Chronic Conditions and Multimorbidity Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Peri-Urban Dwellers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Objectives: Chronic conditions and multimorbidity affect care needs and prevention opportunities. Methods: We studied 2,246 men and women aged ≥40 years within the Dar es Salaam Urban Cohort Study from June 2017 to July 2018. Seventeen chronic conditions were assessed based on self-report, body and blood pressure measurement, blood tests, and screening instruments. Results: Hypertension (51.3%), anemia (34.1%), obesity (32.2%), diabetes (31.6%), depressive symptoms (31.5%), low grip strength (21.2%), and ischemic heart disease (11.9%) were widespread. Multimorbidity was common (73.7%). Women had higher odds of obesity, ischemic heart disease, and high cholesterol (adjusted OR: 2.08–4.16) and lower odds of underweight, low grip strength, alcohol problems, and smoking (adjusted OR: 0.04–0.45). Ten years of age were associated with higher odds of low grip strength, cognitive problems, hypertension, kidney disease, chronic cough, diabetes, high cholesterol, ischemic heart disease, and multimorbidity (adjusted OR: 1.21–1.81) and lower odds of HIV infection (adjusted OR: 0.51). Conclusion: We found a higher prevalence of multimorbidity than previously estimated for middle-aged and elderly people in sub-Saharan Africa. The chronic conditions underlying multimorbidity differed by sex

Depressive symptoms and their association with age, chronic conditions and health status among middle-aged and elderly people in peri-urban Tanzania

Abstract Background Depression is a global mental health challenge. We assessed the prevalence of depressive symptoms and their association with age, chronic conditions, and health status among middle-aged and elderly people in peri-urban Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods Depressive symptoms were measured in 2,220 adults aged over 40 years from two wards of Dar es Salaam using the ten-item version of the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) and a cut-off score of 10 or higher. The associations of depressive symptoms with age, 13 common chronic conditions, multimorbidity, self-rated health and any limitation in six activities of daily living were examined in univariable and multivariable logistic regressions. Results The estimated prevalence of depressive symptoms was 30.7% (95% CI 28.5–32.9). In univariable regressions, belonging to age groups 45–49 years (OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.04–1.75]) and over 70 years (OR 2.35 [95% CI 1.66–3.33]), chronic conditions, including ischemic heart disease (OR 3.43 [95% CI 2.64–4.46]), tuberculosis (OR 2.42 [95% CI 1.64–3.57]), signs of cognitive problems (OR 1.90 [95% CI 1.35–2.67]), stroke (OR 1.56 [95% CI 1.05–2.32]) and anemia (OR 1.32 [95% CI 1.01–1.71]) and limitations in activities of daily living (OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.07–1.70]) increased the odds of depressive symptoms. Reporting good or very good health was associated with lower odds of depressive symptoms (OR 0.48 [95% CI 0.35–0.66]). Ischemic heart disease and tuberculosis remained independent predictors of depressive symptoms in multivariable regressions. Conclusion Depressive symptoms affected almost one in three people aged over 40 years. Their prevalence differed across age groups and was moderated by chronic conditions, health status and socioeconomic factors

Gender and Age Differences in Meal Structures, Food Away from Home, Chrono-Nutrition, and Nutrition Intakes among Adults and Children in Tanzania Using a Newly Developed Tablet-Based 24-Hour Recall Tool.

BACKGROUND: In many regions of the world, little is known about meal structures, meal patterns, and nutrient intake because the collection of quantitative dietary intake is expensive and labor-intensive. OBJECTIVES: We describe the development and field feasibility of a tablet-based Tanzania 24-h recall tool (TZ-24hr-DR) and dietary intakes collected from adults and children in rural and urban settings. METHODS: Using the Tanzanian food-composition table, the TZ-24hr-DR tool was developed on an Android platform using the Open Data Kit. The module provides food lists, meal lists, ingredient lists, quantity and amount consumed, breastfeeding frequency, and a recipe feature. Similar to the USDA Automated Multiple Pass Method, this TZ-24hr-DR contains review features such as time in-between meals, a summary of meals, and portion sizes. RESULTS: Dietary intake using TZ-24hr-DR was collected among 1) 845 children 0-18 mo of age enrolled in the Engaging Fathers for Effective Child Nutrition and Development in Tanzania (EFFECTS) trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03759821) in Mara, Tanzania, and 2) 312 adult families from the Diet, Environment, and Choices of positive living (DECIDE) observational study in peri-urban Dar es Salaam. Interviewers were trained on paper-based methods with food models and tablet-based collection. Conversion to nutrient intake was readily linked and accessible, enabling rapid review and analysis. Overall, 2158 and 8197 dietary meal records were collected from the DECIDE study and EFFECTS trial, respectively. Among adults, 63% of men and 92% of women reported eating at home, and there were differences in protein, fat, and zinc. Food consumed outside the home typically occurs for the first 2 meals. Childrens intake of nutrients increased with age; however, median micronutrient intakes for calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin A remained below recommended nutrient intakes. CONCLUSIONS: The TZ-24hr-DR is a field- and user-friendly tool that can collect large samples of dietary intakes. Further validation is needed. The tool is available freely for research purposes and can be further adapted to other contexts in East Africa

High viral suppression and detection of dolutegravir-resistance associated mutations in treatment-experienced Tanzanian adults living with HIV-1 in Dar es Salaam

Abstract To curb HIV infection rate in Tanzania, antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been scaled up since 2006, and in 2019, the country shifted to regimen including dolutegravir as a default first line. We assessed the success of ART and the contribution of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) to unsuppressed viral loads. Between February and May 2023 a cross-sectional survey with random sampling was conducted in the six clinics in an urban cohort in Dar es Salaam. Patients with unsuppresed viral loads (local criteria viral load (VL) ≥ 1000 copies/mL) were tested for HIVDR mutations using the WHO adapted protocol for plasma samples. Mutations were interpreted using the Stanford HIVDR database. In total 600 individuals participated in this survey, the majority were female (76.83%), mean age ( $$\pm$$ ± standard deviation) was 44.0 ( $$\pm$$ ± 11.6) years. The median duration on ART (interquartile range) was 6.5 (3.9–10.2) years. Approximately 99% were receiving tenofovir + lamivudine + dolutegravir as a fixed dose combination. VL testing was successful in 99.67% (598/600) of survey patients and only 33 had VL ≥ 1000 copies/mL, resulting in a viral suppression level of 94.48% (565/598, 95% CI 92.34–96.17%). For 23 samples, protease and reverse transcriptase (RT) genotyping were successful, with 13 sequences containing RT inhibitor surveillance drug resistance mutations (SDRMs) (56.5%). No SDRM against protease inhibitors were detected. Thirty samples were successfully genotyped for integrase with 3 sequences (10.08%) containing integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) SDRMs. In samples successfully genotyped in the three genetic regions, 68.18% (16/22) had a genotypic susceptibility score (GSS) ≥ 2.5 for the concurrent regimen, implying factors beyond drug resistance caused the unsuppressed viral load. For five patients, GSS indicated that HIVDR may have caused the unsuppressed viral load. All three patients with INSTI resistance mutations were highly resistant to dolutegravir and accumulated nucleoside and non-nucleoside RT inhibitor HIVDR mutations. Although in this cohort the last 95 UNAIDS target was almost achieved, HIVDR mutations, including INSTIs resistance mutations were detected in HIV-positive individuals taking ART for at least one year. We recommend the design and implementation of high-impact interventions to prevent the increase of HIVDR, failure of dolutegravir and address the non-resistance factors in the study area