Performance in mortality prediction of SAPS 3 And MPM0-III scores among adult patients admitted to the ICU of a private tertiary referral hospital in Tanzania

Background Illness predictive scoring systems are significant and meaningful adjuncts of patient management in the intensive care unit. They assist in predicting patient outcomes, improve clinical decision making and provide insight into the effectiveness of care and management while optimizing the use of hospital resources. We evaluated mortality predictive performance of Simplified acute physiology score (SAPS 3) and Mortality probability models (MPM0-III) in predicting ICU outcome as well as identified disease pattern and clinical factors associated with increased mortality. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania between August 2018 and April 2020. Demographics, clinical characteristics, outcomes, source of admission, primary admission category, length of stay and the type of support provided with worst physiological data within the first hour after admission were extracted. SAPS 3 and MPM0-III scores were calculated using an online web-based calculator. The performance of each model to predict outcome was assessed by discrimination and calibration. Discrimination between survivors and non – survivors was assessed by the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC) and calibration was estimated using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. Results A total of 331 patients were enrolled in the study with a median age of 58 years (IQR 43-71), most of whom were male (n=208, 62.8%), of African origin (n=178, 53.8%) and admitted from the emergency department (n=306, 92.4%). In-hospital mortality of critically ill patients was 16.1%. Discrimination was very good for all models, the area under the ROC curve for SAPS 3 and MPM0-III was 0.89 (95%CI: 0.844-0.935) and 0.90 (95%CI: 0.864-0.944) respectively. Calibration as calculated by Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test showed good calibration for SAPS 3 and MPM0-III with chi-square values of 4.61 and 5.08 respectively and P–Value \u3e0.05. Conclusion Both SAPS 3 and MPM0-III performed in predicting outcome among patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a private tertiary hospital. The overall in hospital mortality among critically ill patients was lower compared to reported mortality from studies done in other intensive care units in tertiary referral hospitals within Tanzania

Endobronchial Tuberculosis: A Rare Presentation

Endobronchial tuberculosis (EBTB) is an infection of the tracheobronchial tree by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is common among young females. Patient can present with fever, cough, wheeze, with or without any constitutional symptoms. It presents as a diagnostic dilemma, as patient sputum smear can be false negative. CT scan may or may not show any abnormality, or any endobronchial lesion. Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy offers the diagnostic choice. We hereby report a case of a young immunocompetent Asian female who was found to have endobronchial pathology, leading to diagnosis and timely therapy

Acute coronary syndrome patterns in the young: Risk factor profile and in-hospital outcomes in a tertiary referral hospital in Kenya

Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) accounts for coronary artery disease (CAD) –related morbidity and mortality. There has been growing concern about the rising incidence of ACS among young individuals globally both in developed and developing countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa. This group’s phenotypic characteristics; risk factors and clinical outcomes are not well described. contextual and regional studies are necessary to understand the magnitude of ACS among young Individuals and help highlight challenges and opportunities for improved ACS outcomes in the region. The study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of young individuals hospitalized with ACS and report on in-hospital outcomes. Methodology: This single-center retrospective study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. Medical records of all young individuals hospitalized with ACS from 30th June 2020 to 1st May 2023 were reviewed. We defined young individuals as 50 years or below. Categorical variables were reported as frequencies and proportions, and compared with Pearson chi- square or Fisher’s exact tests. Continuous variables were reported as means or medians and compared with independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests. P- value \u3c 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 506 patients hospitalized with ACS, (n = 138,27.2%) were aged 50 years and below. The study population was male (n = 107, 79.9%) and African(n = 82,61.2%) predominant with a median age of 46.5 years (IQR 41.0–50.0). Hypertension (n = 101,75.4%) was noted in most study participants. More than half of the cohort were smokers (n = 69,51.5%) having a family history of premature ASCVD(n = 70,52.2%) and were on lipid-lowering therapy(n = 68,50.7%) prior to presentation. ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was the most common clinical manifestation of ACS (n = 77, 57.5%). Of the significant coronary artery disease (n = 75,56.0%), the majority of the individuals had single vessel disease (n = 60, 80%) with a predilection of left anterior deciding artery(n = 47,62.6%). The Main cause of ACS was atherosclerosis (n = 41,54.6%). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 46.0 (± 12.4). The in-hospital mortality was (n = 2, 1.5%). Conclusion: This study highlights that young individuals contribute to a relatively large proportion of patients presenting with ACS at our center. The most common presentation was STEMI. The principal cause was atherosclerosis. The findings of this study highlight the importance of developing systems of care that enable the early detection of CAD. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors were prevalent and modifiable, thus targets of intervention

Disseminated Carcinomatosis of Bone Marrow in an African Man with Metastatic Descending Colon Carcinoma

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is ranked third worldwide and seventh in Tanzania. The liver and lungs are the most commonly involved sites. Disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow (DCBM) from colorectal carcinoma is rare and typically indicates widespread disease and poor prognosis. We report a case of a 40-year-old African male, who presented to us with abdominal distension, weight loss, fever and change in bowel habit over the past month. He underwent colonoscopy which revealed a necrotic mass in the descending colon. Biopsies were taken, and histopathology confirmed the presence of poorly differentiated mucin-producing adenocarcinoma. The patient suffered a colonic perforation after the fifth cycle of chemotherapy, requiring surgical interventions. Patient\u27s course was complicated by pancytopenia and bone marrow biopsy revealed infiltration by non-hematopoietic malignant cells and bone marrow necrosis. Disseminated carcinomatosis of the bone marrow is a rare and fatal condition; hence high level of clinical suspicion may help in detecting this rare manifestation of colorectal cancer

Postoperative subcutaneous emphysema following percutaneous nephrolithotomy: A rare complication

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is a common urological procedure performed for complicated upper urinary tract stones. The advantages of PCNL include lower morbidity and mortality rates and quicker recovery compared to traditional open surgery. A number of complications have been reported which can be life threatening. Here we present a case of 71 years old lady, who developed subcutaneous emphysema following PCNL

COVID-19 and stroke in sub-Saharan Africa: case series from Dar es Salaam

Low and middle-income countries including those in sub-Saharan (SSA) Africa are experiencing a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. To the best of our knowledge, reports of COVID-19 related strokes are scarce in SSA. The peculiar situation of stroke care in SSA makes COVID-19 associated stroke a bothersome entity as it adds other dynamics that tilt the prognostic balance. We present a case series of COVID -19 related stroke in 3 patients from Tanzania. We emphasized protected code stroke protocol

Smart Watch Detection of Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT): First Case from Tanzania

Smartwatches like the Apple Watch have been on the rise worldwide and their use is gaining popularity in developing countries. Their ability to detect dysrhythmias is well documented. Present practice discourages the use of these devices as a diagnostic tool. Nevertheless, atypical findings from these devices should be clinically investigated. This case demonstrates an eventual diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) based on an Apple watch alert which was subsequently confirmed by electrophysiological evaluation

Factors Associated with Mortality Among Hospitalized Adults with COVID-19 Pneumonia at a Private Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: The emergence of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused millions of deaths worldwide. There has been paucity of data for hospitalized African patients suffering from COVID-19. This study aimed to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality in patients suffering from COVID-19 in Tanzania. Methods: This was a single center, retrospective, observational cohort study in adult patients hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Demographics, clinical pattern, laboratory and radiological investigations associated with increased odds of mortality were analyzed. Results: Of the 157 patients, 107 (68.1%) patients survived and 50 (31.8%) died. Mortality was highest in patients suffering with severe (26%) and critical (68%) forms of the disease. The median age of the cohort was 52 years (IQR 42– 61), majority of patients were male (86%) and of African origin (46%), who presented with fever (69%), cough (62%) and difficulty in breathing (43%). Factors that were associated with mortality among our cohort were advanced age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03– 1.11), being overweight and obese (OR 9.44, 95% CI 2.71– 41.0), suffering with severe form of the disease (OR 4.77, 95% CI 1.18– 25.0) and being admitted to the HDU and ICU (OR 6.68, 95% CI 2.06– 24.6). Conclusion: The overall in-hospital mortality was 31.8%. Older age, obesity, the severe form of the disease and admission to the ICU and HDU were major risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality

Postoperative myocardial injury in a patient with left ureteric stone and asymptomatic COVID-19 disease

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It was first identified on 8thDecember 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei, China, and has since spread globally to become an emergency of international concern. Patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 may be asymptomatic or present with symptoms ranging from mild clinical manifestations: such as fever, cough, and sore throat to moderate and severe form of the disease such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In some patients, SARS-CoV-2 can affect the heart and cause myocardial injury which is evidenced either by electrocardiographic (ECG) changes or by a rise in serum troponin level. Patients with myocardial involvement are generally at risk of developing severe illness and tend to have a poor outcome. We hereby present a case of a hypertensive male patient with undiagnosed, asymptomatic COVID-19, who underwent an emergency urologic procedure for ureteric calculi. He eventually sustained a postoperative myocardial injury resulting in his demise. This case highlights the importance of detailed preoperative assessment and anticipation of complications during this global pandemic

The pattern of admission, clinical characteristics, and outcomes among patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary hospital in Tanzania: a 5-year retrospective review

Introduction: Despite the implementation of complex interventions, ICU mortality remains high and more so in developing countries. The demand for critical care in Sub-Saharan Africa is more than ever before as the region experiences a double burden of rising rates of non-communicable diseases (NCD) in the background battle of combating infectious diseases. Limited studies in Tanzania have reported varying factors associated with markedly high rates of ICU mortality. Investigating the burden of ICU care remains crucial in providing insights into the effectiveness and challenges of critical care delivery. Material and Methods: A single-center retrospective study that reviewed records of all medically admitted patients admitted to the ICU of the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar-es-Salaam, from 1st October 2018 to 30th April 2023. To define the population in the study, we used descriptive statistics. Patients’ outcomes were categorized based on ICU survival. Binary logistic regression was run (at 95% CI and p-value \u3c 0.05) to identify the determinants for ICU mortality. Results: Medical records of 717 patients were reviewed. The cohort was male (n=472,65.8%) and African predominant (n=471,65.7%) with a median age of 58 years (IQR 45.0–71.0). 17.9% of patients did not survive. The highest mortality was noted amongst patients with septic shock (29.3%). The lowest survival was noted amongst patients requiring three organ support (n=12,2.1%). Advanced age (OR 1.02,CI 1.00–1.04), having more than three underlying comorbidities (OR 2.50,CI 1.96–6.60), use of inotropic support (OR 3.58,CI 1.89–6.80) and mechanical ventilation (OR 9.11,CI 4.72–18.11) showed association with increased risk for mortality in ICU. Conclusion: The study indicated a much lower ICU mortality rate compared to similar studies conducted in other parts of SubSaharan Africa. Advanced age, underlying multiple comorbidities and organ support were associated with ICU mortality. Large multicenter studies are needed to highlight the true burden of critical care illness in Tanzania