BACKGROUND
TB is concentrated in populations with complex health and social issues, including alcohol use disorders (AUD). We describe treatment adherence and outcomes in a person-centred, multidisciplinary, psychosocial support and harm reduction intervention for people with multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) with harmful alcohol use.
METHODS
An observational cohort study, including multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression and survival analysis with people living in Minsk admitted with MDR/RR-TB and AUD during January 2019–November 2021 who received this person-centred, multidisciplinary, psychosocial support and harm reduction intervention, was conducted.
RESULTS
There were 89 participants enrolled in the intervention, with a median follow-up of 12.2 (IQR: 8.1–20.5) mo. The majority (n=80; 89.9%) of participants had AUD, 11 (12.4%) also had a dependence on other substances, six (6.7%) a dependence on opioids and three (3.4%) a personality disorder. Fifty-eight had a history of past incarceration (65.2%), homelessness (n=9; 10.1%) or unemployment (n=55; 61.8%). Median adherence was 95.4% (IQR: 90.4–99.6%) and outpatient adherence was 91.2% (IQR: 65.1–97.0%). Lower adherence was associated with hepatitis C, alcohol plus other substance use and outpatient facility-based treatment, rather than video-observed treatment, home-based or inpatient treatment support.
CONCLUSIONS
This intervention led to good adherence to MDR/RR-TB treatment in people with harmful use of alcohol, a group usually at risk of poor outcomes. Poor outcomes were associated with hepatitis C, other substance misuse and outpatient facility-based treatment support.
BACKGROUND
Noma is a gangrenous infection of the face that results in severe facial deformity, occurring primarily in malnourished and impoverished populations.
OBJECTIVE
To assess clinician- and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) before and after reconstructive surgery for patients with noma in northwest Nigeria.
METHODS
Objective outcomes were recorded using the noma-specific NOITULP (nose, outer cheek, inner cheek, trismus, upper/lower lip, particularities) classification system. PROs were recorded using a locally developed tool. Postsurgical changes were assessed by Wilcoxon signed-rank testing. Linear regression was used to look for associated risk factors. The inter-rater reliability (IRR) of the NOITULP score was assessed using the weighted kappa statistic.
RESULTS
Forty-nine patients (median age 25 years, 71% male) underwent local/regional flap reconstruction and/or trismus release. Twelve complications were reported. Univariate analysis showed a 3.20 change in PRO score (95% confidence interval 0.59 to 5.81, p = 0.018) per kilogram the patient underwent at time of surgery. The NOITULP score improved from a presurgery median of 3.5 to 2.3 (p < 0.0001), however, the IRR was poor (kappa = 0.0894, p < 0.0001). The PRO score also improved from a median of 7.0 to 12.0 (p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Facial reconstructive surgery improves the NOITULP score and PROs in patients with noma in northwest Nigeria.
Noma is a rapidly spreading infection of the oral cavity which mainly affects young children. Without early treatment, it can have a high mortality rate. Simple gingivitis is a warning sign for noma, and acute necrotizing gingivitis is the first stage of noma. The epidemiology of noma is not well understood. We aimed to understand the prevalence of all stages of noma in hospitalised children.
METHODS
We conducted a prospective observational study from 1st June to 24th October 2021, enrolling patients aged 0 to 12 years who were admitted to the Anka General Hospital, Zamfara, northwest Nigeria. Consenting parents/ guardians of participants were interviewed at admission. Participants had anthropometric and oral exams at admission and discharge.
FINDINGS
Of the 2346 patients, 58 (2.5%) were diagnosed with simple gingivitis and six (n = 0.3%) with acute necrotizing gingivitis upon admission. Of those admitted to the Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding Centre (ITFC), 3.4% (n = 37, CI 2.5–4.7%) were diagnosed with simple gingivitis upon admission compared to 1.7% of those not admitted to the ITFC (n = 21, CI 1.1–2.6%) (p = 0.008). Risk factors identified for having simple gingivitis include being aged over two years (2 to 6 yrs old, odds ratio (OR) 3.4, CI 1.77–6.5; 7 to 12 yrs OR 5.0, CI 1.7–14.6; p = <0.001), being admitted to the ITFC (OR 2.1; CI 1.22–3.62) and having oral health issues in the three months prior to the assessment (OR 18.75; CI 10.65, 33.01). All (n = 4/4) those aged six months to five years acute necrotizing gingivitis had chronic malnutrition.
CONCLUSION
Our study showed a small proportion of children admitted to the Anka General Hospital had simple or acute necrotizing gingivitis. Hospital admission with malnutrition was a risk factor for both simple and acute necrotizing gingivitis The lack of access to and uptake of oral health care indicates a strong need for oral exams to be included in routine health services. This provision could improve the oral status of the population and decrease the chance of patients developing noma.
The burden of advanced HIV disease (AHD) and predictors of outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV) re-engaging in care are not well known.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of PLHIV who re-engaged in care after being lost to follow-up (LFU), from 2003 to 2019, in Myanmar. We calculated the incidence rates of attrition after re-engagement and performed Cox regression to identify risk factors for attrition.
RESULTS
Of 44 131 PLHIV who started antiretroviral treatment, 12 338 (28.0%) were LFU at least once: 7608 (61.6%) re-engaged in care, 4672 (61.4%) with AHD at re-engagement. The death and LFU rates were 2.21-fold (95% CI 1.82 to 2.67) and 1.46-fold (95% CI 1.33 to 1.61) higher among patients who re-engaged with AHD (p>0.001). Death in patients who re-engaged with AHD was associated with male sex (adjusted HR [aHR] 2.63; 95% CI 1.31 to 5.26; p=0.006), TB coinfection (aHR 2.26; 95% CI 1.23 to 4.14; p=0.008) and sex work (aHR 7.49, 95% CI 2.29 to 22.52; p<0.001). History of intravenous drug use was identified as a predictor of being LFU.
CONCLUSIONS
Re-engagement in HIV care in Myanmar is frequent and those who re-engage carry a high burden of AHD. As AHD at re-engagement is associated with higher attrition rates, implementation of differentiated interventions that enable earlier linkage to care and prompt identification and management of AHD in this population is necessary.
The prevalence of (pre-)eclampsia in pregnant women in Haiti is high and access to maternal health services is scarce. Limited evidence exists around negative maternal and neonatal outcomes in Haitian women and their offspring. We describe the patient profile of women admitted to an obstetric emergency hospital in Port-au-Prince between January 2013 and June 2018 and the estimated risk factors for maternal death, stillbirth and low birthweight (LBW).
Methods
We calculated frequencies of age groups, singleton vs. multiple pregnancies, delivery procedures and antenatal care (ANC) services for all maternal admissions. We estimated the associated risk between these factors and the three negative outcomes by calculating odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. We adjusted for an interaction between delivery procedure and pregnancy category in the regression models for maternal death and stillbirth.
Results
We included 31,509 women and 24,983 deliveries and documented 204 (0.6%) maternal deaths (648/100,000 women giving birth), 1,962 (7.9%) stillbirths and 11,008 (44.1%) LBW neonates. 34.9% of all admissions (n = 10,991) were women with (pre-)eclampsia. Maternal death was more likely in women with complicated pregnancies and/or deliveries and women with (pre-)eclampsia when undergoing a C-section compared to women with uncomplicated vaginal deliveries (OR 4.8; CI 1.7–13.8 and OR 2.3; CI 1.5–3.6 respectively). Stillbirth was more likely in women ≥ 35 years compared to women 20–34 years in complicated pregnancies and/or deliveries (OR 1.3; CI 1.1–1.6) and (pre-)eclampsia (OR 1.4; CI 1.2–1.7). C-sections in women with a complicated pregnancy and/or delivery and women with (pre-)eclampsia reduced the risk of stillbirth (OR 0.7; CI 0.6–0.9 and OR 0.3; CI 0.2–0.3 respectively). Not attending ANC was associated with a higher risk of stillbirth (OR 4.8; CI 3.6–6.6) and LBW (OR 1.4; CI 1.1–1.9) for women with complicated pregnancies and/or deliveries.
Conclusion
Maternal mortality in high-risk pregnancies in CRUO is higher than the national estimate of 529 per 100,000 deliveries. Attendance of ANC services is associated with a decrease in adverse neonatal outcomes including LBW and stillbirth. We recommend that access to maternal and neonatal healthcare facilities in Port-au-Prince is improved.
To determine the prevalence of maternal death, stillbirth and low birthweight in women with (pre-)eclampsia and complicated pregnancies or deliveries in Centre de Références des Urgences Obstétricales, an obstetric emergency hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and to identify the main risk factors for these adverse pregnancy outcomes.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women admitted to Centre de Référence des Urgences Obstétricales between 2013 and 2018 using hospital records. Risk factors investigated were age group, type of pregnancy (singleton, multiple), type of delivery and use of antenatal care services.
RESULTS
A total of 31 509 women and 24 983 deliveries were included in the analysis. Among these, 204 (0.6%) maternal deaths (648 per 100 000 women giving birth), 1962 (7.9%) stillbirths and 11 008 (44.1%) low birthweight neonates were identified. Of all admissions, 10 991 (34.9%) were women with (pre-)eclampsia. Caesarean section significantly increased the risk of maternal death in the women with a complicated pregnancy and women with (pre-)eclampsia, but reduced the risk of stillbirth in such women. Not attending antenatal care was associated with a significantly higher risk of stillbirth (odds ratio (OR) 4.82; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.55-6.55) and low birthweight (OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.05-1.86) for women with complicated pregnancies.
CONCLUSION
To prevent and treat pregnancy complications as early as possible, antenatal care attendance is crucial. Improving the quality of and access to antenatal care services and providing it free to all pregnant women in Haiti is recommended.