Integrated management of HIV, diabetes, and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa (INTE-AFRICA): a pragmatic cluster-randomised, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, health-care provision for chronic conditions is fragmented. The aim of this study was to determine whether integrated management of HIV, diabetes, and hypertension led to improved rates of retention in care for people with diabetes or hypertension without adversely affecting rates of HIV viral suppression among people with HIV when compared to standard vertical care in medium and large health facilities in Uganda and Tanzania. METHODS: In INTE-AFRICA, a pragmatic cluster-randomised, controlled trial, we randomly allocated primary health-care facilities in Uganda and Tanzania to provide either integrated care or standard care for HIV, diabetes, and hypertension. Random allocation (1:1) was stratified by location, infrastructure level, and by country, with a permuted block randomisation method. In the integrated care group, participants with HIV, diabetes, or hypertension were managed by the same health-care workers, used the same pharmacy, had similarly designed medical records, shared the same registration and waiting areas, and had an integrated laboratory service. In the standard care group, these services were delivered vertically for each condition. Patients were eligible to join the trial if they were living with confirmed HIV, diabetes, or hypertension, were aged 18 years or older, were living within the catchment population area of the health facility, and were likely to remain in the catchment population for 6 months. The coprimary outcomes, retention in care (attending a clinic within the last 6 months of study follow-up) for participants with either diabetes or hypertension (tested for superiority) and plasma viral load suppression for those with HIV (>1000 copies per mL; tested for non-inferiority, 10% margin), were analysed using generalised estimating equations in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ISCRTN 43896688. FINDINGS: Between June 30, 2020, and April 1, 2021 we randomly allocated 32 health facilities (17 in Uganda and 15 in Tanzania) with 7028 eligible participants to the integrated care or the standard care groups. Among participants with diabetes, hypertension, or both, 2298 (75·8%) of 3032 were female and 734 (24·2%) of 3032 were male. Of participants with HIV alone, 2365 (70·3%) of 3365 were female and 1000 (29·7%) of 3365 were male. Follow-up lasted for 12 months. Among participants with diabetes, hypertension, or both, the proportion alive and retained in care at study end was 1254 (89·0%) of 1409 in integrated care and 1457 (89·8%) of 1623 in standard care. The risk differences were -0·65% (95% CI -5·76 to 4·46; p=0·80) unadjusted and -0·60% (-5·46 to 4·26; p=0·81) adjusted. Among participants with HIV, the proportion who had a plasma viral load of less than 1000 copies per mL was 1412 (97·0%) of 1456 in integrated care and 1451 (97·3%) of 1491 in standard care. The differences were -0·37% (one-sided 95% CI -1·99 to 1·26; pnon-inferiority<0·0001 unadjusted) and -0·36% (-1·99 to 1·28; pnon-inferiority<0·0001 adjusted). INTERPRETATION: In sub-Saharan Africa, integrated chronic care services could achieve a high standard of care for people with diabetes or hypertension without adversely affecting outcomes for people with HIV. FUNDING: European Union Horizon 2020 and Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases.

Prisoner of War Medical Ingenuity in Far East Captivity.

Research into British perspectives of the medical history of Far East prisoners of war (FEPOWs) has been conducted by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (United Kingdom), resulting from decades of treating FEPOW veterans that began after their repatriation in late 1945. This paper examines some of the ingenious ways that British medical officers, medical orderlies, and volunteers fought to save the lives of thousands of FEPOWs during captivity in the Second World War. It highlights some of the key medical challenges, together with the resourcefulness of a "citizen's army" of conscripts and volunteers who used their civilian knowledge, skills, and ingenuity in many ways to support Allied medical staff. Using the most basic of materials, they were able to produce a vast array of medical support equipment and even drugs, undoubtedly saving many lives.

Integrating health services for HIV infection, diabetes and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: HIV, diabetes and hypertension have a high disease burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Healthcare is organised in separate clinics, which may be inefficient. In a cohort study, we evaluated integrated management of these conditions from a single chronic care clinic. OBJECTIVES: To determined the feasibility and acceptability of integrated management of chronic conditions in terms of retention in care and clinical indicators. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective cohort study comprising patients attending 10 health facilities offering primary care in Dar es Salaam and Kampala. INTERVENTION: Clinics within health facilities were set up to provide integrated care. Patients with either HIV, diabetes or hypertension had the same waiting areas, the same pharmacy, were seen by the same clinical staff, had similar provision of adherence counselling and tracking if they failed to attend appointments. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Retention in care, plasma viral load. FINDINGS: Between 5 August 2018 and 21 May 2019, 2640 patients were screened of whom 2273 (86%) were enrolled into integrated care (832 with HIV infection, 313 with diabetes, 546 with hypertension and 582 with multiple conditions). They were followed up to 30 January 2020. Overall, 1615 (71.1%)/2273 were female and 1689 (74.5%)/2266 had been in care for 6 months or more. The proportions of people retained in care were 686/832 (82.5%, 95% CI: 79.9% to 85.1%) among those with HIV infection, 266/313 (85.0%, 95% CI: 81.1% to 89.0%) among those with diabetes, 430/546 (78.8%, 95% CI: 75.4% to 82.3%) among those with hypertension and 529/582 (90.9%, 95% CI: 88.6 to 93.3) among those with multimorbidity. Among those with HIV infection, the proportion with plasma viral load <100 copies/mL was 423(88.5%)/478. CONCLUSION: Integrated management of chronic diseases is a feasible strategy for the control of HIV, diabetes and hypertension in Africa and needs evaluation in a comparative study.

Integrating HIV, diabetes and hypertension services in Africa: study protocol for a cluster randomised trial in Tanzania and Uganda.

INTRODUCTION: HIV programmes in sub-Saharan Africa are well funded but programmes for diabetes and hypertension are weak with only a small proportion of patients in regular care. Healthcare provision is organised from stand-alone clinics. In this cluster randomised trial, we are evaluating a concept of integrated care for people with HIV infection, diabetes or hypertension from a single point of care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: 32 primary care health facilities in Dar es Salaam and Kampala regions were randomised to either integrated or standard vertical care. In the integrated care arm, services are organised from a single clinic where patients with either HIV infection, diabetes or hypertension are managed by the same clinical and counselling teams. They use the same pharmacy and laboratory and have the same style of patient records. Standard care involves separate pathways, that is, separate clinics, waiting and counselling areas, a separate pharmacy and separate medical records. The trial has two primary endpoints: retention in care of people with hypertension or diabetes and plasma viral load suppression. Recruitment is expected to take 6 months and follow-up is for 12 months. With 100 participants enrolled in each facility with diabetes or hypertension, the trial will provide 90% power to detect an absolute difference in retention of 15% between the study arms (at the 5% two-sided significance level). If 100 participants with HIV infection are also enrolled in each facility, we will have 90% power to show non-inferiority in virological suppression to a delta=10% margin (ie, that the upper limit of the one-sided 95% CI of the difference between the two arms will not exceed 10%). To allow for lost to follow-up, the trial will enrol over 220 persons per facility. This is the only trial of its kind evaluating the concept of a single integrated clinic for chronic conditions in Africa. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The protocol has been approved by ethics committee of The AIDS Support Organisation, National Institute of Medical Research and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Dissemination of findings will be done through journal publications and meetings involving study participants, healthcare providers and other stakeholders. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN43896688.

Abortion education in the medical curriculum: a survey of student attitudes.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate student attitudes toward the inclusion of abortion education in the preclinical and clinical medical school curriculum. STUDY DESIGN: All students completing the OB-GYN rotation from May 2004 through January 2005 (n=118) were asked to complete a 21-item survey. Survey questions focused on students' attitudes about the appropriateness of abortion education, reasons for participation or nonparticipation in the abortion care experiences in the clinical curricula and the value of abortion education. RESULTS: One hundred students completed the survey for a response rate of 85%. Nearly all respondents indicated that abortion education was appropriate in the preclinical and clinical curricula (96%). Fifty-three percent of students participated in a clinical abortion care experience. The majority of these students rated it as valuable (84%) and would recommend it to a friend (73%). Most students who planned a career in Family Medicine and OB-GYN preferred the integration of abortion training into the residency curriculum (74%). CONCLUSIONS: Abortion education is acceptable and valued by medical students and should be integrated into the curricula of all medical schools.

Effect of therapeutic lifestyle changes on insulin sensitivity of non-obese hyperlipidemic subjects: preliminary report.

AIM: To determine the effects of lipid lowering by TLC on insulin sensitivity and secretory status of non-obese normoglycemic hyperlipidemic subjects. METHODS: An intervention study was undertaken on 16 non-obese normoglycemic hyperlipidemic subjects. They underwent 6 months of a TLC regimen. Their insulin sensitivity and lipid status were assessed at baseline and after six months. A control group containing 16 age, sex and body mass index (BMI) matched normolipidemic subjects was also enrolled to compare the change in lipid levels and insulin sensitivity in the hyperlipidemic subjects. RESULTS: The intervention showed significant reductions in insulin resistance (HOMA-IR reduced from 3.8 to 1.4, p<0.001) and improvement of insulin sensitivity (HOMA%S increased from 50.1% to 121.2%, p=0.004) in hyperlipidemic subjects with associated reductions in lipid levels. CONCLUSION: Lipid lowering in non-obese hyperlipidemic subjects may be associated with improvement of insulin sensitivity.

Oral health in rural South African type 2 diabetic patients.

Diabetes increases the risk of periodontal disease, but information from the tropics is lacking, and the relationship between periodontal disease and glycaemic control is uncertain. We examined 23 type 2 diabetic patients in a rural and resource-poor area of South Africa. Mean age was 59 +/- 10 (1SD) years, and diabetes duration 6 +/- 6 years. In all,11 were 'well controlled' (glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) < 8.0%, mean 6.5%), and 12 'poorly controlled' (HbA1c > 8.0%, mean 13.0%). Periodontal disease was more common in the poorly controlled group (42% versus 18%, P < 0.002). We conclude that dental health is poor in type 2 diabetic patients in rural Africa, and that periodontal disease is closely related to glycaemic control. Improved dental and diabetes care is needed in such communities.

Using combined research methods for exploring diabetes patient education.

This paper explores a trial of an educational intervention designed for people who have Type 2 diabetes. The aim of the trial was to understand how the intervention had influenced outcomes in the context of participants' everyday lives. A randomised-controlled wait-list trial design was used. The study was also informed by a qualitative approach which explored the meanings held by participants for informing their behaviours. Outcomes were measured using diabetes-specific questionnaires and clinical measures of blood glucose control, weight and drug treatment. Alongside these, focus group discussions were held to explore how outcome effects had transpired. Using these different methods resulted in two separate data sets which required diverse methods for analysis. This paper uses examples of compatibilities and contradictions between the data sets to look at how they were combined to produce valid results. Conclusions drawn showed that a combined methods approach was essential to expand the scope and improve the analytic power of trials of patient education. It produced illuminating results which provided guidelines for practice and suggested further areas for research.

Adiponectin, total antioxidant status, and urine albumin excretion in the low-risk "Golden Years" type 1 diabetes mellitus cohort.

Adiponectin is associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Levels are reduced in type 2 diabetes mellitus and coronary heart disease. Conversely, levels are elevated in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and associated with microalbuminuria and diabetic nephropathy. An explanation may be that elevated adiponectin in T1DM represents a beneficial counterregulatory response to disease. Our aim was to examine adiponectin in relation to urinary albumin excretion and plasma total antioxidant status (TAOS) in subjects with long-standing T1DM. Serum adiponectin and plasma TAOS were measured in 338 samples from the Golden Years cohort. These subjects have T1DM for at least 50 years and are at low risk of complications. Subjects were divided into normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, and macroalbuminuria groups. Adiponectin was elevated in women (20.53 ± 5.94 vs 11.8 ± 3.6 mg/L, P < .001); therefore, the samples were sex stratified. Within men, adiponectin was higher in those with macroalbuminuria (normoalbuminuria vs microalbuminuria vs macroalbuminuria: 10.97 ± 3.26 vs 11.55 ± 3.50 vs 23.63 ± 7.07 mg/L, P = .002). In women, no difference was observed (20.48 ± 5.61 vs 20.75 ± 7.04 vs 29.62 ± 7.81 mg/L, respectively; P = .42). Plasma TAOS did not differ by groups. The correlation between adiponectin and TAOS showed a linear increase from normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, to macroalbuminuria in men (r = 0.33, P = .001; r = 0.48, P < .001; r = 0.59, P = .04) and women (r = 0.25, P = .01; r = 0.63, P < .001; r = 0.79, P = .08). Adiponectin was higher in women. Within men, levels were significantly higher in the presence of macroalbuminuria. In both sexes, adiponectin and TAOS were correlated, which was most marked with micro-/macroalbuminuria. The increase in adiponectin in the face of an insult may be a compensatory mechanism to reduce oxidative burden.

A trial of empowerment-based education in type 2 diabetes--global rather than glycaemic benefits.

We have assessed the effect of a structured, empowerment-based educational system ("LAY or "Look After Yourself") for patients with type 2 diabetes. A randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted, testing the system against standard support. Using 3 centres, 89 patients participated in the study. Outcome measures included glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)), body mass index (BMI) and a variety of quantitative psychological and educational measures. Assessment was made at 6 months ("short-term") and 12 months ("long-term") post-intervention. The educational programme was associated with benefits in HbA(1c) levels (p=0.005), illness attitudes (p=0.04), and perceived treatment effectiveness (p=0.03) at 6 months follow-up compared to controls. At 12 months however, only illness attitudes (p=0.01), and self-monitoring (p=0.002) showed benefit. A combined outcome measure showed positive benefit for the educational programme both at 6 months (p=0.001) and 12 months (p=0.002). This structured educational programme, aimed at encouraging self-help, was associated with only limited benefits in glycaemic control, but there were significant educational and psychological benefits. Diabetes education should be regarded as having broad patient-based positive outcomes, and should not be expected to have lasting benefits on glycaemic control.