Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among diabetic patients in Kisangani (North-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo)

Introduction: the link between diabetes mellitus and hepatitis B and C Virus infections has not yet been studied in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country where diabetes mellitus is a growing disease and the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses infections is high. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of these viruses in diabetic patients. Methods: we conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in diabetic subjects attending Kisangani University Clinics and General Hospitals of Kisangani City as well as the Diabetics Association of Oriental Province. The control group consisted of volunteer blood donors recruited from the Kisangani Provincial Blood Transfusion Center. Blood glucose was measured with the spectrophotometer; for hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses serology, we used rapid test kits (Determine TM® HBsAg and Hexagon® HCV test) and ELISA if seropositivity by rapid tests. The analysis was done by SPSS software. Results: seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus in diabetics was 24.8% compared to 1.9% in volunteer blood donors (p = 0.0000); that of hepatitis B virus was 3.4% versus 3.5% in volunteer blood donors (p = 0.906). Hepatitis C virus infection was more common in type 2 diabetics (p = 0.006) and significantly associated with age of diabetic patients (p = 0.002). Conclusion: the seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus and not hepatitis B virus infection is significantly high in diabetic subjects, particularly type 2 diabetics, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and suggests systematic screening for this infection in any diabetic patient

Renal Abnormalities among Sickle Cell Disease Patients in a Poor Management Setting: A Survey in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

peer reviewed[en] Background and objective: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is now a well-established cause of renal damage. In the northeast of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), SCD is common. However, sickle cell nephropathy remains unstudied in this region. Thus, this study aimed to assess renal abnormalities in SCD patients in Kisangani (northeastern DRC). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 98 sickle cell patients selected from six health facilities in Kisangani and 89 healthy non-sickle cell subjects as the control group. Based on a survey form, a clinical examination and biological tests were performed to collect data related to the sex, age, weight, height, pressure, serum creatinine, serum uric acid, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, and hemoglobin phenotype. We used a spectrophotometer to measure serum creatinine and uricemia, the sickle SCAN® device for hemoglobin phenotype, and an automatic multifunction analyzer for urine albumin/creatinine ratio. Data were entered into an Excel file and analyzed on SPSS 20.0. Results: The mean urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio was 11.79±9.03 mg/mmol in SCD patients, significantly higher than in AA (1.69±1.89 mg/mmol) and AS (2.97±4.46 mg/mmol) subjects. The decrease in glomerular filtration rate was more observed in SCD patients with hyperuricemia compared to those with normal uric acid levels. A significantly elevated prevalence of chronic kidney disease was observed among SCD patients (87.8%) compared to 23.8% in AS and 7.7% in AA subjects. Conclusions: This study highlighted that albuminuria and chronic kidney disease are common in SCD patients in Kisangani. More studies are needed to further document these complications

Dynamics in the Prevalence of Insulin Resistance between 2005 and 2023 in Type 2 Diabetics in South Kivu in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo: Cross-Sectional Studies

AIM: Sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing an epidemiological transition responsible for a change in the metabolic profile in favour of insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to assess the dynamics of the prevalence of insulin resistance and associated risk factors in diabetic patients in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2005 and 2023. METHOD: We measured fasting blood glucose and insulin levels and looked for metabolic syndrome parameters (2009 criteria) in type 2 diabetes patients in 2005-2008 (n = 176) and in 2018-2023 (n = 303). The HOMA model was used to measure insulin sensitivity and islet β-cell secretory function. RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2013, the trend was towards an increase in the prevalence of insulin resistance (from 13.1% to 50.8%; p < 0.0001), obesity (from 17.0% to 31.7%; p = 0.0005) and abdominal obesity (from 32.4% to 49.8%; p = 0.0002). Diabetes mellitus without insulin resistance remained more prevalent in rural than in urban areas (60.2% vs. 24.5%; p < 0.0001). Finally, the Triglycerides/HDL-C ratio [AUC = 0.513 (0.46 - 0.56); p = 0.64] and the metabolic syndrome [AUC = 0.539 (0.49 - 0.58), p = 0.12] were not predictive of insulin resistance. CONCLUSION: This present study shows an increase in insulin resistance in Congolese urban areas and a persistence of atypical diabetes mellitus in Congolese rural areas, confirming the particularity of the pathophysiology of the disease in African areas currently influenced by the epidemiological transition. Further studies using an appropriate methodology are required

Prevalence of Congenital Malaria in Kisangani, A Stable Malaria Transmission Area in Democratic Republic of the Congo

Background. Gestational malaria is a major public health problem. It produces fetal complications such as low birth weight, perinatal mortality, and congenital malaria. The present study is aimed at determining the prevalence of congenital malaria and its neonatal complications in the city of Kisangani. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Kisangani from 1 January to 30 September 2018. Our study population was composed of 1248 newborns born in our study sites, during the period of our study. Just after their birth, we performed the thick drop smear in the placental print and in umbilical blood smear. Results. The prevalence of congenital malaria was 13.98%; 69.23% of newborns who contracted congenital malaria were from 18- to 34-year-old mothers, 53.85% from primiparous mothers, 92.31% from mothers who took intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine, all (100%) from mothers using the insecticide-treated mosquito nets and 7.69% from HIV-positive mothers. Low birth weight and perinatal mortality were recorded in 76.92% and 7.69% of congenital malaria cases, respectively. Intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine had no effect on congenital malaria (FE=0.5218; OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.1651-3.8769) and on low birth weight (FE=0.3675; OR: 1.2308, 95% CI: 0.0037-0.1464); however, it seemed to have protective effect against perinatal mortality (FE=0.0001; OR: 0.0233, 95% CI: 0.0037-0.1464). Conclusion. Congenital malaria remains a major problem in stable malaria transmission area like Kisangani, and it is grafted by major perinatal complications, particularly low birth weight and perinatal mortality. We recommend an extended study to clarify the relationship between the outcome of pregnancy and the intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine