Increased Risk of Migraine among Students with Asthma: Results of Headache and Asthma Study among University Students.

BACKGROUND: Several studies in developed countries have investigated the relationship between migraine and asthma. OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between asthma and migraine among university students in a low middle-income country. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study across three universities in the middle belt region of Nigeria. A self-administered questionnaire developed from the International Classification of Headache Disorders was used to screen for migraine. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) survey tool screened for asthma and its related conditions. Migraine was diagnosed in subjects with recurrent, moderate to severe unilateral throbbing headaches associated with nausea, vomiting, or visual disturbances. Asthma was defined as reporting a previous asthma attack or currently taking asthma medication within the preceding 12 months. RESULTS: The frequency of asthma was significantly higher among those with migraine than those without migraine (28.6% vs. 9.0%). Conversely, migraine was significantly prevalent in participants with asthma (7.1%vs. 1.9%). On multivariate analysis, there were significant associations between migraine and asthma [aOR = 2.56 (95% CI 1.15-5.77)]. Other factors associated with migraine were female gender [aOR = 2.22 (95% CI 1.06-4.65)] and family history of recurrent headache in firstdegree relatives [aOR = 4.03 (95% CI 1.15-5.77)]. CONCLUSION: Our study shows an increased frequency and risk of migraine in participants diagnosed with asthma and vice versa. These results support the bidirectional association between migraine and asthma. Physicians, therefore, should be aware of the possibility of migraine in patients with asthma who complain of headaches.

CONTEXTE: Plusieurs études menées dans des pays développésvont étudié la relation entre la migraine et l'asthme. OBJECTIF: Examiner la relation entre l'asthme et la migraine chez les étudiants universitaires d'un pays à faible revenu intermédiaire. MÉTHODES: Nous avons mené une étude transversale à travers trois universités dans la région de la ceinture centrale du Nigéria. Un questionnaire auto-administré élaboré à partir de la Classification internationale des troubles de la céphalée a été utilisé pour dépister la migraine. L'enquête de la Communauté européenne sur la santé respiratoire (ECRHS) outil d'enquête dépisté pour l'asthme et ses affections connexes. La migraine a été diagnostiquée chez des sujets présentant des maux de tête lancinants unilatéraux récurrents, modérés à sévères associés à des nausées, des vomissements ou des troubles visuels. L'asthme était défini comme la déclaration d'une crise d'asthme antérieure ou en cours de prise médicaments contre l'asthme au cours des 12 mois précédents. RÉSULTATS: La fréquence de l'asthme était significativement plus élevée chez les personnes souffrant de migraine que chez celles sans migraine (28,6% vs 9,0%). Inversement, la migraine était significativement répandue chez participants asthmatiques (7,1 % contre 1,9 %). Sur l'analyse multivariée, il y avait des associations significatives entre la migraine et l'asthme [aOR = 2,56 (IC à 95 % 1,15-5,77)]. Autres facteurs associés à la migraine étaient le sexe féminin [aOR = 2,22 (95 %IC 1,06­4,65)] et antécédents familiaux de maux de tête récurrents chez les parents de premier degré [RA = 4,03 (IC à 95 % 1,15-5,77)]. CONCLUSION: Notre étude montre une augmentation de la fréquence etrisque de migraine chez les participants ayant reçu un diagnostic d'asthme et de viceVersa. Ces résultats soutiennent l'association bidirectionnelle entre migraine et asthme. Les médecins devraient donc: être conscient de la possibilité de migraine chez les patients asthmatiques qui se plaignent de maux de tête. Mots-clés: Migraine, Maux de tête, Asthme, Allergie, Association, Relation.

Magnesium Supplementation did not affect the Antiseizure Property of Ketogenic Diet but Reduced Lipid Dysmetabolism.

BACKGROUND: Ketogenic diets (KD) have been used globally in epilepsy management. Similarly, supplementation of diets with magnesium has been associated with disease prevention and improvement. However, the effect of magnesium (Mg) supplementation in conjunction with KD on epilepsy has not yet been investigated. We hypothesized that magnesium supplementation in KD would improve the effectiveness of the diet. METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were used for the study. The animals were fed on 4 diet types: I-normal rat chow (ND), II-ND with Mg supplement (ND+Mg), III-medium chain ketogenic diet (KD) and IV-KD with Mg supplement (KD+Mg). Animals in each group were divided into 3: experimental, control and observatory. The experimental drug was intraperitoneal Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) administered at 25 mg/kg. The rats were observed for 2 hours after the drug administration and induced seizures noted. The levels of serum electrolytes and plasma lipid levels were determined using standard methods. RESULTS: The seizure latency was significantly prolonged 60.8±0.5mins in group III compared with 8.7±2.1mins in group I (p<0.05). The seizure duration was 42.5±2.5mins in group III and 142.3±4.7 in group I (p<0.05). With Mg supplementation, seizure latency was 62.6±1.5mins in group IV and 7.9±0.7mins in group I (p<0.05). The seizure duration was 45.5±4.5min in group IV and 139.3±3.9mins in group II (p< 0.05). The KD-fed rats showed a tendency to develop dyslipidemia as evidenced by elevated Total Cholesterol /HDL and LDL/HDL (2.32±0.32 and 1.19±0.08) in group III, which was reversed in the KD+Mg fed group IV (1.96±0.32 and 1.08±0.09) with p<0.05. CONCLUSION: Mg supplementation of KD did not affect its antiseizure property and does not confer antiseizure effect on ND. Mg supplement showed a tendency to reduce derangement in lipid metabolism associated with KD.

Acute Oxygen Therapy on Hospital Wards in Low Middle-Income Country: Experience from a Referral Centre in Ilorin, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Oxygen is like any other medication that can cause severe consequences if administered inappropriately. OBJECTIVE: To audit the pattern of acute oxygen therapy on regular hospital wards of a referral centre in Ilorin, Nigeria. METHODS: We reviewed 150 patients that received or had a prescription for acute oxygen therapy in three months and extracted relevant information using a proforma. RESULTS: About one-third of the patients (30%) were >65 years of age and the male to female ratio was 1:1. The commonest indication and medical condition for acute oxygen administration were hypoxemia (70.7%) and pneumonia (26.0%), respectively. Pneumonia accounted for most (41.2 %) of the oxygen therapy in childhood. The majority of patients (88.0%) had written order for oxygen prescription, 40.7% had a prescription to target oxygen saturation and only 31.3% achieved their target saturation. Oxygen prescription was adequate (documentation of delivery device, flow rate of oxygen, and target oxygen saturations) in 40.7% of patients. The assessment, monitoring and titration of oxygen therapy were adequate in 92.7%, 65.3% and 28 % of patients respectively. Overall mortality was 27.3% in patients receiving acute oxygen supplementation. Eleven patients had unstable COPD, and 63.6 %, 54.5 % and 45.6 % of them had adequate oxygen prescription, monitoring and titration respectively. The challenges to oxygen use were faulty delivery devices, emptied oxygen cylinders, inability to routinely do arterial blood gas analysis and lack of hospital oxygen protocol. CONCLUSION: The current practice of acute oxygen therapy is not satisfactory and interventions are advocated to improve the healthcare providers' administration of oxygen.

Physical and socioeconomic impact of asthma in Nigeria: Experience of patients attending three tertiary hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the impact of asthma is the key to optimal care. OBJECTIVE: To determine the physical, economic, and social impact of asthma from the perspectives of individual patients in Nigeria. METHODS: This was a multicenter study of 172 adult asthma patients attending tertiary hospitals. We assessed the different impact of asthma in the preceding 12 months using a questionnaire. Physical impact (such as daily activity/chores, sport/exercise, and sleep quality), social impact (such as job loss, mental anguish, employer, and peers discrimination) and economic impact (like savings, indebtedness, mortgage/asset, and school or work absence). RESULTS: The physical, social and economic impacts were perceived by 59.3%, 47.7%, and 51.2% of patients, respectively. The physical impacts were poor sleep (44.2%), limitation of daily activity/chores (38.4%), and sporting/exercise (39.5%). The economic impacts were reduced savings (38.4%) and indebtedness (17.4%). Absence from school and work were respectively reported by 75% of students and 38.3% of workers. Socially, 34.9% reported mental torture, 10.5% changed job, 4.7% experienced discrimination and 3.5% lost their jobs due to asthma. Asthma-related emergency department visit was 42% and hospitalization was 32.6%. The physical impact was associated with non-adherence to ICS and persistent asthma symptoms. Economic impact was associated with asthma hospitalization, work absenteeism, comorbidity, and National Health Insurance (NHIS) coverage. Male sex and lack of post-secondary education were associated with social impact. CONCLUSION: Asthma causes broad and substantial physical and socioeconomic impacts in our sample of patients. Exploring these impacts and engaging the patient is imperative for holistic management and good health outcomes.

Antiseizure Effects of Ketogenic Diet on Seizures Induced with Pentylenetetrazole, 4-Aminopyridine and Strychnine in Wistar Rats.

The ketogenic diet (KD) is a cheap and effective alternative therapy for most epilepsy. There are paucity of experimental data in Nigeria on the usefulness of KD in epilepsy models. This is likely to be responsible for the poor clinical acceptability of the diet in the country. This study therefore aimed at providing experimental data on usefulness of KD on seizure models.  The study used 64 Wistar rats that were divided into two dietary groups [normal diet (ND) and ketogenic diet (KD)]. Animal in each group were fed for 35days. Medium chain triglyceride ketogenic diet (MCT-KD) was used and it consisted of 15% carbohydrate in normal rat chow long with 5ml sunflower oil (25% (v/w). The normal diet was the usual rat chow. Seizures were induced with one of Pentelyntetrazole (PTZ), 4-Aminopyridine (AP) and Strychnine (STR). Fasting glucose, ketosis level and serum chemistry were determined and seizure parameters recorded. Serum ketosis was significantly higher in MCT-KD-fed rats (12.7 ±2.6) than ND-fed (5.17±0.86) rats. Fasting blood glucose was higher in ND-fed rats (5.3±0.9mMol/l) than in MCT-KD fed rats (5.1±0.5mMol/l) with p=0.9. Seizure latency was significantly prolonged in ND-fed compared with MCT-KD fed rats after PTZ-induced seizures (61±9sec vs 570±34sec) and AP-induced seizures (49±11sec vs 483±41sec). The difference after Str-induced seizure (51±7 vs 62±8 sec) was not significan. The differences in seizure duration between ND-fed and MCT-KD fed rats with PTZ (4296±77sec vs 366±46sec) and with AP (5238±102sec vs 480±67sec) were significant (p<0.05), but not with STR (3841±94sec vs 3510±89sec) respectively. The mean serum Na+ was significantly higher in MCT-KD fed (141.7±2.1mMol/l) than ND-fed rats (137±2.3mMol/l). There was no significant difference in mean values of other serum electrolytes between the MCT-KD fed and ND-fed animals. MCT-KD caused increase resistance to PTZ-and AP-induced seizures, but has no effect on STR-induced seizures. This antiseizure property is probably mediated through GABAergic receptors (PTZ effect) and blockade of membrane bound KATP channels (AP effect) with some enhancement by serum ketosis.

Prevalence and clinical characteristics of headaches among undergraduate students in three tertiary institutions in Ilorin, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Headache is a common chronic neurologic disorder with huge economic and psychosocial impact. In comparison with other neurological disorders, there is limited data on primary headache, especially from sub-Saharan Africa. This study was done to fill in the gap and provide recent information on headache among Nigerian undergraduate students. METHODOLOGY: Quota sampling was used to select students from three tertiary educational institutions within Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state. Two-stage self-administered questionnaires developed from the guideline of the International Society of Headache were used to harvest information. RESULTS: A total of 1500 students participated in the study. The mean age of the students was 20.9 ± 3.1 years, with male:female ratio of 1.6:1. A total of 356 students have frequent headache within previous 1 year, given the headache frequency of 23.7%. Fifty-three students (3.5%) had headaches on almost daily basis, 84 (5.6%) had ≥4 attacks/week, 145 (9.7%) had ≤2-3 attacks/month, and 123 (8.2%) had 1-3 attacks every 3 months. Close to 75% indicated that it limits their daily activity frequently. One hundred and eighty-seven (12.5%) students fulfilled the criteria for tension-type headache, 36 (2.4%) for migraine headache, and 133 (8.9%) had nonclassified headaches. The most frequent headache-associated symptoms are photophia - 100 students (6.7%), phonophobia - 159 students (10.6%), while 62 students (4.1%) had nausea and vomiting. None of the students had seen a physician for proper headache diagnosis. Majority (90.2%) used none prescription over-the-counter analgesia (acetaminophen) for symptomatic treatment of their aches. CONCLUSION: Headache is a common complaint among Nigerian undergraduate students and it limits the daily activity of majority of the sufferers. Students need proper education regarding treatment to alleviate their suffering and forestall complication, especially those associated with analgesic overuse.

Lung cancer awareness and anticipated delay before seeking medical help in the middle-belt population of Nigeria.

SETTING: Ilorin metropolis in the middle-belt region of Nigeria. OBJECTIVES: To determine the awareness about warning signs and risk factors for lung cancer and the anticipated delay before seeking medical care in the middle-belt population of Nigeria. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study performed among 1125 adults. Lung cancer awareness measure (Lung CAM) was administered face to face by trained interviewers. RESULTS: The respondents' Lung CAM score was low for warning signs and risk factors for lung cancer. Apart from tobacco smoking (69.9%) and air pollution (56.4%), other risk factors were poorly recognised by respondents. Higher education and income and having a relative or friends who had previously had lung cancer were significantly associated with awareness about warning signs and risk factors. The majority (66.8%) would seek help before 2 weeks if they noticed a warning sign. Anticipated delay was associated with non-recognition of any warning sign (OR 3.09, 95%CI 2.26-4.22), lower education (OR 1.90, 95%CI 1.40-2.57), lower income (OR 1.86, 95%CI 1.26-2.75) and males (OR 1.50, 95%CI 1.15-1.97). CONCLUSION: The awareness of lung cancer warning signs and risk factors are not satisfactory in Nigeria. There is a need to increase awareness about the condition to prevent delays in seeking medical help.

Self-reported sleep parameters among secondary school teenagers in middle-belt Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Available evidences seem to suggest increasing trend in sleep deficit among teenagers worldwide, and there is limited information on this among Nigerian teenagers. This study was carried out to determine the basic sleep schedule and sleep duration among schooling teenagers in Ilorin, Nigeria. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 20 selected public secondary schools in Ilorin, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to randomly select participating schools. RESULT: A total of 1033 students participated in the study; of these 47.3% were males and 51.7% females. Students mean age (standard deviation) was 15.3 ± 1.6 years with a range of 12-19 years. Majority (76.2%) of participants co-share bed with at least one person and some (23.8%) slept alone in bed. The three leading reasons given for going to bed were: Tiredness - 31.1%, completion of house assignment - 20.5%, and parental directive - 12.4%. 10% of teenagers do make regular phone calls at night and 5.5% surf internet and use computers at night. Regular habits of daytime sleepiness were reported by 8.2% of study participants. Students' mean sleep duration during school days was 9.33 ± 2.29 h compared to 10.09 ± 1.32 h at weekend (P < 0.05). The duration of night time sleep was adequate (>9 h) in 41% of students; borderline (8-9 h) in 44.3% while 13.3% of the students had insufficient nighttime sleep duration (<8 h) P < 0.05. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of students had borderline nighttime sleep duration and so had potentials to transit into the problematic insufficient range. To prevent this, there is a need to educate schooling teenagers on the dangers associated with prolonged sleep insufficiency.

Self-Perceived Seizure Precipitants among Patients with Epilepsy in Middle-Belt of Nigeria

Aim: Patient's perception of seizure precipitant is crucial in epilepsy management; but it is often overlooked by physicians. This may be due to neglect and underestimation of its importance. This study looked at frequency and nature of self-perceived seizure precipitants among patients with epilepsy. Materials and Methods: A close-ended questionnaire-based study. Patients with active epilepsy (=2 attacks/year) were recruited from the neurology clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH); Ilorin. Result: A total of 89 patients participated in the study and of these 41 (46.1) were males. Their median age was 30 (21-52) years and median age at seizure onset was 22 (15-46) years. The median seizure duration was five (2-14) years. More patients (46.1) had less than secondary school education and 12 (13.5) were uneducated. Generalized epilepsy was the predominant (68.6) seizure type. A total of 33 (37.1 subjects had =4 attacks/year; 29 (32.6) had 5-12 attacks/year; and 27 (30.3) 12 attacks/year. A total of 16 (18) subjects did not mention any seizure precipitant; whereas 73 (82.2) reported at least one specific seizure precipitant; of these; 62 (85) patients reported =2 precipitants. Stress (41); inadequate sleep (27); and head trauma (26) were the three leading seizure precipitants mentioned. Subject's age; sex; level of seizure control; and place of abode did not influence reported seizure precipitants. However; the more educated (12 years education) patients significantly reported stress as seizure precipitant (P 0.05). Most (80) patients rightly indicated that antiepileptic drug was the best treatment for their seizure control. Conclusion: The result of this study showed that the leading perceived seizure precipitants among epilepsy patients attending the neurology clinic of UITH were stress; inadequate sleep; head trauma; and demonic attacks and spells

Self-perceived seizure precipitants among patients with epilepsy in Middle-belt of Nigeria.

AIM: Patient's perception of seizure precipitant is crucial in epilepsy management, but it is often overlooked by physicians. This may be due to neglect and underestimation of its importance. This study looked at frequency and nature of self-perceived seizure precipitants among patients with epilepsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A close-ended questionnaire-based study. Patients with active epilepsy (≥2 attacks/year) were recruited from the neurology clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin. RESULT: A total of 89 patients participated in the study and of these 41 (46.1%) were males. Their median age was 30 (21-52) years and median age at seizure onset was 22 (15-46) years. The median seizure duration was five (2-14) years. More patients (46.1%) had less than secondary school education and 12 (13.5) were uneducated. Generalized epilepsy was the predominant (68.6%) seizure type. A total of 33 (37.1%) subjects had ≥4 attacks/year, 29 (32.6%) had 5-12 attacks/year, and 27 (30.3%) >12 attacks/year. A total of 16 (18%) subjects did not mention any seizure precipitant, whereas 73 (82.2%) reported at least one specific seizure precipitant; of these, 62 (85%) patients reported ≥2 precipitants. Stress (41%), inadequate sleep (27%), and head trauma (26%) were the three leading seizure precipitants mentioned. Subject's age, sex, level of seizure control, and place of abode did not influence reported seizure precipitants. However, the more educated (>12 years education) patients significantly reported stress as seizure precipitant (P < 0.05). Most (80%) patients rightly indicated that antiepileptic drug was the best treatment for their seizure control. CONCLUSION: The result of this study showed that the leading perceived seizure precipitants among epilepsy patients attending the neurology clinic of UITH were stress, inadequate sleep, head trauma, and demonic attacks and spells.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome complicating postpartum eclampsia in a Nigerian: case report.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This is a case of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) associated with postpartum eclampsia in a primiparous Nigerian. CASE PRESENTATION: A 20-year-old primiparous woman presented to the emergency unit of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology of our hospital with symptoms and signs consistent with postpartum eclampsia. While being managed for this, she developed weakness of the left limbs with associated altered sensorium. Significant findings on physical examination were hypertension, left-sided hemiparesis and cortical blindness. She had a computed tomographic (CT) scan of the brain which showed features consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome. She was given full supportive care with control of her blood pressure and she made a significant improvement. She was discharged home about 3 weeks after admission with improvement in clinical condition and is currently being followed up in our neurology clinic. CONCLUSION: PRES complicating eclampsia is a clinicoradiological diagnosis. In most cases neurological symptoms improve with good supportive care and adequate treatment of the underlying condition as was the case in this patient. However permanent neurological sequelae can result from delayed diagnosis and treatment; therefore a high index of suspicion, early diagnosis and treatment are essential.

The prevalence and subjective handicap of epilepsy in Ilie--a rural riverine community in South West Nigeria: a door-to-door survey.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of epilepsy is high in tropical countries, particularly in Africa with an estimated mean prevalence of 15 per 1000. There is lack of recent data on epilepsy prevalence in Nigeria. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of epilepsy in Ilie in South West (SW) Nigeria, and the secondary objectives were to determine the clinical characteristics, the seizure types with electroencephalography (EEG) recording, the pattern of treatment, and to evaluate the subjective handicap of people with epilepsy (PWE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study, which was descriptive cross-sectional, was carried out in Ilie, a rural community in South West Nigeria, using a simple random sampling technique. The survey was done in 2 phases from January 2013 to April 2013. Phase 1: Door-to-door screening using the WHO Neuroscience Research Protocol to detect neurological disorders by health workers. Phase 2: Individuals with positive screening had complete neurologic examination by neurologists as well as an EEG recording. The questionnaires for survey of epilepsy in tropical countries and subjective handicap of epilepsy were administered to all PWE. RESULTS: Two thousand two hundred twelve individuals from 231 households were screened during the first phase, and 33 cases of neurologic diseases were detected. During the second phase, 10 cases were confirmed to be epilepsy by neurologists, thus giving a crude lifetime prevalence of 10/2212=4.5/1000 population (95% CI=2.30-8.04). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of epilepsy in Ilie in South West Nigeria is rather low compared with previous figures from studies in rural Africa.

Cost of epilepsy care in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The economic impact of epilepsy is enormous in terms of use of health care resources and loss of productivity. There is presently scanty data on economic impact of epilepsy in Nigeria,which necessitated this study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study is on epilepsy patients age e"16 years who attended Neurology clinic at UITH Ilorin. Data collected included clinical characteristics, utilisation of resources and cost of care. Direct medical costs included recurring costs like consultation, hospitalisation, medication and investigation fees. Indirect costs were number of days lost due to seizure attack and travelling to clinic by patients and relatives. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (32 males, 33 females) participated in the study with age range of 16 to 74 years and mean (SD) of 35±17 years. Total clinic attendance was 314 days and 53 days were spent on admission. Close to 25% of patients resided outside Ilorin metropolis and distance traveled to attend clinic varied from 4 to 200 km (mean=47±30.6 km). The total annual cost per patient was 41, 878 ($279.2 USD). It consisted of direct cost [DC] of 33,616 (80%) and indirect cost [IC] of 8262 (20%). The three leading consumptive items in DC were: antiepileptic drugs (AEDs)-24,138, investigations-5373 and transportation-2387. Majority (76.9%) of the patients were on carbamazepine. Self-estimated monthly family income varies from 3000 to 200,000 (median of 25,000). Only 23 patients (35.4%) bore the cost of care themselves. Of the IC, lost earnings due to absenteeism from work amounted to 6177. Equivalent of 1 USD was 150 at time of study. CONCLUSION: AEDs accounted for a significant proportion of TC. Increase in availability of generic drugs could help bring down the cost of care within affordable reach of indigent patients.

Psychiatric morbidity in stroke patients attending a neurology clinic in Nigeria.

BACK GROUND: Stroke produces a wide range of mental and emotional disorders. Neuropsychiatric complications associated with stroke may have negative effects on the social functioning, overall quality of life and the recovery of motor functioning of stroke survivors. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and nature of psychiatric morbidity among stroke patients attending neurology outpatient clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin-Nigeria. METHODS: All patients with stroke aged 18 years and above at an outpatient neurology clinic in Ilorin, Nigeria were assessed for mental and emotional disorders using the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) over one year (March 2009 to February 2010). RESULTS: Overall prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 36.0% (30/83) among 83 patients who constituted the study population. Specific diagnoses recorded were depression (19.2%), generalised anxiety disorder (9.6%), harmful alcohol use (2.4%); dementia, somatoform disorder, phobia and delusional disorder each had a prevalence of 1.2%. Clinical and sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated with psychiatric morbidity. CONCLUSION: Psychiatric disorders are often associated with stroke. Identifying and treating stroke patients with these psychiatric co-morbidities could thus help to improve the overall quality of life of these patients.

Cost of epilepsy care in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The economic impact of epilepsy is enormous in terms of use of health care resources and loss of productivity. There is presently scanty data on economic impact of epilepsy in Nigeria,which necessitated this study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study is on epilepsy patients age e"16 years who attended Neurology clinic at UITH Ilorin. Data collected included clinical characteristics, utilisation of resources and cost of care. Direct medical costs included recurring costs like consultation, hospitalisation, medication and investigation fees. Indirect costs were number of days lost due to seizure attack and travelling to clinic by patients and relatives. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients (32 males, 33 females) participated in the study with age range of 16 to 74 years and mean (SD) of 35 ± 17 years. Total clinic attendance was 314 days and 53 days were spent on admission. Close to 25 % of patients resided outside Ilorin metropolis and distance traveled to attend clinic varied from 4 to 200 km (mean=47 ± 30.6 km). The total annual cost per patient was 41, 878 ($279.2 USD). It consisted of direct cost [DC] of 33,616 (80%) and indirect cost [IC] of 8262 (20%). The three leading consumptive items in DC were: antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) - 24,138, investigations - 5373 and transportation - 2387. Majority (76.9%) of the patients were on carbamazepine. Self-estimated monthly family income varies from 3000 to 200,000 (median of 25,000). Only 23 patients (35.4%) bore the cost of care themselves. Of the IC, lost earnings due to absenteeism from work amounted to 6177. Equivalent of 1 USD was 150 at time of study. CONCLUSION. AEDs accounted for a significant proportion of TC. Increase in availability of generic drugs could help bring down the cost of care within affordable reach of indigent patients.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is associated with diastolic filling alterations in normotensive offspring of hypertensive nigerians.

Contribution of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction to adverse events in patients with cardiovascular diseases is increasingly being recognized and individuals with pedigree for hypertension are thought to exhibit anatomic and or functional changes in their left ventricle before they become hypertensive. This study aimed at characterizing left ventricular diastolic function in normotensive offspring of hypertensive Nigerians. Sixty-five offspring of hypertensive parents aged 15-25 years (subjects) with 65-age and sex-matched offspring of normotensive parents (controls) were studied for early makers of hypertensive cardiovascular disease using Doppler echocardiogram. Mean mitral E velocity was reduced (P = 0.01) in the subjects (73.3 ± 12.6 cm/s) compared with the controls (80.2 ± 22.5 cm/s). Similarly, mean S velocity of pulmonary venous flow was lower (P = 0.01) in the subjects than in the controls. Left atrial dimension and mitral E/A ratio in the subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy were higher (P = 0.002, 0.004 respectively) than in the subjects without this abnormality. We concluded that normotensive offspring of hypertensive Nigerians showed early alterations in indexes of left ventricular diastolic filling and these abnormalities were exaggerated in the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Hypertension-related admissions and outcome in a tertiary hospital in northeast Nigeria.

Cardiovascular disease has reached near epidemic proportion in sub-Saharan Africa, and systemic hypertension (SH) remains the driver of cardiovascular complications. We studied hypertension-related admissions and their outcome at the Abubaker Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) Bauchi, Northeast Nigeria. Records of all patients admitted into the medical wards between 1st November 2010 and 31st October 2011 were studied, and case files of those managed for SH complications were selected for detailed examination. Of the total 3108 admissions, 735 (23.7%) were hypertension related. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 167.4 ± 18.2 and 98.6 ± 13.5, respectively, at presentation. Although, hypertension-related admissions were 23.7% of total admissions, there was an excess of mortality associated with SH complications (42.9%). Stroke was the commonest, and it accounted for 44.4% of cases. Stroke had the highest mortality (39.3%), followed by chronic kidney disease (36.6%); hypertensive emergencies (30.9%) and hypertensive heart failure had the lowest intrahospital mortality (27.5%). In conclusion, SH-related admissions are common among medical admissions in Bauchi Nigeria and are associated with high mortality. Community interventions that promote early diagnosis and reduction of cardiovascular risk profiles are urgently needed to reduce SH deaths.

End digit preference in blood pressure measurement in a hypertension specialty clinic in southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: One of the observer errors associated with blood pressure (BP) measurement using a mercury sphygmomanometer is end digit preference (EDP) which refers to the occurrence of a particular end digit more frequently than would be expected by chance alone. Published reports, mainly from outside Africa, have shown a high prevalence ranging from 22 to 90% of end digit zero in BP readings taken by healthcare workers (HCWs). This study examined the prevalence of EDP and patients' and physicians' characteristics influencing the occurrence of EDP. METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of BP readings of 114 patients seen over a two-month period at our hypertension specialty clinic. RESULTS: Nurses and physicians displayed a high frequency of preference for end digit zero in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings. The preference for end digit zero was, however, higher for nurses than for physicians (SBP: 98.5 vs 51.2%, p < 0.001; DBP: 98.5 vs 64.3%, p < 0.001). Among the physicians, the consultant staff displayed the least preference for end digit zero compared to resident doctors. There was no statistically significant difference in gender, age, weight, height and BMI of those with BP readings with end digit zero compared with those with non-zero end digits. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of EDP for zero argues for the training, retraining and certification of HCWs in BP measurement and the institution of a regular monitoring and feedback system on EDP in order to minimise this observer error.

PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY IN A NIGERIAN NEUROLOGY CLINIC.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and nature of psychiatric morbidity among patients attending a neurology outpatient clinic. DESIGN: A two-stage screening procedure with General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) was used to assess psychological disorders over a one year period. Psychiatric diagnosis was based on ICD-10 criteria. SETTING: University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Ilorin-Nigeria SUBJECTS: Two hundred and thirty-five (235) patients aged 18 years and above attending the neurology outpatient clinic. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 26.0% (61/235). The most frequent diagnoses were depression (14.9%), generalised anxiety disorder (5.5%), dementia (2.6%) and substance use disorder (1.3%). Significantly more patients with stroke had psychiatric morbidity. CONCLUSION: The study supports previous reports that psychiatric disorders are quite common among patients with neurological disorders. Efforts should, therefore, be directed at identifying and treating neurological patients with psychiatric morbidity since this will ensure improved outcome. In this regard, mental health professionals would need to provide liaison services for the neurologists and train them in the use of simple screening instruments for detecting associated psychiatric disorders with appropriate referral where necessary.