Impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection and disease-2019 (COVID-19) on the quality of life of rheumatoid arthritis patients in Benin.

Aim of the work: To study the impact on the quality of life (QoL) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients following up in a university hospital in Benin during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Patients and methods: The QoL of 68 RA patients was assessed using Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (MOS-SF36) scale across the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components scores. The disease activity score (DAS28) was considered. Patients accepting to participate and having a mean of communication via social network, in particular WhatsApp were included. Results: The mean age of the patients was 49.9 ± 12.1 years (11-83 years) and were 65 females and 3 males. The mean DAS-28 at the start of the restriction measures was 3.4 ± 1.5, the mean PCS and MCS were 71.1 ± 20.3 and 67.1 ± 16.02 respectively and became 4.7 ± 2.04, 38.1 ± 4.96 and 36.8 ± 3.8 respectively. After 2 months, none of the RA patients presented with classic symptoms of COVID-19 infection. 8 patients were screened by Rapid Diagnostic Test and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction. Only 1 case was positive but asymptomatic. All patients had altered QoL according to MOS-SF36. Factors associated with this deterioration were stress related to SARS-CoV2 isolation (p = 0.001), stress of having an activity flare-up (p = 0.001), fear of being stigmatized (p = 0.009). The economic factors were significantly associated with temporary unemployment, decrease in monthly income, and drug discontinuation (p = 0.001, p = 0.002 and p = 0.046 respectively). Conclusion: The impact of the SARS-CoV2 pandemic is negative on the QoL of RA patients and many factors were contributing.

[Prevalence and factors associated with low back pain among motorcycle drivers in Porto-Novo (Benin)]. / Prévalence et facteurs associés à la lombalgie chez les conducteurs de taxi moto à Porto-Novo (Bénin).

INTRODUCTION: low back pain is a major health problem in the workplace. Some populations of workers appear to be much more exposed than others. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with the occurrence of low back pain among motorcycle drivers in Porto-Novo. METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study of 270 consenting motorcycle drivers with at least one year of seniority. Patients were asked to complete the Nordic Questionnaire adapted to our context and physical examination of the spine was performed. Data were analyzed using Epidata 3.1. Software and STATA/IC 11.0. The threshold significance level was 5% and the confidence intervals were 95%. RESULTS: the prevalence of low back pain was 68.89%. The average age of motorcycle drivers was 42.43 ±11.25 [25-64]years. The majority of them had been driving for more than 5 years (93.33%). Drivers spent an average of more than 8 hours (93.34%) driving per day and 68.52% of them drove over 160km per day. Low back pain was mechanical in 91.39% of cases. It was characterized by sudden onset in 81.73% of cases. Pain was moderate in 55.91% of drivers, evolving in acute pain in 46.24% of drivers and without radiation in 62.36% of cases. Age, education level, stress, posture, condition of motorcycle shock absorbers were associated with low back pain in these motorcycle drivers (p < 0.001). By contrast, distance travelled, job duration, seniority and road conditions were not associated with the occurrence of low back pain. CONCLUSION: low back pain is a serious public health problem in particular among motorcycle drivers in our country where riding a motorcycle is becoming more and more a work to bring assistance to the population facing growing unemployment. Hence the need to address factors associated with effective prevention.

[Pattern of systemic lupus erythematosus in Benin and West African patients]. / Lupus érythématuex systémique: particulatités au Bénin et en Afrique de 'Ouest.

AIMS: To describe the clinical features, laboratory characteristics and the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among Benin people and West Africa people. METHODS: This is a part of a retrospective study which initially concerned patients seen in the rheumatology, dermatology and internal medicine departments of National Hospital University of Cotonou during January 2000 to March 2013 (14 years). Patients included in the study were all older than 16 years and fulfilling at least four of ACR criteria 1997 for Systemic lupus erythematosus. In a second step, we collect the data of the countries of West Africa where the work on the systemic lupus erythematosus have been published through a literature review including all articles published in the local, regional and international journals. Demographic, clinical and outcomes data were analyzed. RESULTS: 33 cases of lupus were diagnosed in 14 years in Cotonou. The sex ratio was 32/1 and means age 28.76 ± 8.01 [16-51]. The mean delay before diagnosis was 15 months [1- 84 months]. Polyarthralgia/ polyarthritis were the most common presentations (94.3 %) followed by systemic manifestations (78.9 %). Nineteen (19) patients achieved serological profiles. The anti- ds DNA were positive in 15 cases, anti- Sm in 10 cases and anti -SSA in 5 cases. Anti - phospholipids and lupus anticoagulant were absent. Treatment modalities were: corticosteroids (n = 21) antimalarials (n=15) , methotrexate (n = 4) , body corticosteroids (n=5), clinical monitoring without treatment (n = 3). Outcome was satisfactory in 25 cases. Eight (8) patients developed complications, 4 cases of death were observed and 8 patients lost to follow. These data are congruent with those published in the countries of West Africa. CONCLUSION: SLE seems rare in Benin. In general, in West Africa, the diagnosis is difficult because the clinical polymorphism by misdiagnosis and access serological profiles difficulty. However, the disease appears to be well controlled by treatment dominated by corticosteroids.