No abstract

Hypertensive crisis (HC) includes hypertensive urgency (HU) and hypertensive emergency (HE). There is scarcity of data on the epidemiology of patients presenting with HC in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcome of HU and HE. We conducted a cross‐sectional study from June 2018 until June 2019. The criteria to define a hypertensive crisis were systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥180/110 mm Hg. We compared HU vs HE. Out of the 1536 patients admitted, 95(6.2%) had a HC. There were 49(51.6%) men and 56 (58.9%) had a HE. The mean age was 51.1 ± 14.9 years. A history of hypertension was found in 75.3% of the patients but only 24.2% were on treatment. 33.7% consumed alcohol and 24.2% had chronic kidney disease. Headache (34.7%), dyspnea (34.7%), and neurological deficit (23.2%) were the most common symptoms. Patients with HE had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures though the difference was not significant. The most frequent forms of HE were acute left ventricular failure with pulmonary edema (44.6%), intracerebral hemorrhage (21.4%), and cerebral infarction (16.1%). The most commonly prescribed medication was labetalol (44.2%). Mean length of hospital stay was 8.4 days. Patients with HE had a longer hospital stay (9.8 vs 6.3 days, P < .001). In‐hospital case fatality was 6.3%. Hypertensive crisis accounted for 6.2% of admissions in the medical unit with HE being more common than HU. Acute left ventricular failure with pulmonary edema and stroke were the most frequent target organ lesions in HE.

Since March 2020, the Cameroonian government implemented nationwide measures to stall COVID-19 transmission. However, little is known about how well these unprecedented measures are being observed as the pandemic evolves. We conducted a six-month online survey to assess the preventive behaviour of Cameroonian adults during the COVID-19 outbreak. A five-point adherence score was constructed based on self-reported observance of the following preventive measures: physical distancing, face mask use, hand hygiene, not touching one’s face, and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing. Predictors of adherence were investigated using ordinal logistic regression models. Of the 7381 responses received from all ten regions, 73.3% were from male respondents and overall mean age was 32.8 ± 10.8 years. Overall mean adherence score was 3.96 ± 1.11 on a scale of 0–5. Mean weekly adherence scores were initially high, but gradually decreased over time accompanied by increasing incidence of COVID-19 during the last study weeks. Predictors for higher adherence included higher age, receiving COVID-19 information from health personnel, and agreeing with the necessity of lockdown measures. Meanwhile, experiencing flu-like symptoms was associated with poor adherence. Continuous observance of preventive measures should be encouraged among Cameroonians in the medium- to long-term to avoid a resurgence in COVID-19 infections.

No abstract

BackgroundSub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is experiencing an epidemic of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as a result of a rapid epidemiological transition. Little is known about the admission for CVD and outcome in rural and semi-urban settings in Cameroon in this era of epidemiological transition. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and the pattern of CVD admissions in the South West region of Cameroon.MethodsThis retrospective descriptive study included all adult patients admitted for CVD in the medical unit of the Buea Regional Hospital between Jan 2016 and December 2017.ResultsOut of the 3140 patients admitted, 499(15.9%) had CVD. There were 304(60.9%) females. The mean age was 58.7±16.2 years. There was no age difference between men and women (59.7 years vs 58.1years, p = 0.29). The most commonly affected age group was those aged 50–59 years (22%). Heart failure (38.5%), stroke (33.3%) and uncontrolled hypertension (22.4%) were the most prevalent CVDs. The length of hospital stay ranged from 1 to 37 days with a median length of hospital stay of 7 days. In-hospital case fatality was 78(15.8%). Mortality was higher in women compared to men (9% vs 7%, p = 0.43). The case fatality for stroke was higher compared to case fatality for heart failure (21.7% vs 16.7%, p = 0.23).ConclusionCVDs are a common cause of hospital admission in this semi-urban setting, dominated by heart failure. Women were disproportionately affected and it was associated with high mortality. Prevention, early detection and management of risk factors for cardiovascular disease are imperative given the growing burden of CVD in SSA to reduce CVD morbidity and mortality.

Background: Epilepsy affects at least 50 million individuals worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). Cognitive impairment is common in people with epilepsy (PWE) yet, little is known on the burden of cognitive impairment in people with epilepsy in sSA. This study was thus designed to assess cognitive impairment in PWE or epilepsy-associated neurocognitive disorders (EAND) in a rural population in Cameroon. Methods: This was a case-control study including PWE and age/sex-matched healthy controls from July to September 2017 in Bilomo, a village in the Mbam and Kim Division. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), International HIV Dementia Scale (IHDS), Dubois' Five Word testing, Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Isaac's Set Test and the Clock drawing test were administered to the study participants to evaluate global and specific cognitive functions. Results: Eighty participants were included (40 cases and 40 controls) with a mean age of 25.78 years. Using the MoCA, 87.5% of cases had cognitive impairment, against 37.5% of controls (p < 0.001; OR 11.67; CI 3.40-45.09). Using the IHDS, the prevalence of global cognitive impairment was 84.6% among the cases against 40% for the controls (p = <0.001; OR 7.07; CI 2.29-29.19). Specifically, executive function deficits (92.5% of cases vs 40.0% of controls p = <0.001 OR = 18.50 CI; 4.48-105.08) and decreased verbal fluency (100% of cases against 45% of controls p < 0.001) were the most affected cognitive domains. Longer duration of epilepsy and higher seizure frequency were associated with global cognitive impairment. Low level of education was associated with both decreased verbal fluency and executive dysfunction while a longer stay in Bilomo correlated with poor results on the Isaac's Set Test. Conclusion:The prevalence of cognitive impairment appears to be much higher in PWE in the Mbam valley, particularly decreased executive function and verbal fluency, than in people without epilepsy. Longer disease duration, higher seizure frequency, low level of education and length of stay in Bilomo are associated with poorer cognitive performance. More studies are needed to refine evaluation tools to better characterize and manage EAND in sSA.

No abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with significant psychological and social distress worldwide. We investigated fear and depression among adults in Cameroon during different phases of the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods An online survey was conducted in Cameroon from June–December 2020 using a structured questionnaire. Socio-demographic data and information regarding COVID-19 history were obtained. Fear and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Fear of COVID-19 score (FCV-19S) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), respectively. Responses were clustered in weeks to better appreciate their evolution over time. Results Overall, 7381 responses from all ten regions of Cameroon were analysed (median age: 30 years, 73.3% male). The prevalence of depression (PHQ-9 score ≥ 10) was 8.4%, and that of high fear of COVID-19 (FCV-19S scores ≥19) was 57.4%. These rates were similar across genders, age-groups, and region of residence. While mean weekly PHQ-9 scores remained fairly stable throughout the study period (range: 2.53–3.21; p = 0.101), mean FCV-19S scores were highest during the early weeks but decreased significantly thereafter (from 20.31 to 18.34; p <  0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that having a postgraduate degree, a history of quarantine, flu-like symptoms during the past 14 days, and higher FCV-19S scores were associated with more severe depressive symptoms, while obtaining COVID-19 information from various sources reduced the odds for depression. Conclusion Depression amidst the COVID-19 crisis is less prevalent in Cameroon than in other countries. Prompt and widespread dissemination of adequate COVID-19 information may reduce the risks for depression by dispelling fear and anxiety among Cameroonians.