SummaryBackgroundCaregivers of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients play an important role in the management of the patients. Their psychological needs are often overlooked and unmet by the managing team. This study assessed the psychosocial well-being and quality of life (QoL) of caregivers of CKD patients in two hospitals in Southern Nigeria.MethodsBurden of caregiving, QoL, depression, and anxiety were assessed using standardized instruments; modified Zarit questionnaire, modified SF-12 questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) respectively among caregivers of CKD patients on maintenance haemodialysis and controls.ResultsFifty-seven caregivers of CKD patients and aged and sex-matched controls participated in the study. Anxiety was significantly higher in caregivers compared to control (31.6% vs 5.3%, p = 0.004). Also, depression was significantly higher in caregivers (31.6% vs 3.5%, p= <0.001). Twenty-eight (49.1%) of the caregivers had mild to moderate burden and 19 (33.3%) had a high burden. The mean Zarit burden score was higher in female caregivers compared to male caregivers (18.30±8.11 vs 14.83±6.70, p = 0.09). The mean depression score was higher in female caregivers compared to male caregivers (8.58±3.83 vs 6.75±3.80, p= 0.08). There was significant positive correlation between Zarit burden and hospital anxiety score (r = 0.539, p= < 0.001) and depression score (r = 0.472, p = 0.005).ConclusionDepression, anxiety and burden were common among caregivers of CKD patients especially females compared to controls. Supportive interventions for these caregivers should be included in treatment guidelines in order to improve overall patients' outcome.FundingSelf-funded

Objectives:The study aimed to examine health workers' perceptions of the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine in Nigeria and their willingness to receive the vaccine when it becomes available. Methods: This multi-center cross-sectional study used non-probability convenience sampling to enroll 1,470 hospital workers aged 18 and above from 4 specialized hospitals. A structured and validated self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data entry and analysis were conducted using IBM SPSS ver. 22.0. Results: The mean age of respondents was 40 ± 6 years. Only 53.5% of the health workers had positive perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine, and only slightly more than half (55.5%) were willing to receive vaccination. Predictors of willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine included having a positive perception of the vaccine (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.50−5.69), perceiving a risk of contracting COVID-19 (AOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.25-3.98), having received tertiary education (AOR, 3.50; 95% CI, 1.40−6.86), and being a clinical health worker (AOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.01−1.68). Conclusion:Perceptions of the COVID-19 vaccine and willingness to receive the vaccine were suboptimal among this group. Educational interventions to improve health workers' perceptions and attitudes toward the COVID-19 vaccine are needed.

The prevalence of CKD and some of its risk factors were high. Effective control of the modifiable risk factors identified will assist in reducing the burden of CKD.

BackgroundThe prevalence of hypertension and attendant cardiovascular disease burden is increasing globally. Auditing antihypertensive prescriptions and assessing patients with hypertension for blood pressure (BP) control are important steps on the path to reducing hypertensionrelated morbidity, mortality, and health expenditure. This study assessed the prescription pattern of antihypertensive medications and BP control among hypertensive outpatients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that involved 224 hypertensive patients. Information obtained from participants included sociodemographic data, duration of hypertension, history of diabetes mellitus, and number and classes of antihypertensive medications used. Good BP control was defined as a mean BP less than 140/90mmHg. ResultsThe mean age of hypertensive subjects was 59.6 ± 12.2 years, with a male:female ratio of 1:1.9 and a median duration of hypertension of 5 years. Twenty-four participants (10.7%) had both hypertension and diabetes. The common classes of antihypertensive medications used were diuretics, calcium channel blockers (CCB), and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs). Forty participants (17.8%) were on monotherapy, while the rest were on multidrug therapy. The most commonly prescribed antihypertensive combination was diuretic + ACEI/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), followed by diuretic + CCB + ACEI/ARB. Good BP control was observed in 120 participants (53.6%). The proportion of patients with good BP control was largest among patients on monotherapy and those with tertiary education, though these observations were not statistically significant. ConclusionsThe pattern of prescribed antihypertensive medications complied with recommended guidelines. Blood pressure control amongst hypertensive patients was unsatisfactory. More efforts should be geared towards better BP control.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has become a global health problem and is associated with increased morbidity, mortality and overall health expenditure. Information on the epidemiology and outcomes of AKI will help to audit practice and advocate for policies that will reduce this burden. This study determined aetiologies, short term outcomes and their predictors in AKI patients in a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria. METHODS: This was an 18-month retrospective study that involved 91 patients with AKI. The socio-demographic information, aetiology, severity and the treatment given to patients were recorded. Outcomes and their predictors were determined using multivariate analysis. P value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 45.12 ±20.67 years. Common causes of AKI were sepsis in 50(54.9%), hypovolaemia in 23(25.3%), cardiac failure in 7(7.7%) and eclampsia in 6(6.6%). Fifty-seven (62.6%) presented with stage 3. Thirty-one (34.1%) had haemodialysis. Forty-eight (52.7%) had complete renal recovery, 35(38.5%) died and 3(3.3%) left against medical advice while five (5.5%) were referred to other hospitals. Stage 3 AKI (Adjusted odd ratio: 6.79, confidence interval: 1.21:38.04, p = 0.029) and age ≥ 65 years (Adjusted odd ratio: 4.14, confidence interval: 1.32-13.04, p = 0.015) were significant predictors of mortality in AKI patients.