Longitudinal ECG changes among adults with HIV in Tanzania: A prospective cohort study.

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rising among people with HIV (PWH) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the utility of the electrocardiogram (ECG) in screening for CVD, there is limited data regarding longitudinal ECG changes among PWH in SSA. In this study, we aimed to describe ECG changes over a 6-month period in a cohort of PWH in northern Tanzania. Between September 2020 and March 2021, adult PWH were recruited from Majengo HIV Care and Treatment Clinic (MCTC) in Moshi, Tanzania. Trained research assistants surveyed participants and obtained a baseline ECG. Participants then returned to MCTC for a 6-month follow-up, where another ECG was obtained. Two independent physician adjudicators interpreted baseline and follow-up ECGs for rhythm, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), bundle branch blocks, ST-segment changes, and T-wave inversion, using standardized criteria. New ECG abnormalities were defined as those that were absent in a patient's baseline ECG but present in their 6-month follow-up ECG. Of 500 enrolled participants, 476 (95.2%) completed follow-up. The mean (± SD) age of participants was 45.7 (± 11.0) years, 351 (73.7%) were female, and 495 (99.8%) were taking antiretroviral therapy. At baseline, 248 (52.1%) participants had one or more ECG abnormalities, the most common of which were LVH (n = 108, 22.7%) and T-wave inversion (n = 89, 18.7%). At six months, 112 (23.5%) participants developed new ECG abnormalities, including 40 (8.0%) cases of new T-wave inversion, 22 (4.6%) cases of new LVH, 12 (2.5%) cases of new ST elevation, and 11 (2.3%) cases of new prolonged QTc. Therefore, new ECG changes were common over a relatively short 6-month period, which suggests that subclinical CVD may develop rapidly in PWH in Tanzania. These data highlight the need for additional studies on CVD in PWH in SSA and the importance of routine CVD screening in this high-risk population.

"Functional outcomes and MRI-based tendon healing after (antero-) superior rotator cuff repair among patients under 50 years: retrospective analysis of traumatic versus non-traumatic rotator cuff tears".

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tears among patients under 50 years either result from an adequate trauma or are considered non-traumatic due to work-related or athletic overuse. The impact of these different mechanisms on postoperative functional outcomes and tendon healing has not yet been fully understood. Therefore, it was the purpose of this study to investigate the influence of etiology of (antero-)superior rotator cuff tears on postoperative outcomes and the healing rates after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair in a young patient population. METHODS: Patients under 50 years who underwent arthroscopic rotator cuff repair between 2006-2017 for an anterosuperior rotator cuff tear with a minimum follow up of 24 months were included in this study. Revision surgeries or reconstructive concomitant procedures other than long head of the biceps tenodesis were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups according to the etiology of their rotator cuff tear (traumatic vs. non-traumatic). Demographic and outcome scores including the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the Constant Score (CS), bilateral strength measurements and postoperative tendon integrity evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were assessed and compared between both groups. RESULTS: The mean follow up for this study was 55.6 months (24 - 158). Twenty-one patients (50.0%) had a traumatic RCT and 21 patients (50.0%) had a non-traumatic tear. Outcome scores did not differ significantly between groups. Strength measurements of the supraspinatus revealed significantly decreased force of the affected side as opposed to the contralateral side (p = 0.001), regardless of etiology. Retear rates were similar in both groups (37.5% and 33.3%, p = n.s.). Cuff integrity at follow-up was not predictive of superior scores or strength. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of traumatic and non-traumatic RCT yields good clinical results in patients under the age of 50. The etiology of the rotator cuff tear did not significantly affect postoperative outcomes or healing rates. About one third of the patients suffered from a retear postoperatively, however retears were not predictive of inferior outcomes at midterm follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Level III. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered.

Patients return to sports and to work after successful treatment of septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

PURPOSE: To determine specific return to sports (RTS) and return to work (RTW) rates of patients with septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), and to assess for factors associated with a diminished postoperative return to physical activity after successful eradication of the infection. METHODS: In this study, patients who were treated for postoperative septic arthritis of the knee following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction between 2006 and 2018 were evaluated at a minimum follow-up (FU) of 2 years. Patients' outcomes were retrospectively analyzed using standardized patient-reported outcome scores including the Lysholm score and the subjective IKDC score, as well as return to sports and return to work questionnaires to assess for the types, number, and frequency of sports performed pre- and postoperatively and to evaluate for potential occupational changes due to septic arthritis following ACLR. To assess for the signifiance of the graft at follow-up, outcomes were compared between patients with a functioning graft at FU and those without, as well as between patients with initial graft retention and those with graft removal and consecutive revision ACLR. RESULTS: Out of 44 patients eligible for inclusion, 38 (86%) patients at a mean age of 36.2 ± 10.3 years were enrolled in this study. At a mean follow-up of 60.3 ± 39.9 months, the Lysholm score and the subjective IKDC score reached 80.0 ± 15.1 and 78.2 ± 16.6 points, respectively. The presence of a graft at FU yielded statistically superior results only on the IKDC score (p = 0.014). There were no statistically significant differences on the Lysholm score (n.s.) or on the IKDC score (n.s.) between patients with initial graft retention and those with initial removal who had undergone revision ACLR. All of the included 38 patients were able to return to sports at a median time of 8 (6-16) months after their last surgical intervention. Among patients who performed pivoting sports prior to their injury, 23 (62.2%) returned to at least one pivoting sport postoperatively. Overall, ten patients (26.3%) returned to all their previous sports at their previous frequency. The presence of a graft at FU resulted in a significantly higher RTS rate (p = 0.010). Comparing patients with initial graft retention and those with graft removal and consecutive revision ACLR, there was no statistically significant difference concerning the RTS rate (n.s.). Thirty-one patients (83.8%) were able to return to their previous work. CONCLUSION: Successful eradication of septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction allows for a postoperative return to sports and a return to work particularly among patients with ACL-sufficient knees. However, the patients' expectations should be managed carefully, as overall return rates at the pre-injury frequency are relatively low. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.