BackgroundAccess to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) care has been rolled out in Cameroon in the last decade through decentralised delivery of care and timely initiation of free antiretroviral drugs. We sought to describe the evolution of mortality and loss to follow up (LTFU) and their patient-related determinants at an HIV clinic which is facing significant challenges.MethodsA retrospective review of point of care data from HIV patients was conducted in June 2012 at Nkongsamba Regional Hospital in Cameroon to establish mortality and LTFU rates. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were used to screen for factors associated with the outcomes. Telephone calls were made to trace patients LTFU.ResultsBetween June 2005 and December 2010, 2388 HIV infected patients were admitted. Of these, 1858 were aged 15 and above and were included in our analysis. Their median age was 36 years (IQR: 30–44) and they were followed up over a total risk period of 3647.3 person-years (pyrs). The overall mortality rate was 34.6 deaths per 1000 pyrs (95% CI: 29.0-41.1) while the overall LTFU rate was 94.6 per 1000 pyrs (95%CI: 85.1-105.1).The mortality rates steadily rose to a peak of 69.6 deaths per 1000 pyrs in 2009 and then fell drastically to 20.6 per 1000 pyrs in 2010. The LTFU rate increased sharply from 29.7 in 2006 to 138.2 in 2007 and remained virtually stable until 2010. The factors associated with mortality were: being male (aHR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.58-3.19), clinical disease progression (aHR = 2.0, 95% CI: 1.58-2.53), CD4 count <200 cells/μl (aHR = 3.14, 95% CI: 1.27-7.73), haemoglobin level <10 g/dl (aHR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.69-3.69). Major factors associated with high LTFU rate were: distance to clinic of over 5 km (aHR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.00-1.55), being single, having partners with unknown HIV status or taking no treatment and with CD4 count >500 cells/μl. Two- thirds (66.7%) of traced LTFU patients were dead.ConclusionMortality and LTFU rates in our cohort were high but there is evidence that patients’ outcomes are improving. Interventions to address factors associated with high mortality and LTFU should be implemented for optimal results in patient care.

BackgroundLong term use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHIV) is associated with disturbances in blood lipids which should be monitored. More data on such disturbances are needed in Cameroon to persuade the country program to institute their routine monitoring. We then sought to determine the prevalence and timing of dyslipidaemia in PLWHIV and receiving ART in a predominantly rural Cameroonian setting.MethodsA cross-sectional study conducted between August and October 2012 in HIV-infected persons aged 15 years or more and receiving first-line ART for at least six months at The Nkongsamba Regional Hospital in Cameroon. Lipid assays were carried out by enzymatic-linked colorimetric methods. A multiple logistic regression model was used to assess for factors related to dyslipidaemia.ResultsIncluded were 114 participants of whom 83 (72.8%) were females. Their median age was 43 years (IQR: 36–51) and their median CD4 count was 436 cells/μl (IQR: 275–585) after a median duration on ART of 36 months (IQR: 12–60). The prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 70.2%. Hypercholesterolaemia was observed in 34 (29.8%) patients. One-third of them had a high LDL-cholesterol level (LDL-c ≥ 130 mg/dl). Hypertriglyceridaemia (TG ≥ 150 mg/dl) was present in 59 (51.8%) cases. The proportion of patients with a low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c < 40 mg/dl) was 18.4% while those with a ratio of TC/HDL-c ≥ 5 were about 16.7%. A duration of 2–4 years on ART (adjusted Odd Ratio, aOR = 5.22, 95% CI: 1.43-19.06, p = 0.01), current smokers (aOR = 15.94, 95% CI: 1.13-225.61, p = 0.04) and a concurrent metabolic disease (aOR = 12.54, 95% CI: 1.02-153.86, p = 0.48) were independently associated with pro-atherogenic LDL-c values. Alcohol users had a more friendly LDL-c profile (aOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.07-0.74, p = 0.01).ConclusionThe study has demonstrated a high prevalence of dyslipidaemia in HIV-patients receiving first-line ART in a predominantly rural setting of Cameroon. There is a need for the country HIV program to institute laboratory monitoring of blood lipids in patients over two years on first line ART with a focus on smokers.

Within one country, two dramatically different dynamic patterns of measles incidence were observed. Long-term surveillance data is crucial to the evaluation of measles immunization campaigns. The availability of a five-year record of measles incidence in Cameroon reveals an interesting dynamic pattern of measles incidence that accounts for the increase in countrywide incidence in 2000-2001.

BackgroundWhile the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on natural history of cervical lesions remains controversial, resource limited countries need to understand the relevance of their own data to their settings. We compared the risk of cervical disease in HAART-experienced women with that in women in the general population of Cameroon.MethodsA retrospective cross sectional survey of women aged 35 years and above, attending a voluntary screening campaign for cervical cancer at the Nkongsamba Regional Hospital in Cameroon between February and May 2014. Squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) were determined by Pap smear. Multiple logistic regression was used to compare the odds of SIL in women on HAART to women from the community with unknown HIV status.ResultsIncluded were 302 women of whom 131(43.4%) were HIV-infected and receiving HAART on the site while 171 (56.6%) were women from the community. Cervical disease was observed in 51(16.9%) persons of whom 15 (11.5%) cases in the HAART group and 36 (21.1%) cases in the general group (p = 0.027). After controlling for age and other covariates, women in the HAART group had a 67% reduction in the odds of cervical lesions compared with the community group [adjusted odd ratio (aOR) = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.15–0.73, p = 0.006).ConclusionHIV-infected women receiving HAART have a lower risk of cancer than women in the general population. This finding may not be attributed to HAART alone but to all the health benefits derived from receiving a comprehensive HIV care.

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