Silent coronary artery disease in black African diabetic patients. A prospective study of 50 patients.
Silent coronary heart disease (CHD) has been researched among a sample of 50 black African diabetic patients in a prospective study. The diabetic patients were chosen on the following criteria: male sex, age ranging from 40 to 60 years, absence of history of CHD, normal EKG. A stress test was performed in all cases. A coronary arteriography was done each time the exercise test was positive, doubtful or non-conclusive. This study has shown a prevalence of 10% CHD:31 exercise test negatives, 17 exercise test non-conclusives, 2 exercise test positives, 5 coronary arteriography with significant narrowing. There were 3 patients with one vessel disease (LDA: 2 cases, CFX: 1 case), one patient with double vessel disease (CFX, RCA) while another had a triple vessel disease (RCA, LDA, CFX). Proximal lesions were encountered in 5 cases and distal lesions in 3 cases. The authors conclude that CHD exist in a silent state among black African diabetics. Its prevalence is lower than in white diabetics. The coronary lesions are mostly limited. Proximal narrowing and one vessel disease were mostly encountered.