Secondary health conditions in people with spinal cord injury in South Africa: Prevalence and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: People with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience preventable secondary health conditions (SHCs) that worsen the disability, reduce the quality of life and affect health and wellbeing. There is limited information on the prevalence of SHCs and the associated factors to inform planning and practice in South Africa (SA). OBJECTIVES: To identify the prevalence of SHCs and the associated factors in people with SCI. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients' medical records at a tertiary academic hospital and a rehabilitation hospital in Gauteng Province, SA. Data collected included demographic data, injury profile, SHCs and associated factors. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages. Fisher's exact test was used to determine the association between SHCs and sociodemographic and clinical variables. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to determine the associated risk factors for SHCs. Multinomial regression was used to determine the predictors of the frequency of SHCs. RESULTS: A total of 425 records were reviewed, 68.0% of patients were male, and the median (interquartile range) age was 45 (35 - 56) years. The majority (93.7%) of the patients had SHCs, and 78% had ≥2 SHCs. Significant predictors of having >3 SHCs were the duration of SCI (p=0.01), site of injury in the upper (p=0.03) and lower (p=0.01) thoracic spine, being unemployed (p=0.04), and public hospital income classification (H0 = social grant/unemployed, H1 = earning ZAR0 - 70 000 per annum single income/ZAR0 - 100 000 per annum household income, and Road Accident Fund; p=0.03, p=0.03 and p=0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Secondary health conditions were prevalent among patients with SCI. People with SCI experience multimorbidity that requires multiple management strategies. These findings point to the need for prevention strategies to minimise the occurrence of SHCs.

Effects of physical exercises on inflammatory biomarkers and cardiopulmonary function in patients living with HIV: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pro-inflammatory cytokines expressed in human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection, may induce oxidative stress likely to compromise the patency of the airways or damage the lung tissues/cardiac function. However, physical (aerobic and/or resistance) exercise-induced release of heat shock protein, immune function alteration or reduced tissue hypoxia, have been highlighted as possible mechanisms by which increasing physical activity may reduce plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines in uninfected individuals and should be appraised in the literature for evidence of similar benefits in people living with HIV (PLWH). Therefore, we evaluated the effects of physical exercises on 1) inflammatory biomarkers and 2) cardiopulmonary function (VO2 Max) in PLWH. METHOD: A systematic review was conducted using the Cochrane Collaboration protocol. Searching databases, up to January 2018. Only randomized control trials investigating the effects of either aerobic or resistance or a combination of both exercise types with a control/other intervention(s) for a period of at least 4 weeks among adults living with HIV, were included. Two independent reviewers determined the eligibility of the studies. Data were extracted and risk of bias (ROB) was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration ROB tool. Meta-analyses were conducted with random effect models using the Review Manager (RevMan) computer software. RESULT: Twenty-three studies met inclusion criteria (n = 1073 participants at study completion) comprising male and female with age range 18-65 years. Three meta-analyses across three sub-groups comparisons were performed. The result showed no significant change in biomarkers of inflammation (IL-6 and IL-1ß) unlike a significant (Z = 3.80, p < 0.0001) improvement in VO2 Max. Overall, the GRADE evidence for this review was of moderate quality. CONCLUSION: There was evidence that engaging in either aerobic or resistance exercise, or a combination of both exercises, two to five times per week can lead to a significant improvement in cardiopulmonary function but not biomarkers of inflammation (IL-6 and IL-1ß). However, this should not be interpreted as "No evidence of effect" because the individual trial studies did not attain sufficient power to detect treatment effects. The moderate grade evidence for this review suggests that further research may likely have an important impact on our confidence in the estimate of effects and may change the estimate.

HIV/AIDS: use of the ICF in Brazil and South Africa--comparative data from four cross-sectional studies.

INTRODUCTION: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a serious disease which can be associated with various activity limitations and participation restrictions. The aim of this paper was to describe how HIV affects the functioning and health of people within different environmental contexts, particularly with regard to access to medication. METHOD: Four cross-sectional studies, three in South Africa and one in Brazil, had applied the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a classification instrument to participants living with HIV. Each group was at a different stage of the disease. Only two groups had had continuing access to antiretroviral therapy. The existence of these descriptive sets enabled comparison of the disability experienced by people living with HIV at different stages of the disease and with differing access to antiretroviral therapy. RESULTS: Common problems experienced in all groups related to weight maintenance, with two-thirds of the sample reporting problems in this area. Mental functions presented the most problems in all groups, with sleep (50%, 92/185), energy and drive (45%, 83/185), and emotional functions (49%, 90/185) being the most affected. In those on long-term therapy, body image affected 93% (39/42) and was a major problem. The other groups reported pain as a problem, and those with limited access to treatment also reported mobility problems. Cardiopulmonary functions were affected in all groups. CONCLUSION: Functional problems occurred in the areas of impairment and activity limitation in people at advanced stages of HIV, and more limitations occurred in the area of participation for those on antiretroviral treatment. The ICF provided a useful framework within which to describe the functioning of those with HIV and the impact of the environment. Given the wide spectrum of problems found, consideration could be given to a number of ICF core sets that are relevant to the different stages of HIV disease.

Health-related quality of life of survivors of penetrating trunk trauma in Johannesburg, South Africa.

PURPOSE: To study how the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of survivors of penetrating trunk trauma (PTT) changes from pre-morbid status to 6 months after hospital discharge and to determine differences in the HRQOL between subjects ventilated for short and prolonged periods of time. To determine how the HRQOL of PTT survivors compares with that of a healthy control group in order to identify limitations imposed by critical illness. METHODS: Retrospective and observational prospective assessment of the quality of life (QoL) of PTT survivors with the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 (SF-36) UK English version questionnaire. Cross-sectional assessment of the QoL of a healthy control group with the SF-36. RESULTS: The physical component summary (PCS) score was significantly reduced for the short mechanical ventilation (MV) group (n = 13) at 1 and 3 months compared to pre-admission status (p = 0.00, respectively). The mental component summary (MCS) score was significantly reduced at 1, 3 and 6 months (p = 0.00, respectively). The PCS and MCS were significantly reduced for the long MV group (n = 29) at all three assessments compared to the pre-admission HRQOL (p = 0.00-0.01). The short MV group reported HRQOL comparable to that of the healthy group (n = 40) at 6 months after discharge. The long MV group had a significant reduction in the PCS at 1, 3 and 6 months compared to the healthy group (p = 0.00, respectively). The long MV group had significantly reduced PCS at 3 and 6 months compared to the short MV group (p = 0.01 and 0.00, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects who had higher morbidity and prolonged MV suffered from reduced HRQOL related to physical health for up to 6 months after discharge.