Epidemiological, clinical and progressive aspects of arterial hypertension in older patients in Nouakchott (Mauritania).

OBJECTIVE

To describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of hypertensives aged 60 years and over followed outpatient, at the National Heart Center of Nouakchott (CNC) in Mauritania.

METHOD: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted from February to July 2016, including elderly hypertensive patients, followed on an outpatient basis at the CNC.

RESULTS

We had 150 patients representing 12.6% of the CNC's consultants, 101 of whom were included in the study. The mean age was 67.3 ± 5.78, and the sex ratio was 1.02. Systol-diastolic hypertension was predominant (69.3%). Three main cardiovascular risk factors were more frequently associated: sedentary lifestyle (59%), obesity or overweight (58%) and hypercholesterolemia (52%). The average number of cumulative risk factors was 3.4. Overall cardiovascular risk was high in 70.3% of patients. The symptomatology was dominated by headache (51.4%). Cardiac involvement was the most common complication (49%) with a predominance of left ventricular hypertrophy (18.8%). Renal involvement and stroke (exclusively ischemic) were reported in 24.8% and 12.9% of cases, respectively. Therapeutically, the most frequently used molecules were calcium channel blockers in monotherapy and the combination of calcium channel blockers and the conversion enzyme, in dual therapy.

CONCLUSION

In Mauritania, the elderly hypertensive patient presented multiple cardiovascular risk factors and cardiac complications. The decentralization of its care to the front-line health structures would be essential for a more rational management of the arterial hypertension of the elderly subject.