TITLE:
Sex Differences in the Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Profiles of Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients in Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Valérie Ndobo, Siddikatou Djibrilla, Christian Ngongang Ouankou, Guillaume Ebene Manon, Hermann Tsague, Grace Belobo, Sylvestre Efonle, Marie Ntep, Pierre Mintom, Sylvie Ndongo, Liliane Mfeukeu-Kuate, Chris Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio
KEYWORDS:
Electrocardiographic Profile, Echocardiographic Profile, Heart Failure
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.16 No.3,
March
13,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: The electrocardiogram (ECG) and Doppler transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) remain key diagnostic tools that also help identify the etiology, assess severity and guide the therapeutic strategy for heart failure. This study aimed to characterize sex-specific electrocardiographic and echocardiographic profiles among patients admitted for heart failure. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study at Central Hospital of Yaoundé, including all adults aged ≥18 years hospitalized for heart failure between September 2022 and April 2024. Data from resting surface ECGs and Doppler TTEs performed during hospitalization were extracted from medical records. Results: We included 397 patients: 230 women [F] vs 167 men [M] with heart failure. Smoking was more frequent in men (19.8%) than in women (6.09%) (p Conclusion: Among hospitalized patients with heart failure, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic profiles were broadly similar between sexes, except for Doppler echocardiography evidence of right atrial dilation, which was more frequent in women. On ECG, sinus rhythm predominated; on TTE, LVEF was mostly reduced.