Objective: Echocardiography is a useful noninvasive tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of cardiac diseases. This study aims to share our 3 months’ experience in our echo lab as well as the scope of clinical cases diagnosed at our institute.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, between February 2020 and May 2020. This was performed with the Siemens Accuson S-300 machine using two-dimensional, M-mode, color flow, and tissue Doppler protocols.

Results: 1992 consecutive patients, 857 males and 1135 females, were examined during the study period. Their ages ranged from 27 to 84 years, with a mean of 55±13 years. 1236 (62%) had left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction as features of hypertensive heart disease, 145 (7.2%) had dilated cardiomyopathy, 87 (4.4%) had ischemic cardiomyopathy, 54 (2.7%) had Rheumatic heart disease, and 450 (22.6%) had a normal echo.

Conclusion: Hypertensive heart disease was the most common echocardiographic diagnosis at our institute and is the most significant non-communicable disease responsible for increased morbidity and mortality among our patients in Tanzania. Furthermore, a lot of effort needs to be made to increase awareness, prevention, treatment, and drug compliance for hypertension to combat the complications. 

Dr. Henry Anselmo Mayala is a distinguished Clinical cardiologist affiliated with the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute in Tanzania, where he has made significant contributions to the field of cardiology from 2014 to date. His expertise spans various aspects of cardiovascular health, particularly in resource-limited settings, and he has been instrumental in advancing knowledge through his cardiovascular imaging skills, research, and publications. He has been a CME coordinator at JKCI since 2020. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC), a member of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), European Society of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC), ESC HFA Associate. Through his ongoing efforts, Dr. Mayala continues to influence the landscape of cardiac care and research, making a lasting impact on the health of communities in Tanzania and beyond.