Electrocardiogram Pattern and Factors Associated with Abnormal Findings among Heart Failure Patients at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Ishaka, Uganda
| dc.contributor.author | Yves Tibamwenda Bafwa | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-08-28T09:14:09Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-08-28T09:14:09Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2021-08 | |
| dc.description | A Research Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine of Kampala International University | |
| dc.description.abstract | Background: The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases is increasing rapidly in Sub-Saharan Africa. A multicenter prospective cohort study of 1,006 patients with acute heart failure in a Sub-Saharan Africa survey showed that 814 patients had ECGs readings among which 97.7% had abnormalities. There is paucity of data on ECG abnormalities among heart failure patients in many developing countries, Uganda inclusive. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional survey was conducted in six months at KIU-TH between January and March then completed between October and December 2020. The study recruited 122 heart failure patients. Questionnaires were administered to respondents to obtain factors associated with ECG abnormalities among heart failure patients. A 12-lead ECG machine was used to obtain ECG findings. Data were analyzed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine the ECG pattern and factors associated with abnormal ECG findings among heart failure patients. Results: The mean age of study respondents was 63.4 ± 21 years and 57.4% of the respondents were females. The prevalence of ECG abnormalities among heart failure patients was 82.8 % (95% CI: 74.91-88.56). The main ECG abnormalities were left ventricular hypertrophy (24.6%), left bundle branch block (8.2%) and right bundle branch block (7.4%). The factors associated with ECG abnormalities were heart failure duration more than one year (aOR = 6.4, 95% CI: 1.14 – 35.53, p= 0.035), hypertension (aOR = 6.7, 95% CI: 1.45 – 31.24, p= 0.015) and being in NYHA functional class III and IV (aOR = 7.2, 95 % CI: 1.88 – 27.74, p=0.004). Conclusion: The prevalence of abnormal ECG among heart failure patients was very high. Respondents with heart failure duration of more than one year, hypertensive and those staged in NYHA functional classes III and IV had a higher risk of having abnormal ECG. Regular refresher training on use of ECG in the management of heart failure should be organized for clinicians. Routine health education on heart failure prevention measures, should be encouraged at triage centres of all health facilities by the Ministry of Health in Uganda. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/14974 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Kampala International University | |
| dc.title | Electrocardiogram Pattern and Factors Associated with Abnormal Findings among Heart Failure Patients at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Ishaka, Uganda | |
| dc.type | Thesis |