To determine clinical characteristics and mode of treatment of patients with heart failure in Yaounde military hospital (YMH).

Data of patients with heart failure (HF) followed on a period of 6 months in YMH were used to determine clinical characteristics and mode of treatment.

A total of 72 patients were consecutively studied comprising 45 men (62.5%) and 27 women (37.5%) aged 62.8±16.5 and 61.1±19.4 years, respectively. All the patients presented with NYHA functional class III or IV. Alcohol was the most common etiological factor of HF (66.7%) hypertension was the most common risk factor for HF (37.5%) while only 16.7% of the patients were smokers. Global heart failure was the common presentation (60.9%). Left bundle branch was present in 47% of electrocardiograms while 8.7% of the patients were in atrial fibrillation. Dilated cardiomyopathy was the common lesion (80%). Most patients presented with severe left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (66.6%). Male subjects had worse LV systolic dys-function compare to women without significant difference (56.3% vs 43.8% p=0.8). Diabete was not associated with severe LV dysfunction (78.9% on non diabetic vs 6.3% of diabetic patients). Current recommended pharmacology therapies were used in most of the cases. Diuretics were used in 100% while ACE inhibitors were in 91.3% of cases. 52.4% of patients had beta blockers.

Most heart failure patients in Cameroon present in the sixth decade with severe heart failure. All the recommended therapies are not available in our country.