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Nuclear cardiology practices and radiation exposure in Africa: results from the IAEA Nuclear Cardiology Protocols Study (INCAPS).

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bouyoucef, SE; Mercuri, M; Pascual, TN; Allam, AH; Vangu, M; Vitola, JV; Better, N; Karthikeyan, G; Mahmarian, JJ; Rehani, MM; Kashyap, R ...
Published in: Cardiovasc J Afr
2017

OBJECTIVE: While nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) offers many benefits to patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease, concerns exist regarding radiation-associated health effects. Little is known regarding MPI practice in Africa. We sought to characterise radiation doses and the use of MPI best practices that could minimise radiation in African nuclear cardiology laboratories, and compare these to practice worldwide. METHODS: Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected for a consecutive sample of 348 patients from 12 laboratories in six African countries over a one-week period from March to April 2013. Radiation effective dose (ED) was estimated for each patient. A quality index (QI) enumerating adherence to eight best practices, identified a priori by an IAEA expert panel, was calculated for each laboratory. We compared these metrics with those from 7 563 patients from 296 laboratories outside Africa. RESULTS: Median (interquartile range) patient ED in Africa was similar to that of the rest of the world [9.1 (5.1-15.6) vs 10.3 mSv (6.8-12.6), p = 0.14], although a larger proportion of African patients received a low ED, ≤ 9 mSv targeted in societal recommendations (49.7 vs 38.2%, p < 0.001). Bestpractice adherence was higher among African laboratories (QI score: 6.3 ± 1.2 vs 5.4 ± 1.3, p = 0.013). However, median ED varied significantly among African laboratories (range: 2.0-16.3 mSv; p < 0.0001) and QI range was 4-8. CONCLUSION: Patient radiation dose from MPI in Africa was similar to that in the rest of the world, and adherence to best practices was relatively high in African laboratories. Nevertheless there remain opportunities to further reduce radiation exposure to African patients from MPI.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Cardiovasc J Afr

DOI

EISSN

1680-0745

Publication Date

2017

Volume

28

Issue

4

Start / End Page

229 / 234

Location

South Africa

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
  • Registries
  • Radiation Injuries
  • Radiation Exposure
  • Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Heart Diseases
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Bouyoucef, S. E., Mercuri, M., Pascual, T. N., Allam, A. H., Vangu, M., Vitola, J. V., … INCAPS investigators group, . (2017). Nuclear cardiology practices and radiation exposure in Africa: results from the IAEA Nuclear Cardiology Protocols Study (INCAPS). Cardiovasc J Afr, 28(4), 229–234. https://doi.org/10.5830/CVJA-2016-091
Bouyoucef, Salah E., Mathew Mercuri, Thomas N. Pascual, Adel H. Allam, Mboyo Vangu, João V. Vitola, Nathan Better, et al. “Nuclear cardiology practices and radiation exposure in Africa: results from the IAEA Nuclear Cardiology Protocols Study (INCAPS).Cardiovasc J Afr 28, no. 4 (2017): 229–34. https://doi.org/10.5830/CVJA-2016-091.
Bouyoucef SE, Mercuri M, Pascual TN, Allam AH, Vangu M, Vitola JV, et al. Nuclear cardiology practices and radiation exposure in Africa: results from the IAEA Nuclear Cardiology Protocols Study (INCAPS). Cardiovasc J Afr. 2017;28(4):229–34.
Bouyoucef, Salah E., et al. “Nuclear cardiology practices and radiation exposure in Africa: results from the IAEA Nuclear Cardiology Protocols Study (INCAPS).Cardiovasc J Afr, vol. 28, no. 4, 2017, pp. 229–34. Pubmed, doi:10.5830/CVJA-2016-091.
Bouyoucef SE, Mercuri M, Pascual TN, Allam AH, Vangu M, Vitola JV, Better N, Karthikeyan G, Mahmarian JJ, Rehani MM, Kashyap R, Dondi M, Paez D, Einstein AJ, INCAPS investigators group. Nuclear cardiology practices and radiation exposure in Africa: results from the IAEA Nuclear Cardiology Protocols Study (INCAPS). Cardiovasc J Afr. 2017;28(4):229–234.

Published In

Cardiovasc J Afr

DOI

EISSN

1680-0745

Publication Date

2017

Volume

28

Issue

4

Start / End Page

229 / 234

Location

South Africa

Related Subject Headings

  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
  • Registries
  • Radiation Injuries
  • Radiation Exposure
  • Myocardial Perfusion Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Incidence
  • Humans
  • Heart Diseases