Incidence, prevalence, and mortality of type 1 diabetes in children and youth in Burkina Faso 2013-2022.

AIM: There are no data on type 1 diabetes (T1D) incidence and prevalence in Burkina Faso. We aimed to determine these in persons aged <25 years (y) since the implementation of Life for a Child (LFAC) program in 2013. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected from the prospective program register. Diagnosis of T1D was clinical, based on presentation, abrupt onset of symptomatic hyperglycemia, need for insulin replacement therapy from diagnosis, and no suggestion of other diabetes types. RESULTS: We diagnosed 312 cases of T1D <25y in 2013-2022. Male-to-female ratio was 1:1. T1D incidence <25y per 100,000 population/year increased from 0.08 (CI 95% 0.07-0.60) in 2013 to 0.34 (CI 95% 0.26-0.45) in 2022 (p=0.002). Incidence <15y/y rose from 0.04 (CI 95% 0.01-0.10) to 0.27 (CI 95% 0.18-0.38) per 100,000/year in 2013 and 2022, respectively (p < 0.002). Prevalence per 100,000 population <25y was 0.27 (CI 95% 0.19-0.37) in 2013 and rose to 1.76 (CI 95% 1.546-1.99) in 2022 (p<0.0001). Mortality rate was 20 (CI 95% 13-29.6) per 1,000-person y. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low but sharply rising T1D incidence and prevalence rates in children and youth in Burkina Faso since LFAC program implementation. It is very likely this is partly due to improved case detection. Mortality remains substantial.

Comparison of regular with NPH insulin vs. premix insulin in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in a resources-limited setting: a retrospective data analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Few studies addressed the efficacy of human insulin regimens (mostly premix insulin) used in many low-and-middle income countries on glycemic control of children and adolescents with diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the premix insulin on the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in comparison to the regular with NPH insulin scheme. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out from January 2020 to September 2022 on patients with type 1 diabetes aged below 18 years followed in Burkina Life For A Child program. They were categorized into three groups, on regular with NPH insulin (Group A), on premix insulin (Group B) and on regular with premix insulin (Group C). Outcome was analyzed based on HbA1c level. RESULTS: Sixty-eight patients with a mean age of 15.38 ± 2.26 years and the sex ratio (M/W) 0.94 were studied. There were 14 in Group A, 20 in Group B, and 34 patients in Group C. The mean HbA1c value in the corresponding insulin regimen was 12.8 ± 1.39%, 9.87 ± 2.18%, and 10.66 ± 2.1%, respectively. Glycemic control was better in Groups B and C than Group A (p<0.05) but there was no difference between groups B and C. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the use of premix insulin gives a better glycemic control than NPH insulin. However, further prospective study of these insulin regimens with a strengthening education strategy and glycemic control by continuous glucose monitoring and HbA1c is required to corroborate these preliminary findings.

Mesures visant à renforcer l'observance pour les antirétroviraux : perceptions et expérience des PVVIH au Burkina Faso.

INTRODUCTION: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is a major obstacle to achieving WHO target 3. In West Africa, however, there is a lack of evidence on the most feasible, acceptable and effective adherence reinforcement measures and users' perceptions of these measures. The purpose of this article is to analyze the perceptions of PLHIV (people living with HIV) on ART reinforcement measures in Burkina Faso. METHOD: In Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso care centers, THILAO Research Project (ANRS 12269) enrolled PLHIV experiencing therapeutic failure on 2nd line antiretroviral treatment, and offered to them adherence reinforcement measures. We conducted a qualitative socio-anthropological study to explore their perceptions. Data were collected through repeated individual interviews with 37 PLHIV. RESULTS: The 31 participants who completed interviews were relatively satisfied with the measures to support adherence. Three measures (pill organizer, weekly phone calls by a member of the team, cellphone alarm reminders) were perceived as simple, effective, discreet, adapted to both illiterate and educated people. Three other measures (home visits, involvement of a member of the family and SMS) were not highly appreciated as they expose to the disclosure of HIV+ status and /or stigmatization. Two measures (support group, frequent visits to the care center) were less selected because considered tedious. CONCLUSION: PLHIV chosed and used the most appropriate adherence measures for their profile / context. The most feasible and acceptable measures identified could be offered to PLHIV at risk of non-compliance in West African ART programs.

Implementation of an intensive adherence intervention in patients with second-line antiretroviral therapy failure in four west African countries with little access to genotypic resistance testing: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The decision about whether to switch to third-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in patients with treatment failure on second-line therapy is difficult in settings with little access to genotypic resistance testing. In this study, we used a standardised algorithm including a wide range of adherence-enhancing interventions followed by a new viral load measurement to decide whether to switch to third-line therapy in this situation. The decision, made on the basis of effectiveness of the adherence reinforcement to drive viral resuppression, did not use genotypic resistance testing. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, adults in four west African countries with treatment failure of a boosted protease inhibitor ART regimen were offered nine adherence reinforcement interventions, and followed up for 64 weeks. We measured viral load at week 12 and used the results to decide ART treatment at week 16: if successful resuppression (plasma HIV-1 RNA <400 copies per mL or had decreased by ≥2 log10 copies per mL compared with baseline), patients continued the same second-line regimen; otherwise they switched to a third-line regimen based on ritonavir-boosted darunavir and raltegravir. The primary endpoint was virological success at week 64 (plasma HIV-1 RNA <50 copies per mL). After study termination we did genotypic resistance testing on frozen plasma samples collected at baseline, and retrospectively determined the appropriateness of the week 16 decision on the basis of the baseline genotypic susceptibility score. FINDINGS: Between March 28, 2013, and May 11, 2015, of the 198 eligible participants, five died before week 16. Of the 193 remaining, 130 (67%) reached viral resuppression and continued with second-line ART, and 63 (33%) switched to third-line ART at week 16. Post-study genotypic resistance testing showed that the baseline genotypic susceptibility score was calculable in 166 patients, of whom 57 (34%) had a score less than 2. We retrospectively concluded that the week 16 decision was appropriate in 145 (75%) patients. At week 64, four patients (2%) were lost to follow-up, ten (5%) had died, and 101 (52%) had a viral load less than 50 copies per mL. INTERPRETATION: Poor adherence is the first problem to tackle in patients for whom second-line ART is failing when resistance tests are not routinely available and is effectively a manageable problem. Lack of access to genotypic resistance testing should not be an obstacle to the prescription of third-line ART in patients who do not achieve viral resuppression after adherence reinforcement. FUNDING: French Agency for Research on AIDS and Viral Hepatitis.

Endocrine manifestations in a cohort of 63 adulthood and childhood onset patients with Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

OBJECTIVE: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare inflammatory myeloid neoplasm which can infiltrate any organ or tissue. Endocrine involvement has mostly been described in case reports and small retrospective studies. We aimed to describe endocrine manifestations in a large cohort of adulthood onset (AO) and childhood onset (CO) patients with LCH. DESIGN: Single-center observational study conducted between January 2002 and December 2017 at Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital (Paris, France), a tertiary care hospital. METHOD: Clinical, biological and morphological evaluations of pituitary, gonadal, adrenal and thyroid function evaluations performed in 63 consecutive patients with LCH (AO patients: 40, CO patients: 23). Fifty-eight patients underwent follow-up assessments. RESULTS: Complete pituitary evaluation was performed in 38/63 patients (60.3%); at least one anterior pituitary dysfunction (APD) was found in 63.2% of them. In this subgroup of patients, the most prevalent deficiencies were diabetes insipidus (DI) and GHD (55.3% each), followed by gonadotropin deficiency (34.2%) and thyrotropin deficiency (23.7%). In the subgroup of the 25 incompletely evaluated patients, we found DI in 44%, GHD in 50%, gonadotropin deficiency in 30.4% and thyrotropin deficiency in 16%. APD was more common in CO patients (P = 0.003) but was not systematically associated with DI regardless of the age of onset. Endocrine dysfunction was most often permanent; moreover, occurrence of new deficiencies has been described during follow-up. CONCLUSION: The spectrum of endocrine disorders appears to be large in LCH (both in AO and CO patients) and should be evaluated carefully at diagnosis and during follow-up. APD was not always associated with DI.

[Adherence reinforcement for antiretroviral therapy: PLHIV's perceptions and experience in Burkina Faso]. / Mesures visant à renforcer l'observance pour les antirétroviraux : perceptions et expérience des PVVIH au Burkina Faso.

INTRODUCTION: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is a major obstacle to achieving WHO target 3. In West Africa, however, there is a lack of evidence on the most feasible, acceptable and effective adherence reinforcement measures and users' perceptions of these measures. The purpose of this article is to analyze the perceptions of PLHIV (people living with HIV) on ART reinforcement measures in Burkina Faso. METHOD: In Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso care centers, THILAO Research Project (ANRS 12269) enrolled PLHIV experiencing therapeutic failure on 2nd line antiretroviral treatment, and offered to them adherence reinforcement measures. We conducted a qualitative socio-anthropological study to explore their perceptions. Data were collected through repeated individual interviews with 37 PLHIV. RESULTS: The 31 participants who completed interviews were relatively satisfied with the measures to support adherence. Three measures (pill organizer, weekly phone calls by a member of the team, cellphone alarm reminders) were perceived as simple, effective, discreet, adapted to both illiterate and educated people. Three other measures (home visits, involvement of a member of the family and SMS) were not highly appreciated as they expose to the disclosure of HIV+ status and /or stigmatization. Two measures (support group, frequent visits to the care center) were less selected because considered tedious. CONCLUSION: PLHIV chosed and used the most appropriate adherence measures for their profile / context. The most feasible and acceptable measures identified could be offered to PLHIV at risk of non-compliance in West African ART programs.

[Educational practices and diabetes study of health professionals in Burkina Faso and Mali]. / Pratiques éducatives et diabète : étude auprès des professionnels de santé au Burkina Faso et au Mali.

OBJECTIVE: To examine educational practices in type 2 diabetes among health professionals. METHODS: A cross-sectional study took place from June to September 2012 in Bamako and Ouagadougou. The study population consisted of all health professionals responsible for diabetes care in secondary and tertiary public health facilities. RESULTS: A total of 78 participants were interviewed. Doctors and nurses accounted for 77% and 23% respectively. The median number of patients seen in consultation was 10 per week (range 1-100). The median age of experience in diabetes care for health professionals was 5 years (range: 1-25 years). Sixteen participants reported giving advice for cooking. Of the 62 that did not, the reasons given were mainly: non-competence to give such advice (60/62); lack of time (35/62) and useless counseling (5/62). For out-of-home meals, recommendations included: taking a meal to work (60/77); avoiding meals outside the home (30/77); avoid alcohol and oils at parties (10/77). CONCLUSION: The recommendations made to patients come down to information and advice. As a result, the data collected lacks an educational strategy that aims to render the patient more independent by facilitating his adherence to counseling and improving his quality of life.

Incidence of Severe Neutropenia in HIV-Infected People Starting Antiretroviral Therapy in West Africa.

BACKGROUND: In sub-Saharan Africa, antiretroviral therapy (ART) including drugs with potential toxicity such as Zidovudine (ZDV) are routinely prescribed. This study aimed at estimating the incidence of severe neutropenia and associated factors after ART initiation in five West African countries. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted within the international epidemiologic database to evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) collaboration in West Africa. All HIV-infected adults, initiating ART between 2002 and 2014, with a baseline and at least one follow-up absolute neutrophil count (ANC) measurement were eligible. Incidence of severe neutropenia (ANC <750 cells/mm3) was estimated with 95% confidence interval (CI) according to age, gender, HIV clinic, hemoglobin, CD4 count, clinical stage, and ART duration. A Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify factors associated with severe neutropenia, expressed with their adjusted hazard ratios (aHR). RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2014, 9,426 HIV-infected adults were enrolled. The crude incidence rate of a first severe neutropenia was 9.1 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 8.6-9.8). Factors associated with severe neutropenia were exposure to ZDV <6 months (aHR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.8-2.6), ≥6-12 months (aHR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.6-2.8) and ≥12 months (aHR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2-2.2) [Ref. no ZDV exposure], CD4 count <350 cells/mm3 (aHR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.5) and advanced clinical stage at ART initiation (aHR = 1.2; 95% CI: 1.0-1.4). CONCLUSION: The incidence of severe neutropenia after ART initiation in West Africa is high and associated with ZDV exposure and advanced HIV disease. In this context, efforts are needed to scale-up access to less toxic first-line ART drugs and to promote early ART initiation.

The Modalities of Nonadherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and the Associated Factors Related to Patients' Sociodemographic Characteristics and Their Caregiving Perceptions in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).

BACKGROUND: The authors studied the modalities of nonadherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and its sociodemographic associated factors and those in relation to caregiving perception in Ouagadougou. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed from December 2013 to February 2014 in 2 health centers. Adults receiving HAART for at least 3 months were included. Adherence was studied according to the quantitative, qualitative, and global criteria. Factors associated with nonadherence were analyzed with chi-square and Fisher tests. A logistic regression model was applied for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The authors studied 152 patients: mean age 40.7 ± 7.8 years and sex ratio 0.34. Frequencies were 7.2% for self-reported quantitative, 20.4% for calculated quantitative, 31.6% for qualitative, and 38.2% for global nonadherence. Married status (P = .02), patient's dissatisfaction regarding clinical monitoring (P = .01), and therapeutic education (P = .03) were associated with nonadherence. In multivariate analysis, married status remains associated (odds ratio = 7.00, 95% confidence interval = 1.89-25.8, P = .0004). CONCLUSION: Nonadherence to HAART needs to be correctly managed during HIV/AIDS monitoring.

Features of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Associated Factors during Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).

BACKGROUND: To study the features of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its associated factors during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), in Ouagadougou. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study from March to November 2011 in Yalgado Ouédraogo hospital. A nonprobability sample of adults receiving antiretroviral drugs for at least 6 months was studied. Pregnancy, ascites, or abdominal mass were noninclusion criteria. Metabolic syndrome met the criteria of International Diabetes Federation 2005. RESULTS: The authors studied 300 patients. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 54 (18%) patients: mean age 44.8 ± 7.4 years, sex ratio 0.17, and mean duration of HAART 71 ± 30.9 months. The current anomaly of MS was low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol in 37 patients (68.5%), and the common profile of MS was high waist circumference + low HDL-cholesterol + abnormal blood pressure (29.6%). Associated factors were protease inhibitor regimens (P = .000), female gender (P = .004), age > 42 years (P = .001), and lipodystrophy (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular risks should be regarded during the care of HIV-infected patients.

Simple calculator to estimate the medical cost of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa.

AIM: To design a medical cost calculator and show that diabetes care is beyond reach of the majority particularly patients with complications. METHODS: Out-of-pocket expenditures of patients for medical treatment of type-2 diabetes were estimated based on price data collected in Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali. A detailed protocol for realistic medical care of diabetes and its complications in the African context was defined. Care components were based on existing guidelines, published data and clinical experience. Prices were obtained in public and private health facilities. The cost calculator used Excel. The cost for basic management of uncomplicated diabetes was calculated per person and per year. Incremental costs were also computed per annum for chronic complications and per episode for acute complications. RESULTS: Wide variations of estimated care costs were observed among countries and between the public and private healthcare system. The minimum estimated cost for the treatment of uncomplicated diabetes (in the public sector) would amount to 21%-34% of the country's gross national income per capita, 26%-47% in the presence of retinopathy, and above 70% for nephropathy, the most expensive complication. CONCLUSION: The study provided objective evidence for the exorbitant medical cost of diabetes considering that no medical insurance is available in the study countries. Although the calculator only estimates the cost of inaction, it is innovative and of interest for several stakeholders.

Clinical outcomes and mortality associated factors in patients infected with HIV receiving a presumptive anti-tuberculosis treatment in a tertiary level hospital in Burkina Faso.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. In PLHIV, Smear-Negative Pulmonary Tuberculosis (SNPTB) and Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) are predominant. Presumptive anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) treatment is often delayed leading to a high mortality rate. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical outcomes of presumptive anti-TB treatment in HIV patients suspected of having TB and to determine the factors associated with patients' death. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective descriptive study from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2008 in the Department of Internal Medicine of the Hospital Yalgado Ouédraogo on patients infected with HIV who received a presumptive anti-TB treatment. Defining patients with SNPTB or EPTB was based on the 2007 WHO's diagnostic algorithm of SNPTB and EPTB. RESULTS: One hundred and sixteen patients of the 383 (30.2%) HIV patients hospitalized in this period were suspected of having TB. The average CD4 count was 86.1 cells/µl (SD = 42.3). A SNPTB was diagnosed in 67 patients (57.8%) and a EPTB in 49 patients (42.2%). The median length of hospitalization duration was 23.5 days. The average time of initiation of anti-TB treatment after admission was 22 days (SD = 9.2 days). Evolution during the hospital stay was favorable for 65 patients (56.0%), unfavorable for 48 patients (41.4% or 12.5% of all hospitalized patients), and 3 patients (2.6%) were treatment defaulters. In a multivariate analysis, hospitalization duration longer than 15 days and a delay of anti-TB treatment initiation of more than 30 days are independent factors associated with patients' deaths. CONCLUSION: An urgent access to TB-diagnostic tools and a revision of the International algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of SNPTB and EPTB in the context of HIV could help to reduce the delay of anti-TB treatment initiation and the mortality rate of PLHIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

Prevalence and factors associated with self-medication in rheumatology in Sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with self-medication in patients with rheumatic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from February to July 2013 in the rheumatology department. We included all patients who consulted for a rheumatic disease during the study period and who gave their consent. RESULTS: In total, 203 patients were included; of these, 146 patients (71.92%) had practiced self-medication. Furthermore, 99 patients (48.8%) had practiced self-medication for rheumatologic problems. The mean age of the patients was 45.5 years (range: 18-75 years). State officials accounted for 44.4% of patients. Eighty-one patients were schooled. Low back pain (29.29%) was the main reason for consultation, followed by polyarthralgia (12.12%). Using a visual analogue scale, the level of pain for which patients had used self-medication was rated as >70 out of 100 in 57.6% of patients. Fifty-five patients often self-medicated and 28 patients rarely. Drugs were bought from the pharmacy in 97% of cases. The main channel of self-medication was word of mouth (43.4%). The drugs used were mainly anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac: 54.54% and ibuprofen: 57.57%). Ten patients were unaware of the risks of self-medication. In multivariate analysis, sex, education level, and occupation were statistically associated with self-medication. CONCLUSION: Self-medication for a specific rheumatologic symptom appears less common than self-medication in general. The procedures for responsible self-medication should be defined in Burkina Faso in order to minimize the risks.

Clinical spectrum of rheumatologic diseases in a department of rheumatology in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).

The aim of this study is to review over a period of 5 years the clinical spectrum of rheumatic diseases seen in a tertiary hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. A retrospective study of case records was conducted from March 1, 2006 to March 30, 2011 in the Rheumatology service, Department of Internal Medicine of the University Hospital Yalgado Ouedraogo. Of the 4,084 patients seen, 2,381 were women (58.30%) and 1,703 were men (41.70%). The mean age at disease onset was 42.12 years, ranging from 3 to 92 years. Among the rheumatologic conditions, mechanical and degenerative disorders were the most common, found in 3,053 cases (74.76%). Among these cases, spinal pathology predominated, especially low back pain (19.93 %). The frequency of osteoarthritis was 19.70 % (804 cases) with a predominance of knee osteoarthritis (657 cases). Infectious pathology was dominated by osteoarticular tuberculosis (48 cases), particularly Pott's disease (43.68% of infectious diseases). Among the cases of inflammatory arthritides, rheumatoid arthritis was the leading cause (116 cases or 2.84%). It was followed by spondyloarthropathies in which arthritis related to HIV predominated (21 out of 81 cases). Metabolic diseases were mainly represented by the gout (162 cases or 3.96%) with male predominance. Comorbidities included high blood pressure (46.57%), diabetes mellitus (13.78%), hemoglobinopathies (9.66%), epigastric pain (7.25%), and peptic ulcer confirmed by endoscopy (6.75%). Rheumatology in Burkina Faso is booming. The profile of rheumatologic diseases in Burkina Faso, after 5 years of practice, confirms the diversity and importance of these conditions dominated by a degenerative pathology of the spine and limbs, including infectious diseases such as Pott's disease and the inflammatory and metabolic diseases.

Characteristics and factors associated with the clinical forms of lipoatrophy during highly active antiretroviral therapy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study the factors associated with clinical forms of lipoatrophy in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Yalgado Ouédraogo Teaching Hospital, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. METHODS: This cross-sectional review from March 10 to November 10, 2011, included a nonprobability sample of HIV-infected adults receiving antiretroviral (ARV) medications for at least 6 months and monitored in the internal medicine department. The diagnosis of lipoatrophy was clinical. RESULTS: Three hundred patients were included. The sex ratio was 0.4 and the mean age was 42.1 ± 8.5 years. The mean duration of HAART was 73.2 ± 30.9 months. In all, 97 (32.3%) patients had lipoatrophy: 75 (25%) isolated and 22 (7.3%) mixed syndrome. Facial lipoatrophy was frequent (61.8%). Isolated lipoatrophy was associated with male sex (P = .002) and body mass index ≤25 (P < .05). Mixed syndrome was associated with female sex (P = .002), age >42 years (P < .05), physical activity (P = .003), smoking (P = .001), stavudine (d4T; P = .0001), or protease inhibitors (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Prevention of lipoatrophy associated with HAART requires the exclusion of modifiable risk factors that we identified.

Antiretroviral treatment and quality of life in Africans living with HIV: 12-month follow-up in Burkina Faso.

INTRODUCTION: The scale-up of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to a significant improvement in survival of the HIV-positive patient but its effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are less known and context-dependent. Our aim was to assess the temporal changes and factors associated with HRQOL among HIV-positive adults initiating HAART in Burkina Faso. METHODS: HIV-positive people initiating HAART were prospectively included and followed over a one-year period in three HIV clinics of Ouagadougou. HRQOL was assessed at baseline and at each follow-up visit using physical (PHS) and mental (MHS) summary scores derived from the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item short-form health survey (MOS SF-36) questionnaire. Toxicity related to HAART modification and self-reported symptoms were recorded during follow-up visits. Determinants associated with baseline and changes in both scores over a one-year period were assessed using a mixed linear model. RESULTS: A total of 344 patients were included. Their median age at baseline was 37 years [interquartile range (IQR) 30-44] and their median CD4 count was 181 cells/mm(3) (IQR 97-269). The mean [standard deviation (SD)] PHS score increased from 45.4 (11.1) at baseline to 60.0 (3.1) at 12 months (p <10(-4)) and the mean (SD) MHS score from 42.2 (8.7) to 43.9 (3.4) (p<10(-2)). After one year of treatment, patients that experienced on average two symptoms during follow-up presented with significantly lower PHS (63.9) and MHS (43.8) scores compared to patients that presented no symptoms with PHS and MHS of 68.2 (p<10(-4)) and 45.3 (p<10(-3)), respectively. DISCUSSION: The use of HAART was associated with a significant increase in both physical and mental aspects of the HRQOL over a 12-month period in this urban African population. Perceived symptoms experienced during follow-up visits were associated with a significant impairment in HRQOL. The appropriate and timely management of reported symptoms during the follow-up of HAART-treated patients is a key component to restore HRQOL.

Characteristics of HIV-2 and HIV-1/HIV-2 Dually Seropositive Adults in West Africa Presenting for Care and Antiretroviral Therapy: The IeDEA-West Africa HIV-2 Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: HIV-2 is endemic in West Africa. There is a lack of evidence-based guidelines on the diagnosis, management and antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-2 or HIV-1/HIV-2 dual infections. Because of these issues, we designed a West African collaborative cohort for HIV-2 infection within the framework of the International epidemiological Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA). METHODS: We collected data on all HIV-2 and HIV-1/HIV-2 dually seropositive patients (both ARV-naive and starting ART) and followed-up in clinical centres in the IeDEA-WA network including a total of 13 clinics in five countries: Benin, Burkina-Faso Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, and Senegal, in the West Africa region. RESULTS: Data was merged for 1,754 patients (56% female), including 1,021 HIV-2 infected patients (551 on ART) and 733 dually seropositive for both HIV-1 and HIV 2 (463 on ART). At ART initiation, the median age of HIV-2 patients was 45.3 years, IQR: (38.3-51.7) and 42.4 years, IQR (37.0-47.3) for dually seropositive patients (p = 0.048). Overall, 16.7% of HIV-2 patients on ART had an advanced clinical stage (WHO IV or CDC-C). The median CD4 count at the ART initiation is 166 cells/mm(3), IQR (83-247) among HIV-2 infected patients and 146 cells/mm(3), IQR (55-249) among dually seropositive patients. Overall, in ART-treated patients, the CD4 count increased 126 cells/mm(3) after 24 months on ART for HIV-2 patients and 169 cells/mm(3) for dually seropositive patients. Of 551 HIV-2 patients on ART, 5.8% died and 10.2% were lost to follow-up during the median time on ART of 2.4 years, IQR (0.7-4.3). CONCLUSIONS: This large multi-country study of HIV-2 and HIV-1/HIV-2 dual infection in West Africa suggests that routine clinical care is less than optimal and that management and treatment of HIV-2 could be further informed by ongoing studies and randomized clinical trials in this population.

Effect of age on immunological response in the first year of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1-infected adults in West Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of aging on the immunological response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the West African context. METHODS: The change in CD4 T-cell count was analysed according to age at the time of ART initiation among HIV-infected patients enrolled in the International epidemiological Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) Collaboration in the West African region. CD4 gain over 12 months of ART was estimated using linear mixed models. Models were adjusted for baseline CD4 cell count, sex, baseline clinical stage, calendar period and ART regimen. RESULTS: The total number of patients included was 24,107, contributing for 50,893 measures of CD4 cell count in the first year of ART. The baseline median CD4 cell count was 144 cells/µl [interquartile range (IQR) 61-235]; median CD4 cell count reached 310 cells/µl (IQR 204-443) after 1 year of ART. The median age at treatment initiation was 36.3 years (10th-90th percentiles = 26.5-50.1). In adjusted analysis, the mean CD4 gain was significantly higher in younger patients (P < 0.0001). At 12 months, patients below 30 years recovered an additional 22 cells/µl on average [95% confidence interval (CI) 2-43] compared to patients at least 50 years. CONCLUSION: Among HIV-infected adults in West Africa, the immunological response after 12 months of ART was significantly poorer in elderly patients. As the population of treated patients is likely to get older, the impact of this age effect on immunological response to ART may increase over time.

Prevalence of neuropathic pain among Black African patients suffering from common low back pain.

To study the prevalence and semiotic characteristics of neuropathic pain in the common low back pain to the Black African subject. This was a prospective cross-sectional survey carried on from April 1 2009 to August 31 2009 in consultations of rheumatology, neurology, and neurosurgery at the University Hospital Yalgado Ouédraogo in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). All patients with a low back pain or a common lomboradiculalgie were included. DN4 questionnaire was used for the diagnosis of neuropathic pain. One hundred and seven patients have been recruited during the study period; Sixty-four (59.80%) were female (sex ratio M/F: 0.67). The average age was 34.11 ± 13.46 years of age with extremes of 20 and 79. The average duration of disease was 48.53 months with extremes of 10 days and 50 years. Eighty-seven patients (81.31%) had a disease duration, which was 3 months longer. Sixty-six patients (61.70%) had a predominant lomboradiculalgie; among the remaining 41, low back pain predominated. Average intensity of pain was 62.81 ± 22.43 (on a scale of 100). A sign of Lasèque was present in the 41 (38.30%) patients. Fifty-three (49.5%) patients had a neuropathic pain. The prevalence of neuropathy signs according to the DN4 questionnaire was as follows: burning (n = 37; 34.58%), painful cold (n = 13; 12.15%), electric shocks (n = 31; 38.97%), pins and needles (n = 34; 31.77%), tingling (n = 35; 32.71%), numbness (n = 45; 42.05%), itching (n = 18; 16.82%), touch hypoesthesia (n = 35; 32.71%), pinprick (n = 33; 30.84%), and tactile allodynia (n = 21; 19.62%). Among the studied variables, the presence of a radiculalgy was statistically associated with neuropathic pain. The lomboradiculalgie of the Black African subject associates neuropathic pain observed in half of patients. Treatment must therefore always take account of this association. However, further studies are needed before any definitive conclusion.

Comparison of elastography, serum marker scores, and histology for the assessment of liver fibrosis in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients in Burkina Faso.

Liver fibrosis (LF) must be assessed before talking treatment decisions in hepatitis B. In Burkina Faso, liver biopsy (LB) remains the "gold standard" method for this purpose. Access to treatment might be simpler if reliable alternative techniques for LF evaluation were available. The hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients who underwent LB was invited to have liver stiffness measurement (Fibroscan) and serum marker assays. Fifty-nine patients were enrolled. The performance of each technique for distinguishing F0F1 from F2F3F4 was compared. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves was 0.61, 0.71, 0.79, 0.82, and 0.87 for the aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI), Fib-4, Fibrotest, Fibrometre, and Fibroscan. Elastometric thresholds were identified for significant fibrosis and cirrhosis. Combined use of Fibroscan and a serum marker could avoid 80% of biopsies. This study shows that the results of alternative methods concord with those of histology in HBV-infected patients in Burkina Faso. These alternative techniques could help physicians to identify patients requiring treatment.