Oral health status and cardiovascular risk profile in Cameroonian military population.

BACKGROUND: Periodontal diseases (PD) seem to appear today as predictors of some cardiovascular diseases (CVD). There is a lack of data on the oral health among Cameroonian military population, and its relationship with CVD. PURPOSE: Investigate on the link between oral health of Cameroonian military from the Ngaoundéré garrison and their cardiovascular risk profile. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study at the Fifth Military Sector Health Center in Ngaoundéré was conducted. General health parameters assessment was done according to the World Health Organization STEPS manual for surveillance of risk factors for non-communicable chronic diseases and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. The periodontal status was assessed using Dutch Periodontal Screening Index. RESULTS: Two hundred and five participants who were officers and non-commissioned officers (aged 47 ± 08 and 32 ± 08 years respectively), with 86.4% of men were included. Smoking was associated to periodontitis (OR = 4.44 [1.73-11.43], p = 0.0031). Quality of oral hygiene was associated to high cardiovascular risk profile, poor/good (OR = 3.96 [1.07-14.57], p = 0.0386) and medium/good (OR = 3.44 [1.11-10.66], p = 0.0322). CONCLUSION: Lifestyle as tobacco consumption and poor oral hygiene were associated to CVD among military, and this call for change.

Epidemiology of burnout syndrome in four occupational sectors in Cameroon-impact of the practice of physical activities and sport.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of Burnout syndrome (BOS), risk factors and the effect of physical activity in six professions in Cameroon. METHODS: 2012 participants completed questionnaires related to socio-demographic conditions and work perception. Appropriate Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) psychometers were used for specific professions. Level of physical activity and sports practice was determined using the Ricci and Gagnon scale. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of burnout was 67.9%; with 5.3% high; 34.3% moderate; and 60.4% low degree. 42.2% of victims of BOS were in high loss of personal achievement, 39.9% in high depersonalization of and 38.2% in high emotional exhaustion. Higher prevalence of BOS was found in Army (85.3%) and educational sectors (78.5% in secondary school teachers (SET) and 68% in university teaching staff (UTS)). BOS was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with distance from home to workplace, number of children per participant, number of hospitals attended, number of guards per month, labour hours per day, conflicts with the hierarchy, conflicts with colleagues, poor working conditions, unsatisfactory salary, part time teaching in private university institutions, job seniority, sedentariness. Apart from UTS, no association was observed between the level of physical activity and occurrence of BOS. CONCLUSION: Burnout is a reality in occupational environments in Cameroon.

Burnout syndrome and associated factors among university teaching staff in Cameroon: Effect of the practice of sport and physical activities and leisures.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of burnout syndrome among university teaching staff in Cameroon; and to establish if the practice of physical activities and leisures could have preventive effect. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, socio-professional conditions, Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educator Survey (MBI-ES) to evaluate burnout syndrome, and Ricci-Gagnon metrics to assess level of physical activities practice among grades of teaching staff, in the various faculties of the University of Douala, Cameroon. RESULTS: Three hundreds and three teaching staff members aged 43±7 years were included (69% males). The prevalence of burnout syndrome was 68%, distributed within the three dimensions as follows: emotional exhaustion (15.2%), depersonalization (32.1%) and loss of personal accomplishment (22.1%), with 57% low level, 38% moderate and 6% severe. Burnout affected respectively 55.4% lecturers, 38.3% senior lecturers and 6.3% professors. Burnout was significantly associated with poor working conditions (P=0.0001), unsatisfactory salary (P=0.0001), part time teaching in private university institutions (P=0.027), sensation of strenuous job (P=0.002), conflict with colleagues (P=0.028), sedentariness (P=0.007). Sport and physical activities showed significant protective effect against burnout (P=0.004), the same with leisures (P=0.016). CONCLUSION: The prevalence burnout syndrome is high among university teaching staff in Cameroon. The practice of sport and physical activities and leisures has a protective effect against burnout syndrome.

[Effect of intermittent variable intensity exercise on QT variation and risk of sudden cardiac death among Cameroonian school adolescents]. / Effet d'un effort intermittent d'intensité variable sur la variation du QT et du risque de mort subite chez des élèves camerounais.

INTRODUCTION: Several cases of sudden deaths are observed among students practicing sport and physical activity (SPA). Just few studies have been carried out on the variation of the QT (interval) and risk of sudden death during sporting exercises. AIM: To determine the effect of variable intermittent stress intensity on the variation of QT and the risk of sudden cardiac death. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Form 4, lower sixth and upper sixth students were recruited from a high school in Douala (Cameroon). Each subject was tested; starting with a 2-km walk followed by a sprint race or an endurance race, protocol I (P1) or the reverse; protocol II (P2). Two electrocardiograms were recorded; prior to the beginning of the SPA and 5minutes after the last race. QT was corrected using four formulas. RESULTS: Forty-one subjects (21 women and 20 men), mean age 18±2 years were recruited. At the end of the exercise, corrected QT increased with Bazzet's formula and decreased with Frahmingam's formula. The difference was not significant with Fridericia and Hodges formulas. The frequency of long QT was higher at the end of the exercise with Bazzet's formula (12.2% vs. 24.4%, P=0.009) while the difference was not significant for the other formulas. CONCLUSION: The risk of sudden cardiac death increases significantly after SPA. More studies on large samples are needed.

[Burnout syndrome among generalist medical doctors of Douala region (Cameroon): Can physical activities be a protective factor?] / Syndrome de burnout chez les médecins généralistes de la région de Douala (Cameroun) : les activités physiques peuvent-elles être un facteur protecteur ?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate and document the importance of Burnout syndrome among generalist medical doctors (GMD) since no investigation have been carried in Cameroon. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including 85 GMD using a self-administered questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, socioprofessional conditions, Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) to evaluate burnout, and Ricci-Gagnon physical activities level metrics. RESULTS: 77 GMD (90.6 %) reported having never heard about burnout. Mean age was 29 years (range 24-42 years). The MBI-HSS revealed that 36 GMD (42.4 %) were victims of burnout, with 27 (31.8 %) at a low level, 8 (9.4 %) moderate and one (1.2 %) severe. Burnout was associated with distance from home to job place (p ⟨ 0.05), strenuous job (p = 0.04), number of children in charge (p = 0.007), number of hospital attended (p = 0.003), number of hours of labor per day (p = 0.0001), conflicts with the hierarchy (p = 0.01), number of guards per month (p = 0.01). Physical activities practice did not showed significant preventive effect on burnout (p = 0.3) (Odds-ratio = 1.45, IC 95 % 0.6, 3.45). CONCLUSIONS: Burnout syndrome is not well known among GMD in Douala, though having a high prevalence. Various socio-demographic and socio-professional factors are associated and contribute to increase the level of affect. Burnout seems to be a vicious somato-psycho-somatic disorder. This study did not found a protective or preventive effect of physical activities on burnout.

BUT: Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer et documenter l'importance du syndrome de burnout parmi les médecins généralistes (MG), dans un contexte d'une absence totale de données sur cette affection au Cameroun. METHODES: Etude transversale incluant 85 médecins généralistes, à l'aide d'un questionnaire auto-administré sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques, les conditions socioprofessionnelles, le Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) pour évaluer le burnout et le questionnaire de Ricci-Gagnon pour déterminer le niveau des activités physiques. RESULTATS: 77 MG (90,6 %) ont déclaré n'avoir jamais entendu parler du burnout. L'âge variait de 24 à 42 ans. Le MBI-HSS a révélé que 36 (42,4 %) étaient victimes du burnout, dont 27 (31,8 %) à un niveau faible, 8 (9,4 %) modéré et 1 (1,2 %) sévère. Le burnout était associé à la distance domicile-lieu de travail (p ⟨ 0,05), à la charge du travail (p = 0,04), au nombre d'enfants à charge (p = 0,007), au nombre d'hôpitaux de consultation (p = 0,003), au nombre d'heures de travail par jour (p = 0,0001), aux conflits avec la hiérarchie (p = 0,01), au nombre de gardes par mois (p = 0,01). La pratique des activités physiques n'a pas montré un effet préventif significatif sur le burnout (p = 0,3) (odds-ratio = 1,45, IC 95 % 0,6, 3,45). CONCLUSIONS: Bien qu'ayant une prévalence élevée, le burnout n'est pas bien connu parmi les MG à Douala. Divers facteurs sociodémographiques et socio-professionnels sont associés et contribuent à augmenter le niveau de l'affection. Le burnout semble être un trouble somato-psycho-somatique vicieux.

[Epidemiologiy of obesity among university students in Douala, Cameroon]. / Épidémiologie de l'obésité en milieu estudiantin à Douala, Cameroun.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of obesity, its risk factors, and its health risks among students of the University of Douala. METHODS: In April, 2011, 2696 students volunteered to participate in a screening campaign for diabetes, high blood pressure (HBP), and obesity. Their physical activity (PA) level was also evaluated. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 1276 (47.3%) men and 1420 (52.7%) women with a mean age of 23.8 ± 3.5 years. The general prevalence of obesity was 4.1%, and it was more common among women (p = 0.043). The age group most highly affected was those 35 years or older, with a prevalence of 39.5% (p<0.02). Among the obese, the risk level was high in 78 (70.9%) women. The prevalence of HBP was higher among obese than non-obese students (20.9% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.019), and the prevalence of diabetes five times higher (4.5% vs. 0.8%, p = 0.003). Obesity was highly associated with alcohol consumption (p = 0.01), physical inactivity (p = 0.007), and family history of diabetes (p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Obesity is a worrisome disorder among students in Douala. Educating students about this topic and developing an obesity prevention and management program may improve their health.

[Prevalence of child and teenage obesity in schools in Dakar]. / Prévalence de l'obésité de l'enfant et de l'adolescent en milieu scolaire à Dakar.

Obesity is currently viewed as a serious worldwide public health issue. In this survey, we aim to determine its prevalence among schoolchildren and teenagers in Dakar. The sample of our survey consisted of 2,356 students aged 11-17, including 1,110 boys and 1,246 girls. For each of them, we have calculated their body mass index. Based on the higher value of the norm of that index, referred to the 97th percentile of Rolland-Cachera MF's curves, we have identified obese students according to their age and sex. The prevalence of obesity within our sample is 9.34%, with 2.88% for boys and 6.46% for girls. It is at its peak in the age of 11, though there is no significance (p > 0.05) in its decrease (from age 12 to 17). There are significantly (p < 0.05) more obese students in "catholic private" schools than in "public" schools where schooling is free. Child and teenage obesity is a reality in Dakar schools. Consequently, it is advisable to determine its nationwide prevalence to take on its prevention as well as its cure.

Are athletes able to self-select their optimal warm up?

This study aimed to examine whether athletes are able to self-select their optimal warm up and to propose a methodological approach in investigating the effects of warm up on performance. Nine male subjects underwent a free field warm up (FWU) at a self-selected intensity and duration during which heart rate (HR) and rectal temperature (Tre) were monitored. The intensity of this warm up was subsequently estimated from the HR obtained during an incremental test to determine maximal power (Pmax). Performance (cycle time to exhaustion at Pmax), HR and Tre, were then examined following either: NWU (no warm up); RWU (reference warm up based on FWU); RWU-10 (warm up intensity diminished by 10% compared to RWU); and RWU+10 (warm up intensity increased by 10% compared to RWU). Results showed no significant difference in HR (P = 0.37) and Tre increase (P= 0.77) between FWU and RWU. Performance improvement after warm up conditions gave RWU (56%; ie, 5/9 subjects) >RWU-10 (33%; ie, 3/9) >RWU+10 (11%; ie, 1/9) >NWU with significant differences between RWU and NWU (P < 0.01); RWU and RWU+10 (P < 0.01); RWU-10 and NWU (P < 0.01). A warm up intensity ranging from 54-72% Pmax, and inducing an increase in heart rate to 80 +/- 6% HRmax, was found to be optimal. While most athletes were able to self-determine the intensity of their optimal warm up, for others there is still a need for control.

[Effects of preliminary muscular exercise on body temperature, water loss and physical performance]. / Effets d'un exercice musculaire préliminaire sur la température centrale, les pertes hydriques et la performance physique.

We investigated the effects of preliminary exercise (muscular warm-up) on body temperature, water loss and physical performance during consecutive sustained exercise. Thirty-one untrained men aged 21 to 30 years old (mean 25.12 +/- 2.92) were subjected to two physical trial tests at 75% Pma. One trial. (T - PE) was performed without preliminary exercise (PE) and the other (T + PE) was preceded by 15 minutes of preliminary exercise performed at 50% Pma. The trials involved pedaling an ergocycle until exhaustion, followed by a 30 minutes period of inactive recovery. The rate of increase of body temperature during the work consecutive to preliminary exercise (T + PE) was lower than that of the work without preliminary exercise (T - PE). The energy output and water loss during T + PE were significantly (P < 0.01) greater than during T - PE. However, the body temperatures at the end of the two tests were identical. The rate of decrease of body temperature, measured after 30 minutes of recovery, was higher for T + PE than T - PE. The duration of work was increased by PE for 25 (80.65%) subjects and decreased for 6 (19.35%). We conclude that preliminary exercise allows better adjustment of thermohydric regulation by moderating the rise in body temperature and increasing water loss during physical work. For most subjects, these adjustments allow improved endurance.