Risk factors for mortality in patients with tuberculosis and HIV in Douala (Cameroon).

Despite prevention efforts, and free treatment, TB-HIV co-infection still occurs in Cameroon. The objective of this work is to present the risk factors for mortality in patients co-infected with TB and HIV in Douala from 2009 to 2014. This transversal, analytic, and retrospective study took place from November 2014 to May 2015 in the Laquintinie Hospital in Douala. A review of our records identified patients aged at least 15 years, with this co-infection who received TB treatment, with or without antiretroviral agents. The bivariate analysis compared qualitative variables with Pearson's Chi2 test. In the multivariate analysis, we determined the risk factors for mortality by backward stepwise logistic regression. Model fit was tested with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The study identified 394 patients, 213 (54.1%) of whom were women (sex ratio 0.84). The mean age was 39 ± 10 years. All patients received drugs to treat tuberculosis drugs; 351 (89%) also received antiretroviral drugs, 78.2% of them including efavirenz; and 320 (81.2%) received cotrimoxazole prophylaxis. During the study period, 67.3% were cured of tuberculosis and 15.7% died. The multivariate regression results show that hepatitis B (P <0.0009), absence of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (P <0.005), poor treatment adherence (P <0.0001), and a CD4 count <50 (P <0.0001) were risk factors for mortality. The cure rate for patients co-infected with TB and HIV in Cameroon remains low, and their mortality high. Comorbidities and the presence of opportunistic diseases are risk factors for death. Appropriate measures to prevent this co-infection and the systematic use of cotrimoxazole should reduce this mortality rate.

Brachial circumference as an alternative to body mass index for the detection of in-hospital undernutrition in a referal hospital, Cameroon.

The prevalence of undernutrition in hospitals in Africa is estimated at about 57 %. Simple anthropometric methods are available to detect it, including measurement of the brachial circumference (BC) and the body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study was to identify a threshold value that might make it possible to diagnose undernutrition in hospitals. It was a cross sectional study carried out at Douala General Hospital - Cameroon over a five months period. The measurements studied were: BMI, BC and percentage of weight loss. The Pearson test was used to compare the quantitative variables. The Receiving Operating Characteristic curve enabled us to determine a threshold value of the BC according to BMI. The study included 333 patients, with a mean age of 45 ± 16 years (range : 18-86). BMI and BC were strongly correlated; BC =11.69 + 0.68(BMI), with r2 = 0.65 (P < 0.01)). The threshold value of BC retained to detect undernutrition was 27 cm. The prevalence of undernutrition at the Douala General Hospital varies according to the anthropometric parameter used. At a BC threshold of 27 cm, the prevalence of undenutrition in our population was 24,3%.

Impact du niveau socio-économique sur l'utilisation du programme de prévention de la transmission du VIH de la mère à l'enfant à Douala - Cameroun

Introduction : L'infection à VIH chez les femmes enceintes demeure un problème majeur de santé publique. L'une des solutions envisagées par l'OMS a été la mise à échelle du programme PTME. Malgré la gratuité des services de ce programme, la fréquentation reste très insatisfaisante. Dans la recherche de solutions à ce manque d'adhésion, l'objectif de cette étude est de rechercher l'influence du niveau socio-économique des populations vis-à-vis de l'utilisation de la PTME à Douala. Matériel et méthodes : Il s'agit d'une étude analytique basée sur un design transversal menée pendant cinq mois à Douala. Ont été incluses les femmes au troisième trimestre de la grossesse, ayant été reçues en consultations prénatales ou en salle d'accouchement, également les femmes allaitantes. Les données sociodémographiques, économiques et culturelles ont été recueillies. Les différentes comparaisons ont été faites à l'aide du test Khi2 de Pearson ou le test de Fisher. Les moyennes ont été comparées en utilisant les tests de Wilcoxon et Mann-Whitney. Résultats : Au total, 300 femmes ont été incluses, l'âge moyen était de de 30 ± 6 ans. Les plus représentatives étaient celles âgées entre 31 et 35 ans. Plus de la moitié de ces femmes était du niveau secondaire 195 (65%). Concernant le statut matrimonial, les femmes célibataires étaient les plus représentées, 177 (59%). Les sujets n'ayant pas de revenu mensuel, 148 (49,3%) étaient les plus nombreux. L'absence de moyen de transport a été l'une des causes de la non-adhésion. Le niveau d'étude s'est révélé être un facteur déterminant pour l'utilisation des services de la PTME. Conclusion : Plusieurs obstacles se dessinent sur la voie de l'utilisation des services de PTME. Le niveau socioéconomique et notamment le niveau éducationnel et financier semblent être des déterminants importants à l'adhésion aux soins. Les pouvoirs publics devraient multiplier des efforts de décentralisation de la prise en charge et d'éducation des populations

[Risk factors associated with gastroduodenal lesions in a Douala referral hospital (Cameroon)]. / Facteurs de risques associés aux lésions gastroduodénales dans un hôpital de référence à Douala (Cameroun).

INTRODUCTION: The causes of gastroduodenal lesions are multifactorial, and few studies have assessed the impact of each of these factors in Africa. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the occurrence of gastroduodenal lesions in Cameroon. METHOD: This prospective, analytical study took place over a 5-month period in the endoscopy unit of the Douala General Hospital. Lifestyle, medical history, demographic, and clinical variables were collected. Infection with Helicobacter pylori was determined with a rapid urease (CLO) test. Multivariate regression was used to determine risk factors. RESULTS: The study included 234 of 265 patients seen in the department over the study period. Gastroscopy was normal for 54.2% of the subjects. The prevalence of peptic ulcers was 17.1% and of inflammatory lesions 26.4%. Risk factors associated with a gastroduodenal lesion were: age greater than 60 years [OR age = 2.953; 95% CI: 1.399 to 6.231; p = 0.004], H. pylori infection [OR = 2.953; 95% CI: 1.399 to 6.231; p = 0.003] and regular NSAID use [OR = 0.912; 95% CI: 0.112 to 2.733; p = 0.044] either a month before the examination or over the long term. CONCLUSION: Age greater than 60 years, NSAID consumption, and H. pylori infection are associated with the occurrence of gastroduodenal lesions.

Prise en charge des anémies chez les patients cancéreux dans un hôpital de référence de Douala, Cameroun

Introduction : L'anémie représente un facteur limitant dans la prise en charge des patients cancéreux. L'objectif général de ce travail était d'évaluer la prise en charge de l'anémie chez les patients cancéreux reçus à l'hôpital général de Douala, par rapport aux recommandations internationales. Patients et méthodes : Il s'agit d'une étude prospective menée du 1er septembre 2013 au 30 avril 2014. La sévérité de l'anémie après traitement spécifique a été évaluée à l'aide du classement OMS des grades de toxicité hématologique chimio-induite. La qualité de vie des patients a été évaluée grâce au score OMS du Performance status. La prise charge de l'anémie a été comparée aux standard options et recommandations françaises 2007. Résultats : Au total 301 patients ont été colligés. L'âge médian était de 42,5 ± 15,1. La prévalence de l'anémie à l'entrée était de 71,4% et passait à 80,7% après traitement. Tous les cancers ont été pourvoyeurs d'anémie sans différence statistiquement significative. Le taux d'abstention thérapeutique était de 16,9% avant l'initiation du traitement spécifique et de 13,6% après. Les anémies légères ≥ 10g/dl ont été traitées par fer oral. Les anémies modérées à sévères ont été traitées par transfusion sanguine. Les agents stimulants de l'érythropoïétine ont été utilisés dans 2,3% des cas. Le taux de respect des recommandations était de 17,5%. Conclusion : Cette prise en charge conformément aux recommandations internationales reste insuffisante. Elle se heurte à plusieurs obstacles dont le principal est financier, ainsi qu'à la rareté des médicaments. Un plaidoyer pour une subvention de médicaments sur cette problématique est à développer

Use of oral rehydration therapy in the treatment of childhood diarrhoea in Douala, Cameroon.

INTRODUCTION: The use of oral rehydration solutions in our context remains limited. This study was conducted to analyze the rate of this use in Douala, Cameroon and thereby determine the factors associated with it. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey was administered to parents of children aged five years and younger during a six-month study period. The studied variables focused on the socio-demographic data of the population, data on diarrhoea and its severity, data on oral rehydration salts (ORS), and data related to other interventions for diarrhoea. The chi-square test was used to qualify associations between variables, with the significance level being set at 5%. RESULTS: Overall, 672 people agreed to participate in the study. Among them, 418 (62.2%) correctly defined diarrhoea. When their children develop diarrhoea, the majority of the parents (348, 51.8%) reported seeking hospital assistance before any intervention, while 225 parents (33.5%) preferred the use of ORS first. Four hundred seventy-five parents (70.7%) had heard of ORS and among them 313 (65.9%) had actually given ORS to their children as treatment during these children's most recent episodes of diarrhoea. Of the parents who had given their children ORS, 217 (69.3%) knew how to prepare it, and 122 (39.0%) knew how to administer it. One hundred thirty-five parents (20.1%) had administered metronidazole to treat their children's diarrhoea. The age of the children, the parents' level of education, and the number of children in the household significantly influenced the use or non-use of ORS (respectively, p < 0.001, p = 0.003 and p < 0.0001). Rehydration was correctly identified by 234 parents (34.8%) as the purpose of administering ORS. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and the use of ORS in diarrhoea by the study sample was insufficient. The role of ORS was poorly known. Awareness campaigns can be carried out in order to improve the use of this effective intervention for diarrhoea.

[Clinical and immunological profile of HIV-infected patients at the initiation of antiretroviral therapy in Douala]. / Profil clinique et immunologique des patients infectés par le VIH à l'initiation du traitement antirétroviral à Douala.

The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and immunological profile of patients infected with HIV after initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and immunological patients were recorded. Chi square test and Mann-Whitney were used to compare variables. The multivariate regression model identified risk factors. So that, 936 (56.2%) patients were in stages III and IV of the WHO and 65.2% at an advanced stage of the disease. Factors associated with initiation at an advanced stage, were male sex (p = 0.007) and time to diagnosis (p = 0.005). In 2/3 cases, treatment is started at an advanced stage of disease. It is therefore important to intensify awareness campaigns for early detection and encourage patients to ensure regular medical follow-up screening.