Late-stage disease at presentation to an HIV clinic in eastern Tanzania: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Background Late presentation and delayed treatment initiation is associated with poor outcomes in patients with HIV. Little is known about the stage at which HIV patients present at HIV clinics in Tanzania.Aim: This study aimed at determining the proportion of HIV patients presenting with WHO clinical stages 3 and 4 disease, and the level of immunity at the time of enrollment at the care and treatment center.Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 366 HIVinfected adults attending HIV clinic at Mwananyamala Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data were obtained from the care and treatment clinic database.Results Late stage disease at the time of presentation was found in 276 (75.4%) of the patients; out of whom 153 (41.8%) presented with CD4 count <200 cells/ul and 229 (62.6%) presented with WHO clinical stage 3 or 4 at the time of clinic enrollment. Strategies to improve early diagnosis and treatment initiation should be improved

Late-stage disease at presentation to an HIV clinic in eastern Tanzania: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Background Late presentation and delayed treatment initiation is associated with poor outcomes in patients with HIV. Little is known about the stage at which HIV patients present at HIV clinics in Tanzania.Aim: This study aimed at determining the proportion of HIV patients presenting with WHO clinical stages 3 and 4 disease, and the level of immunity at the time of enrollment at the care and treatment center.Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 366 HIVinfected adults attending HIV clinic at Mwananyamala Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data were obtained from the care and treatment clinic database.Results Late stage disease at the time of presentation was found in 276 (75.4%) of the patients; out of whom 153 (41.8%) presented with CD4 count &lt;200 cells/ul and 229 (62.6%) presented with WHO clinical stage 3 or 4 at the time of clinic enrollment. Strategies to improve early diagnosis and treatment initiation should be improved.</jats:p

Predictors of microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus at regional referral hospitals in the central zone, Tanzania: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Microvascular complications encompass a group of diseases which result from long-standing chronic effect of diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to determine the prevalence of microvascular complications and associated risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A cross-sectional analytical hospital-based study was conducted at Singida and Dodoma regional referral hospitals in Tanzania from December 2021 to September 2022. A total of 422 patients with T2DM were included in the analysis by determining the prevalence of microvascular complications and their predictors using multivariable logistic regression analysis. A two-tailed p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of microvascular complications was 57.6% (n = 243) and diabetic retinopathy was the most common microvascular complication which accounted for 21.1% (n = 89). Having irregular physical activity (AOR = 7.27, 95% CI = 2.98–17.71, p < 0.001), never having physical activity (AOR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.4–4.01, p = 0.013), being hypertensive (AOR = 5.0, 95% CI = 2.14–11.68, p = 0.030), having T2DM for more than 5 years (AOR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.42–5.26, p = 0.025), being obese (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.22–5.68, p = 0.010), and taking anti-diabetic drugs irregularly (AOR = 1.94, 95% CI = 0.15–0.77, p < 0.001) were the predictors of microvascular complications. This study has revealed a significant proportion of microvascular complications in a cohort of patients with T2DM. Lack of regular physical activity, being obese, taking anti-diabetic drugs irregularly, presence of hypertension, and long-standing duration of the disease, were significantly associated with microvascular complications

Poor glycemic control and associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross‑sectional study

Glycemic control is of paramount importance in care and management for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Poor glycemic control is a major health problem that greatly contributes to the development of diabetes related complications. This study aims to assess the prevalence of poor glycemic control and associated factors among outpatients with T2DM attending diabetes clinic at Amana Regional Referral Hospital in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania from December 2021 to September 2022. A face to face interviewer semi-structured questionnaire was administered during data collection. Binary logistic regression under multivariable analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of poor glycemic control. A total of 248 patients with T2DM were included in the analysis with mean age of 59.8 ± 12.1 years. The mean fasting blood glucose was 166.9 ± 60.8 mg/dL. The prevalence of poor glycemic control was 66.1% (fasting blood glucose > 130 mg/dL or < 70 mg/dL). Failure to adhere to regular follow-up (AOR = 7.53, 95% CI = 2.34–19.73, p < 0.001) and alcoholism (AOR = 4.71, 95% CI = 1.08–20.59, p = 0.040) were the independent predictors of poor glycemic control. The prevalence of poor glycemic control observed in this study was significantly high. Emphasis should be placed on ensuring that patients have regular follow-up for their diabetes clinics and they should also continue modifying some of lifestyle behaviors including refraining from alcoholism, this can help them to have good glycemic control