Browsing by Author "Adu-Boakye, Yaw"

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    Hypertension Clinic Registry: Blood Pressure Control Among Hypertensives In A Specialist-Led Clinic In Ghana
    (Academiaaaa, 2021) Adu-Boakye, Yaw; Gyabaah, S; Arthur J.; S
    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: less than a third of those who receive treatment for hypertension get their blood pressure (BP) controlled to currently recommended targets. Failure of physicians to optimize treatment when encountered with blood pressure that are only fairly above the recommended control thresholds is largely responsible for the uncontrolled BP in treated patients. Knowing what and when to add up patient medication is crucial for an optimum BP control. This research study sought to determine the control of hypertension in a specialist led hypertensive clinic. METHODOLOGY: We used a retrospective study approach with close-ended questions and medical record review. Blood pressures were measured at booking, 12 months and 24 months using automated sphygmomanometers RESULTS: 361 patients were recruited for the study. The study revealed that more than half 223 (61.8%) were diagnosed with hypertension (HPT) only and 138 (38.2%) diagnosed of both HPT and diabetes. The majority 234 (64.8%) had family history of hypertension. At booking, almost three quarters 263 (72.9%) of the patients’ blood pressure were uncontrolled with a mean and standard deviation of 146.3 and 22.2 mmHg respectively. At the period of 12 months (1 year) more than 249 (69.0%) had controlled blood pressure with a mean and stand deviation of blood pressure of 128.0 and 16.4 mmHg. The majority 272 (75.3%) of the patients’ blood pressures were controlled at 24 months with a mean and standard deviation of 125.3 and 15.2 respectively. Patients on single antihypertensive medication were 2.68 times more likely to develop controlled BP as compared to patients on two and more antihypertensive medications (aOR=2.68, CI=1.33-5.41). Number of drugs taken per day was the strong factor associated with controlled BP at twelve months of follow up, such that patients on only one (aOR=7.27, CI=2.93-18.01) or two (aOR=2.49, CI=1.41-4.40) antihypertensive medication were 7.27 and 2.49 times more likely to have controlled BP respectively as compared to patients who were taking more than two antihypertensive medications CONCLUSION: Specialist-led clinic are effective in achieving good BP control and therefore effort should be made at establishing more of such clinics to reduce the burden of hypertension and achieve optimum blood pressure control among hypertensives. In addition, a combination therapy is preferred to reduce pill burden, increase compliance, and hence achieve optimum BP control. It is imperative for the National Health Insurance scheme to support and promote the usage of more combination therapies for optimal blood pressure control.
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    Lutembacher syndrome in a middle-aged woman in Ghana with an extremely large atrial septal defect
    (Wiley, 2023) Adu-Boakye, Yaw; Amponsah, Gordon Manu; Andoh, Henry Kofi; Gyan, Kwadwo Faka; Wiafe, Yaw Amo; 0000-0002-1567-5786
    Lutembacher syndrome (LS) is a rare heart disorder characterized by a congenital or acquired combination of the atrial septal defect (ASD) and mitral stenosis. In LS, patients may be asymptomatic for years, but early detection and treatment result in a better prognosis. In contrast, the prognosis is usually poor, with con servative treatment if the diagnosis is late and the patient develops heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Although rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and con genital heart disease are prevalent in Ghana, cases of LS are not reported. Here, we report the case of a 45-year-old woman with rheumatic mitral valve stenosis and an exceptionally large ASD with bidirectional flow who was diagnosed with LS and treated conservatively for heart failure at a cardiology clinic in Ghana.