In-hospital outcome and its predictors among patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema at a tertiary hospital in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema is highly associated with poor in-hospital outcomes. This study aimed to determine the in-hospital outcome and its predictors among patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema at a tertiary hospital in Harar, Eastern Ethiopia, from May 1 to 20, 2023. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was employed among 204 patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema who were admitted between 1st May 2018 and 30th April 2023. The collected data were entered into Excel, and analysed using theSTATA software version 17. The hazard ratio with its 95% confidence interval was used and a P-value < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant association. Results: The overall mortality rate was 17.60 (95% CI: 11.59-26.72) per 1000 person-day observation with mean (±SD) time to death was 2.88 (±2.06) days. Age (AHR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.04-1.74 for every 10 years), being smoker (AHR: 3.26; 95% CI: 1.05-10.10), having respiratory rate of ≥40 breaths per minute (AHR: 5.46; 95% CI: 1.71-17.45), and having anaemia (AHR: 4.35; 95% CI: 1.23-15.33) were significant predictors of in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: More than one in ten patients in this study died in the hospital. Therefore, special attention needs to be considered for patients with those predictors of in-hospital mortality.

The Magnitude of Hypertension and Its Contributing Factors Among Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Public Hospitals in Harar City, Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Although people living with HIV (PLHIV) are surviving longer due to the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), hypertension continues to be a significant obstacle for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients. Purpose: This study aims to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its contributing factors among patients receiving HAART in public hospitals in Harar City, Eastern Ethiopia. Patients and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adult PLHIV who receive HAART in public hospitals in Harar City, Eastern Ethiopia, from 20 March to 14 April 2023. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select a total of 406 clients (382 participated in the study). Data were collected through patient interview and chart review using a questionnaire. The binary logistic regression was used for data analysis. The association was declared statistically significant at a p-value less than 0.05. Results: The magnitude/prevalence of hypertension was 23% (95% CI: 19.1, 27.5) in study settings from a total of 382 adults who participated in this study. Factors significantly associated with hypertension in a multivariable binary logistic regression model include residence (rural residence, AOR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.04, 3.65); body mass index (obese, AOR = 4.35, 95% CI: 1.08, 16.77); cigarette smoking (past cigarette smoking, AOR = 4.7, 95% CI: 1.10, 21.8); and HAART regimen change (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.97). Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension observed among adult PLHIV in the study settings was high. Adults from rural areas, with a history of past smoking cigarette, and obesity need close attention during their clinic visits for more health education to reduce risk factors. The changed HAART regimen was associated with a reduced risk of hypertension. Generally, hypertensive PLHIV need consideration for their double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases during disease management and hospital guideline development.

Seizure Remission and Its Predictors Among Epileptic Patients on Follow-Up at Public Hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Epilepsy is one of the common chronic neurological disorders with varying therapeutic responses. Despite the high prevalence of epilepsy and the significant treatment gaps in developing nations, such as Ethiopia, there is a dearth of data on seizure remission and its predictors in Eastern Ethiopia in particular. Objective: This study aimed to determine seizure remission and its predictors among epileptic patients on follow-up in Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital (HFSUH) and Dilchora Referral Hospital (DCRH), from July 2 to 31, 2021. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 418 newly diagnosed epilepsy patients receiving anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) between July 1, 2014, and July 31, 2019, in two public hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia. Relevant data were collected for all patients with a minimum follow-up period of two years. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21. Cox proportional hazards model was performed to identify predictors of seizure remission. Results: Overall, 252 (60.3%) of the study participants have achieved seizure remission for at least one year. The mean time to achieve seizure remission was 1.9 ± 0.87 years. Regarding the seizure remission pattern, 171 (40.9%) patients achieved early remission, 81 (19.4%) achieved late remission, and 166 (39.7%) achieved no remission. Shorter pre-treatment duration (AHR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.28-4.37); good adherence to ASDs (AHR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.33-4.34); and monotherapy (AHR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32-0.98) were predictors of seizure remission. Conclusion: We observed that less than two-thirds of epileptic patients had achieved seizure remission. A shorter pre-treatment duration, good adherence to ASDs, and monotherapy were predictors of seizure remission. Therefore, we recommend the requirement of an integrated effort from different health disciplines that increases patients' adherence to ASDs, promotes early visits to medical facilities, and improves the health-seeking behavior of epileptic patients.

The Burden and Contributing Factors of Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema Among Acute Heart Failure Patients Admitted to Tertiary Hospital, Eastern Ethiopia.

Background: Despite cardiogenic pulmonary edema is the most common phenotype of acute heart failure (AHF), studies on its burden and associated factors are limited. This study aimed to assess the burden and contributing factors of cardiogenic pulmonary edema in patients with acute heart failure admitted to a tertiary hospital in eastern Ethiopia. Patients and Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on the medical records (n = 276) of patients with AHF between February 01, 2018, and January 31, 2023. A simple random sampling technique was used to select participants from the study population. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess factors associated with the development of cardiogenic pulmonary edema. A P-value ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of cardiogenic pulmonary edema was 47.8% in AHF patients. Rural residence (adjusted odds ratio (AOR),9.54), smoking (AOR,3.17), comorbidity (AOR,2.1), and underlying cardiovascular disease (ischemic heart disease, chronic rheumatic valvular heart disease, and hypertensive heart disease with AOR: 6.71, 8.47, and 12.07, respectively) were significantly associated with the development of cardiogenic pulmonary edema in patients with AHF. Conclusion: Nearly half of the patients with AHF had cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Being a rural dweller, cigarette smoking, comorbidities, and underlying cardiac illness were significantly associated with the development of cardiogenic pulmonary edema in patients with AHF.

Appropriateness of antimicrobial selection for treatment of pneumonia in selected public hospitals of Eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Inappropriate antimicrobial use leads to drug resistance and poor clinical outcomes. Considering the lack of data regarding the drug use patterns in the treatment of pneumonia in selected study areas, the authors felt compelled to assess the appropriateness of antimicrobial usage in the treatment of pneumonia at Hiwot Fana Specialized Comprehensive University Hospital and Jugal Hospital from May 1 to 31, 2021. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted using the medical cards of 693 admitted patients with pneumonia. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with an initial inappropriate antibiotic use. A p value of 0.05 was used to determine the statistical significance of the association using an adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval. Results: Of the total participants, 116 (16.74%, 95% confidence interval: 14.1-19.6) of them received an initial inappropriate antimicrobial regimen. Ceftriaxone plus azithromycin was the most prescribed antimicrobial agent. Patients who were younger than 5 years (adjusted odds ratio = 1.71; 95% confidence interval: 1.00-2.94), between 6 and 14 years (adjusted odds ratio = 3.14; 95% confidence interval: 1.64-6.00), and older than 65 years (adjusted odds ratio = 2.97; 95% confidence interval: 1.07-2.66), with comorbid conditions (adjusted odds ratio = 1.74; 95% confidence interval: 1.10-2.72) and prescribed by medical interns (adjusted odds ratio = 1.80; 95% confidence interval: 1.14-2.84) were associated with an initial inappropriate antimicrobial use. Conclusion: Around one out of every six patients had received initial inappropriate treatments. Adherence to the recommendation of guidelines and attention to extreme-aged groups and comorbidity may improve antimicrobial use.

Treatment outcomes and its associated factors among pneumonia patients admitted to public hospitals in Harar, eastern Ethiopia: a retrospective follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: Although there is a high risk of drug resistance, empiric treatment is a common approach for pneumonia management. In this respect, it is relevant to know treatment outcomes of patients with pneumonia. This study aimed to assess treatment outcomes and its associated factors among pneumonia patients treated at two public hospitals in Harar, eastern Ethiopia. DESIGN: Retrospective follow-up study. SETTING: Jugal General Hospital and Hiwot Fana Specialised University Hospital in Harar, eastern Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS: Patients admitted and treated for pneumonia in the two public hospitals in eastern Ethiopia between April 2020 and April 2021. PRIMARY OUTCOME: The primary outcome was unfavourable treatment outcome (died or transferred to intensive care unit) for pneumonia patients. RESULTS: A total of 693 patients with pneumonia were included in the study. 88 (12.7%) of these patients had an unfavourable treatment outcome, which included 14 (2%) transfers to the intensive care unit and 74 (10.7%) deaths. Patients with comorbidity (adjusted OR, AOR=2.96; 95% CI: 1.47 to 5.97) and with clinical features including abnormal body temperature (AOR=4.03; 95% CI: 2.14 to 7.58), tachycardia (AOR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.45 to 4.55), bradypnoea or tachypnoea (AOR=3.92; 95% CI:1.94 to 7.92), oxygen saturation below 90% (AOR=2.52; 95% CI:1.37 to 4.64) and leucocytosis (AOR=2.78, 95%, CI:1.38 to 5.58) had a significantly increased unfavourable treatment outcome. CONCLUSION: We found that nearly one out of eight patients with pneumonia had unfavourable treatment outcomes. It was considerably high among patients with comorbidities and apparent abnormal clinical conditions. Therefore, taking into account regionally adaptable intervention and paying close attention to pneumonia patients admitted with comorbidity and other superimposed abnormal conditions might help improve the treatment outcomes of these populations.

Treatment Outcome and Associated Factors Among Patients Admitted with Hypertensive Crisis in Public Hospitals at Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Hypertensive crisis is a significant global health issue that raises the costs to healthcare systems and requires specific attention to improve clinical outcome. There is scarce information on hypertensive crisis cases treatment outcome in the study setting. Objective: This study aimed to assess treatment outcome and associated factors among patients admitted with hypertensive crisis at Public Hospitals in Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 369 hypertensive crisis patients who had been admitted to the emergency department of Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized Hospital and Jugol General Hospital from May 1, 2017, to May 1, 2022. All hypertensive crisis patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included. The data were extracted from medical records using a data abstraction format. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22. Binary logistics regression model using bivariate and multivariable analysis with 95% confidence intervals and P-values were used to determine the association between variables. Results: The medical records of 369 patients in total were reviewed. Of these, the medical records of 363 patients contained all the necessary information and were used in the study. More than half of the patients (238; 65.6%) were males. Among 363 patients admitted with hypertensive crisis, 98 (27.0%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI):22.5%-31.9%) of them had poor treatment outcome of hypertensive crisis. Being female (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)=3.4; 95% CI=1.7-7.9), residing in rural areas (AOR=2.4; 95% CI=2.7-5.1), taking captopril during admission (AOR=5.6; 95% CI=2.4-7.9), taking antihypertensive treatment before admission (AOR=0.5; 95% CI=0.2-0.9), and being non compliant to treatment (AOR=2.7; 95% CI=1.4-3.5) had statistically significant associations with poor treatment outcome of hypertensive crisis compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: The magnitude of poor treatment outcome of hypertensive crisis was high. Sex, residence, non-compliance, and type of emergency drug administered during admission were substantially related with poor treatment outcome of hypertensive crisis. Health professionals should put great emphasis on emergency drugs administered during admission to achieve the desired outcome.

Self-Medication and Contributing Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care at Public Hospitals of Harar Town, Ethiopia.

Background: Self-medication has been increasing in many developing and developed countries. Its use during pregnancy presents a major challenge due to potential undesirable effects on mother and the fetus. So the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of self-medication and contributing factors, among pregnant women. Methodology: Institution based cross sectional study was conducted among 244 pregnant women attending antenatal care at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital and Jugal Hospital from February to March, 2017. A structured questionnaire based interview was used to collect data from each study subject. Then, data were categorized and analyzed using SPSS version 20 software. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the significance of the association between the outcome and independent variables. P-value <0.05 was considered as a statistically significant in multivariate analysis. Results: The prevalence of self-medication during current pregnancy was 69.4%; out of which, 40.6% uses only herbal medicines to self-medicate. Time saving (50.7%) and prior experience of the drug (25.35%) were the main reasons for self-medication using conventional medicines while fewer side effects (59.86%) and effectiveness (35.92%) were the common reasons for self-medication using herbal medicines. Common cold and headache were among the common indications for self-medication. Friends (28.17%) and the pharmacist/druggist (23.94%) were the commonest source of information for conventional medicines while family/friends (69.72%) and neighbors (26.76%) were the common source of information for herbal medicines. Community drug retail outlets and neighbors were the commonly used sources of conventional medicines; while market place and self-preparation were the common sources of herbal medicines. Previous history of self-medication was significantly associated (P < 0.05) with current self-medication with conventional drugs and being a farmer by occupation and poor monthly income were significantly associated with herbal medicine use during pregnancy (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of self-medication during pregnancy was very high in this study which showed a need for public trainings for all women of reproductive age about the risks of inappropriate self-medication.