Focused cardiac ultrasound: Competency among pre-internship medical officers in diagnosing cardiac causes of dyspnea.

BACKGROUND: Differentiating cardiovascular causes of dyspnea in resource-limited healthcare settings can be challenging. The use of easy-to-train, point-of-care, focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) protocols may potentially alleviate this challenge. RESEARCH QUESTION: Can novices attain competency in FoCUS use after training using the cardiac ultrasound for resource-limited settings (CURLS) protocol? METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Forty-five graduate medical pre-interns, novices in cardiac ultrasound, received simulated didactic and hands-on FoCUS skills training using the CURLS protocol and 2018 European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) FoCUS training and competence assessment recommendations. Competency was assessed in image interpretation, image acquisition, and image quality. RESULTS: Aggregate image interpretation competency was attained by n = 38 (84%) of trainees with a median score of 80%. The proportion of trainees attaining category-specific image interpretation competency was as follows: pericardial effusion n = 44 (98%), left atrial enlargement n = 40 (89%), cardiomyopathy n = 38 (84%), left ventricular hypertrophy n = 37 (82%), and right ventricular enlargement n = 29 (64%). Image acquisition skills competency was attained by n = 36 (80%) of trainees. Three-quarters of trainee-obtained images were of good quality. CONCLUSION: Majority of the trainees attained competency. Training constraints limit the generalizability of our findings.

Quality of sleep and risk for obstructive sleep apnoea in ambulant individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus at a tertiary referral hospital in Kenya: a cross-sectional, comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders are common and associated with multiple metabolic and psychological derangements. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is among the most common sleep disorders and an inter-relationship between OSA, insulin resistance, obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases has been established. Prevalence of sleep disorders in Kenyans, particularly in individuals with T2DM is unknown. We thus aimed to determine prevalence of poor quality of sleep (QOS) and high risk for OSA, among persons with T2DM and determine their associations with socio-demographic and anthropometric variables. METHODS: Utilising a Cross- Sectional Descriptive design, QOS and risk for OSA were determined in a randomly selected sample of patients with T2DM (cases) and an age and sex matched comparison group. The validated Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Berlin Questionnaire (BQ) were used to measure QOS and risk for OSA respectively. Associations between poor QOS, high risk for OSA, and socio-demographic and anthropometric variables in cases were evaluated. RESULTS: From 245 randomly selected persons with T2DM attending outpatient clinics, aged over 18 years, 22 were excluded due to ineligibility thus 223 were included in the analysis; 53.8% were females, mean age was 56.8 (SD 12.2) years and mean BMI was 28.8 kg/m2 (SD 4.4). Among them, 119 (53%, CI 95% 46.5-60.2) had poor QOS and 99 (44% CI 95% 37.8-50.9) were at high risk for OSA. Among 112 individuals in comparison group, 33 (29.5%, CI 95% 20.9-38.3) had poor QOS and 9 (8%, CI 95% 3.3-13.4) had high risk for OSA. Cases had a significantly higher probability for poor QOS [OR 2.76 (95% CI 1.7-4.4))] and high risk for OSA [OR 9.1 (95% CI 4.4-19.0)]. Higher waist circumference was independently associated with a high risk for OSA in cases. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a high burden of sleep disturbances in patients with T2DM. Our findings may have implications for clinicians to screen for sleep disorders when assessing patients with T2DM and warranting further attention by practitioners and researches in this field.

Prevalence of hypertension and associated cardiovascular risk factors in an urban slum in Nairobi, Kenya: a population-based survey.

BACKGROUND: Urbanisation has been described as a key driver of the evolving non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic. In Africa, hypertension is the commonest cardiovascular problem. We determined the prevalence and risk factor correlates of hypertension in the largest Nairobi slum. METHODS: In 2010 we conducted a population-based household survey in Kibera, a large informal settlement in Nairobi City; utilising cluster sampling with probability proportional to size. Households were selected using a random walk method. The WHO instrument for stepwise surveillance (STEPS) of chronic disease risk factors was administered by trained medical assistants, who also recorded blood pressure (BP) and anthropometric measures. BP was recorded using a mercury sphygmomanometer utilising the American Heart Association guidelines. Hypertension was defined as per the 7th Report of the Joint National Committee or use of prescribed antihypertensive medication. Those with hypertension or with random capillary blood sugar (RCBS) >11.1 mmol/l had an 8 hours fasting venous blood sugar sample drawn. Age standardised prevalence was computed and multivariate analysis to assess associations. RESULTS: We screened 2200 and enrolled 2061 adults; 50.9% were males; mean age was 33.4 years and 87% had primary level education. The age-standardised prevalence of hypertension (95% CI) was 22.8% (20.7, 24.9). 20% (53/258) were aware of their hypertensive status; 59.3% had pre-hypertension; 80% reported high levels of physical activity and 52% were classified as harmful alcohol drinkers; 10% were current smokers and 5% had diabetes. Majority of males had normal BMI and waist circumference, whereas a third of females were obese or overweight and 40% had central obesity. Older age, higher general and central obesity were independently associated with hypertension and higher SBP and DBP readings. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings of high prevalence of hypertension, in association with excess body weight in this poor urban slum community, point to the need for greater awareness and implementation of primary preventive strategies.

A comparative study of the quality of care and glycemic control among ambulatory type 2 diabetes mellitus clients, at a Tertiary Referral Hospital and a Regional Hospital in Central Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral public health facilities remain the most frequented by the majority of the population in Kenya; yet remain sub-optimally equipped and not optimized for non-communicable diseases care. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: We undertook a descriptive, cross sectional study among ambulatory type 2 diabetes mellitus clients, attending Kenyatta National Referral Hospital (KNH), and Thika District Hospital (TDH) in Central Kenya. Systematic random sampling was used. HbA1c was assessed for glycemic control and the following, as markers of quality of care: direct client costs, clinic appointment interval and frequency of self monitoring test, affordability and satisfaction with care. RESULTS: We enrolled 200 clients, (Kenyatta National Hospital 120; Thika District Hospital 80); Majority of the patients 66.5% were females, the mean age was 57.8 years; and 58% of the patients had basic primary education. 67.5% had diabetes for less than 10 years and 40% were on insulin therapy. The proportion (95% CI) with good glycemic was 17% (12.0-22.5 respectively) in the two facilities [Kenyatta National Hospital 18.3% (11.5-25.6); Thika District Hospital 15% (CI 7.4-23.7); P = 0.539]. However, in Thika District Hospital clients were more likely to have a clinic driven routine urinalysis and weight, they were also accorded shorter clinic appointment intervals; incurred half to three quarter lower direct costs, and reported greater affordability and satisfactions with care. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we demonstrate that in Thika district hospital, glycemic control and diabetic care is suboptimal; but comparable to that of Kenyatta National Referral hospital. Opportunities for improvement of care abound at peripheral health facilities.