Climate Change, Pollution, Tropical Season, Hiv-Positive, Hiv-Negative And High Frequency Of Hypovitaminosis D In Patients From Kinshasa, Drc

Background: The main source of vitamin D from the human skin and synthetized by violets B rays emitted by the sun. Environmental factors such us season, climate change, diets, and pollution, are therefore likely to inuence the levels on vitamin D. Furthermore, High frequency of vitamin D deciency is now observed among HIV-infected patients. There is no published data about HIV and Vitamin D despite few scientic articles on HIV and vitamin D status reported by other African countries.Objective:This study sought to determine specically increased prevalence of vitamin D deciency and environmental factors associated with HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative.Methods:Patients followed in Kinshasa hospitals, DRC, where evaluated between the October 2015 and November 2017 period. Serum levels of vitamin D were measured in adult HIV-positives and HIV-negatives during the dry season and the rainy season in the context of climate change and pollution of the megacity of Kinshasa. Results:Five hundred and six patients were enrolled. The prevalence of moderate (≤29 and≥20 ng/mL) and severe (<20 ng/mL) 25-OH vitamin D deciency was12% (n=64) and 54,6% (n=273) respectively, 34,4 %had normal status. 62,4% (n=316) and 4,2% (n= 21) of patients with deciency (<30 ng/ml) 25-OH vitamin D were HIV-positive and HIV-negative respectively. Water pollution, air pollution, dry season, and cold season La Niña we resignicantly associated with 25-OH vitamin D deciency (P<0.0001 and <0,05, respectively). Conclusion:Overall, vitamin D deciency was very high whereas vitamin D deciency was epidemic among HIV-positives in comparison with HIV-negatives. Dry season and La Niña season /climate change-variability related to ultraviolet light and oxidative stress-ecotoxicity related pollution might be considered in the prevention and the treatment of HIV-infection in Kinshasa, DRC, Central Africa.

Incidence and Predictors of Hand-Arm Musculoskeletal Complaints among Vibration-exposed African Cassava and Corn Millers

BACKGROUND: Cassava and corn milling is a growing small-scale enterprise in Africa. We aimed to determine the incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints among vibration-exposed Congolese cassava and corn millers in the previous 12 months. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, prior to a follow-up study, from March to May 2013 among cassava/corn millers in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, in which 365 millers age-matched to 365 civil workers anonymously answered a questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall incidence of hand-arm musculoskeletal complaints was 25.8% in millers (vs. 5.2% in civil workers; p 8 hours; vs. those working < or = 8 hours; OR = 3.56; 95% CI: 1.93-3.61; p = 0.026); and 7.4 times higher in young millers (vs. older millers, OR = 7.39; 95% CI: 1.29-75.52; p < 0.001). Smoking, number of cigarettes, and daily exposure duration were positively correlated with musculoskeletal complaints. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a relatively high incidence of musculoskeletal complaints among African cassava and corn millers. The use of anti-vibration protective equipment and the regulation of this hazardous occupation may reduce the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in millers.