Cardiovascular Disorders in Cirrhosis at the Brazzaville Teaching Hospital in 2022

Abstract

Cirrhosis is a liver disease that can lead to cardiovascular lesions that are often asymptomatic but potentially fatal. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate electrical and echographic cardiovascular abnormalities during cirrhosis at the Brazzaville University Hospital. Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study over a 2-year period at the Brazzaville Universitary Hospital. Cirrhotic patients at least 18 years of age who had undergone electrocardiogram and echocardiography were included. Patients with cardiac cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were excluded. The outcome variables were cardiac electrical and echographic abnormalities. Data were analyzed using Epi info 7.2 software. Pearson’s chi-square, Fisher’s exact and Student’s exact tests were used to compare proportions and means at a significance level of 0.05. Results: A total of 76 cirrhotic patients were recruited out of 186 patients, i.e. 40.9% of cirrhotic patients. There were 48 men and 28 women, for a sex ratio of 1.7. The median age was 56 (IQR 41.5 - 69.0). QTc prolongation, microvoltage and sinus tachycardia were the most frequent electrical disorders, respectively in 19 (29.7%), 11 (17.2%) and 11 (17.2%) cases. Electrical disorders were statistically related to cirrhosis stage (p = 0.0364). The most frequent ultrasound disorders were left ventricular systolic failure 11 (28.9%) and dilated cardiomyopathy 8 (21.1%). Seven (9.2%) patients had high pulmonary arterial pressure. Death, observed in 12 cases (15.8%), was statistically linked to the presence of echocardiographic disorders (p = 0.0089) and congestive heart failure (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: The search for cardiac disorders should be systematic during decompensated cirrhosis to detect potentially fatal abnormalities.