CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 34, No 2, May/June 2023 AFRICA 121 Cardiovascular Topics Improving cardiovascular outcomes for patients with heart failure in sub-Saharan Africa: conference proceedings of the 2022 Nigerian Cardiovascular Symposium Onyedika J Ilonze, Albert Hicks, Bayo Atanda, Mahmoud H Abdou, Chioma Onyekwelu, Ebere Chukwu, Kamilu M Karaye, Ibraheem Katibi, Okechukwu S Ogah, Obi Emerole, Jane N Ajuluchukwu, Mahmoud U Sani, Christopher C Asuzu, Modele O Ogunniyi Abstract The Nigerian Cardiovascular Symposium is an annual conference held in partnership with cardiologists in Nigeria and the diaspora to provide updates in cardiovascular medicine and cardiothoracic surgery with the aim of optimising cardiovascular care for the Nigerian population. This virtual conference (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) has created an opportunity for effective capacity building of the Nigerian cardiology workforce. The objective of the conference was for experts to provide updates on current trends, clinical trials and innovations in heart failure, selected cardiomyopathies such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and cardiac amyloidosis, pulmonary hypertension, cardiogenic shock, left ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation. Furthermore, the conference aimed to equip the Nigerian cardiovascular workforce with skills and knowledge to optimise the delivery of effective cardiovascular care, with the hope of curbing ‘medical tourism’ and the current ‘brain drain’ in Nigeria. Challenges to optimal cardiovascular care in Nigeria include workforce shortage, limited capacity of intensive care units, and availability of medications. This partnership represents a key first step in addressing these challenges. Future action items include enhanced collaboration between cardiologists in Nigeria and the diaspora, advancing participation and enrollment of African patients in global heart failure clinical trials, and the urgent need to develop heart failure clinical practice guidelines for Nigerian patients. Keywords: cardiomyopathy, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, advanced heart failure, cardiac amyloidosis, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, cardiogenic shock, left ventricular assist device, heart transplantation, Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa Submitted 7/1/23; accepted 31/3/23 Published online 3/5/23 Cardiovasc J Afr 2023; 34: 121–128 www.cvja.co.za DOI: 10.5830/CVJA-2023-016 onference Proceedings Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA Onyedika J Ilonze, MD, MPH, oilonze@iu.edu Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA Albert Hicks, MD Winchester Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Winchester, VA, USA Bayo Atanda, MD Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA Mahmoud H Abdou, MD Christopher C Asuzu, MD Modele O Ogunniyi, MD, MPH Department of Cardiology, Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY, USA Chioma Onyekwelu, MD Department of Cardiology, Baylor Scott and White, Temple, TX, USA Ebere Chukwu, MD Department of Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital; Department of Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria Kamilu M Karaye, MD Mahmoud U Sani, MD University of Ilorin, PMB 1515; University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria Ibraheem Katibi, MD Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria Okechukwu S Ogah, MD Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Atrium Health Navicent, Macon, GA, USA Obi Emerole, MD Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria Jane N Ajuluchukwu, MD
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