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.

Objectives This scoping review sought to summarize available data on the prevalence, associated factors, etiology, comorbidities, treatment, cost and mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Cameroon. Methods We searched PubMed, Scopus and African Journals Online from database inception to 31 March, 2020 to identify all studies published on the prevalence, associated factors, etiology, comorbidities, treatment, cost and mortality of CKD in Cameroon. Results Thirty studies were included. The prevalence of CKD varied from 3 to 14.1 and 10.0%–14.2% in rural and urban areas, respectively. The prevalence of CKD in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and human immunodeficiency virus was 12.4–50.0, 18.5%, and 3.0–47.2%, respectively. Hypertension (22.3–59.1%), chronic glomerulonephritis (15.8–56.2%), and diabetes mellitus (15.8–56.2%) were the most common causes of CKD. The cause was unknown in 13.5–17.0% of the cases. Advanced age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity were frequent associated factors. Hemodialysis was the main treatment modality in patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The monthly cost of management of non-dialyzed CKD was 163 US dollars. The one-year mortality rate of ESRD was 26.8–38.6%. Conclusion Chronic kidney disease affects about one in 10 adults in the general population in Cameroon. Patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and human immunodeficiency virus bear the greatest burden of CKD in Cameroon. Advanced age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity are major factors associated with CKD. Chronic kidney disease in Cameroon is associated with high morbidity and mortality and huge economic cost on the patient.

Background This study investigated the determinants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Cameroon and Nigeria. Methods This analytic cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2021, including consenting HCWs aged ≥18 y identified using snowball sampling. Vaccine hesitancy was defined as indecisiveness or unwillingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Multilevel logistic regression yielded adjusted ORs (aORs) for vaccine hesitancy. Results We included a total of 598 (about 60% women) participants. Little or no trust in the approved COVID-19 vaccines (aOR=2.28, 95% CI 1.24 to 4.20), lower perception of the importance of the vaccine on their personal health (5.26, 2.38 to 11.6), greater concerns about vaccine-related adverse effects (3.45, 1.83 to 6.47) and uncertainty about colleagues’ acceptability of the vaccine (2.98, 1.62 to 5.48) were associated with higher odds of vaccine hesitancy. In addition, participants with chronic disease (aOR=0.34, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.97) and higher levels of concerns about getting COVID-19 (0.40, 0.18 to 0.87) were less likely to be hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among HCWs in this study was high and broadly determined by the perceived risk of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines on personal health, mistrust in COVID-19 vaccines and uncertainty about colleagues’ vaccine acceptability.

ObjectivesThis scoping review sought to summarize available data on the prevalence, associated factors, etiology, comorbidities, treatment, cost, and mortality of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Cameroon.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Scopus and African Journals Online from database inception to 31 March, 2020 to identify all studies published on the prevalence, associated factors, etiology, comorbidities, treatment, cost and mortality of CKD in Cameroon.ResultsThirty studies were included. The population prevalence of CKD varied from 3-14.1% and 10.0%-14.2% in rural and urban areas, respectively. The prevalence of CKD in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and human immunodeficiency virus was 12.4-50.0%, 18.5%, and 3.0-47.2%, respectively. Hypertension (22.3-59.1%), chronic glomerulonephritis (15.8-56.2%), and diabetes mellitus (15.8-56.2%) were the most common causes of CKD. The cause was unknown in 13.5-17.0% of the cases. Advanced age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity were frequent associated factors. Hemodialysis was the main treatment modality in patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The monthly cost of management of non-dialyzed CKD was 163 US dollars. The one-year mortality rate of ESRD was 26.8-38.6%.ConclusionChronic kidney disease in affects about one in ten adults in the general population in Cameroon Patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and human immunodeficiency virus bear the greatest burden of CKD in Cameroon. Advanced age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity are major factors associated with CKD. Chronic kidney disease in Cameroon is associated with high morbidity and mortality and huge economic cost on the patient.

Background: Perforations are major complications of peptic ulcer disease and surgical emergencies with important mortality and morbidity. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been identified as one of the commonest factors associated with peptic ulcer disease. However, little is known about its implication in cases of perforations in Cameroon. We aimed to determine the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infections in cases of perforated peptic ulcers, describe clinical features and outcomes of these cases in Cameroon. Method: A hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted through the review of patients' records admitted for peptic ulcer perforations in Laquintinie and Douala General Hospitals over a period of 5 years (January 2014-December 2018). We defined H. pylori infection as; positive result on tissue biopsy at time of surgery. We used SPSS version 23.0 to analyse data and set an alpha value at P = 0.05. Results: We reviewed 115 cases of peptic ulcer perforation, with a mean age of 40 years and sex ratio (M:F) of 5:1. All patients underwent emergency laparotomy, 48 (41%) cases had a biopsy report and the prevalence of H. pylori infection in these cases was 47.9 %. Smoking, alcohol consumption and Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) use, were not associated with peptic ulcer perforation. The morbidity was at 43.7% and mortality at 14%. Mortality was increasing with a higher Mannheim Peritonitis Index score

Infective endocarditis of the tricuspid valve is rare in non-intra-venous drug abusers. Few cases of psoas abscess complicated by tricuspid infective endocarditis have been reported. A 61-year-old man underwent a laminectomy. Three weeks later he developed persistent fever, abdominal pain, back pain and hip pain, weight loss, gradually and abdominal distension. Abdomino-thoracic computed tomographic scan showed a left psoas muscle abscess and cavitary pulmonary lesions suggestive of septic pulmonary emboli. Two dimensional transthoracic echocardiography showed an oscillating mass on the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve compatible with a vegetation. There was severe tricuspid regurgitation with right atrial and right ventricular dilatation. Secondary psoas abscess though rare is an important cause of bacteremia and there is a potential of bacteremia progressing to serious systemic infection like tricuspid endocarditis which can be fatal without prompt and appropriate treatment.

Introduction: Vaccination against COVID-19 is an effective strategy to curb the burden of COVID-19, but vaccine acceptance and uptake among African healthcare workers (HCWs) remain low. This study investigated the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among HCWs in Cameroon and Nigeria. Methods: We conducted an analytic cross-sectional study from May to June 2021, including consenting HCWs > 18 years identified using snowball sampling. Vaccine hesitancy was defined as indecisiveness or unwillingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Multilevel logistic regression yielded adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for vaccine hesitancy. Results: We included a total of 598 (~60% women) participants. Vaccine hesitancy was estimated at 56.9% and 42.4% in Cameroon and Nigeria. Little or no trust in the approved COVID-19 vaccines (aOR= 2.28, 95% CI=1.24-4.20), lower perception of the importance of the vaccine on their personal health (5.26, 2.38-11.6), greater concerns about vaccine-related adverse effects (3.45, 1.83-6.47), and uncertainty about colleagues’ acceptability of the vaccine (2.98, 1.62-5.48) were associated with higher odds of vaccine hesitancy. In addition, participants with chronic disease (aOR= 0.34, 95% CI=0.12-0.97) and higher levels of concerns about getting COVID-19 (0.40, 0.18-0.87) were less likely to be hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among HCWs in this study was high and was determined, broadly, by the perceived risk of COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines on personal health, mistrust in COVID-19 vaccines, and uncertainty about colleagues’ vaccine acceptability. Targeted interventions addressing these concerns are warranted to improve COVID-19 uptake among HCWs in these settings.