[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of the cardiology department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital at the Conakry University Hospital]. / Impact de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur les activités du service de cardiologie de l'hôpital national Ignace Deen du CHU de Conakry.

The new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) is the main global health crisis of our time and the greatest threat we have faced in this century. According to the National Health Security Agency (ANSS), which is the national body responsible for managing epidemics and pandemics, 1927 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, 11 deaths with more than 4000 contact subjects. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the activities of the cardiology department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital at the Conakry University Hospital. This was a descriptive retrospective study from January 2020 to April 2020, focusing on consultation and hospitalisation activities in the cardiology department of Ignace Deen National Hospital at Conakry University Hospital. The study consisted of assessing the impact of the pandemic on patient use of the service during the first weeks of the pandemic. We recorded the frequency of consultations and hospitalisations from March to April 2020, which we compared to the frequency of consultations and hospitalisations in January and February 2020. During this study from March to April 2020, we identified 130 patients in consultation against 450 patients for the two months preceding the official declaration of the pandemic in Guinea, a drop of 71.1% (320 patients). The same remark was made in hospitalisation with a drop of 75% (35 patients against 140 for the two months preceding the pandemic). At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guinea, it is clear that there has been a rapid and significant drop in the effective use of the cardiology service.

Embolie pulmonaire mimant un syndrome coronarien aigu ST+ en antéro septal chez une Guinéenne

L'objectif de cette étude était de décrire la ressemblance des manifestations cliniques de l'embolie pulmonaire à celles du syndrome coronarien aigu.Il s'agissait d'une patiente de 60 ans hypertendueadmise pour douleur thoracique d'allure angineuse,dyspnée d'effort évoluant depuis deux jours. Par ailleurs la patiente rapportait une notion de voyage routier récent de plus de 6 heures. Tension artérielle à 170/100mmhg, fréquence cardiaque à 120bpm, fréquence respiratoire à 18cycles/mn , température à370C, SaO2 à 98% à l'air ambiant. L'examen physique est sans particularité. L'électrocardiogramme inscrivait une tachycardie sinusale à 121 cycles/mn,un sus décalage du segment ST en V1, V2 et V3 puis un sous décalage en V5, V6 ,DI ,DII et AVF, une hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche. L'angioscanner thoracique objectivait une embolie pulmonaire de l'artère pulmonaire droite. L'embolie pulmonaire étant la grande simulatrice des pathologies thoraciques en général et en particulier le syndrome coronarien aigu, la vigilance du clinicien est mise à rude épreuve pour ne pas confondre ces deux pathologies qui sont toutes des urgences cardiovasculaires avec une prise en charge bien distincte. Nous mettons ici en exergue les similitudes entre l'embolie pulmonaire et le syndrome coronarien aigu

Influence of the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak on the vaccination of children in a rural district of Guinea.

Setting: All health centres in Macenta District, rural Guinea. Objective: To compare stock-outs of vaccines, vaccine stock cards and the administration of various childhood vaccines across the pre-Ebola, Ebola and post-Ebola virus disease periods. Design: This was an ecological study. Results: Similar levels of stock-outs were observed for all vaccines (bacille Calmette-Guérin [BCG], pentavalent, polio, measles, yellow fever) in the pre-Ebola and Ebola periods (respectively 2760 and 2706 facility days of stock-outs), with some variation by vaccine. Post-Ebola, there was a 65-fold reduction in stock-outs compared to pre-Ebola. Overall, 24 facility-months of vaccine stock card stock-outs were observed during the pre-Ebola period, which increased to 65 facility-months of stock-outs during the Ebola outbreak period; no such stock-out occurred in the post-Ebola period. Apart from yellow fever and measles, vaccine administration declined universally during the peak outbreak period (August-November 2014). Complete cessation of vaccine administration for BCG and a prominent low for polio (86% decrease) were observed in April 2014, corresponding to vaccine stock-outs. Post-Ebola, overall vaccine administration did not recover to pre-Ebola levels, with the highest gaps seen in polio and pentavalent vaccines, which had shortages of respectively 40% and 38%. Conclusion: These findings highlight the need to sustain vaccination activities in Guinea so that they remain resilient and responsive, irrespective of disease outbreaks.

Contexte: Tous les centres de santé de la Préfecture de Macenta, en Guinée rural.Objectif: Comparer la rupture en vaccins, en cartes de stock de vaccins et l'administration des différents vaccins d'enfance pendant les périodes pré-Ebola, Ebola et post-Ebola.Schéma: Une étude écologique.Résultats: Des niveaux similaires de rupture étaient observés pour tous les vaccins (bacille Calmette-Guérin [BCG], pentavalent, polio, rougeole, fièvre jaune) dans les périodes pré-Ebola et Ebola (respectivement 2760 et 2706 jours-structure de rupture), avec quelques variations par vaccin. Post-Ebola, il y avait 65 fois plus de réduction en rupture, comparé à la période pré-Ebola. Un total de 24 mois-structure de rupture en cartes de stock de vaccins était observé pendant la période pré-Ebola, qui a augmenté à 65 mois-structure de rupture pendant la période Ebola ; une telle rupture ne s'est pas produite dans la période post-Ebola. Excepté la fièvre jaune et la rougeole, l'administration de vaccin a diminué universellement pendant la période de pointe de l'épidémie (août­novembre 2014). L'arrêt complet de l'administration de vaccin pour le BCG et une baisse marquée pour la polio (diminution de 86%) étaient observés en avril 2014, correspondant à une rupture de vaccins. Post-Ebola, l'administration globale de vaccins n'a pas atteint les niveaux pré-Ebola, avec les plus grands écarts observés aux niveaux de la polio et du pentavalent (respectivement des baisses de 40% et 38%).Conclusion: Ces résultats soulignent le besoin de maintenir les activités de vaccination en Guinée afin qu'elles restent résilientes et réactives, indépendamment de l'épidémie d'une maladie.

Marco de referencia: Todos los centros de atención de salud del distrito de Macenta en una zona rural de Guinea.Objetivo: Comparar el desabastecimiento de vacunas, las tarjetas de existencias de vacunas y la administración de las diversas vacunas de la infancia durante diferentes períodos, en función de la epidemia de fiebre hemorrágica del Ébola, a saber: antes, durante el brote y después del mismo.Método: Un estudio ecológico.Resultados: Se observaron niveles equivalentes de desabastecimientos de todas las vacunas (BCG, pentavalente, antipoliomielítica, antisarampionosa y antiamarílica) antes de la epidemia del Ébola y durante la misma (2760 y 2706 días de desabastecimiento por establecimiento, respectivamente), con alguna variación en función de las vacunas. En el período posterior a la epidemia se presentó una tasa de desabastecimientos 65 veces menor, en comparación con el período anterior a la epidemia. En general, se observaron 24 meses-centro de desabastecimiento en las tarjetas de existencias vacunales durante el período pre-Ébola, que aumentaron a 65 meses-centro de desabastecimiento durante la epidemia; en el período posterior al brote no ocurrió este tipo de desabastecimiento. Con la excepción de la vacuna antiamarílica y la antisarampionosa, la administración de vacunas disminuyó globalmente durante el período de máxima actividad de la epidemia (de agosto a noviembre del 2014). Se observó una interrupción total de la administración de BCG y una tasa considerablemente baja de administración de vacuna antipoliomielítica (disminución de un 86%) en abril del 2014, que correspondió con el desabastecimiento de vacunas. Después de la epidemia del Ébola, la administración general de vacunas no recuperó el nivel anterior al brote y las mayores carencias se observaron con la vacuna antipoliomielítica y la pentavalente (40% y 38% de déficit, respectivamente).Conclusión: Los resultados del presente estudio destacan la necesidad de sostener las actividades de vacunación en Guinea, de manera que conserven su capacidad de recuperación y de respuesta, con independencia de los brotes epidémicos.

High prevalence, low awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension in Guinea: results from a population-based STEPS survey.

Hypertension is a major and fast-growing public health problem in Africa. We determined the prevalence of hypertension and assessed the levels of awareness, treatment and control in Guinea. A cross-sectional study based on a stratified cluster random sampling was conducted. In all, 2491 adults (1351 women) aged 15-64 years were selected and screened during September-December 2009. Hypertension (systolic (and/or diastolic) blood pressure ⩾140 (90) mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medications) and diabetes mellitus (fasting capillary glucose ⩾110 mg dl(-1) or use of antidiabetic medications) were determined. Logistic regressions were used to investigate the determinants of hypertension. The mean body mass index was 22.4 kg m(-2) (s.d.=4.5). The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was, respectively, 29.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 29.8-30.0) and 3.5% (95%CI 3.4-3.5). The prevalence of hypertension was 29.4% (29.3-29.5) in men and 30.4% (30.4-30.6) in women. The prevalence was 62.5% in the 44-64 years age group. Overall, 75.8% of hypertensive participants were undetected before the survey and 34.9% of those aware of their hypertensive status were receiving treatment, of whom 16.3% were at target control levels. Age, education, diabetes and obesity were the main factors associated with hypertension. There was a high prevalence of hypertension among the adults in Guinea, but with low awareness, treatment and control rates. Urgent response is needed in the form of integrated and comprehensive action targeting major non-communicable diseases in the country.

La mortalité maternelle à l'hôpital régional de Kindia : facteurs épidémiologiques et axes stratégiques d'intervention

Objectifs. Calculer le ratio de la mortalité maternelle, identifier les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et proposer des axes stratégiques d'intervention. Méthodes. Il s'agit d'une étude descriptive et analytique à recrutement rétrospectif, réalisée du 1erJanvier 1998 au 31 Décembre 2001 à l'Hôpital Régional de Kindia (HRK). Elle a concerné tous les cas de décès maternels survenus au service de gynécologie obstétrique de l'Hôpital Régional de Kindia. Les caractéristiques épidémiologiques, la provenance, la période du décès et le caractère évitable ou non du décès ont été analysés. Le calcul statistique a été fait à l'aide du test de chi² avec une signifi cativité p < 0,05. Résultats. Il y a eu 128 cas de décès matériels pour 6586 naissances vivantes soit 1944 décès pour 100.000 nouveaux-nés. L'âge moyen de patientes était 28,2 ans avec un écart type de 10 ans et des extrêmes de 15 et 44 ans. Les patientes de la tranche d'âge 15-19 ans (31,3%) analphabètes (62,5%), primipares (42,9%), évacuées (76,6%) et celles n'ayant effectuées aucune CPN (56,3%) étaient les plus touchées. Conclusion. La réduction de la mortalité passerait par l'identification des causes de décès, l'offre des soins obstétricaux et néonataux d'urgences complets

Diabetes and impaired fasting glucose in rural and urban populations in Futa Jallon (Guinea): prevalence and associated risk factors.

AIM: The authors present the results of the first survey conducted among the population of the Futa Jallon province in Guinea on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and associated risk factors for diabetes. METHOD: A random sample of the study population selected by cluster house sampling method included 1537 Guineans (807 women and 730 men) aged 35 years and above in urban (Labé) and rural (Fellö Koundoua-Tougué) areas. Participants were examined and administered a capillary whole blood glycemia test. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 49.4 years. Participation rate was 77%. Overall crude diabetes and IFG prevalence were 6.1% and 13.4%, respectively. The age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes using the standardized age distribution of Segi was 6.7% (95% CI: 5.5-7.9%). Subjects in the urban area had twice as much DM as in the rural area (OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.2). Out of the 94 subjects with DM, 66 had no prior history of disease. Urban location, age, waist to hip ratio, excess waist circumference, hypertension, raised systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly positively associated with DM. In multivariate analysis, only age (P=0.002) and waist circumference (P<0.05) remained independently associated with DM. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DM was higher than expected in urban and rural areas. The data support the conclusion that prevalence of DM is expected to increase with the aging of the population. The factors associated with diabetes are potentially modifiable. Therefore, primary prevention through lifestyle modifications may play a critical role in the control of DM.

[Frequency of diabetic microangiopathy in newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus in Conakry: late diagnosis and lack of screening]. / Frequence de la micro-angiopathie a la decouverte du diabete a Conakry: diagnostic tardif et insuffisance du dépistage.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes morbidity is not only connected to a scarce therapeutic care. It is especially the fact of late diagnosis of diabetes, at a time where complications are already present. The aims were to estimate the frequency of microangiopathy observed at the time of diabetes diagnosis within diabetic patients received in Conakry University Hospital and to describe the clinical characteristics of patients who had this complication. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We prospectively examined 116 patients [76 men (65.5%) and 40 women (34.5%); 11% type 1 diabetes and 89% type 2 diabetes] consecutively received and for whom known evolution of diabetes was lower or equal to three-months. All patients were interrogated (in search of cardiovascular risk factors), had a systematic check for retinopathy (exam done by ophthalmologist) or nephropathy (by measure of creatinine, urea and proteinuria). RESULTS: Diabetic retinopathy was present in 29 cases (24.8%) and diabetic nephropathy in 9 cases (7.8%), one at the stage of chronic renal failure. The patients who had microangiopathy were older than the others (p = 0.003) and have more frequently Type 2 diabetes (p = 0.005). However, glycaemia level and cardiovascular risk factors (nicotine addiction, arterial high blood pressure, obesity and sedentary) were not statistically different between both groups. CONCLUSION: Diabetic microangiopathy is frequent at the time of diabetes diagnosis in Guinea. Thus need for a check-up at the diabetes discovery time, as these results point the therapeutic choices and justify patient's compliance.

[Valve replacement for aortic regurgitation associated with rheumatoid arthritis: a series of 5 cases]. / Remplacement valvulaire pour insuffisance aortique associée a la polyarthrite rhumatoïde: a propos de 5 cas.

Between 30 and 50% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have cardiac involvement but only 2 to 10% have clinical manifestations. The authors report the results of a retrospective study of 5 cases of aortic regurgitation (AR) requiring valve replacement. There were 4 women and 1 man with an average age of 48.4 years. The average duration of the RA was 19.6 years. All patients had cardiac failure. Aortic valve replacement was performed in all cases, with bioprostheses in 4 out of 5 patients. The histopathological examination of the valves showed a rheumatoid nodule in 3 cases and non-specific lesions in one case. In the fifth patient, rheumatoid serology was positive in the pericardial effusion. The average interval between the onset of symptoms and cardiac surgery was 3.6 months (range 1 to 6 months) There were 3 deaths at 3 days, 20 months and 10 years, two patients survive after 12 and 14 years. The characteristic rapid progression of this form of AR, which may be life-threatening, should be emphasised.

Herbal medicine and treatment of diabetes in Africa: an example from Guinea.

AIM: Use of medicinal plants is widespread in Africa, particularly in Guinea where oral transmission of practices is part of the social ritual. The purpose of this study was to determine the proportion of diabetic patients who use herbal medicine and identify the types of plants in use. Reasons for using herbal medicine and the formulations employed were also noted. METHODS: A questionnaire on use of herbal medicine was proposed to all diabetic patients hospitalized or consulting the Endocrinology Unit of the Conakry University Hospital between April 1 and June 30, 2003. RESULTS: A total of 397 patients responded; 33% declared they used herbal medicine. They proposed many motivations, sometimes in association: belief in its efficacy (74%), easy access to medicinal plants (70%), lower cost (48%), and search for complete cure of diabetes (37%). Hearing about a positive experience had convinced 78% of the users to use herbal medicine. The majority of the users were satisfied (85%). One or more clinical manifestations occurring concomitantly with use of herbs was observed in 23 patients (18%), particularly gastrointestinal disorders (n = 10) and skin problems (n = 8). Two cases of hypoglycaemia were noted. CONCLUSION: Herbal medicine plays an important role in anti-diabetes treatment in Guinea. This type of treatment should be based on scientific evidence but very few studies have been conducted. Conditions of use should be better defined and patients should be informed of potential adverse effects.

[Hypertension: epidemiology and metabolic abnormalities in Foutah-Djallon in Guinea]. / Hypertension arterielle: epidemiologie et anomalies metaboliques au Foutah-Djallon en Guinée.

The objectives of this transverse study were to clarify the prevalence of the hypertension in Foutah-Djallon in Guinea, the influence of the environment (rural or urban areas) and to identify the associated metabolic abnormalities (AMA) (hyperglycaemia, weighty excess). 1537 subjects of 35 and more years old living in urban zones (Labé, n=886) and in rural areas (Fellö-Koundoua in Tougué, n=651), were selected by a cluster sampling, and examined between February 1st and March 31st, 2003.The prevalence of the hypertension (blood pressure: BP > or = 140/90 mm of Hg) was 43.6% in urban areas, 14.9% in rural areas (p < 0.001). The subjects living in urban areas had more often a weighty excess and were more sedentary. Among them, 3.6% presented an AMA (waist measurement > or = 95 cms in the man and > or = 88 cms in the woman, BP > or = 130/85 mm of Hg, and fasting capillary blood glycaemia > or = 1.10 g/l) against 0.3% in the subjects living in rural areas. These results confirm the important role of the changes of way of life (urbanization and sedentary) in the increase of the prevalence of the hypertension and the AMA in Africa. Appropriate programs educational sanitary in wide scale are indispensable.

Les complications cardiaques de l'hypertension arterielle chez 392 Noirs Africains

Les auteurs evaluent les complications cardiaques de l'hypertension arterielle a la lumiere des donnees cliniques; electrocardiographiques et radiologiques a partir de 392 admissions pour HTA au service de cardiologie du CHU Ignace Deen de Conakry (R. Guinee) de 1981 a 1988. Trois cent cinquante quatre cas de complications cardiaques (90 pour cent) ont ete colliges. Chez 38 patients (10 pour cent); la maladie n'etait pas compliquee. Les complications cardiaques ont ete diagnostiquees chez 228 hommes (64 pour cent) et 126 femmes (36 pour cent). Le pic de preference est observe a 51-60 ans pour les deux sexes (44 pour cent des cas). La cardiopathie hypertensive avec insuffisance cardiaque decomposee (349 cas) est la forme clinique la plus frequente

[Vaginal sonography in the diagnosis of and therapeutic indications in cervical incompetence]. / La vaginosonographie dans le diagnostic et l'indication thérapeutique de l'insuffisance cervicale.

Besides its contribution to the diagnosis, the vaginal sonography or transvaginal ultrasound is a remarkable support in the indication of the treatment of cervical incompetence and its control after cerclage. The study group consisted of 40 patients, their gestational age between 16 and 29 weeks, admitted in the department for cervical incompetence. After transvaginal ultrasound examination combined to the results of clinical evaluations, 32 pregnant women were retained for cervical cerclage. The other cases were given only medical treatment. It springs out from the analyse of the criteria of exploration, the absence of a funnel shaped formation of internal os in the cases non retained for cervical cerclage at the vaginosonography examination. Likewise, but in a less degree (6/8) a cervical dilatation greater than or equal to 10 mm. The softening of the cervix was also absent in the majority of the cases (5/8) at the clinical examination. On the contrary, the cervix was shortened in all cases, both in clinical and ultrasound examination. Another important element is the advanced gestational age which is in favour of medical treatment and ultrasound check up. The average gestational age of the group without cerclage is 26.87 weeks and that of the whole study group is 23.64 weeks. The vaginalsonography makes possible the follow up, in the postoperative periods after cervical cerclage and the appreciation of the outline of internal os and the localisation of the band used for cerclage.

Uterine rupture--an analysis of 81 cases in Conakry/Guinea.

Eighty-one cases of uterine rupture in Conakry/Guinea are analyzed. With an incidence of 0.84%, i.e. 1 per 119 deliveries, uterine rupture is still a common problem in this region. In this analysis fetal mortality was found to be 75.3% and maternal mortality 20.9%. Mortality rates were statistically higher after hysterectomy than after repair. Other etiologic factors were extreme multiparity and an inadequate transfer system to the obstetric centers. A reduction of uterine rupture rates can be achieved by prevention of extreme multiparity (more than 4 deliveries) and of home deliveries and decentralization of obstetric services into peripheral units and villages.

Decrease in uterine rupture in Conakry, Guinea by improvements in transfer management.

Lack of an effective transfer system remains a major risk factor for uterine rupture, especially in developing countries. The implementation of a program of consultation, feedback and integration between peripheral delivery units and two hospitals resulted in a decrease in the incidence of uterine rupture from 0.20% to 0.12% and of maternal mortality after uterine rupture from 28% to 21%, respectively, after 6 months.

[Evaluating the cervix in pregnancy using vaginal sonography. Studies of cervix insufficiency]. / Die Beurteilung der Zervix in der Schwangerschaft mit Hilfe der Vaginalsonographie. Untersuchungen zur Zervixinsuffizienz.

Transvaginal ultrasound provides important detailed information, which cannot be obtained by routine manual vaginal examination. By measuring the outside-inside distance (from os externum to os internum), we can determine the actual length of the cervix. By depicting the cervical canal, we can identify early dilatation. Visualizing the os internum with a possible opening, forming a conus, helps reveal an incompetent cervix. A total of 485 measurements of the cervix was carried out. Fifty patients with normal clinical findings between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy were compared to the same number of patients in the 28th to 32nd week of pregnancy, with the clinical diagnosis of an incompetent cervix. A cervical length of 46.3-39.3 mm was found in normal pregnancies, and a length of 34.0-21.4, when a clinically incompetent cervix had been diagnosed, a difference of 12.3-17.9 mm.

[Application of the neodymium-Yag laser in treating adhesions]. / Application du laser Neodym Yag dans l'adhésiolyse.

The authors conducted an experimental study on the possibilities of application of the "in touch" technique for microsurgical adhesion resection with a Neodymium-Yag laser. It enables good hemostasis and is an alternative to the CO2 laser, the risk of causing vital organ lesions being reduced.

[Tetralogy of Fallot following coumarin administration in early pregnancy--an embryopathy?]. / Fallotsche Tetralogie nach Cumarineinnahme in der Frühschwangerschaft--eine Embryopathie?

A case report of a 35-year old woman is presented who continued a coumarin therapy unconscious of an early pregnancy up to day 61. At term she delivered a baby with tetralogy of Fallot, up to now not mentioned in the symptom complex of malformations due to a coumarin therapy. In the case presented the typical symptoms of a warfarin embryopathy including a chondrodysplasia punctata and other morphological changes were lacking. Although some cases of cardiac malformations have been reported in literature following coumarin therapy in early pregnancy, a causal connection could not be confirmed.

[Transvaginal echography. An application in the diagnosis of cervical incompetence]. / L'échographie transvaginale. Un apport dans le diagnostic de la béance du col utérin.

It has already been demonstrated that abdominal ultrasound is an adequate method for measuring the cervix in pregnancy. The use of the vaginal route for such measurement is new. We have been using for the vaginal approach an ultrasound transducer of 5 mHZ with an angle of sweep of 240 degrees. The study was carried out on 23 pregnant women at the 28th week of pregnancy who had been admitted because of threatened premature labour with possible cervical incompetence; and on 20 cases of normal pregnancy also at the 28th week, which is the time when we do glucose estimations normally in our antenatal clinics. The result of our work shows that this ultrasonic method through the vagina gives us much more accurate measurements of the cervix than digital vaginal examination does. A mean difference of 12.3 mm in the length of the cervix was found in normal pregnancies (46.3 mm) and in cases where there was a question of cervical incompetence (34 mm). Furthermore the phenomena of shortening, dilatation of the cervix and a funnel-shape of the internal os are ultrasound signs of value in diagnosing incompetent cervix. Further advantages of the transvaginal approach are that there is no need for the bladder to be filled previously, and that the organs are nearer which improves the ultrasound picture. All the same, it is to be emphasized that transvaginal ultrasound can only be a factor to be added to clinical examination in the diagnosis of the incompetent cervix.