Diagnostic performance of several biomarkers for identification of cases of non-communicable diseases among Central Africans.

BACKGROUND: This study determined the diagnostic performance of new biomarkers for a composite diagnosis of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Central Africans. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted at LOMO Medical Centre, Kinshasa, DR Congo (DRC) between January - December, 2008. The cases comprised 226 participants with concurrent presence of at least 2 or more of NCDs. Anthropometric parameters and blood pressure were measured while blood samples were assayed for biomarkers. The receiver operating characteristics curve and the logistic regression model were applied. RESULTS: Serum selenium (Se) had specificity and sensitivity of 72.4% and 91.1%, respectively with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.802; Nitric oxide (NO) (specificity: 72.4%; sensitivity: 93.0%) (AUC = 0.800); Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels > 6 Mu/L (specificity: 75%; sensitivity: 65%) (AUC = 0.0.727); serum calcium levels of ≥ 110g/L (specificity: 76%; sensitivity: 75%) (AUC = 0.822); and daily salt intake of ≥10 g/day (specificity: 75%; sensitivity: 67%) (AUC = 0.653) in the diagnosis of all NCDs, which were all highly significant (<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Serum Se, NO, calcium, TSH and daily salt intake had high diagnostic performance as biomarkers for identification of patients with concurrent NCDs in the study population.

Oxidative stress-elevated high gamma glutamyl transferase levels, and aging, intake of tropical food plants, migration and visual disability in Central Africans.

AIM: To investigate the independent pathogenic role of high serum gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels, sociodemographic data, dietary and environmental risk factors for visual disability (VD). METHODS: This was a case-control study, run in 200 black Congolese patients managed in Saint Joseph Hospital Ophthalmology Division from Kinshasa town. Logistic regression model was used to identify determinants of VD (n=58) among sex, age, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, rural-urban migration, education levels, aging ≥60 years, intake of red Beans, Safou fruit and Taro leaves, lipid profile, residence, socioeconomic status, and GGT. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding factors, we identified migration (OR=3.7 95% CI: 1.2-11.3; P=0.023), low education level (OR=3.1 95% CI 1.1-8.5; P=0.026), no intake of Safou fruit (OR=34.2 95% CI 11.5-102; P<0.0001), age ≥ 60 years (OR=2.5 95% CI 1.01-6.5; P=0.049), and serum GGT ≥10 U/L (OR=3.6 95% CI 1.3-9.6; P=0.012) as the significant and independent determinants of VD. CONCLUSION: VD appears as a major public health problem in Central Africa to be prevented or delayed by control of migration, lifestyle changes, antioxidant supplements, appropriate diet, nutrition education, and blocking of oxidative stress.