The Pattern of Admission, Clinical Characteristics, and Outcomes Among Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania: A 5-Year Retrospective Review.

Introduction: Despite the implementation of complex interventions, ICU mortality remains high and more so in developing countries. The demand for critical care in Sub-Saharan Africa is more than ever before as the region experiences a double burden of rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCD) in the background battle of combating infectious diseases. Limited studies in Tanzania have reported varying factors associated with markedly high rates of ICU mortality. Investigating the burden of ICU care remains crucial in providing insights into the effectiveness and challenges of critical care delivery. Material and Methods: A single-center retrospective study that reviewed records of all medically admitted patients admitted to the ICU of the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar-es-Salaam, from 1st October 2018 to 30th April 2023. To define the population in the study, we used descriptive statistics. Patients' outcomes were categorized based on ICU survival. Binary logistic regression was run (at 95% CI and p-value < 0.05) to identify the determinants for ICU mortality. Results: Medical records of 717 patients were reviewed. The cohort was male (n=472,65.8%) and African predominant (n=471,65.7%) with a median age of 58 years (IQR 45.0-71.0). 17.9% of patients did not survive. The highest mortality was noted amongst patients with septic shock (29.3%). The lowest survival was noted amongst patients requiring three organ support (n=12,2.1%). Advanced age (OR 1.02,CI 1.00-1.04), having more than three underlying comorbidities (OR 2.50,CI 1.96-6.60), use of inotropic support (OR 3.58,CI 1.89-6.80) and mechanical ventilation (OR 9.11,CI 4.72-18.11) showed association with increased risk for mortality in ICU. Conclusion: The study indicated a much lower ICU mortality rate compared to similar studies conducted in other parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. Advanced age, underlying multiple comorbidities and organ support were associated with ICU mortality. Large multi-center studies are needed to highlight the true burden of critical care illness in Tanzania.

Risk Assessment Score and Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection Algorithm for Hypertension Among Africans: Models From the SIREN Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop a risk-scoring model for hypertension among Africans. METHODS: In this study, 4413 stroke-free controls were used to develop the risk-scoring model for hypertension. Logistic regression models were applied to 13 risk factors. We randomly split the dataset into training and testing data at a ratio of 80:20. Constant and standardized weights were assigned to factors significantly associated with hypertension in the regression model to develop a probability risk score on a scale of 0 to 1 using a logistic regression model. The model accuracy was assessed to estimate the cutoff score for discriminating hypertensives. RESULTS: Mean age was 59.9±13.3 years, 56.0% were hypertensives, and 8 factors, including diabetes, age ≥65 years, higher waist circumference, (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2, lack of formal education, living in urban residence, family history of cardiovascular diseases, and dyslipidemia use were associated with hypertension. Cohen κ was maximal at ≥0.28, and a total probability risk score of ≥0.60 was adopted for both statistical weighting for risk quantification of hypertension in both datasets. The probability risk score presented a good performance-receiver operating characteristic: 64% (95% CI, 61.0-68.0), a sensitivity of 55.1%, specificity of 71.5%, positive predicted value of 70.9%, and negative predicted value of 55.8%, in the test dataset. Similarly, decision tree had a predictive accuracy of 67.7% (95% CI, 66.1-69.3) for the training set and 64.6% (95% CI, 61.0-68.0) for the testing dataset. CONCLUSIONS: The novel risk-scoring model discriminated hypertensives with good accuracy and will be helpful in the early identification of community-based Africans vulnerable to hypertension for its primary prevention.

Development and initial validation of the Kiswahili version of the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS-K) questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (MIDAS) is one of the tools for measuring and understanding disability caused by migraine. The purpose of this study was to validate a Kiswahili translation of the MIDAS (MIDAS-K) among patients suffering from migraines in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODS: A psychometric validation study of MIDAS was conducted after translation to Kiswahili. A total of 70 people with migraine were recruited by systematic random sampling and they completed the MIDAS-K questionnaire twice, 10-14 days apart. Internal consistency, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability, convergent and divergent validity were examined. RESULTS: 70 patients (F:M; 59:11) with median (25th, 75th) headache days of 4.0 (2.0, 7.0) were recruited. Twenty-eight out of 70 (40%) of the population had severe disability on MIDAS-K. The overall test-retest reliability of MIDAS-K was high (ICC = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.78-0.92 p < 0.001). Factor analysis showed a two-factor structure; the number of days missed and reduced efficiency. MIDAS-K had a good internal consistency of 0.78, good split-half reliability of 0.80 and acceptable test-retest reliability for all items as well as total MIDAS-K scores. CONCLUSION: The Kiswahili version of the MIDAS questionnaire (MIDAS-K) is a valid, responsive, and reliable tool to measure migraine-related disability among Tanzanians and other Swahili-speaking populations. Quantification of migraine disability in the region will guide policies directed at care allotment, improvement in the provision of interventions for migraine, as well as enhancement of health-related quality of life for patients with migraine in our region.

Neuroimaging findings in DYT1 dystonia and the pathophysiological implication: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Primary generalized dystonia due to the DYT1 gene is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a GAG deletion on chromosome 9q34. It is a well-defined, genetically proven, isolated dystonia syndrome. However, its pathophysiology remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at profiling the functional neuroimaging findings in DYT1 dystonia and harmonizing the pathophysiological implications for DYT1 dystonia from the standpoint of different neuroimaging techniques. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted using identified studies published in English from Medline, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR), between 1985 and December 2019 (PROSPERO protocol CRD42018111211). RESULTS: All DYT1 gene carriers irrespective of clinical penetrance have reduced striatal GABA, dopamine receptors and increased metabolic activity in the lentiform nucleus, supplementary motor area, and cerebellum in addition to an abnormal cerebellothalamocortical pathway. Nonmanifesting carriers on the other hand have a disruption of the distal (thalamocortical) segment and have larger putaminal volumes than manifesting carriers and healthy controls. Activation of the midbrain, thalamus, and sensorimotor cortex was only found in the manifesting carriers. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, we propose that DYT1 dystonia is a cerebellostriatothalamocortical network disorder affecting either the structure or function of the different structures or nodes in the network.

F-wave parameters and body mass index in carpal tunnel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) readily lends itself to both clinical and electrophysiological recognition. The uncertainty sometimes is in identifying and quantifying motor involvement in mild and, perhaps, in moderate CTS. Our study aimed to evaluate F responses in mild and moderate CTS and determine the contribution of BMI to the F-wave parameters. METHODS: A retrospective review of the clinical and electrophysiological data of patients with CTS seen at the clinical neurophysiology laboratory of Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam, between 1 August 2017 and 31 July 2019 was retrieved. Carpal tunnel syndrome was graded according to the electrophysiological criteria of Padua. The F-wave parameters of patients with mild-to-moderate CTS were analyzed and compared with asymptomatic controls. RESULT: We studied 91 hands. Twenty-two hands were asymptomatic controls, 30 hands had mild CTS, and 39 hands had moderate CTS. Patients with moderate CTS were more obese (p =.011), had more females (p =.044), and were older (p= <0.001). F-wave parameters were not convincingly different between mild and moderate CTS. F-wave chronodispersion (p =.035) and F-wave persistence (0.019) were significantly different between nonobese control and mild and moderate CTS. Median-ulnar F-wave latency difference (FWLD) was significant between obese patients with mild CTS and moderate CTS scores (p =.017). CONCLUSION: Although a clear difference exists between F-wave parameters in asymptomatic controls and those with CTS, the F-wave study is inadequate in distinguishing mild and moderate CTS even in the context of BMI. Median-ulnar F-wave latency difference (FWLD) appeared to be a promising discriminant parameter between obese patients with mild CTS and those with moderate CTS.

Inadvertent Stone Migration During Pneumatic Lithotripsy: Still a Conundrum in the 21st Century.

Currently, an ideal gadget to stop retrograde stone migration remains a holy grail, and the hunt for such a device is still ongoing in the 21st century. The quest for an ideal instrument is driven by the need to reduce cost, minimize ancillary procedure rates, reduce the device's operative time, and improve the stone-free rate. The purpose of the present review is to provide an update on the use of preventive measures that are used to stop retrograde stone migration during pneumatic lithotripsy for ureteric stone management.

Post-Vaccination Pharyngeal-Cervical-Brachial Variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

The pharyngeal-cervical-brachial (PCB) variant of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is very rare. It is characterized by weakness of the upper extremities associated with bulbar symptoms and facial diplegia. Documented cases were post-infectious, a post-vaccination occurrence has not been documented in the available literature. Even rarer is the occurrence of any variant of GBS following the mumps measles rubella (MMR) vaccine. The neurophysiological hallmark of PCB variant of GBS is a combination of myelinopathy and axonopathy, hence, its consideration as a subtype of the acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) variant. It should be suspected in any case of acute-onset flaccid symmetrical weakness of the upper extremities, as early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing fatal bulbar weakness. Here we report a case of a middle-aged man, who presented with features of PCB a fortnight after being vaccinated for MMR.

Relationship Between Obesity and Severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Tanzania.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common focal mononeuropathy in the general population, and obesity is one of its established independent risk factors The prevalence of obesity in CTS patients and its association with CTS severity are yet to be fully studied among Tanzanians. In this study, we determined the frequency of obesity in patients with CTS and its relationship with the electrophysiological severity of CTS in a Tanzanian private tertiary level hospital. Methods: This is a retrospective observational and analytical study of patients referred for electrodiagnostic (EDX) evaluation of suspected CTS at the clinical neurophysiology laboratory of the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. All EDX studies done for CTS indications between August 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, were reviewed. The frequency of CTS patients with obesity (body mass index >30 kg/m2) and overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m2) was determined. Next, we explored the relationship between obesity and the electrophysiologic severity of CTS. Results: One-hundred nine hands were studied. The prevalence of obesity was 50.5% and overweight was 31.2%. Females were significantly more obese than males (P = 0.001). Many of the EDX parameters that defined CTS, including prolonged median nerve sensory and distal motor latencies as well as sensory conduction velocity, were significantly more abnormal in the obese when compared to the nonobese patients. On univariate analysis, severe CTS (stage 5) was commoner among nonobese patients (P = 0.031), while moderate CTS (stage3) was more prevalent among obese patients (P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis, however, revealed no effect of obesity on CTS severity (P = 0.490). Conclusion: Obesity and overweight are prevalent among this cohort with CTS, but did not predict severe CTS. The use of other indices of adiposity may show a trend.

Out-patient neurological disorders in Tanzania: Experience from a private institution in Dar es Salaam.

BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION: Low and middle-income countries (LMIC) have a considerable burden of neurological disorders. Available profile of neurological disorders in our environment is biased towards neurological admissions. There is a paucity of data on out-patient neurological conditions in sub-Saharan Africa. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and demographic data of neurological illnesses being managed at the adult out-patient neurology clinic of the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam (AKHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The electronic medical records of all cases with neurological diseases who presented to the adult neurology clinic of the AKHD between January 2018, and December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Neurological disorders are categorized according to the international classification of diseases version-11(ICD-11). RESULTS: Of the 1186 patients seen in a period of 2 years, there were 597 (50.4%) females and 588(49.6%) males, with median age (IQR) of 38 (30.0-52.0) and 42 (33.0-54.5) years respectively (p = 0.001). Headache disorders (27.0%); disorders of the nerve root, plexus or peripheral nerves (23.4%); epilepsy (9.3%), cerebrovascular disorders (8.9%); movement disorders (3.6%) and disorders of cognition (3.5%) were the primary neurological conditions encountered. Musculoskeletal disorders (7.5%) and mental/behavioral disorders (5.4%) were other conditions seen in the clinic. CONCLUSION: The pattern of neurological disorders in this cohort mirrors that of high-income countries. However, the manpower to tackle these conditions pales in comparison. Increasing the neurology workforce and paying extra attention to non-communicable disorders in SSA is advocated.

Menstrual-Related Headaches Among a Cohort of African Adolescent Girls.

INTRODUCTION: Migraine attacks associated with menstruation are generally perceived as more severe than attacks outside this period. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: The study aimed at determining the frequency of menstrual-related headaches among a cohort of senior secondary school girls in Abeokuta, Nigeria. We also determined its burden among these school girls. METHODOLOGY: This study was cross-sectional using a validated adolescent headache survey questionnaire. A self-administration of the instrument was done during a school visit. A headache was classified using the ICHD-II criteria. RESULTS: Of the 183 students interviewed, 123(67.2%) had recurrent headaches. Mean age ±SD, 16.18±1.55 (range 12-19). The prevalence of definite migraine was 17.5% while the prevalence of probable migraine was 6.0%. The prevalence of tension-type headache was 41.0%. Migraine was significantly menstrual-related (p=0.001, 95% CI=1.06-6.63). Median pain severity score was higher among MRH group (p=0.043). The median number of days of reduced productivity and missed social activities was significantly higher in the MRH group; p= 0.001 and p=0.03, respectively. Subjects with MRH were more incapacitated by their headaches (p= 0.003). CONCLUSION: Menstrually related headache is prevalent even among the adolescent and it has adversely affected their productivity and social life. Care of adolescent with headaches should be intensified.

EMG indications and findings in a sub-Saharan African neurorehabilitation center.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the frequency and indication for electrodiagnostic referrals as well as to summarize the findings from the procedure at a neurorehabilitation center in Ibadan, Nigeria. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data from referrals to Blossom Medical Centre/World Federation for Neurorehabilitation (BMC/WFNR) center, Ibadan, Nigeria, from April 2014 to December 2016 were collated and analyzed. RESULTS: Sixty referrals were received during the period of evaluation. Neurologists referred most of the patients (47; 71.7%). Disorders of the peripheral nerves were the most frequent reasons for electromyography (EMG), and they were the most common electrodiagnosis with better classified into axonal and demyelinating types. The overall congruence between the suspected diagnosis and final diagnosis was 58.3%. Requests by neurologists were significantly more appropriate than those by other specialists (p value = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Polyneuropathy, entrapment neuropathy, and disorders of the motor nerve root and plexus were the most common reasons for electrodiagnostic requests, and the majority of the referrals were from neurologists. SIGNIFICANCE: EMG has changed the approach towards the diagnosis and management of neuromuscular disorders in Nigeria. It is hoped that with more neurophysiology education in this environment, neurophysiological practice will become widely available.

Knowledge of electromyography (EMG) among Sub-saharan African patients - a pilot survey

Background: Electromyography (EMG) is one of the common diagnostic procedure in neurology but still scarce in sub-Saharan Africa. Objective: This cross-sectional study evaluated the knowledge of EMG among patients undergoing this procedure, considering the type, quality and reliability of the information they have. Methodology: Consecutive patients who underwent EMG for the first time between 2014 and 2016, at the WFNR/Blossom Medical Centre Ibadan, Nigeria were interviewed prior to their test. Data on patient's demography, type of referring physicians were collated. Knowledge of EMG was also assessed. A patient was considered "informed" if she/he knew, at least, that the EMG is a test that uses an electric current or a needle, that it may be painful or cause discomfort, and that it is used to study the function of muscles and nerves. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed to know the determinants of EMG knowledge. Result: 55 patients. 32 males and 23 females (mean ages 48.69± 18.32 and 43.30±14.88 respectively) were interviewed. Twenty-three (41.8%) patients were adjudged informed about the nature of EMG while 32 (58.2%) were uninformed about the procedure. Twenty one (38.2%) were informed about the procedure by their doctors while 4 (7.3%) got information from friends and relatives and 4 (7.3%) from the internet. Level of education was associated with being informed (p=0.039) Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed no significant predictor or EMG knowledge. Conclusion: Knowledge of EMG is poor and could be improved upon. More patient education needs to be done to prepare the patients, and allay their fears about the procedure

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Other Entrapment Neuropathies.

Entrapment neuropathy is the result of pressure on a peripheral nerve as it passes through a narrow canal that is bounded by stiff tissues. In spite of their ubiquitous nature, they are underdiagnosed, underreported, and sometimes not properly managed, especially in developing countries. Entrapment neuropathies are of various types, but the most common type is carpal tunnel syndrome. Mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of entrapment neuropathies include mechanical compression and nerve ischemia. A clear understanding of the various types and the underlying mechanisms of entrapment neuropathies are invaluable in the decision-making process involved in the management of every patient with the condition.

Prevalence and Prognostic Features of ECG Abnormalities in Acute Stroke: Findings From the SIREN Study Among Africans.

BACKGROUND: Africa has a growing burden of stroke with associated high morbidity and a 3-year fatality rate of 84%. Cardiac disease contributes to stroke occurrence and outcomes, but the precise relationship of abnormalities as noted on a cheap and widely available test, the electrocardiogram (ECG), and acute stroke outcomes have not been previously characterized in Africans. OBJECTIVES: The study assessed the prevalence and prognoses of various ECG abnormalities among African acute stroke patients encountered in a multisite, cross-national epidemiologic study. METHODS: We included 890 patients from Nigeria and Ghana with acute stroke who had 12-lead ECG recording within first 24 h of admission and stroke classified based on brain computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging. Stroke severity at baseline was assessed using the Stroke Levity Scale (SLS), whereas 1-month outcome was assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 58.4 ± 13.4 years, 490 were men (55%) and 400 were women (45%), 65.5% had ischemic stroke, and 85.4% had at least 1 ECG abnormality. Women were significantly more likely to have atrial fibrillation, or left ventricular hypertrophy with or without strain pattern. Compared to ischemic stroke patients, hemorrhagic stroke patients were less likely to have atrial fibrillation (1.0% vs. 6.7%; p = 0.002), but more likely to have left ventricular hypertrophy (64.4% vs. 51.4%; p = 0.004). Odds of severe disability or death at 1 month were higher with severe stroke (AOR: 2.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.44 to 3.50), or atrial enlargement (AOR: 1.45; 95% confidence interval: 1.04 to 2.02). CONCLUSIONS: About 4 in 5 acute stroke patients in this African cohort had evidence of a baseline ECG abnormality, but presence of any atrial enlargement was the only independent ECG predictor of death or disability.

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome in a Nigerian.

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome (DDMS) is a rare, but important cause of drug-resistant seizures. Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome is a constellation of clinical features that consists of hemiparesis, seizure, facial asymmetry, and intellectual disability with distinct neuroimaging features. A 27-year-old lady presented to us with drug-resistant epilepsy, hemiparesis, and intellectual disability that necessitated her withdrawal from school. Her brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed cerebral hemiatrophy, calvarial thickening, and hyperpneumatization of the frontal sinuses consistent with DDMS. We discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of DDMS and advocate early referral and evaluation of people with epilepsy in sub-Saharan African settings.

Comparison of Neuropsychological Patterns in Nigerians with different Heart Failure Phenotypes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of left ventricular dysfunction type on the pattern of neuropsychological dysfunctions among heart failure (HF) subjects. METHOD: A sub-analysis of the data of subjects recruited in a cross-sectional survey of cognitive dysfunction among Nigerians with HF was performed. Cognitive performance on the Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSI'D), Word List Learning Delayed Recall (WLLDR), Boston Naming Test (BNT), and Modified Token Test (MTT) were compared between heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Clinical and echocardiographic correlation analysis with cognitive performance was performed. RESULTS: Subjects with HFpEF were impaired on the WLLDR (71.4% vs. 34.6%, p = .026). The group with HFpEF scored lower on the language domain (definition subscale) of CSI'D (p = .036), and WLLDR (p = .005). The performance on the MTT (p = .185) and BNT (p = .923) were comparable between the two groups. An inverse relationship was found between pulse pressure and delay recall (r = -.565 p = .003) among the cohort with HFpEF whereas body mass index, BMI (r = -.737, p = .023) and tricuspid valve E/A ratio, TVEA (r = -.650, p = .042) showed an inverse relationship with the total CSI'D score in the cohort with HFrEF. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive dysfunction is largely similar between the two groups. Delay recall is however poorer among subjects with HFpEF. Regular cognitive screening is advocated among HF subjects to prevent non-adherence with therapeutic options.

Task-shifting training improves stroke knowledge among Nigerian non-neurologist health workers.

BACKGROUND: The increasing stroke burden in sub-Saharan Africa far outstrips the availability of skilled human resource to provide timely and efficient acute, rehabilitative and preventive services. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of a short-term task-shifting stroke training program on the stroke knowledge of a cohort of Nigerian non-neurologist health workers (NNHWs). METHODS: Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, NNHWs drawn from 53 local government areas of Ogun and Oyo states participated in an intensive, multicomponent one-day stroke workshop. Stroke knowledge was evaluated before and after the training using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Out of a total of 210 NNHWs who participated in the session, 116 (55.2%) completed the pre-workshop questionnaire survey of stroke knowledge while 191 (91.0%) completed the post-workshop questionnaire survey. There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution of the age, gender and professional categories of the two groups. The participants' knowledge was significantly increased at the end of the training about stroke risk factors (p<0.001), stroke symptoms (p<0.001) and how stroke develops (p=0.009). The proportion of respondents who understood the FAST mnemonic increased from 10.3% before the training to 90.6% at the end of the training (p<0.001). The professional category of participants was associated with knowledge gain about swallowing test and thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: Our data support the effectiveness of stroke-specific task-shifting training for non-neurologist health workers in a low resource setting. Interim studies with intermediate outcomes are needed to show that improved knowledge results in better care despite resource limitation. Randomized controlled trials will be useful to confirm findings and translate knowledge improvement into practical intervention.

Machado-Joseph disease in a Nigerian family: mutational origin and review of the literature.

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) has been described in Africans, but no cases have been reported from Nigeria. Current MJD global distribution results from both the ancestral populations-of-origin and the founder effects of mutations, some as a consequence of the Portuguese sea travels in the 15th to 16th century. Two main ancestral haplotypes have been identified: the Machado lineage, which is more recent, predominant in families of Portuguese extraction, and the Joseph lineage, which is much older and worldwide spread, postulated to have an Asian origin. We report a Nigerian family with MJD from Calabar, once settled by Portuguese slave traders, and assessed its mutational origin. The proband was a 33-year-old man with progressive unsteady gait, weakness of all limbs, dysphagia, dysarthria, urinary frequency and diaphoresis. He had end-of-gaze nystagmus, spastic quadriparesis and atrophic small muscles of the hand. He showed fibrillation potentials on EMG, and nerve conduction studies suggested a central axonopathy without demyelination. This family bears the Joseph haplotype, which has a founder effect in the island of Flores, in the Azores (and their descendants in North-America), but is also the most common in non-Portuguese populations worldwide, with an estimated mutation age of around 7000 years.

Impact of somatic comorbidities on quality of life of patients living with epilepsy in Sagamu, Nigeria.

PURPOSE: Somatic comorbidities are probably as important as the psychiatry comorbidities in people with epilepsy (PWE) although the former has received little attention especially in low- and middle-income countries where the incidence of epilepsy is high. The main objective of this study was to determine the frequencies of somatic comorbidities in PWE. We also compared quality of life of two groups of PWE: Those with somatic comorbidities and those without. METHODS: In this comparative cross-sectional study, consecutive adult patients with epilepsy above 18 years of age were recruited at the neurology outpatient clinic of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital from July 2010 through March 2011. Epilepsy-related data and somatic comorbidities were collated in this population. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depression were also measured using QOLIE-31(version 1.0) and Becks depression inventory II (BDI-II), respectively. RESULTS: One hundred and two PWE were recruited with 31 (30.4%) having at least one somatic comorbidity. Hypertension (OR = 12.43), dyspepsia (OR = 8.16), and stroke (OR = undefined) were significantly prevalent among PWE who are ≥50 years old. Energy was significantly lower among patients with comorbidities, and patients with multiple comorbidities had worse quality of life than those with single comorbidity (P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: Somatic comorbidity is prevalent in this population with significant impact on their quality of life. We emphasize the need to screen for and reduce the numbers of somatic comorbidities in PWE as this can improve their quality of life.