Un cas de thrombolyse a la phase aigüe d’un infarctus cerebral avec le tenecteplase au Congo

Nous rapportons un cas de thrombolyse utilisant le tenecteplase, d’évolution favorable chez un patient de 49 ans, hypertendu, tabagique, admis pour une hémiplégie et une hémihypoesthésie gauches associées à une dysarthrie et une désorientation temporospatiale. Le score NIHSS initial était à 18. Le scanner cérébral réalisé à 2h05 du début était normal avec un score ASPECT à 10. Il a bénéficié d’une thrombolyse avec le tenecteplase 0,1mg/kg à 3h10. L’évolution a été marquée par une régression du déficit neurologique avec un score NIHSS à 1 à 24 heures. Le scanner de contrôle a noté une dédifférenciation cortico-sous-corticale avec légère hypodensité dans le territoire postérieur de l’artère cérébrale moyenne droite. Le traitement par thrombolytique est possible en Afrique subsaharienne, en dépit de l’accès difficile aux médicaments.We report a case of thrombolysis using tenecteplase, with a good outcome in a patient of 49 years old, with history of hypertension and smoking, who was admitted with left hemiplegia and hypoesthesia associated with dysarthria and disorientation. The initial NIHSS score was 18. CT scan performed at the 2:05 start was normal with an ASPECT score to 10. He received thrombolysis with tenecteplase 0.1 mg / kg at 3:10. The 24h outcome was marked by a regression of the neurological deficit with an NIHSS score at 1. The CT scan noted a mild hypodensity in the posterior territory of the right middle cerebral artery. Thrombolysis in acute stroke is possible in Sub-Saharan Africa, despite a limit access to drugs

People with Dementia in Sub-Saharan Africa: From Support to Abuse by Caregivers: Results of EPIDEMCA-FU Program in Congo

Background/Aims: Dementia is an emerging public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In SSA, the stigma suffered by people with dementia (PWD) can be strongly linked to pejorative social representations, interfering in social relationships with informal caregivers. The objective of the study was to analyze the consequences of social representations of PWD in social interactions with informal caregivers. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Republic of Congo among 93 interviewees. Nondirectional interviews were conducted in local languages and complemented by participating observations. The collected data were transcribed literally, synthesized, and then coded to allow extraction and organization of text segments. Results: Informal caregivers, daughters-in-laws, were considered as abusers and granddaughters as benevolent. The leaders of syncretic churches and traditional healers were the first therapeutic itineraries of PWD, due to pejorative social representations of disease. Of these, some PWD have appeared at front of a customary jurisdiction for accusations of witchcraft. Dementia, perceived as a mysterious disease by informal caregivers, wasn’t medicalized by leaders of syncretic churches, traditional healers, nurses, or general practitioners. Conclusion: Stigma, generated by social representations, can change the patient’s behavior and the one of informal caregivers, leading to time delay in the search for appropriate help

From the social representation of the people with dementia by the family carers in Republic of Congo towards their conviction by a customary jurisdiction, preliminary report from the EPIDEMCA-FU study.

International audienc

J Am Geriatr Soc

OBJECTIVES Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in dementia. Limited data are available concerning their association with dementia in developing countries. Our aim was to describe the severity of neuropsychiatric symptoms among older people, evaluate the distress experienced by caregivers, and assess which neuropsychiatric symptoms were specifically associated with dementia among older adults in Central Africa. DESIGN This study is part of the EPIDEMCA program, a cross‐sectional multicenter population‐based study. SETTING The EPIDEMCA program was conducted from November 2011 to December 2012 in urban and rural areas of the Central African Republic and the Republic of the Congo. PARTICIPANTS Participants were older people (≥65 y) included in the EPIDEMCA program who underwent a neuropsychiatric evaluation. The sample included overall 532 participants, of whom 130 participants had dementia. MEASUREMENTS Neuropsychiatric symptoms were assessed with the brief version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory including the evaluation of severity and associated distress. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed., Text Revision, criteria were followed to diagnose dementia. A logistic regression model was used to identify associated neuropsychiatric symptoms. RESULTS The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms was 89.9% (95% confidence interval = 84.6‐95.1) among people living with dementia. The overall median severity score for neuropsychiatric symptoms was 9 [interquartile range [IQR] = 6‐12], and the overall median distress score was 7 [IQR = 4‐10]. Overall median scores of both severity and distress were significantly increased with the number of neuropsychiatric symptoms, the presence of dementia, and dementia severity. Depression, delusions, apathy, disinhibition, and aberrant motor behavior were associated with dementia after multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION This report is one of the few population‐based studies on neuropsychiatric symptoms among older people with dementia in Sub‐Saharan Africa and the first one evaluating the severity of those symptoms and distress experienced by caregivers. Individual neuropsychiatric symptoms were strongly associated with dementia in older people and require great attention considering their burden on populations

Int J Geriatr Psychiatry

OBJECTIVES: Our study aimed at estimating the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms and investigating associated factors among older adults living in two countries in Central Africa (Central African Republic [CAR] and Republic of Congo [ROC]). METHODS: The EPIDEMCA multicentre population-based study was carried out in rural and urban areas of CAR and ROC between 2011 and 2012 among people aged 65 and over. After cognitive screening using the Community Screening Interview for Dementia, participants with low performances underwent neurological examination including the brief version of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms in this population. RESULTS: NPI-Q data were available for 532 participants. Overall, 333 elderly people (63.7%) reported at least one neuropsychiatric symptom. The prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms was 89.9% (95% CI, 84.6-95.1) in participants with dementia, 73.4% (95% CI, 65.1-81.7) in participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 48.7% (95% CI, 42.9-54.6) in participants with no MCI nor dementia after neurological examination (P < 0.0001). The most common symptoms were depression, anxiety, and irritability. Participants living in Gamboma, with normal hearing and with friends in the community, were less likely to present neuropsychiatric symptoms. Physical disability, difficulties in eating, female sex, and dementia were significantly associated with neuropsychiatric symptoms. CONCLUSION: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are common among older people with neurocognitive disorders in CAR and ROC. Our results confirm those from previous studies in Nigeria and Tanzania. Nevertheless, knowledge of these symptoms remains limited in sub-Saharan Africa, hampering their appropriate management

Diet, Alcohol Consumption and Cognitive Disorders in Central Africa: A Study from the EPIDEMCA Program

International audienceWestern research into dementia has focused on finding effective means of prevention, particularly through nutrition. To date, however, little is known about the relationship between diet and cognitive disorders in Africa, where the number of people with dementia is expected to increase most over the coming decades. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between diet and alcohol intake and cognitive disorders among elderly people in Central Africa. Between 2011 and 2012, a cross-sectional multicentre population-based study was carried out in rural and urban areas of the Central African Republic (CAR) and the Republic of Congo (ROC). Participants aged ≥65 years were interviewed using the Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSI-D). Elderly people who performed poorly (COGSCORE≤24.5/30) were clinically assessed by neurologists and underwent further psychometric testing. DSM-IV and Petersen criteria were required for a diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), respectively. A food frequency questionnaire assessed the intakes of dairy products, fruit, vegetables, starches, legumes, oleaginous foods, meat or fish, eggs and sweet foods over the previous three days. We also collected data on alcohol intake. Sociodemographic, vascular, and psychological factors were documented. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate the associations. In fully adjusted models, a lower consumption of oleaginous foods was associated with MCI (OR=3.7 [1.4-9.9]) and dementia (OR=2.8 [1.0-7.7]) in a rural area of CAR. Alcohol consumption was associated with reduced probability of dementia in CAR (OR=0.3 [0.1-0.8]). In ROC, food groups and alcohol intake were not associated with MCI or dementia. In conclusion, our study provides new data about the association between diet and cognitive disorders in Africa. Further studies should investigate the relationship between diet and cognitive disorders at the level of specific foods rather than food groups