The changing trend of teleconsultations during COVID-19 era at a tertiary facility in Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION: the current COVID-19 pandemic has occasioned the increased adoption of telemedicine. This study reports the uptake and trend of a new teleconsultation service in a Tanzanian hospital. METHODS: this is a retrospective observational study that profiled requests for teleconsultations and uptake of the service between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. RESULTS: two hundred and eighteen telephone inquiries were received over the 3 months. One hundred and sixteen (53.2%) individuals followed through with the teleconsultations. Paediatric (38.8%) and Internal medicine (32.8%) were the subspecialties with the highest number of teleconsultations. In a frame of 3 months, teleconsultation uptake was highest in May and lowest in June. CONCLUSION: there was a steady rise and a rapid fall in requests and uptake of teleconsultation services over the period under evaluation. Lack of insurance coverage for teleconsultations was a significant barrier. We propose a re-education and reiteration of the benefits of telemedicine to all stakeholders. This is important for the current era and beyond.

COVID-19 and stroke in sub-Saharan Africa: case series from Dar es Salaam.

Low and middle-income countries including those in sub-Saharan (SSA) Africa are experiencing a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. To the best of our knowledge, reports of COVID-19 related strokes are scarce in SSA. The peculiar situation of stroke care in SSA makes COVID-19 associated stroke a bothersome entity as it adds other dynamics that tilt the prognostic balance. We present a case series of COVID -19 related stroke in 3 patients from Tanzania. We emphasized protected code stroke protocol.

COVID-19 and Teleneurology in Sub-Saharan Africa: Leveraging the Current Exigency.

Africa has over 1.3 billion inhabitants, with over 60% of this population residing in rural areas that have poor access to medical experts. Despite having a ridiculously huge, underserved population, very few African countries currently have any form of sustained and organized telemedicine practice, and even fewer have dedicated tele-neurology services. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be one of the most significant disruptors of vital sectors of human endeavor in modern times. In the healthcare sector, there is an increasing advocacy to deliver non-urgent care via telemedicine. This paper examined the current state of tele-neurology practice and infrastructural preparedness in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, there is over 70% mobile phone penetration in most of the countries and virtually all of them have mobile internet services of different technologies and generations. Although the needed infrastructure is increasingly available, it should be improved upon. We have proposed the access, costs, ethics, and support (ACES) model as a bespoke, holistic strategy for the successful implementation and advancement of tele-neurology in sub-Saharan Africa.

The changing trend of teleconsultations during COVID-19 era at a tertiary facility in Tanzania

Introduction: the current COVID-19 pandemic has occasioned the increased adoption of telemedicine. This study reports the uptake and trend of a new teleconsultation service in a Tanzanian hospital. Methods: this is a retrospective observational study that profiled requests for teleconsultations and uptake of the service between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020. Results: two hundred and eighteen telephone inquiries were received over the 3 months. One hundred and sixteen (53.2%) individuals followed through with the teleconsultations. Paediatric (38.8%) and Internal medicine (32.8%) were the subspecialties with the highest number of teleconsultations. In a frame of 3 months, teleconsultation uptake was highest in May and lowest in June. Conclusion: there was a steady rise and a rapid fall in requests and uptake of teleconsultation services over the period under evaluation. Lack of insurance coverage for teleconsultations was a significant barrier. We propose a re-education and reiteration of the benefits of telemedicine to all stakeholders. This is important for the current era and beyond

Erectile Dysfunction in Men with and without Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Nigeria.

PURPOSE: Much attention has been focused in recent decades on the effects of erectile dysfunction (ED) secondary to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), potentially underestimating its effects in men without LUTS. This study aimed to compare the prevalence and predictors of ED in men with and without LUTS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire was administered to 303 patients between January 2014 and June 2016. Within this sample, 147 patients with LUTS (cases) were compared to 156 men without LUTS who were matched for age, level of education, and occupation (controls). RESULTS: The mean age was 66.03±9.64 years and 65.78±8.61 years for the cases and controls, respectively. The prevalence of ED was 64.6% and 73.7% (odds ratio [OR], 1.54; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94~2.51) in the case cohort and controls, respectively (p=0.086). There was no difference in the prevalence of impaired erectile function (p=0.067), impaired orgasmic function (p=0.108), impaired sexual desire (p=0.291), impaired intercourse satisfaction (p=0.869), or impaired overall satisfaction (p=0.191). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being currently employed was a significant predictor of ED both in men with LUTS (OR, 8.08; 95% CI, 1.51~9.27; p=0.004) and in men without LUTS (OR, 7.00; 95% CI, 1.49~14.51; p=0.008). Being married only predicted for impaired EF in men without LUTS (OR, 6.34; 95% CI, 1.40~15.20; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: ED was not found to be more prevalent in men with LUTS. Being employed was a predictor of ED in both groups of men, while being married was also a predictor of ED in men without LUTS.

Severity of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms among Middle Aged and Elderly Nigerian Men: Impact on Quality of Life.

Objectives. To compare the severity of LUTS among middle aged and elderly Nigerian men and determine the influence of LUTS severity on QoL. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted among new patients presenting with LUTS attending Urology clinic between 2011 and 2015. Assessment of symptoms was based on IPSS and bother score completed by the eligible subjects on the same day of their clinic visits. Results. Four hundred patients were studied comprising 229 middle aged and 171 elderly men. Interquartile range (IQR) of IPSS scores for men <65 years and those ≥65 years was 14.0 (16.0) and 19 (15.0), respectively (p < 0.001). Mild LUTS was significantly associated with best, good, and poor quality of life while moderate LUTS was associated with poor QoL. Severe LUTS was significantly associated with all the categories of QoL (Best-Worst). Among the cohort of subjects with poor QoL, elderly patients had a significantly higher median IPSS score (p < 0.05). Conclusions. There is no level of severity of LUTS in which patients' QoL is not impaired although mild symptomatology may be associated with better QoL and severe symptomatology with poor QoL. Careful attention to QoL may help identify patients who require early and prompt treatment irrespective of the IPSS.

Profile and Determinants of Neurocognitive Dysfunction in a Sample of Adult Nigerians With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) in Africans is peculiar because subjects are younger than whites and have lower socioeconomic and educational level in addition to the high prevalence of hypertension-related etiology and increased mortality. Whereas cognitive dysfunction have been demonstrated among whites with HF, the prevalence and pattern of cognitive dysfunction among sub-Saharan African patients with HF have not been evaluated against this background. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the 1-year prevalence and the factors contributing to cognitive dysfunction in a cohort of Nigerian patients with HF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional case-control study, cognitive performance was evaluated in 111 consecutive individuals (60 HF patients and 51 controls matched for age, gender, and level of education) using the Community Screening Interview for Dementia, Word List Learning Delayed Recall, Boston Naming Test, and Modified Token Test. Other clinical and disease-specific variables were collated and correlated with cognitive performance. RESULTS: The mean total Community Screening Interview for Dementia, Word List Learning Delayed Recall, Boston Naming Test, and Modified Token Test scores were significantly lower among HF patients (P = < .001). The prevalence of global cognitive dysfunction was 90.0% in HF and 5.9% among controls (odds ratio, 15.3; 95% confidence interval, 5.08-46.01). Elevated systolic blood pressure, increased comorbidity index, and wide pulse pressure were significantly associated with poorer performance on at least 1 neuropsychological test. Using a multivariate linear regression analysis, pulse pressure retained its significance (P = .029; 95% confidence interval, -0.117 to -0.007) as the most important predictor of cognitive dysfunction in the cohort of HF patients. CONCLUSION: Cognitive dysfunction is prevalent among this sample of Nigerians with HF. Regular cognitive screening is therefore advocated among this high-risk group. Controlling comorbidities as well as blood pressure may improve cognitive performance among patients with HF.

Orthostatic tremor: current challenges and future prospects.

This review provides an outlook of orthostatic tremor (OT), a rare adult-onset tremor characterized by subjective unsteadiness during standing that is relieved by sitting or walking. Recent case series with a long-time follow-up have shown that the disease is slowly progressive, spatially spreads to the upper limbs, and other neurological disorders may develop in about one-third of the patients. The diagnosis of OT hinges on the typical history of unsteadiness during standing, which is confirmed by electromyographic findings of a 13-18 Hz tremor that is typically absent during tonic activation while the patient is sitting and lying. Although the tremor is generated by a central oscillator, cerebellar and/or basal ganglia dysfunction are needed for its manifestation (double lesion hypothesis). However, functional neuroimaging findings have not consistently implicated the dopaminergic system in its pathogenesis. Drug treatments have been largely disappointing with no sustained benefits, although thalamic deep brain stimulation has helped some patients. Large-scale follow-up studies, more drug trials, and novel therapies are urgently needed.

Patients' feelings about the presence of medical students in a New Teaching Hospital in Southwestern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate how patients feel about the introduction of medical students into a former general hospital transformed to a teaching hospital in southwestern Nigeria and to also assess the extent to which they are willing to involve medical students in the management of their conditions. METHODS: In a descriptive cross-sectional study, a sample of 251 randomly selected patients were interviewed using a pretested questionnaire that assessed patients' demography, patients' acceptance of and reaction to the involvement of medical students in their clinical care including the specific procedures the patients would allow medical students to perform. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-one patients with mean age ± standard deviation of 37.33 ± 19.01 (age range = 16-120 years; M:F = 1:1.26) were recruited between January 01 and March 31, 2013. Most patients (86.5%) preferred to be treated in a teaching hospital and were comfortable with medical students as observers (83.7%) and serving as the doctors' assistant (83.3%) during common diagnostic procedures. Men were more willing to have invasive procedures such as insertion of urinary catheter (56.6% vs. 43.4%, P = 0.001). Acceptability of medical students (such as willingness of patients to have students read their medical notes) was significantly higher in nonsurgical specialties than in surgical specialties (77.5% vs. 22.5%, P< 0.001). Factors associated with a positive disposition include age> 40 years, male gender, and higher level of education as well as consultation in nonsurgical specialties (P = 0.001). DISCUSSION: Medical students are well received into this new teaching hospital setting. However, there is a need for more education of younger, less educated female patients of surgical subspecialties so that they can understand their importance as irreplaceable partners in the training of medical students.

The Prevalence, Risk Factors and Changes in Symptoms of Self Reported Asthma, Rhinitis and Eczema Among Pregnant Women in Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Allergic disorders have become a major public health concern worldwide. No Nigerian study has examined the epidemiology of allergic diseases among women. AIM: To document the prevalence, risk factors and the changes in the symptoms of allergic disorders during pregnancy. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted at the booking and antenatal clinics of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Clinic of the Comprehensive Health Center, Oja Igbo, Ogbomoso, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Study enrolled 432 women from two public hospitals. Sociodemographic and clinical history were obtained and allergic disorders were diagnosed using ISAAC questionnaires. RESULTS: The prevalence of wheezing, eczema and rhinitis in pregnancy are 7.5%, 4.0% and 5.8% respectively. The prevalence of wheezing and eczema was slightly higher among the pregnant in past 12 months. Wheeze worsened in 70% (18/26), improved in 15% (2/26), and stable in 15% (2/26). Eczema worsened in 50% (7/14), improved in 7.1% (1/14) and stable in 42.9% (6/14), while allergic rhinitis worsened in 50% (11/22), improved in 22.7% (5/22) and stabilized in 27.3 % (6/22). In multivariate analysis, the risk of allergic diseases in pregnancy was increase 2 times by low income earning (CI: 1.2 - 2.1, p = 0.002), low level education (OR = 0.6, CI: 0.3 - 0.9, p = 0.011) and by family history of asthma, OR-4.3, CI - 1.3 - 13.9, p = 0.015. Family history of asthma increase the chances of asthma by 18.7 times, CI-2.3 - 152.2, p = 0.006, while the odd of eczema was increased 9.1 times (CI-2.7 - 30.6, p<0.001) and 2.4 times (CI: 1.2 - 4.7, p = 0.008) by second hand home smoking and low-family income respectively. The risk of allergic rhinitis were raised 1.8 times by low family income (CI 1.1 - 2.8, p = 0.013) and 3.9 times by family history of rhinitis (OR = 3.9, CI 1.2 - 12.7, p = 0.024). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of wheezing and eczema are higher in pregnancy probably due to exacerbation induced by pregnancy. Social and genetic factors are important risk factors for allergic disorders in pregnancy.

The likelihood of having serum level of PSA of ≥4.0 ng/mL and ≥10.0 ng/mL in non-obese and obese Nigerian men with LUTS.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine the likelihood of having serum total prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels ≥4.0 ng/mL and ≥10.0 ng/mL among a cohort of non-obese and obese Nigerian men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional survey among men who presented with benign prostatic hypertrophy to the urology clinic of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado -Ekiti with LUTS between January 1 and December 31, 2014. One hundred and forty men who presented in the urologic clinic with LUTS were recruited. PSA was analyzed using standard method while other clinical variables were collected using a clinical case form. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of an abnormal PSA of ≥4.0 ng/mL or ≥10.0 ng/mL in these men. RESULTS: The mean ages of obese and non-obese men were 64.8 and 64.0 years respectively. The mean total serum PSA were 14.8 and 13.2 ng/mL for obese and non-obese men respectively. Univariate analysis showed no difference (p > 0.05) in the proportion of obese and non-obese men with LUTS who had a PSA threshold of at least 4.0 ng/mL. Multivariate logistic regression showed that, at a PSA threshold of 10.0 ng/mL, obese men had a statistically significant proportion (p < 0.05). Although not significant, non-obese patients were less likely to have PSA level of ≥4.0 ng/mL (OR 0.701; 95% CI 0.301-1.630) compared to obese men. In the same vein, non-obese men were less likely to have a PSA level of 10.0 ng/mL (OR, 0.686; 95% CI, 0.318-1.478) in a simultaneous context of age. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that, in a sample population of predominantly native African men, there was a non-significantly higher likelihood of overweight/obese patients having a higher serum PSA level than the non-obese. A community based study is needed to further confirm this finding.

Breaking bad news in clinical setting - health professionals' experience and perceived competence in Southwestern Nigeria: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Communication skills are vital in clinical settings because the manner in which bad news is delivered could be a huge determinant of responses to such news; as well as compliance with beneficial treatment option. Information on training, institutional guidelines and protocols for breaking bad news (BBN) is scarce in Nigeria. We assessed the training, experience and perceived competence of BBN among medical personnel in southwestern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted out among doctors and nurses in two healthcare institutions in southwestern Nigeria using an anonymous questionnaire (adapted from the survey by Horwitz et al.), which focused on the respondents training, awareness of protocols in BBN; and perceived competence (using a Five-Point Likert Scale) in five clinical scenarios. We equally asked the respondents about an instance of BBN they have recently witnessed. RESULTS: A total of 113 of 130 selected (response rate 86.9%) respondents were studied. Eight (7.1%) of the respondents knew of the guidelines on BBN in the hospital in which they work. Twenty-three (20.3%) respondents claimed knowledge of a protocol. The median perceived competence rating was 4 out of 5 in all the clinical scenarios. Twenty-five (22.1%) respondents have had a formal training in BBN and they generally had significant higher perceived competence rating (P = 0.003-0.021). There is poor support from fellow workers during instances of BBN. CONCLUSION: It appears that the large proportion of the respondents in this study were unconsciously incompetent in BBN in view of the low level of training and little or no knowledge of well known protocols for BBN even though self-rated competence is high. Continuous medical education in communication skills among health personnel in Nigeria is advocated.

Anthropometric differences among natives of Abuja living in urban and rural communities: correlations with other cardiovascular risk factors.

BACKGROUND: There is an increase of obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors worldwide, but especially in developing countries where multifaceted transitions are occurring. There is need for more evidence for the cardio-metabolic effect of changing lifestyles and urbanization in Nigeria. This study aimed at defining rural-urban differences in anthropometric parameters in two Nigerian communities of the same ancestral origin and to determine the cardiovascular risk correlates of these anthropometric measurements. This was a cross-sectional epidemiological study using stratified cluster sampling method. We studied 335 and 332 urban and rural dwellers respectively. A complete cardiovascular profile as well as anthropometric measurements was compared between the two populations. RESULTS: All anthropometric indices considered in this study (weight, BMI, waist circumference, waist circumference/height ratio, abdominal height; biceps, triceps, sub-scapular, abdominal, superior iliac skinfold thicknesses) were significantly higher in urban than in the rural population (p = <0.001). Overweight, obesity and hypertension were significantly prevalent among the urban population (p = <0.001) while there was no significant difference in the prevalence of dyslipidaemia (p = 0.096) and diabetes (p = 0.083) between the two cohorts. Females tend to have a higher chance of obesity than males although there was no gender difference in waist circumference and central skin fold thickness in the rural population. Age was the significant predictor of systolic blood pressure among the rural (R(2) = 0.157, ß = 0.258, p = 0.016) and urban female population (R(2) = 0.201, ß = 0.351, p = <0.001) while Abdominal height (R(2) = 0.16, ß = 0.281, p = 0.001) and waist circumference (R(2) = 0.064 ß = 0.064, p = .003) were predictors of systolic blood pressure in urban and rural men respectively. CONCLUSION: Anthropometric indices were significantly higher among the urban than the rural populations. Cardiovascular risks were equally more prevalent among the urban population. Appropriate health education and lifestyle modification strategies may reduce the increased burden of cardiovascular risk factors associated with rural-urban migration.

Breaking bad news in clinical setting - health professionals' experience and perceived competence in Southwestern Nigeria: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Communication skills are vital in clinical settings because the manner in which bad news is delivered could be a huge determinant of responses to such news; as well as compliance with beneficial treatment option. Information on training; institutional guidelines and protocols for breaking bad news (BBN) is scarce in Nigeria. We assessed the training; experience and perceived competence of BBN among medical personnel in southwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted out among doctors and nurses in two healthcare institutions in southwestern Nigeria using an anonymous questionnaire (adapted from the survey by Horwitz et al.); which focused on the respondents training; awareness of protocols in BBN; and perceived competence (using a Five-Point Likert Scale) in five clinical scenarios. We equally asked the respondents about an instance of BBN they have recently witnessed. Results: A total of 113 of 130 selected (response rate 86.9) respondents were studied. Eight (7.1) of the respondents knew of the guidelines on BBN in the hospital in which they work. Twenty-three (20.3) respondents claimed knowledge of a protocol. The median perceived competence rating was 4 out of 5 in all the clinical scenarios. Twenty-five (22.1) respondents have had a formal training in BBN and they generally had significant higher perceived competence rating (P = 0.003-0.021). There is poor support from fellow workers during instances of BBN. Conclusion: It appears that the large proportion of the respondents in this study were unconsciously incompetent in BBN in view of the low level of training and little or no knowledge of well known protocols for BBN even though self-rated competence is high. Continuous medical education in communication skills among health personnel in Nigeria is advocated

ACE-I induced angioedema: a case report and review of literature.

INTRODUCTION: Although rare, angioedema has been documented to occur following the administration of angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are the leading cause of drug induced angioedema. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors induced angioedema is a class effect that can affect between 0.1% and 0.5% of patients taking the drug. It is rarely documented in Nigeria. Lisinopril is a commonly prescribed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors-I which is considered to be generally safe and well tolerated. We report a case of angioedema following the use of lisinopril. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old man, known hypertensive, presented with severe breathlessness on exertion, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea and bilateral pedal swelling of six weeks duration. There was no history of allergy or atopy. He was managed with lisinopril 5 mg o.d, frusemide 40 mg daily, aspirin 150 mg daily and digoxin 0.25 mg daily. He re-presented at the medical emergency unit of the hospital two days later with swellings involving the lips and the lower face of 10 hours duration. There was associated difficulty in swallowing but no stridor or hoarseness of voice. He did not have skin rashes or pruritus. There was no history of previous similar episodes. Physical examination revealed a middle aged man with swollen lips and lower part of the face. The pharynx was oedematous. The respiratory and cardiovascular system examinations revealed features of hypertensive heart disease in biventricular failure. Clinical assessment of hypertensive heart disease in failure with Lisinopril induced Angioedema was made. The Naranjo probability scale indicated that this adverse drug event was probable. Lisinopril was discontinued. After administration of corticosteroid and antihistamine, a complete resolution of the patient's symptoms was achieved. He was discharged to the medical outpatient unit of the hospital having recovered fully. CONCLUSION: This case is presented for the purposes of documentation since it is a rare occurrence among Nigerians.