TITLE:
Precipitating Factors of Heart Failure Decompensation in Outpatients Followed at the Hôpital de la Paix, Ziguinchor (Senegal)
AUTHORS:
Papa Mouhamadou Diarra Fall, Papa Guirane Ndiaye, Khadim Sene, Jacques Ngayuna, Ibrahima Birene Mbengue, Coumba Niang, Dieyna Sy, Quinta Ndafa Te, Mouhamed Diallo, Momar Dioum, Simon Manga
KEYWORDS:
Heart Failure, Decompensation, Therapeutic Non-Adherence, Precipitating Factors, Senegal, Ziguinchor
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.16 No.10,
October
15,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Heart failure (HF) decompensation is associated with high morbidity and mortality and substantial healthcare costs. Identifying precipitating factors is essential for their prevention, particularly in resource-limited settings. Patients and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study including 100 heart failure patients followed as outpatients in the cardiology department of the Hôpital de la Paix, Ziguinchor (July to November 2023). Decompensation factors were collected through history-taking and clinical examination. Adherence level was assessed using the Morisky questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Thirty-four percent of patients had at least one episode of cardiac decompensation. Therapeutic non-adherence was the leading factor of decompensation (55.9%), followed by rhythm disorders (11.8%), perioperative stress (8.8%), and respiratory infections (11.8% combined: COPD exacerbation 5.9% and pneumonia 5.9%). Among decompensated patients, 76% had adherence problems. Treatment discontinuation concerned 52% of the overall population, mainly for financial reasons (59.6%) and side effects (26.9%). Conclusion: Therapeutic non-adherence is the most frequent factor of decompensation in this Ziguinchor outpatient cohort. Targeted interventions on therapeutic education, financial accessibility of treatments, and management of side effects are needed to reduce hospitalizations for decompensation.