COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN DIABETIC AND NONDIABETIC CORONARY PATIENTS IN CARDIOVASCULAR REHABILITATION IN DAKAR, SENEGAL.

Introduction: Cardiac rehabilitation is crucial in managing coronary disease, particularly in type 2 diabetes, yet it remains almost non-existent in West Africa.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the profiles of diabetic and non-diabetic coronary patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation at the Principal Hospital of Dakar, Senegal.

Methodology: A comparative, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2022 involving two groups of coronary patients (diabetic and nondiabetic) at the rehabilitation centre. Patients who completed at least 10 sessions were included. We analysed sociodemographic, clinical, and paraclinical data before and after rehabilitation, as well as therapeutic adherence. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 18, with a significance level set at 0.05.

Results: A total of 199 coronary patients participated, including 75 diabetics and 124 non-diabetics. The average age was 61.6 ± 8.3 years for diabetics and 59.8 ± 12.4 years for non-diabetics, with a male predominance (sex ratio: 2 for diabetics and 3.9 for non-diabetics). In diabetics, the main cardiovascular risk factors were age (80%), hypertension (62.7%), physical inactivity (57.3%), dyslipidaemia (40%), and smoking (33.3%). Cardiac rehabilitation significantly improved clinical symptoms and parameters such as systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and abdominal obesity in diabetic patients. Glycated haemoglobin levels were balanced in 70.4%, an improvement of 40.8%. Rehabilitation had a greater impact on METS improvement and adherence in diabetic patients, along with reduced depression.

Conclusion: Cardiac rehabilitation improves control of cardiovascular risk factors, but its availability and accessibility need improvement.