Background: Heart failure (HF) is a major public health concern globally and in Egypt. Understanding the prevalence of different etiologies and management practices in Egyptian HF patients is crucial for targeted healthcare strategies. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of different etiologies and management practices in a contemporary cohort of Egyptian patients with HF.
Methods: This cross-sectional, multi-centre observational study was conducted over 12 months at Agouza Police Hospital and Benha University Hospital, including 503 Egyptian HF patients. Patients were categorized into three categories according to their ejection fraction: HFmrEF, HFrEF, and HFpEF. Data collection involved patient interviews, clinical examinations, and reviews of medical records and diagnostic tests.
Results: This study comprised 70% males and 30% females, with an average age of 61 years. The primary etiologies of HF were ischemic heart disease (68.8%), hypertension (23%), and valvular heart disease (5.2%). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 45% ± 12. Pharmacological therapy included ACEIs/ARBs (79.9%), ARNI (10.9%), Beta-blockers (95.4%), MRAs (86.8%) and SGLT2 inhibitors (84.9%). A total of 94.4% of patients exhibited ECG abnormalities, and 34.3% had abnormal chest X-rays.
Conclusion: Ischemic heart disease constituted the prevailing cause of HFrEF, while hypertension predominated in HFpEF cases. A significant percentage of patients received ACEIs/ARBs, Beta-blockers, MRAs, and SGLT2 inhibitors. The study highlights the need for tailored management strategies in the Egyptian context, considering the specific etiological patterns and treatment practices observed.