Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in 103 patients with gastroesophageal reflux, erosive esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus in Yaoundé, Cameroun

Introduction : la relation entre l’infection à Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) et le reflux gastrooesophagien (RGO) est complexe. Certaines études épidémiologiques ont suggéré un rôle protecteur de l’infection à H. pylori dans le développement du RGO et que son éradication conduirait à l’augmentation de la fréquence du RGO. Cet article évalue la prévalence de l’infection à H. pylori parmi les patients présentant un RGO sans lésion, une oesophagite érosive ou un oesophage de Barrett. Matériels et méthodes : entre janvier et mai 2015, 103 patients consécutifs avec des symptômes de RGO quotidiens ou hebdomadaires d’au moins un an ont été évalués au Centre Médical la Cathédrale de Yaoundé, Cameroun. Tous les patients ont subi une anamnèse, un examen physique, une endoscopie digestive haute avec biopsies antrales et un test rapide à l’uréase kit commercial HelicotecUT® plus (Strong Biotech Corp., Taipei 115, Taïwan). Toutes les analyses statistiques ont fait appel aux logiciels Epi-Info 3.5.1 et SPSS Statistics version 16.0 (IBM, Chicago, USA). Résultats : L’étude portait sur 43 hommes et 60 femmes (âge moyen de 46,5 ± 15,3 ans – extrême : 14-79 ans). La prévalence de l’infection à H. pylori était de 39,8 % (IC à 95 % : 30,4- 49,3). H. pylori était positif chez 34,6 % de patients avec une oesophagite érosive contre 41,6 % chez les patients avec RGO à endoscopie négative (p = 0,533). Parmi les 41 patients H. pylori positif, seuls neuf (22,0 %) avaient une oesophagite érosive, toutes de grade 1 de Savary-Miller. Conclusion : la prévalence de l’infection à H. pylori est faible parmi les patients camerounais atteints de RGO. L’atteinte sévère de la muqueuse oesophagienne est rare parmi les patients H. pylori positif comparés aux patients H. pylori négatif. Cependant, nos données ne permettent pas avec évidence de définir la relation entre l’infection à H. pylori et le RGO dans notre contexte endémique à H. pylori. Des études ultérieures sont attendues.Introduction: The relationship between the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is complex. Some epidemiological studies have suggested a protective role of the H. pylori infection in the development of GERD and its eradication would lead to the increase in GERD frequency. This article assesses the prevalence of the H. pylori infection among patients with GERD without injury, erosive esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus. Materials and methods: Between January and May 2015, 103 consecutive patients with daily or weekly GERD symptoms for at least one year were assessed at the Medical Center “la Cathédrale” of Yaoundé, Cameroon. All patients underwent anamnesis, physical examination, upper GI endoscopy with antral biopsies and rapid urease test HelicotecUT® plus commercial kit (Strong Biotech Corp., Taipei, Taiwan). All statistical analyzes have used the software Epi-Info 3.5.1 and the SPSS version 16.0 (IBM, Chicago, USA). Results: The study included 43 men and 60 women with an average age of 46.5 ± 15.3 years (range: 14-79 years). The prevalence of the H. pylori infection was 39.8% (95% CI: 30.4 to 49.3). H. pylori was positive in 34.6% of patients with erosive esophagitis against 41.6% in patients with endoscopy-negative GERD (p = 0.533). Among the 41 H. pylori positive patients, only nine (22.0%) had erosive esophagitis, all of Savary-Miller grade 1. Conclusion: The prevalence of the H. pylori infection is low among the Cameroonian patients with GERD. Severe damage to the esophageal mucosa is rare among H. pylori positive patients compared to H. pylori negative ones. However, our data do not enable us have proof in defining the relationship between the H. pylori infection and GERD in our H Pylori endemic context. Further studies are awaited

Adolescents' Food Habits and Nutritional Status among in urban and Rural Areas in Cameroon, Africa

Background: Food intake in Cameroon is based on three meals daily. The diet in rural areas is based on traditional staple foods, while that of the urban population incorporates more modern foods. The health and nutrition of adolescents is important as their eating behaviour and nutrition will affect their future health. Objective: To describe and compare food habits and nutritional status of adolescents in Cameroon. Design: A cross-Stional study using an unquantified food frequency questionnaire and anthropometric data, in urban and rural areas. Fifty-two adolescents, 12–15 years old, were selected from schools. Results: Frequencies of consumption of meat, vegetables, cereals, milk products and junk food were significantly higher in urban than in rural adolescents (11.8 vs 4.5, 9.5 vs 3.9, 16.5 vs 11.9, 5.7 vs 0.8, 24.2 vs 8.7, respectively). The frequency of in-between meals was higher in urban than in rural adolescents (4.9 vs 0.9, respectively). Arm muscle area (AMA, mm2) and waist/hip ratio were significantly higher in rural than in urban adolescents (3554 vs 2802 and 0.82 vs 0.79, respectively). Body mass index (BMI, kg m−2) was higher in rural than urban adolescents, although not significant (20.6 vs 19.4, respectively). There was a positive significant correlation between BMI and AMA in urban and rural areas (r=0.67 and r=0. 72, respectively). Conclusions: Despite a lower frequency of food consumption, rural adolescents had higher AMA and waist/hip ratio than urban adolescents. Less junk food and more traditional food consumption, more manual activities and walking in rural adolescents could explain these results

Metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes: comparative prevalence according to two sets of diagnostic criteria in sub-Saharan Africans

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Available definition criteria for metabolic syndrome (MS) have similarities and inconsistencies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of MS in a group of Cameroonians with type 2 diabetes, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria, and to assess the concordance between both criteria, and the implications of combining them.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We collected clinical and biochemical data for 308 patients with type 2 diabetes (men 157) at the National Obesity Center of the Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon. Concordance was assessed with the use of the Kappa statistic.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean age (standard deviation) was 55.8 (10.5) years and the median duration of diagnosed diabetes (25^th–75^th percentiles) was 3 years (0.5–5.0), similarly among men and women. The prevalence of MS was 71.7% according to the IDF criteria and 60.4% according to NCEP-ATP III criteria. The prevalence was significantly higher in women than in men independently of the criteria used (both <it>p</it> < 0.001). Overall concordance between both definitions was low to average 0.51 (95% confidence interval: 0.41–0.61). Combining the two sets of criteria marginally improved the yield beyond that provided by the IDF criteria alone in men, but not in the overall population and in women.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The IDF and NCEP-ATP III criteria do not always diagnose the same group of diabetic individuals with MS and combining them merely increases the yield beyond that provided by the IDF definition alone. This study highlights the importance of having a single unifying definition for MS in our setting.</p