Heart failure in sub-Saharan Africa: A clinical approach

Topic reviews need to be robust

“…[1] It is very concerning that the only heart failure guideline published in Africa was not referenced in this review. [2] The Heart Failure Society of South Africa (HeFSSA) is the only official heart failure society in Africa.…”

“…We are grateful for the opportunity to respond to the comments made by Dr Klug in reference to our article titled 'Heart Failure in sub-Saharan Africa: A clinical approach' , [1] which formed part of the recent cardiovascular disease (CVD) continuing medical education (CME) in the Journal. Indeed, the heart failure (HF) guideline [2] published under the auspices of the Heart Failure Society of South Africa (HeFSSA) was not cited in this review.…”

“…This advice in the review will also result in underdosing of beta-blocker therapy. If this review [1] is to be used as a reference for doctors to guide their heart failure therapy, then I strongly suggest corrections should be published in a revised review.…”

“…As such, in this successful collaboration, the CME articles were jointly produced by SA cardiologists and family physicians with the dual objectives of empowering doctors who manage these conditions in primary care settings in SA and improving the care of CVD patients in such settings. In the first issue, HF, [1] dyspnoea, [4] hypertension in the young [5] and valvular heart disease [6] were reviewed. In the second issue, infective endocarditis [7] and pericardial disease [8] were discussed.…”

Cardiovascular medicine in primary healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa: Minimum standards for practice (part 1)

“…Kraus et al [5] review the epidemiology of HF in SSA and the principles of management, focusing on symptom relief, prevention of hospitalisation and improving survival.…”