutely ill medical patients admitted to a low-resource hospital in Uganda. Vital signs were used to calculate the National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and all ECGs were assessed using Tan et al.'s scoring system as described in Clin Cardiol 2009;32:82-86. There were 1361 ECGs performed, covering 68% of all acutely ill medical patients admitted to the hospital during the study. The most common ECG abnormality was a prolonged QTc interval (42% of all patients) and left ventricular hypertrophy (13.5%). Compared to the 519 patients (38%) with no Tan score abnormality, the 842 (62%) patients with one or more abnormalities were more likely to die in hospital (OR = 2.82; CI The majority of acutely ill medical patients admitted in a low-resource hospital in sub-Saharan Africa had ECG abnormalities, of which prolonged QTc and left ventricular hypertrophy were most common. Those with any Tan score abnormality were twice as likely to die as those without an abnormality.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
There are few reports of electrocardiogram (ECG) findings and their prognostic value in acutely ill patients admitted to low resource hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa.
METHODS METHODS
We undertook an observational study of acutely ill medical patients admitted to a low-resource hospital in Uganda. Vital signs were used to calculate the National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and all ECGs were assessed using Tan et al.'s scoring system as described in Clin Cardiol 2009;32:82-86.
RESULTS RESULTS
There were 1361 ECGs performed, covering 68% of all acutely ill medical patients admitted to the hospital during the study. The most common ECG abnormality was a prolonged QTc interval (42% of all patients) and left ventricular hypertrophy (13.5%). Compared to the 519 patients (38%) with no Tan score abnormality, the 842 (62%) patients with one or more abnormalities were more likely to die in hospital (OR = 2.82; CI
DISCUSSION CONCLUSIONS
The majority of acutely ill medical patients admitted in a low-resource hospital in sub-Saharan Africa had ECG abnormalities, of which prolonged QTc and left ventricular hypertrophy were most common. Those with any Tan score abnormality were twice as likely to die as those without an abnormality.

Identifiants

pubmed: 31193807
doi: 10.1016/j.afjem.2018.12.005
pii: S2211-419X(18)30059-4
pmc: PMC6543076
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

64-69

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Auteurs

Teopista Namujwiga (T)

Kitovu Hospital, Masaka, Uganda.

Immaculate Nakitende (I)

Kitovu Hospital, Masaka, Uganda.

John Kellett (J)

Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of South West Jutland, Esbjerg, Denmark.

Martin Opio (M)

Department of Medicine, Kitovu Hospital, Masaka, Uganda.

Alfred Lumala (A)

Kitovu Hospital, Masaka, Uganda.

Classifications MeSH