Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 March 8; Volume 15 (Issue 3); e0009169.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0009169
Chika Igwenyi N, Harrison RE, Psarra C, Gil Cuesta J, Gulamhusein M, et al.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021 March 8; Volume 15 (Issue 3); e0009169.; DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0009169
Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness with various non-specific clinical manifestations. Neurological symptoms are rare at the early stage of the disease, but may be seen in late stages, in severely ill patients.The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological evolution, socio-demographic profiles, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients seen during two Lassa fever outbreaks in Ebonyi State, between December 2017 and December 2018. Routinely collected clinical data from all patients admitted to the Virology Centre of the hospital during the period were analysed retrospectively. Out of a total of 83 cases, 70(84.3%) were RT-PCR confirmed while 13 (15.7%) were probable cases. Sixty-nine (83.1%) patients were seen in outbreak 1 of whom 53.6% were urban residents, while 19%, 15%, and 10% were farmers, students and health workers respectively. There were 14 (16.8%) patients, seen in second outbreak with 92.9% rural residents. There were differences in clinical symptoms, signs and laboratory findings between the two outbreaks. The case fatality rates were 29.9% in outbreak 1 and 85.7% for outbreak 2. Neurological features and abnormal laboratory test results were associated with higher mortality rate, seen in outbreak 2. This study revealed significant differences between the two outbreaks. Of particular concern was the higher case fatality during the outbreak 2 which may be from a more virulent strain of the Lassa virus. This has important public health implications and further molecular studies are needed to better define its characteristics.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
BMC Public Health. 2021 February 3; Volume 21 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1186/s12889-021-10327-5
Sumbi EM, Venables E, Harrison RE, Garcia MG, Iakovidi K, et al.
BMC Public Health. 2021 February 3; Volume 21 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1186/s12889-021-10327-5
Background: It is estimated that 64,000 children under 15 years of age are living with HIV in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Non-disclosure - in which the child is not informed about their HIV status - is likely to be associated with poor outcomes during adolescence including increased risk of poor adherence and retention, and treatment failure. Disclosing a child's HIV status to them can be a difficult process for care-givers and children, and in this qualitative study we explored child and care-giver experiences of the process of disclosing, including reasons for delay.
Methods: A total of 22 in-depth interviews with care-givers and 11 in-depth interviews with HIV positive children whom they were caring for were conducted in one health-care facility in the capital city of Kinshasa. Care-givers were purposively sampled to include those who had disclosed to their children and those who had not. Care-givers included biological parents, grandmothers, siblings and community members and 86% of them were female. Interviews were conducted in French and Lingala. All interviews were translated and/or transcribed into French before being manually coded. Thematic analysis was conducted. Verbal informed consent/assent was taken from all interviewees.
Results: At the time of interview, the mean age of children and care-givers was 17 (15-19) and 47 (21-70) years old, respectively. Many care-givers had lost family members due to HIV and several were HIV positive themselves. Reasons for non-disclosure included fear of stigmatisation; wanting to protect the child and not having enough knowledge about HIV or the status of the child to disclose. Several children had multiple care-givers, which also delayed disclosure, as responsibility for the child was shared. In addition, some care-givers were struggling to accept their own HIV status and did not want their child to blame them for their own positive status by disclosing to them.
Conclusions: Child disclosure is a complex process for care-givers, health-care workers and the children themselves. Care-givers may require additional psycho-social support to manage disclosure. Involving multiple care-givers in the care of HIV positive children could offer additional support for disclosure.
Methods: A total of 22 in-depth interviews with care-givers and 11 in-depth interviews with HIV positive children whom they were caring for were conducted in one health-care facility in the capital city of Kinshasa. Care-givers were purposively sampled to include those who had disclosed to their children and those who had not. Care-givers included biological parents, grandmothers, siblings and community members and 86% of them were female. Interviews were conducted in French and Lingala. All interviews were translated and/or transcribed into French before being manually coded. Thematic analysis was conducted. Verbal informed consent/assent was taken from all interviewees.
Results: At the time of interview, the mean age of children and care-givers was 17 (15-19) and 47 (21-70) years old, respectively. Many care-givers had lost family members due to HIV and several were HIV positive themselves. Reasons for non-disclosure included fear of stigmatisation; wanting to protect the child and not having enough knowledge about HIV or the status of the child to disclose. Several children had multiple care-givers, which also delayed disclosure, as responsibility for the child was shared. In addition, some care-givers were struggling to accept their own HIV status and did not want their child to blame them for their own positive status by disclosing to them.
Conclusions: Child disclosure is a complex process for care-givers, health-care workers and the children themselves. Care-givers may require additional psycho-social support to manage disclosure. Involving multiple care-givers in the care of HIV positive children could offer additional support for disclosure.
Journal Article > ResearchAbstract Only
Int J Infect Dis. 2020 December 1; Volume 101 (Issue Supplement 1); 495.; DOI:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1290
Chika Igwenyi N, Harrison RE, Unigwe US, Psarra C, Onwe Ogah E, et al.
Int J Infect Dis. 2020 December 1; Volume 101 (Issue Supplement 1); 495.; DOI:10.1016/j.ijid.2020.09.1290
BACKGROUND
Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness with various clinical manifestations. Neurological symptoms are not commonly present at the early stage of the disease; however, early manifestation of central nervous system features depicts poor prognostication. In Ebonyi state, an unusual pattern was observed between two outbreaks with patients presenting early neurological symptoms and a high mortality rate in the second outbreak. The study described the epidemiological evolution, socio-demographic profiles, clinical characteristics and patients’ outcomes.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
A retrospective analytic analysis of routinely collected clinical data was conducted of all confirmed and probable LF patients admitted to the Virology Centre of the AEFUTHA in Ebonyi State, December 2017 to January 2019.
RESULTS In a total of 83 cases, 70 were RT-PCR confirmed and 13 probable cases. In outbreak 1, 69 were seen with 53.6% being urban residents, 19% farmers, 15% students, and 10% health workers. Fourteen cases were seen in outbreak 2 with 92.9% rural residents, 58.3% being farmers and 49.9% students. There were differences in clinical and laboratory signs and symptoms between the two outbreaks with neurological symptoms present 43% of the time in outbreak 1 and 93% in outbreak 2 (p = 0.001), with a shorter time of onset for these symptoms in outbreak 2. The mortality rate was 85.7% in outbreak 2 versus 29.9% in outbreak 1 (p < 0.001). Patients with neurological symptoms, who were more common in outbreak 2 had a RR of dying of 8.5 compared to those without.
CONCLUSION
This study revealed a different form of LF that is of great concern due to its high mortality rate. Further studies are needed to better define its characteristics.
Lassa fever (LF) is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness with various clinical manifestations. Neurological symptoms are not commonly present at the early stage of the disease; however, early manifestation of central nervous system features depicts poor prognostication. In Ebonyi state, an unusual pattern was observed between two outbreaks with patients presenting early neurological symptoms and a high mortality rate in the second outbreak. The study described the epidemiological evolution, socio-demographic profiles, clinical characteristics and patients’ outcomes.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
A retrospective analytic analysis of routinely collected clinical data was conducted of all confirmed and probable LF patients admitted to the Virology Centre of the AEFUTHA in Ebonyi State, December 2017 to January 2019.
RESULTS In a total of 83 cases, 70 were RT-PCR confirmed and 13 probable cases. In outbreak 1, 69 were seen with 53.6% being urban residents, 19% farmers, 15% students, and 10% health workers. Fourteen cases were seen in outbreak 2 with 92.9% rural residents, 58.3% being farmers and 49.9% students. There were differences in clinical and laboratory signs and symptoms between the two outbreaks with neurological symptoms present 43% of the time in outbreak 1 and 93% in outbreak 2 (p = 0.001), with a shorter time of onset for these symptoms in outbreak 2. The mortality rate was 85.7% in outbreak 2 versus 29.9% in outbreak 1 (p < 0.001). Patients with neurological symptoms, who were more common in outbreak 2 had a RR of dying of 8.5 compared to those without.
CONCLUSION
This study revealed a different form of LF that is of great concern due to its high mortality rate. Further studies are needed to better define its characteristics.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
BMC Infect Dis. 2020 October 7; Volume 20 (Issue 1); 734.; DOI:10.1186/s12879-020-05470-0
Mangana F, Massaquoi L, Moudachirou R, Harrison RE, Kaluangila T, et al.
BMC Infect Dis. 2020 October 7; Volume 20 (Issue 1); 734.; DOI:10.1186/s12879-020-05470-0
BACKGROUND
HIV continues to be the main determinant morbidity with high mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a high number of patients being late presenters with advanced HIV. Clinical management of advanced HIV patients is thus complex and requires strict adherence to updated, empirical and simplified guidelines. The current study investigated the impact of the implementation of a new clinical guideline on the management of advanced HIV in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of routine clinical data of advanced HIV patients was conducted for the periods; February 2016 to March 2017, before implementation of new guidelines, and November 2017 to July 2018, after the implementation of new guidelines. Eligible patients were patients with CD4 < 200 cell/µl and presenting with at least 1 of 4 opportunistic infections. Patient files were reviewed by a medical doctor and a committee of 3 other doctors for congruence. Statistical significance was set at 0.05%.
RESULTS
Two hundred four and Two hundred thirty-one patients were eligible for inclusion before and after the implementation of new guidelines respectively. Sex and age distributions were similar for both periods, and median CD4 were 36 & 52 cell/µl, before and after the new guidelines implementation, respectively. 40.7% of patients had at least 1 missed/incorrect diagnosis before the new guidelines compared to 30% after new guidelines, p < 0.05. Clinical diagnosis for TB and toxoplasmosis were also much improved after the implementation of new guidelines. In addition, only 63% of patients had CD4 count test results before the new guidelines compared to 99% of patients after new guidelines. Death odds after the implementation of new guidelines were significantly lower than before new guidelines in a multivariate regression model that included patients CD4 count and 10 other covariates, p < 0.05.
CONCLUSIONS
Simplification and implementation of a new and improved HIV clinical guideline coupled with the installation of laboratory equipment and point of care tests potentially helped reduce incorrect diagnosis and improve clinical outcomes of patients with advanced HIV. Regulating authorities should consider developing simplified versions of guidelines followed by the provision of basic diagnostic equipment to health centers.
HIV continues to be the main determinant morbidity with high mortality rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a high number of patients being late presenters with advanced HIV. Clinical management of advanced HIV patients is thus complex and requires strict adherence to updated, empirical and simplified guidelines. The current study investigated the impact of the implementation of a new clinical guideline on the management of advanced HIV in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
METHODS
A retrospective analysis of routine clinical data of advanced HIV patients was conducted for the periods; February 2016 to March 2017, before implementation of new guidelines, and November 2017 to July 2018, after the implementation of new guidelines. Eligible patients were patients with CD4 < 200 cell/µl and presenting with at least 1 of 4 opportunistic infections. Patient files were reviewed by a medical doctor and a committee of 3 other doctors for congruence. Statistical significance was set at 0.05%.
RESULTS
Two hundred four and Two hundred thirty-one patients were eligible for inclusion before and after the implementation of new guidelines respectively. Sex and age distributions were similar for both periods, and median CD4 were 36 & 52 cell/µl, before and after the new guidelines implementation, respectively. 40.7% of patients had at least 1 missed/incorrect diagnosis before the new guidelines compared to 30% after new guidelines, p < 0.05. Clinical diagnosis for TB and toxoplasmosis were also much improved after the implementation of new guidelines. In addition, only 63% of patients had CD4 count test results before the new guidelines compared to 99% of patients after new guidelines. Death odds after the implementation of new guidelines were significantly lower than before new guidelines in a multivariate regression model that included patients CD4 count and 10 other covariates, p < 0.05.
CONCLUSIONS
Simplification and implementation of a new and improved HIV clinical guideline coupled with the installation of laboratory equipment and point of care tests potentially helped reduce incorrect diagnosis and improve clinical outcomes of patients with advanced HIV. Regulating authorities should consider developing simplified versions of guidelines followed by the provision of basic diagnostic equipment to health centers.
Journal Article > Meta-AnalysisFull Text
Lancet Global Health. 2023 February 1; Volume 11 (Issue 2); e296-e300.; DOI:10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00479-X
Abouyannis M, Esmail H, Hamaluba M, Ngama M, Mwangudzah H, et al.
Lancet Global Health. 2023 February 1; Volume 11 (Issue 2); e296-e300.; DOI:10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00479-X
Snakebite clinical trials have often used heterogeneous outcome measures and there is an urgent need for standardisation. A globally representative group of key stakeholders came together to reach consensus on a globally relevant set of core outcome measurements. Outcome domains and outcome measurement instruments were identified through searching the literature and a systematic review of snakebite clinical trials. Outcome domains were shortlisted by use of a questionnaire and consensus was reached among stakeholders and the patient group through facilitated discussions and voting. Five universal core outcome measures should be included in all future snakebite clinical trials-mortality, WHO disability assessment scale, patient-specific functional scale, acute allergic reaction by Brown criteria, and serum sickness by formal criteria. Additional syndrome-specific core outcome measures should be used depending on the biting species. This core outcome measurement set provides global standardisation, supports the priorities of patients and clinicians, enables meta-analysis, and is appropriate for use in low-income and middle-income settings.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
BMC Public Health. 2021 February 3; Volume 21; DOI:10.1186/s12889-021-10327-5
Sumbi EM, Venables E, Harrison RE, Garcia MG, Iakovidi K, et al.
BMC Public Health. 2021 February 3; Volume 21; DOI:10.1186/s12889-021-10327-5
La crise liée au Covid-19 a fragilisé les populations en situation préalable de précarité. L’émergence de l’insécurité alimentaire et de logement a poussé les acteurs de la santé, du travail social et les autorités à mettre en place des mesures innovantes et intersectorielles permettant de répondre rapidement et efficacement aux besoins essentiels de ces populations. Cet article présente trois de ces mesures, à savoir une équipe mobile interprofessionnelle de dépistage, un dispositif d’hébergement et d’encadrement sanitaire pour les personnes sans-abri et un programme de distribution alimentaire à large échelle. Ces trois exemples illustrent la nécessité d’une approche transversale et collaborative et le besoin d’agir sur les déterminants sociaux et politiques sous-tendant ces vulnérabilités.
The COVID-19 crisis has rapidly increased the vulnerability of groups of population already facing precarious living conditions. The emergence of food and housing insecurity have forced health and social actors along with the local authorities to implement innovative responses in order to respond to these unmet needs. This article presents some of these responses, such as an interdisciplinary mobile COVID-19 screening team, an emergency housing program and a large-scale food assistance program. These examples highlight the need for an intersectoral, coordinated and collaborative response simultaneously targeting different domains of insecurity in parallel to actions on the underpinning social and political determinants of these vulnerabilities.
The COVID-19 crisis has rapidly increased the vulnerability of groups of population already facing precarious living conditions. The emergence of food and housing insecurity have forced health and social actors along with the local authorities to implement innovative responses in order to respond to these unmet needs. This article presents some of these responses, such as an interdisciplinary mobile COVID-19 screening team, an emergency housing program and a large-scale food assistance program. These examples highlight the need for an intersectoral, coordinated and collaborative response simultaneously targeting different domains of insecurity in parallel to actions on the underpinning social and political determinants of these vulnerabilities.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Clin Infect Dis. 2018 March 4; Volume 66 (Issue suppl_2); DOI:10.1093/cid/ciy103
Ousley J, Niyibizi AA, Wanjala S, Vandenbulcke A, Kirubi B, et al.
Clin Infect Dis. 2018 March 4; Volume 66 (Issue suppl_2); DOI:10.1093/cid/ciy103
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains an important cause of hospitalization and death in low- and middle- income countries. Yet morbidity and in-hospital mortality patterns remain poorly characterized, with prior antiretroviral therapy (ART) exposure and treatment failure status largely unknown.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Glob Health Action. 2019 October 15
Cossa L, Harrison RE, Mpunga J, Lobo S, Kisaka Kimupelenge P, et al.
Glob Health Action. 2019 October 15
Background: Determine TB-LAM is a urine-based point-of-care assay for diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB).
Objective: To assess the feasibility of using LAM to diagnose TB in adult HIV-positive patients in resource-limited settings.
Methods: We performed a multi-centric mixed-methods cross-sectional descriptive study in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Mozambique. We used the study and program monitoring tools to estimate user workload, turn-around time (TAT), and proportion of patients with LAM and sputum-based results. We conducted semi-structured interviews to assess the user acceptability of the LAM.
Results: The duration of the LAM testing activity per patient was 27 min (IQR 26-29); staff continued with other duties whilst waiting for the result. More patients had a LAM versus a sputum-based result: 168/213 (78.9%) vs 77/213 (36.1%), p < 0.001 in DRC; 691/695 (99.4%) vs 429/695 (61.7%), p < 0.001 in Malawi; and 646/647 (99.8%) vs 262/647 (40.5%), p < 0.001 in Mozambique. The median TAT in minutes when LAM was performed in the consultation room was 75 (IQR 45-188) in DRC, 29 (IQR 27-39) in Malawi, and 36 (IQR 35-41) in Mozambique. In comparison, the overall median TAT for sputum-based tests (smear or GeneXpert) was 2 (IQR 1-3) days. The median time to the first anti-TB drug dose for LAM-positive patients was 155 (IQR 90-504) minutes in DRC and 90 (IQR 60-117) minutes in Mozambique. The overall inter-reader agreement for the interpretation of the LAM result as positive or negative was 98.9%, kappa 0.97 (95%CI 0.96-0.99). Overall, LAM users found the test easy to perform. Major concerns were use of the reading card and the prior requirement of CD4 results before LAM testing.
Conclusion: It is feasible to implement the LAM test in low resource settings. The short TAT permitted same day initiation of TB treatment for LAM-positive patients.
Objective: To assess the feasibility of using LAM to diagnose TB in adult HIV-positive patients in resource-limited settings.
Methods: We performed a multi-centric mixed-methods cross-sectional descriptive study in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, and Mozambique. We used the study and program monitoring tools to estimate user workload, turn-around time (TAT), and proportion of patients with LAM and sputum-based results. We conducted semi-structured interviews to assess the user acceptability of the LAM.
Results: The duration of the LAM testing activity per patient was 27 min (IQR 26-29); staff continued with other duties whilst waiting for the result. More patients had a LAM versus a sputum-based result: 168/213 (78.9%) vs 77/213 (36.1%), p < 0.001 in DRC; 691/695 (99.4%) vs 429/695 (61.7%), p < 0.001 in Malawi; and 646/647 (99.8%) vs 262/647 (40.5%), p < 0.001 in Mozambique. The median TAT in minutes when LAM was performed in the consultation room was 75 (IQR 45-188) in DRC, 29 (IQR 27-39) in Malawi, and 36 (IQR 35-41) in Mozambique. In comparison, the overall median TAT for sputum-based tests (smear or GeneXpert) was 2 (IQR 1-3) days. The median time to the first anti-TB drug dose for LAM-positive patients was 155 (IQR 90-504) minutes in DRC and 90 (IQR 60-117) minutes in Mozambique. The overall inter-reader agreement for the interpretation of the LAM result as positive or negative was 98.9%, kappa 0.97 (95%CI 0.96-0.99). Overall, LAM users found the test easy to perform. Major concerns were use of the reading card and the prior requirement of CD4 results before LAM testing.
Conclusion: It is feasible to implement the LAM test in low resource settings. The short TAT permitted same day initiation of TB treatment for LAM-positive patients.
Journal Article > Meta-AnalysisFull Text
Med Trop Sante Int
MTSI
MTSI bulletin
MTSI magazine
MTSI-Revue
Médecine tropicale et santé internationale. Bulletin
Médecine tropicale et santé internationale. Magazine
MTSI, la revue de la Société francophone de médecine tropicale et santé internationale. 2023 February 1; Volume 3 (Issue 3); DOI:10.48327/mtsi.v3i3.2023.421
Abouyannis M, Esmail H, Hamaluba M, Ngama M, Mwangudzah H, et al.
Med Trop Sante Int
MTSI
MTSI bulletin
MTSI magazine
MTSI-Revue
Médecine tropicale et santé internationale. Bulletin
Médecine tropicale et santé internationale. Magazine
MTSI, la revue de la Société francophone de médecine tropicale et santé internationale. 2023 February 1; Volume 3 (Issue 3); DOI:10.48327/mtsi.v3i3.2023.421
English
Français
CONTEXTE
Les essais cliniques sur les morsures de serpent ont souvent utilisé des critères de décision hétérogènes qui demandent à être standardisés.
MÉTHODE
Un groupe d'acteurs clés mondialement représentatifs s'est réuni pour parvenir à un consensus sur un jeu universel de critères de décision de base. Les domaines d'intérêt et les instruments d'évaluation des critères de décision ont été identifiés à partir d'une recherche documentaire et d'un examen systématique des essais cliniques concernant les envenimations par morsure de serpent. Les domaines d'intérêt ont été présélectionnés à l'aide d'un questionnaire et un consensus a été obtenu entre le groupe d'acteurs et un groupe représentatif de patients à la suite de discussions orientées et d'un vote.
RÉSULTATS
Cinq critères de décision de base universels devraient être inclus dans tous les futurs essais cliniques sur les morsures de serpent : la mortalité, l'échelle d'évaluation du handicap de l'OMS, l'échelle fonctionnelle propre à chaque patient, la réaction allergique immédiate selon les critères de Brown et la maladie sérique en fonction de critères formels. D'autres critères de décision spécifiques aux différents syndromes observés lors des envenimations par morsure de serpent doivent être utilisés en fonction de l'espèce responsable de la morsure.
CONCLUSION
Ce jeu universel de critères de décision de base permet une standardisation mondiale, répond aux priorités des patients et des cliniciens, favorise des méta-analyses et est compatible avec une utilisation dans les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire.
Les essais cliniques sur les morsures de serpent ont souvent utilisé des critères de décision hétérogènes qui demandent à être standardisés.
MÉTHODE
Un groupe d'acteurs clés mondialement représentatifs s'est réuni pour parvenir à un consensus sur un jeu universel de critères de décision de base. Les domaines d'intérêt et les instruments d'évaluation des critères de décision ont été identifiés à partir d'une recherche documentaire et d'un examen systématique des essais cliniques concernant les envenimations par morsure de serpent. Les domaines d'intérêt ont été présélectionnés à l'aide d'un questionnaire et un consensus a été obtenu entre le groupe d'acteurs et un groupe représentatif de patients à la suite de discussions orientées et d'un vote.
RÉSULTATS
Cinq critères de décision de base universels devraient être inclus dans tous les futurs essais cliniques sur les morsures de serpent : la mortalité, l'échelle d'évaluation du handicap de l'OMS, l'échelle fonctionnelle propre à chaque patient, la réaction allergique immédiate selon les critères de Brown et la maladie sérique en fonction de critères formels. D'autres critères de décision spécifiques aux différents syndromes observés lors des envenimations par morsure de serpent doivent être utilisés en fonction de l'espèce responsable de la morsure.
CONCLUSION
Ce jeu universel de critères de décision de base permet une standardisation mondiale, répond aux priorités des patients et des cliniciens, favorise des méta-analyses et est compatible avec une utilisation dans les pays à revenu faible ou intermédiaire.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
Public Health Action. 2022 June 21; Volume 12 (Issue 2); 58-63.; DOI:10.5588/pha.21.0051
Mbau L, Harrison RE, Kizito W, Timire C, Namusonge T, et al.
Public Health Action. 2022 June 21; Volume 12 (Issue 2); 58-63.; DOI:10.5588/pha.21.0051
BACKGROUND
Prevalence of hypertension in Africa is rising but it remains underdiagnosed and poorly controlled. In Kenya, only 22% of individuals known to have hypertension were on treatment, and only 51.7% were controlled. This study will assess screening outcomes, retention and blood pressure (BP) control of a hypertension programme in Kenya.
DESIGN
This was a retrospective cohort study using data routinely collected between 2015 and 2018. All patients aged >18 years screened and treated in the programme were included.
RESULTS
Of 663,028 screening encounters, 70.4% were female; the median age was 34 years. Overall, 19% of the study population, mainly males and older persons, had high BP higher rates. Of 66,981 patients started on treatment, the majority were females (71.2%); the median age was 55 years. Only 12% of patients were reported as having been retained after 12 months, and 48.6% of patients on treatment 10.5-13.5 months after enrolment had controlled BP. Older age and treatment at primary care level were associated with better retention and females had better BP control.
CONCLUSIONS
The programme screened primarily females and younger individuals at lower risk. Retention was poor and close to half of patients retained had controlled BP. Hypertension programmes should target high-risk individuals, decentralise treatment, incorporate retention strategies and improve longitudinal data management.
Prevalence of hypertension in Africa is rising but it remains underdiagnosed and poorly controlled. In Kenya, only 22% of individuals known to have hypertension were on treatment, and only 51.7% were controlled. This study will assess screening outcomes, retention and blood pressure (BP) control of a hypertension programme in Kenya.
DESIGN
This was a retrospective cohort study using data routinely collected between 2015 and 2018. All patients aged >18 years screened and treated in the programme were included.
RESULTS
Of 663,028 screening encounters, 70.4% were female; the median age was 34 years. Overall, 19% of the study population, mainly males and older persons, had high BP higher rates. Of 66,981 patients started on treatment, the majority were females (71.2%); the median age was 55 years. Only 12% of patients were reported as having been retained after 12 months, and 48.6% of patients on treatment 10.5-13.5 months after enrolment had controlled BP. Older age and treatment at primary care level were associated with better retention and females had better BP control.
CONCLUSIONS
The programme screened primarily females and younger individuals at lower risk. Retention was poor and close to half of patients retained had controlled BP. Hypertension programmes should target high-risk individuals, decentralise treatment, incorporate retention strategies and improve longitudinal data management.