Psychological Consequence of the Corona Virus Disease Pandemic in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is impacting the mental health of the population, but data on its impact in developing countries are lacking. The purpose of this study is to assess the psychological aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the population of Kinshasa. METHODS: This cross-sectional and analytical study included 456 randomly selected respondents in the Ngafani district of the municipality of Selembao during the period from August 1 to October 30, 2020. Socio-demographic data, and data concerning COVID-19 and its impact on mental health, were studied. Anxiety and depression were studied using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: The two genders were represented in equal proportions; the patients had a mean age of 40.4±17.2 years with a high frequency of patients aged over 50 years. All had agreed to observe social distancing, but only 36.8% had accepted isolation. Using the HADS, 47.4% had a doubtful anxiety state and 23.7% had a definite anxiety state; 36.8% had a doubtful depressive state and 25% had a definite depressive state. Old age (≥50 years), female gender, lack of occupation, and isolation were independent determinants associated with anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: The frequency of anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic was high. Older age, female gender, lack of a profession, and isolation were associated with anxiety and depression.

Admission hyperglycemia and associated risk factors among patients with acute stroke in intensive care units in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Context and objective. Despite being established as a correlate of unfavorable outcome in acute stroke, little is known about the burden and associated risk factors of admission hyperglycemia in acute stroke in sub-Saharan Africa. The present study aimed to assess its frequency and associated risk factors in Congolese patients admitted in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in the acute phase of stroke. Methods. A multicenter (6 ICUs) prospective cohort study including consecutive patients with acute stroke was undertaken from July 15th, 2017 to March 15th, 2018.The Glasgow Coma Scale helped to determine the severety of the disease at admission. Stress hyperglycemia was considered for a random blood glucose levels at admission ˃140 mg/dL in patients without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Independent factors associated with admission hyperglycemia were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results. Out of 194 patients (mean age 58.7±13.1 years; 64% males, 74.7% light to moderate stroke severity; 59% hemorrhagic stroke) enrolled, admission hyperglycemia was found in 106 (54.6%) of patients (mean age 60.1 ± 14.3 years; 67% men, 67% hypertension) with 77 (72.6%) and 29 (27.4 %) of them having stress and chronic hyperglycemia, respectively. Independent predictors of admission hyperglycemia were age [aOR 1.98; 95%CI 1.17-3.36), GCS < 8 (aOR 3.83; 95% CI 1.99-7.35) and diabetes (aOR 9.02; 95%CI 3.38-14.05). Conclusion. More than half of critically ill patients exhibit admission hyperglycemia with age, severity of stroke and known diabetes as its main associated risk factors