Transient Impact of Dysglycemia on Sputum Conversion among Smear-Positive Tuberculosis Patients in a Tertiary Care Facility in Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Apart from increasing the risk of tuberculosis (TB), diabetes may be associated with more severe disease and lower rates of sputum conversion among TB patients. METHODS: We conducted a baseline cross-sectional study with a longitudinal follow-up of newly diagnosed smear-positive TB patients for 6 months. Sputum conversion rates between those with dysglycemia and those without were compared at 2 months (end of the intensive phase) and 6 months (end of the treatment). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were computed to assess factors associated with dysglycemia as well as sputum conversion. RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of normoglycemic patients had negative sputum compared with those with dysglycemia (83% vs 67%, P-value < .05) at 2 months but not at 6 months (87% vs 77%, P-value > .05). After controlling for age group and adjusting for other covariates, patients with dysglycemia were 66% less likely to convert sputum than those with normoglycemia. Females were at least 7 times more likely than males and those with high waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of 88% were less likely compared with those with low WHR for sputum conversion at 2 months, respectively. At 6 months, females (compared with males) and those with high WHR (compared with those with normal WHR) were at over 9 times increased odds and 89% less likely for sputum conversion, respectively. CONCLUSION: A significantly lower proportion of smear-positive TB patients with dysglycemia converted to smear negative after 2 months of treatment but not at the end of the treatment, thus suggesting a transient impact of dysglycemia on sputum conversion.

Apolipoprotein L1 risk genotypes in Ghanaian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Two apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) risk variants (RV) are enriched in sub-Saharan African populations due to conferred resistance to Trypanosoma brucei. These variants associate with adverse renal outcomes by multiple causes including SLE. Despite emerging reports that SLE is common in Ghana, where APOL1 variant allelic frequencies are high, the regional contribution to SLE outcomes has not been described. Accordingly, this prospective longitudinal cohort study tested the associations between APOL1 high-risk genotypes and kidney outcomes, organ damage accrual and death in 100 Ghanaian patients with SLE. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of 100 SLE outpatients who sought care at Korle bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana. Adult patients who met 4 American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE were genotyped for APOL1 and followed longitudinally for SLE activity as measured by the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus National Assessment-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SELENA-SLEDAI) hybrid and organ injury as measured by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index (SDI) at baseline and every 6 months for 1 year. Outcomes of interest were kidney function, SDI and case fatality. RESULTS: Assuming a recessive inheritance, the APOL1 high-risk genotype (2RV) associated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at an OR of 14 (p=0.008). These patients accrued more SDI points particularly in renal and neurological domains. The SDI was 81.3% higher in 2RV patients compared with 0RV or 1RV patients despite no difference in SLE activity (p=0.01). After a 12-month period of observation, 3/12 (25%) of the 2RV patients died compared with 2/88 (2.3%) of the 0RV or 1RV carriers (OR=13.6, p=0.01). Deaths were due to end-stage kidney disease and heart failure. CONCLUSION: APOL1 RVs were heritable risk factors for morbidity and mortality in this Ghanaian SLE cohort. Despite no appreciable differences in SLE activity, APOL1 high-risk patients exhibited progressive renal disease, organ damage accrual and a 13-fold higher case fatality.

Comparison of neurocognitive changes among newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients with and without dysglycaemia.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes often occurs together with tuberculosis (TB) and both may affect each other negatively. Diabetes may be associated with neurocognitive dysfunctioning in affected patients and may negatively impact treatment adherence and outcomes. This study compared the neurocognitive status between newly diagnosed smear positive tuberculosis patients with dysglycaemia and those with normoglycaemia. METHODS: The current study was a cross-sectional study involving one hundred and forty-six (146) newly diagnosed smear positive TB patients. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and the results were categorized as either normoglycaemia, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or diabetes. Neurocognitive functioning among study participants was assessed at the time of TB diagnosis using Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ), Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool (MoCA), California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and the Spitzer Quality of Life Index (QLI). RESULTS: The mean age of the participants (n = 146) was 38.7 years with 78.8% being males and 21.2% females. Using the fasting blood glucose test, the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose and diabetes were 5.5 and 3.4% respectively, both representing a total of 13 out of the 146 participants; whilst the prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes using 2-h post-glucose values were 28.8 and 11.6% respectively, both representing a total of 59 out of the 146 participants. There were no significant differences in the mean scores on the neurocognitive measures between the dysglaycaemia and normoglycamic groups using fasting plasma glucose (FPG). However, there were significant differences in the mean scores between the dysglycaemia and normal groups using 2-h postprandial (2HPP) glucose values on Phobic Anxiety (Normal, Mean = 0.38 ± 0.603; dysglycaemia, Mean = 0.23 ± 0.356; p = 0.045), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores (17.26 ± 5.981 vs. 15.04 ± 5.834, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Newly diagnosed smear positive patients with dysglycaemia were associated with significantly lower mean cognitive scores and scores on phobic anxiety than those with normoglyacaemia. The latter finding must be further explored.

Examination of Dysglycaemia among Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis Patients in Ghana: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The burden of both tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus in developing countries including Ghana is high; often, the two coexist and impact each other negatively. Objective. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictive factors of dysglycaemia among newly diagnosed smear positive tuberculosis patients at a tertiary tuberculosis treatment centre in Ghana. Methods. Dysglycaemia at diagnosis was determined by the use of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), while sputum smear microscopy was used to assess the sputum status. Only smear positive patients were included in the study. Information on sociodemographic, anthropometrical, clinical, and medication history was also obtained. Results. In all, 146 participants, aged 18 to 75 years with a mean age of 38.7 years comprising 115 (78.8%) males and 31 (21.2%) females, were involved in the analysis. Upon initial screening, using fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 91.1 % had normal fasting level, 5.5 % had impaired fasting, and 3.4% were diagnosed with diabetes. Using 2-hour postprandial values (2HPP), 59.6% had normal plasma glucose, 28.8 % had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 11.6 % were diagnosed with diabetes. Overall, the prevalence of dysglycaemia (i.e., impaired fasting and diabetes) was 8.9% (95% CI: 5.21-14.82%) with FPG test and 40.4% (95% CI: 32.68-48.65%) with 2HPP test. The analysis revealed that 2HPP was associated with high mean age compared to FPG (36.67 ± 13.97 versus 41.69 ± 13.97, p-value = 0.033). In addition, marital status was significantly associated with FPG status of patients (p = 0.028). Conclusion. The prevalence of dysglycaemia was high among smear positive TB patients in Ghana. Higher mean age and marital status were associated with abnormal glucose tolerance and fasting plasma glucose, respectively. Clinical management of patients with tuberculosis should include screening for diabetes.

The Bidirectional Relationship between Tuberculosis and Diabetes.

The burden of tuberculosis (TB) especially in developing countries continues to remain high despite efforts to improve preventive strategies. Known traditional risk factors for TB include poverty, malnutrition, overcrowding, and HIV/AIDS; however, diabetes, which causes immunosuppression, is increasingly being recognized as an independent risk factor for tuberculosis, and the two often coexist and impact each other. Diabetes may also lead to severe disease, reactivation of dormant tuberculosis foci, and poor treatment outcomes. Tuberculosis as a disease entity on the other hand and some commonly used antituberculous medications separately may cause impaired glucose tolerance. This review seeks to highlight the impact of comorbid TB and diabetes on each other. It is our hope that this review will increase the awareness of clinicians and managers of TB and diabetes programs on the effect of the interaction between these two disease entities and how to better screen and manage patients.

Outcome of pregnancy in patients with systemic lupus erythematosis at Korle-bu Teaching Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To study maternal and fetal outcomes in Ghanaian women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Retrospective study of pregnancies in women with SLE in a single centre in Ghana. RESULTS: The mean age was 30.1 years and all were nulliparous. Two out of the seven pregnancies were in disease remission at the time of booking. Nephritis without renal impairment was present in 7 pregnancies (6 women). One woman developed intrapartum eclampsia. Two women had secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Two suffered early fetal losses and one late fetal loss at 32 weeks. All three who lost their fetus had uncontrolled hypertension. Six had mild flares mainly joint pains during pregnancy. There was no maternal mortality. The median gestational age at delivery was 38 weeks (range, 16 to 40 weeks) and the mean birth weight was 3017 g; the median Apgar scores were 8 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes of life, respectively. There were no cases of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). There were no cases of congenital heart block or neonatal lupus. CONCLUSION: Good pregnancy outcomes are possible in women with SLE even in resource poor settings. . All pregnancies should still be considered high risk and be managed jointly between the obstetricians, the perinatologists and the rheumatologists, in particular, those with renal involvement and hypertension. Long term follow up of a larger cohort is needed. FUNDING: None declared.