Bone Mineral Density and Vitamin D Status in Nigerians: The Impact of HIV.

BACKGROUND: Both HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) may be associated with metabolic complications including bone loss. To further inform guidance on screening and treatment of bone disease, we evaluated the impact of HIV and ART on vitamin D (VD) levels and bone mineral density (BMD) among HIV-infected and uninfected Nigerians. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study of HIV-infected participants and uninfected matched controls, who were recruited from a large clinical site in Jos, Nigeria. Calcaneal ultrasonography was used to assess BMD. VD levels were determined using electrochemiluminescence binding assay, with vitamin D deficiency (VDD) defined as <25 ng/ml. RESULTS: There were 241 participants (61 ART-experienced, 60 ART-naïve, and 120 HIV-uninfected), and the mean age was 39±10 years; 66% were female. VDD was present in 70.5% (95% CI:64.3­76.2%) of all participants; occurring in 70.0% of ART-experienced, 73.0% of ART-naïve and 69.0% of HIV-uninfected controls (p = 0.84). Overall, the prevalence of low BMD was 21.1% (95% CI: 16.1­26.8%); being present in 24.5% of ART-experienced, 26.6% of ART-naïve and 16.6% of HIV-uninfected controls (p = 0.22). Only female sex (OR 6.82; 95% CI:1.93­24.0, p <0.001) was significantly associated with low BMD in the HIV group. No HIV-specific factor including ART use and type was associated with low BMD. CONCLUSION: VDD and low BMD are both prevalent among HIV-infected and uninfected individuals in Nigeria. HIV, ART use, and VDD were not associated with low BMD.

CONTEXTE: L'infection par le VIH et la thérapie antirétrovirale (ART) peuvent être associées à des complications métaboliques, y compris la perte osseuse. Afin d'éclairer davantage les conseils sur le dépistage et le traitement des maladies osseuses, nous avons évalué l'impact du VIH et de la thérapie antirétrovirale sur les niveaux de vitamine D (VD) et la densité minérale osseuse (DMO) chez les Nigérians infectés et non infectés par le VIH. MÉTHODES: Nous avons mené une étude transversale auprès de participants infectés par le VIH et de témoins appariés non infectés, recrutés dans un grand centre clinique de Jos, au Nigeria. L'échographie calcanéenne a été utilisée pour évaluer la DMO. Les taux de vitamine D ont été déterminés à l'aide d'un test de liaison par électrochimiluminescence, la carence en vitamine D étant définie comme <25 ng/ml. RÉSULTATS: Il y avait 241 participants (61 ayant déjà reçu un traitement antirétroviral, 60 n'ayant jamais reçu de traitement antirétroviral et 120 non infectés par le VIH), et l'âge moyen était de 39±10 ans ; 66% étaient des femmes. La DMV était présente chez 70,5 % (IC 95 % : 64,3-76,2 %) de tous les participants ; elle était présente chez 70,0 % des personnes ayant déjà reçu un traitement antirétroviral, 73,0 % des personnes n'ayant jamais reçu de traitement antirétroviral et 69,0 % des témoins non infectés par le VIH (p = 0,84). Globalement, la prévalence d'une faible DMO était de 21,1 % (IC à 95 % : 16,1-26,8 %) ; elle était présente chez 24,5 % des personnes ayant déjà reçu un traitement antirétroviral, 26,6 % des personnes n'ayant jamais reçu de traitement antirétroviral et 16,6 % des témoins non infectés par le VIH (p = 0,22). Seul le sexe féminin (OR 6,82 ; 95% CI:1,93-24,0, p <0,001) était significativement associé à une faible DMO dans le groupe VIH. Aucun facteur spécifique au VIH, y compris l'utilisation et le type d'ART, n'a été associé à une faible DMO. CONCLUSION: La DMV et la faible DMO sont prévalentes chez les personnes infectées ou non par le VIH au Nigéria. Le VIH, l'utilisation d'un traitement antirétroviral et la DMV ne sont pas associés à une faible DMO. Mots-clés: Densité minérale osseuse, VIH, Ostéopénie, T-score, Vitamine D.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards Covid-19 among Nigerian healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic: A single centre survey.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. AIMS: Being a novel viral disease, we sought to evaluate the knowledge and practice of doctors and nurses in a tertiary hospital regarding the disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using a self-administered questionnaire, respondents were asked questions on the cause, clinical features, and prevention of COVID-19. RESULTS: : We studied 409 respondents (238 doctors and 171 nurses) with a mean age of 34 ± 7 years and a median length of experience of five (IQR 2-9) years. The mean knowledge score was 9.6 ± 1.2 out of a maximum of 12 points with 337 (82.4%) respondents having good knowledge. The majority of respondents (62.8%) had not been trained on infection prevention and control since the outbreak of the pandemic. Only 95 (23.2%) had seen COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) displayed in the hospital. The use of the personal protective equipment (PPE) kit comprising the N-95 mask, face shield, gown, and shoes was seen by 194 (47.4%) respondents in recent times. A total of 397 (97.0%) respondents felt they were at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 relative to the general populace. Measures taken to prevent COVID-19 included: wearing of face mask (68.7%), hand gloves (78.2%), frequent use of hand sanitizers (84.1%), frequent hand washing (84.8%), the daily wash of uniforms and ward coats (44.5%), daily cleaning of footwear (31.7%), and avoidance of taking home clothing and footwear worn in the hospital (54.2%). CONCLUSION: Despite having good knowledge of transmission and clinical features of SARS-CoV 2, the utilization of protective measures by HCW in this study is unsatisfactory.

Blood pressure control and kidney damage in hypertension: Results of a three-center cross-sectional study in North Central Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is one of the commonest cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Nigerians. We describe blood pressure (BP) control and kidney disease markers in patients with hypertension as part of measures to curb the burden of this chronic debilitating disease. METHODS: Patients with hypertension in the main tertiary hospitals in three states in north central Nigeria were evaluated for indicators of CKD, including proteinuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Patients had their early morning first void urine tested for proteinuria using Combi-10 test strips. eGFR was estimated using the MDRD equation. RESULTS: A total of 1063 subjects (63.1% females and 36.8% males) with a mean age of 55 ± 11 years were studied. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was present in 214 (20.6%) and 422 (39.7%) had optimal BP control. The median duration of hypertension was 6 years (range 1-44 years). Proteinuria occurred in 130 (12.2%), while 212 (19.9%) had reduced eGFR and 46 (4.3%) had proteinuria and reduced eGFR. The use of calcium channel blockers [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.70, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.50-0.99] and the use of more than two antihypertensive medications (AOR: 0.62, 95% CI 0.40-0.96) were associated with reduced odds of optimal BP control. Male sex (AOR: 1.75, 95% CI 1.14-2.70) and the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blocking medications (AOR: 2.07, 95% CI 1.18-3.64) were independently associated with proteinuria while DM (AOR: 1.69, 95% CI 1.06-2.55) and treatment with more than two medications (AOR: 1.86, 95% CI 1.09-3.17) were more likely to have reduced eGFR. CONCLUSION: A large proportion of hypertensive patients in north-central Nigeria have poorly controlled BP. Kidney damage is common among these patients.