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Cardiac Amyloidosis Survey Across Africa
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3 min
CATEGORY
Blog
AUTHOR
John Dawod
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Amyloidosis Africa
Amyloidosis Africa Launches Continental Initiative to Improve Early Detection of Cardiac Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis Africa has announced the launch of a new continental initiative aimed at improving awareness, diagnostic capacity, and early detection of cardiac amyloidosis across African healthcare systems.
The project will bring together clinicians, researchers, and cardiovascular societies from multiple African countries to assess current practices in the recognition and management of cardiac amyloidosis and to identify key barriers that contribute to delayed diagnosis.
A Rare but Underrecognized Cause of Heart Failure
Cardiac amyloidosis is a progressive disease caused by the deposition of abnormal amyloid proteins in the heart muscle. These deposits lead to stiffening of the heart and eventually heart failure.
In recent years, transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) has gained increasing recognition as an important cause of heart failure, particularly among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy.
However, the disease is still widely underdiagnosed worldwide, and patients often experience diagnostic delays of several years before receiving the correct diagnosis. Studies have shown that many physicians do not routinely screen patients with HFpEF for cardiac amyloidosis, and screening practices remain inconsistent across healthcare systems.
The Challenge in Africa
Across Africa, the challenges surrounding cardiac amyloidosis may be even greater.
Many healthcare facilities face limitations in access to specialized diagnostic tools such as cardiac MRI, nuclear scintigraphy, or genetic testing. In addition, awareness of cardiac amyloidosis among frontline clinicians remains limited, and referral pathways to expert centers are often not well established.
As a result, many patients with symptoms suggestive of cardiac amyloidosis, including unexplained heart failure, thickened heart muscle, neuropathy, or carpal tunnel syndrome, may remain undiagnosed.
Despite these challenges, very little data currently exist regarding the awareness, diagnostic capacity, and management of cardiac amyloidosis in African healthcare systems.
A Continental Survey to Understand the Gaps
To address this knowledge gap, Amyloidosis Africa is launching a multinational survey and clinical capacity assessment targeting healthcare professionals across the continent.
The initiative will evaluate:
Awareness of cardiac amyloidosis among clinicians
Screening practices for patients with heart failure
Availability of diagnostic tools such as echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and nuclear imaging
Access to disease-modifying therapies
Referral pathways to expert centers
Major barriers to diagnosis and treatment
The survey will be distributed to cardiologists, physicians, imaging specialists, and other healthcare professionals involved in the management of cardiovascular disease.
The results will help provide the first structured overview of cardiac amyloidosis awareness and diagnostic capacity across Africa.
Supporting Future Research and Innovation
In addition to assessing awareness and diagnostic infrastructure, the initiative will also identify clinical centers that may be able to participate in future collaborative research.
These efforts will support the development of the PREDICT-AMY Africa Study, an upcoming research program that will evaluate the feasibility of AI-assisted electrocardiogram (ECG) screening for cardiac amyloidosis in resource-limited healthcare settings.
Artificial intelligence–based ECG analysis is emerging as a promising tool that may help detect cardiac amyloidosis earlier, particularly in healthcare systems where access to advanced imaging is limited.
Building a Collaborative Network Across Africa
Amyloidosis Africa aims to work closely with African cardiac societies, academic institutions, hospitals, and clinical research centers to strengthen collaboration and improve recognition of rare cardiovascular diseases.
By generating new data and fostering partnerships across the continent, the initiative hopes to support:
Earlier diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis
Improved clinician education and awareness
Development of referral networks for specialized care
Expansion of research opportunities in cardiovascular diseases
Ultimately, these efforts aim to ensure that patients across Africa can benefit from advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac amyloidosis.
About Amyloidosis Africa
Amyloidosis Africa is a continental initiative dedicated to improving awareness, early diagnosis, and collaborative research on cardiac amyloidosis across Africa. The initiative works with clinicians, researchers, and cardiovascular societies to strengthen healthcare capacity and promote equitable access to emerging diagnostic and therapeutic advances.
Healthcare professionals across Africa are invited to participate in the Cardiac Amyloidosis Awareness Survey and support efforts to improve diagnosis and research across the continent.
Your participation will support efforts to strengthen awareness, improve diagnostic pathways, and advance research on cardiac amyloidosis in Africa.
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