{"id":5131,"date":"2025-09-15T12:52:32","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T10:52:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cvja.co.za\/journal\/?p=5131"},"modified":"2026-05-05T13:46:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T11:46:44","slug":"cvja-2025-028","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cvja.co.za\/journal\/cvja-2025-028\/","title":{"rendered":"Electrocardiographic patterns in an urban community of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo"},"content":{"rendered":"
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\nLevi Bugwaja, David Nyembo, Laurent Bishisha, L\u00e9once Shangwe, Joyce Adidja, Mitterrand Balola, Kanigula Mubagwa \r\n <\/div> \r\n<\/div> \r\n
\r\n Copyright:<\/strong> Clinics Cardive Publishing (Pty) Ltd. publisher\r\n of Cardiovascular Journal of Africa.<\/div>\r\n
<\/div> \r\n
\r\n
\r\n Abstract \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Background:<\/strong> \r\n \r\n The aim of the present study was to obtain EKG parameters in an urban community in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) and other abnormalities, including the long QT syndrome, and to determine factors associated with such abnormalities. \r\n
\r\n \r\n Methods:<\/strong> \r\n \r\n This is a cross-sectional study conducted from June 2022 to April 2023 in Bukavu, in the eastern region of the DRC, involving 413 (>16-year old) participants, grouped according to gender (44.8% females) and according to age (subjects aged \u226530 years; mean \u00b1 SEM: 56.4\u00b10.8 years, n = 190, versus subjects aged <30 years; mean \u00b1 SEM: 24.1\u00b10.17 years, n = 223). Demographic, clinical and electrocardiographic data were collected. Various EKG parameters were measured or calculated. \r\n
\r\n \r\n Results:<\/strong> \r\n \r\n Average standard EKG parameters (RR, PR and QT interval durations, QRS duration and mean axis, T wave amplitude) had values within known reference values. The Sokolow-Lyon index was high (>38 mm in 15.0% of participants). ST segment elevation presents in anterior precordial leads, mainly in males and young participants, rarely exceeded 2 mm. Prolonged QT. (>440-ms) was present in 11.4% of participants and was associated with female gender, hypertension and diabetes. There was only 1 case of atrial fibrillation. \r\n
\r\n \r\n \r\n Conclusion:<\/strong> \r\n \r\n Mean EKG parameters in the population of Bukavu are similar to those found in other regions of Sub- Saharan Africa (SSA) and in the world. Except for large Sokolow-Lyon indices EKG variants such as large ST segment elevation and T wave inversion found among asymptomatic Blacks in certain other regions of SSA are not found in Bukavu. The scarcity of AF suggests that other aetiologies do account for the increasing incidence of ischaemic strokes in the studied population. Prolonged QT, was related to female gender, hypertension and diabetes. \r\n
\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n Keywords:<\/strong> \r\n \r\n EKG Patterns, atrial Fibrillation, long QT<\/strong> \r\n \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n Submitted:<\/strong> October 29, 2024; \r\n Accepted:<\/strong> January 27, 2025; \r\n Published:<\/strong> September 15, 2025
\r\n Cardiovasc J Afr 2025; 36<\/b>: 211-218<\/em>\r\n
Volume 36, Issue 3<\/strong>
\r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n
\r\n DOI Citation Reference: dx.doi.org\/10.5830\/CVJA-2025-028 \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n
\r\n \r\n Faculty of Medicine, Universit\u00e9 Catholique de Bukavu, Bukavu, DR Congo\r\n<\/strong>
\r\nLevi Bugwaja
\r\nLaurent Bishisha
\r\nL\u00e9once Shangwe
\r\nJoyce Adidja
\r\nMitterrand Balola
\r\nKanigula Mubagwa\r\n

\r\n\r\n General Provincial Referral Hospital of Bukavu, Bukavu, DR Congo\r\n<\/strong>
\r\nDavid Nyembo
\r\nMitterrand Balola\r\n

\r\n\r\n Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium\r\n\r\n<\/strong>
\r\nKanigula Mubagwa\r\n\r\n

\r\n \r\n\r\n [soshsc hide=\"logged\"]\r\n You need to be logged in to view and download<\/a> the full text PDF version. Register for a free account?<\/a><\/strong>

[\/soshsc]\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The aim of the present study was to obtain EKG parameters in an urban community in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) and other abnormalities, including the long QT syndrome, and to determine factors associated with such abnormalities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,107],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cardiovascular-topics","category-volume-36-issue-3"],"yoast_head":"\nElectrocardiographic patterns in an urban community of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo - Cardiovascular Journal of Africa<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The aim of the present study was to obtain EKG parameters in an urban community in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) and other abnormalities, including the long QT syndrome, and to determine factors associated with such abnormalities.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cvja.co.za\/journal\/cvja-2025-028\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Electrocardiographic patterns in an urban community of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo - 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