Lipid profile in pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients in southern Nigeria

Background: Dyslipidaemia is one of the cardiovascular risk factors responsible for cardiovascular disease and rapid progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) to end stage renal disease. Early detection and management of dyslipidaemia will reduce cardiovascular burden and retard progression of CKD.Aims: To determine the prevalence and pattern of dyslipidaemia in pre-dialysis CKD patients in a tertiary hospital in southern Nigeria.Methods: This was a case-control study that involved 105 consecutive pre-dialysis CKD patients recruited over two years and 105 age and sex matched control subjects. Data obtained from participants included demographics, body mass index, and aetiology of CKD. Blood sampling was done for the determination of creatinine and fasting serum lipids. P values < 0.05 were taken as significant.Results: The mean age of the CKD and control subjects were 46.98±16.81 and 47.57±15.97 years respectively with a male:female ratio of 1.7:1. The median atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) were significantly higher in the CKD patients while mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly lower in the CKD patients (p <0.001). The overall prevalence of dyslipidaemia in the CKD patients was 60% which was significantly higher than 39% in the control (p=0.002). The prevalence of high AIP, elevated TG and reduced HDL C increased with worsening renal function. Dyslipidaemia was commoner in female CKD patients (p=0.02) and those who were ≥ 45years (p=0.94).Conclusion: Dyslipidaemia is common in pre-dialysis CKD especially in female and older patients. Some lipid abnormalities increased with worsening kidney function.Keywords: dyslipidaemia, pre-dialysis, chronic kidney disease, Nigeri

A community-based study of hypertension and cardio-metabolic syndrome in semi-urban and rural communities in Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of cardio-metabolic syndrome (CMS) is increasing worldwide. In people of African descent, there is higher prevalence of hypertension and complications than other races. Bearing in mind these facts, we looked at the CMS in the general population and the population with hypertension. Using the new International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definitions of CMS, we studied its prevalence in semi-urban and rural communities in South-east Nigeria in relation to hypertension.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>This is a cross sectional population based study involving 1458 adults aged from 25 to 64 years. Diagnosis of CMS was based on the new IDF criteria using the anthropometric measurements for Europids as there is none yet for blacks. Hypertension was defined according to the WHO/ISH criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence of CMS was 18.0% in the semi-urban community as against 10.0% in the rural community increasing to 34.7% and 24.7% respectively in the population with hypertension. The prevalence of co-morbidities - hyperglycaemia, abdominal obesity, and hypertriglceridaemia were 13.9%, 41.1% and 23.9% while in the hypertensive populations they were 21.2%, 55.0% and 31.3% in the general population in both communities combined. Except for low HDL cholesterol, every other co-morbidity was higher in hypertensive population than the general population.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The high prevalence of CMS in the semi-urban population especially for the population with hypertension underscores the double burden of disease in developing countries. The lesson is while infections and infestations are being tackled in these countries the non-communicable diseases should not be neglected.</p

Peter Ojogwu oral history interview

Oral history interview with Peter Ojogwu, a survivor of the Asaba Massacre, a mass killing of civilians which occurred in 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War. Ojogwu, who was a teenager when the massacre took place, had been attending school in Asaba. He, his brother, and three cousins were part of a group that encountered some federal soldiers who took them to the town square. When the men were separated from the women and children, Ojogwu realized that something was wrong. As the soldiers started firing, Ojogwu collapsed on the ground and was wedged in by other people\u27s bodies. He was wounded in several places but was able to get out of the square when it got dark and was taken to his grandmother\u27s house. His brother and two cousins were killed. In this interview, Ojogwu also comments on the massacre\u27s effects on the Asaba community

Peter Ojogwu oral history interview

Oral history interview with Peter Ojogwu, a survivor of the Asaba Massacre, a mass killing of civilians which occurred in 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War. Ojogwu, who was a teenager when the massacre took place, had been attending school in Asaba. He, his brother, and three cousins were part of a group that encountered some federal soldiers who took them to the town square. When the men were separated from the women and children, Ojogwu realized that something was wrong. As the soldiers started firing, Ojogwu collapsed on the ground and was wedged in by other people\u27s bodies. He was wounded in several places but was able to get out of the square when it got dark and was taken to his grandmother\u27s house. His brother and two cousins were killed. In this interview, Ojogwu also comments on the massacre\u27s effects on the Asaba community

Gender differences in life circumstances, monthly income, risky sexual and drug behaviors among injection drug users in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This study investigated the gender difference between male and female injection drug users’ (IDUs) life circumstances, income and risky sexual and drug behaviors. The study sample comprised of 318 male and 249 female injection drug users in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. There were gender differences between male and female IDUs in terms of life circumstances and sexual behaviors. There were no differences in the drug behaviors among the two sexes. Women were more likely to be 21-25 years of age, have had more sexual partners in the last 30 days, traded sex for money, and have been sexually abused as a child. On the other hand, the males were more likely to be 26-30 years of age and have never used a condom during sex in the last 30 days. Regardless of the differences in sexual risk behaviors by gender, both male and female injection drug users in Dar es Salaam are at risk of HIV/AIDS, blood borne and other sexually transmitted diseases associated with drug use

Prevalence of elevated serum creatinine among treated hypertensives in South-South Nigeria.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major issue of public importance in Nigeria. Hypertensive nephrosclerosis is one of the major cause of CKD in Nigeria, being responsible for over half of our CKD patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of creatinine in treated hypertensives in this environment which is a major marker of renal disease.Materials/ Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.Records of patients attending the hypertensiveclinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital were assessed and evaluated for socio-demographic data, blood pressure levels and serum creatinine levels.A cut off mark of 1.5mg/dl was used to evaluate elevated serum creatinine levels.Results: There were 826patients with a male/female ratio of 1:1.32. Males were 356 (43.1%) and females 470 (56.9%). Among these patients, 118 (14.3%) had a serum creatinine value of over 1.5mg/dl, signifying renal disease.Conclusion: A significant number of managed hypertensive patients, 118 (14.3%), have an elevated serum creatinine value when a cut-off point of 1.5mg/dl was used. The figures rose to 230(27.8%) with a serum creatinine value of over 1.4 mg/dl was used. This signifies kidney disease. The level of asymptomatic kidney disease is quite high in our population of treated hypertensive patients. This figure is likely to be higher when tests of microalbuminia and creatinine clearance are performed for this group of patients

Oral Health Education and Advocacy Programme for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) – a Preliminary Retrospective Study

Targeted oral health services for orphans and vulnerable children are rarely available in our communities. Oral health education preventive&nbsp; interventions present the only strategy to address this problem. In a descriptive retrospective study using the structure, process and outcome factors we evaluated oral health education and advocacy programme conducted by the Community Dentistry Unit, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria over 5 years to orphanages. A total of 14 visits were conducted involving 362 orphans. The number of orphans per home ranged from 12-80 children with a mean of 26 orphans while that of caregivers ranged from 2-8 persons giving ratio of caregiver to orphan of 1:8. Majority of the orphanages ( 85.7%) were private, owned and funded by personal donations while 14.3% were owned by religious organizations. Furthermore, 57.1% of the orphanages made use of rented facilities. Oral health education was carried out with equal distributions of indoor and outdoor. Only about 7.1% of the orphanages had a sickbay on-site. None of the orphanages had access to oral health and all requested for&nbsp; subsequent visits. These findings support a need for orphanages to have oral health aids, functional facilities and a clear access to oral health care. Also, sustained source of funding, regular visits by oral heal health personnel, caretakers training are needed. Keywords: advocacy, oral health education, orphans, vulnerable children, Benin Cit

CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN ADULTS WITH THE METABOLIC SYNDROME IN BENIN CITY: PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES.

The Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of interrelated risk factors that appear to directly promote the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Recently, an association with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been documented severally in literature. Only a few prevalence studies on MetS exist in this part of the world. The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of CKD in patients with MetS and to determine the association between MetS- related variables and CKD. The updated NCEP ATP III guideline was used for definition of MetS. Patients had their fasting plasma glucose, serum lipids, urea and creatinine as well as spot urine albumin: creatinine ratio done. Two hundred and twenty two patients completed the study. The prevalence of CKD was 20.3% while 20.0% had abnormal ACR value. Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were associated with CKD in univariate analysis but only BMI and diastolic blood pressure were independent predictors of CKD in multivariate analysis. There was a graded relationship between the number of MetS traits and the presence of CKD and also between MetS traits and ACR. In conclusion, CKD is prevalent in patients with the metabolic syndrome and may be due to a synergistic effect of the various components of the syndrome. Diastolic blood pressure and obesity may predict CKD in MetS patients. Albuminuria may also be prevalent in MetS patients; increasing with increasing number of MetS traits