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Understanding the Etiology of Heart Failure Among the Rural Poor in Sub-Saharan Africa: A 10-Year Experience From District Hospitals in Rwanda

Eberly, L. A., Rusingiza, E., Park, P. H., Ngoga, G., Dusabeyezu, S., Mutabazi, F., Harerimana, E., Mucumbitsi, J., Nyembo, P. F., Borg, R., Gahamanyi, C., Mutumbira, C., Ntaganda, E., Rusangwa, C., Kwan, G. F. & Bukhman, G.

Heart failure is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Our understanding of the heart failure burden in this region has been limited mainly to registries from urban referral centers. Starting in 2006, a nurse-driven strategy was initiated to provide echocardiography and decentralized heart failure care within noncommunicable disease (NCD) clinics in rural district hospitals in Rwanda.

The results of the largest single-country heart failure cohort from rural sub-Saharan Africa demonstrate a persistent burden of rheumatic disease and nonischemic cardiomyopathies.

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