Pan African Medical Journal最新文献

{"title":"Impact of lymphocyte infiltration on the survival of patients with gastric and colorectal cancers at the Yaoundé General Hospital (Cameroon).","authors":"Etienne Okobalemba Atenguena, Astryde Larissa Tchutchou Ndjeutcham, Vanelle Lotie Messah Kamdem, Estelle Alida Ngne Mbopda, Manuella Mayemi, Carole Marlise Menzy, Stéphane Zingue","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.79.43589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.79.43589","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>digestive cancers (DC) are a group of cancers affecting the gastrointestinal tract and are capable of triggering an immune response. The cells produced during this response are tumor effectors whose role is to rid the body of tumor cells. The functional role of these cells, particularly the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), in the prognosis of patients remains poorly understood in Cameroon. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of lymphocyte infiltration on the survival of patients with certain digestive cancers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study at the Oncology Department and the Anatomo-Cytopathology Laboratory of the Yaoundé General Hospital (YGH). Patients histologically diagnosed with colorectal and gastric cancers with available data from YGH between 2019 and 2023, who consented to participate and had a biopsy sample available at the YGH laboratory, were included in the study. Initially, we described patients' sociodemographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics. Then, we estimated the grade of lymphocyte infiltration in colorectal and gastric cancers using Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and analyzed the correlation between lymphocyte infiltration and patient survival through Cox regression. Data were analyzed with a significance level set at 5% for all comparisons.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the study enrolled 90 patients with colorectal cancer and 50 with gastric cancer. Overall survival was 64.8% at 49 months in the study population, with the median not reached for colorectal cancer, and 64% at 39 months for gastric cancer, also with a median not reached. The average age at diagnosis for colorectal and gastric cancers was 54 ± 14.53 years and 53.24 ± 11.41 years, respectively. Men predominated in both pathologies, with a sex ratio of approximately 1.11. Colonic location was predominant (53%; 46/90) for colorectal cancer, with stage III disease being most common, while the antropyloric location (46%; 23/50) was predominant for gastric cancer, with stage IV being most frequent according to the AJCC. Moreover, 86% of patients had TILs in their histological samples, with a predominance of high TILs in both colorectal (38%; 34/90) and gastric (42%; 21/50) cancers. The performance of chemotherapy was inversely proportional to TILs in colorectal cancer, while no significant difference was found between TILs and chemotherapy in gastric cancer. However, no association was found between TILs and patient survival in either colorectal or gastric cancers. Patients who had metastases had a risk of death of 14.07 (aHR: 14.07, 95% CI 1.66-119.24; p = 0.015) compared with those who did not. Similarly, patients who had not taken chemotherapy had a 21.32 greater risk of death (aHR: 21.32, 95% CI 5.35-84.96; p<0.001) than those who had.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>there was no statistically significant difference in survival between patients suffer","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"79"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12049146/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143992401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relationship between tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and hormone-sensitive (breast and prostate) cancer survival: cases received at Yaoundé General Hospital (Cameroon) from 2019 to 2023.","authors":"Stéphane Zingue, Etienne Okobalemba Atenguena, Kevine Ghubap Makamte, Danielle Ingrid Tekam Maliedje, Laure Leka Zingue, Manuella Mayemi, Estelle Alida Ngne Mbopda, Zacharie Sando","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.78.43588","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.78.43588","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>cancer ranks as the second leading cause of mortality worldwide, manifesting in diverse forms and impacting various tissues, notably prostate cancer (PCa) in men and breast cancer (BCa) in women. Cancer is a malignant tumor that can induce an immune response. During this reaction, immune cells are produced which are responsible for ridding the body of senescent and/or tumor cells, and constitute tumor effectors. Studies have shown that the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is a good prognostic marker for assessing survival in cancer patients; however, no similar data have yet been published in Cameroon.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between TILs and the survival of breast and prostate cancer patients at Yaoundé General Hospital (YGH) between 2019 and 2023. For this, a retrospective and cross-sectional study was undertaken at the Oncology Department and the Anatomo-Cytopathology Laboratory of YGH. A consecutive non-probability sampling (from August to October 2023) of 212 breast cancer patients and 89 prostate cancer patients who agreed to participate in the study constituted our sample. Variables were survival, TILs, sociodemographic, clinical, and pathological characteristics of patients. The TILs were estimated after Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining and staged as low, middle and high TILs rate. The variables were sociodemographic characteristics (age, education level, religion, marital status, ethnolinguistic area, and menopause); clinical characteristics (affected breast, histological type, histological grade, type of treatment, AJCC stage, consistency of discovery); different grades of TILs. Furthermore, the correlation between TILs and chemotherapy as well as TILs and survival were analyzed. The obtained data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, Epi-info 7 and SPSS software and statistical significance was considered at p< 0.05. Furthermore, the Cox regression analysis to identify factors associated with survival was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the mean age was 43.56 ± 11.90 years for BCa with stage II and SBR grade II being the most common with proportions of 48.34% and 54.72%, respectively (n= 212). While in PCa, the mean age was 75 to 84 years (34.83%, n= 89) with stage II being the most frequent. Microscopic analysis of breast tissues revealed four TILs grades: absent (17.45%), low (18.40%), intermediate (27.83%) and high TIL grade (36.32%), while in PCa the most represented TILs grade was intermediate (31.46%). In BCa the intermediate TILs grade was positively associated with a good response to chemotherapy (p< 0.05). The overall 5-year survival in this study was around 44% for BCa, whereas it was 42 months for those with infiltration in PCa. No positive correlation was found between TILs grade and survival in BCa patients (p= 0.45), while in PCa, it was found that TILs are significantly correlated (p =0.016) with ","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"78"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12049139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143992349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A five-year review of the morbidity and mortality pattern in the special care baby unit of a private-owned tertiary hospital in Nigeria.","authors":"Olufunmilola Olubisi Abolurin, Tinuade Adetutu Ogunlesi, Emmanuel Damilare Ajibola, Adesola Olubunmi Adekoya, Olutomiwa Ayoola Omokore, Fisayo Grace Ajayi, Collins Chijioke Adumah","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.50.41967","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.50.41967","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>neonatal mortality in Nigeria is still high and the primary causes are largely preventable. The study was carried out to assess the pattern of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized Nigerian neonates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>a retrospective study was carried out on neonates admitted into the Special Care Baby Unit of the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo, over five years between January 2014 and December 2018. The patients´ case files were retrieved from the health records unit and relevant information on their morbidities and outcomes were extracted. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression analyses were done to determine factors associated with mortality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>a total of 490 babies were studied, of which 276 (56.3%) were males. Nearly two-thirds of the babies were inborn (309; 63.1%), 344 (70.2%) were delivered at term, and 136 (27.8%) were low birth weight babies. The median gestational age at birth was 37 weeks. Perinatal asphyxia was the most common diagnosis necessitating admission (104; 21.2%), closely followed by neonatal jaundice. Sepsis and prematurity were also common diagnoses. Mortality occurred in 39 (8.0%) babies; the highest case fatality rates were recorded among preterm babies (13/70; 18.6%) and those who had perinatal asphyxia (16/104; 15.4%). On logistic regression analysis, outborn status (aOR= 2.51, 95% CI= 1.26 - 5.01, p= 0.009) and preterm delivery (aOR= 4.10, 95% CI= 2.06 - 8.16, p<0.001) had significant independent association with mortality.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>perinatal asphyxia and prematurity were the leading causes of death among the neonates studied. Efforts to reduce neonatal mortality by preventing these morbidities and promptly initiating appropriate treatment, when present, should be heightened to reduce neonatal mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12065562/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144051095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A necklace of calcifications: a rare clinical image.","authors":"Gaurang Aurangabadkar, Sumer Choudhary","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.49.46640","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.49.46640","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"49"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12065550/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144018250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The relationship between smartphone addiction and anxiety: a cross-sectional study among Moroccan nursing students.","authors":"Rachida Archou, Meriem Ouadrhiri, Mounia Amazian, Nawal Mouhoute, Driss Touil, Rachid Aalouane, Kamelia Amazian","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.47.45274","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.47.45274","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>nursing students face serious problems related to smartphone addiction. Anxiety is among the problems associated with this addiction. In Morocco, this relationship still needs to be investigated. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between smartphone addiction and anxiety and analyze the factors related among Moroccan nursing students.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>this is a cross-sectional study. The data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire that included items on socio-demographic characteristics, smartphone use, and lifestyle behaviors. The smartphone addiction scale short version and the Beck Anxiety Inventory were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>three hundred and thirty-eight (308) students took part in the study. The prevalence of smartphone addiction was 41.2%, 42.4% for females, and 39.5% for males without significant association. For anxiety, 34.1% have severe anxiety and 21.1% have moderate anxiety. In the multivariate analysis, anxiety was found to be a factor associated with smartphone addiction (OR=1.33; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.70; p=0.02). Two other independent factors were also found to be associated with smartphone addiction, which is residence with parents (OR=1.68; 95% CI: 1.01, 2.78; p=0.05) and smartphone consultation in the morning (OR=0.80; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.96; p=0.02). The participants with high levels of anxiety have the highest smartphone addiction scores with a statistically significant association (p=0.000).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>this study showed significant levels of smartphone addiction and anxiety among the participants. A relationship between these two variables has been highlighted. It is essential to educate these young students in terms of the rational use of smartphones to avoid any negative influence on their daily lives.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"47"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12065560/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144016606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immediate reattachment following surgical removal of tooth fragments from the lower lip: a report of two cases.","authors":"Youssef Amal, Sarah Tabbai, Hakima Chhoul","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.46.42131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.46.42131","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dental traumas are prevalent, particularly among children and adolescents. In such dental emergencies, priority is often given to the damages caused to teeth. In contrast, the harm caused to the surrounding soft tissue may go unnoticed during the clinical examination. Dental fragments occasionally penetrate soft tissue and may cause several complications. Several complications often occur due to the penetration of tooth fragments into the tissues surrounding the oral cavity. This paper aims to present the diagnostic and therapeutic approach to dental fragments embedded in the lower lip of two patients for 2 months and 5 months, respectively. Also, it highlights the importance of the examination of soft tissues in dental trauma situations.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"46"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12065561/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144006850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring therapeutic aspects and prognosis of Moroccan patients with vaginal cancer: a retrospective cohort study at the University Hospital of Fez.","authors":"Wissal Hassani, Ghita Chrifi Alaoui, Kaoutar Soussy, Farhane Fatim-Zahra, Zenab Alami, Bouhafa Touria","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.48.29059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.48.29059","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Primary vaginal cancer is rare, making up 1% to 2% of all female reproductive tract cancer. In Morocco, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the main factor. Given its low incidence, there is no consensus on the appropriate management of this cancer. The aim of our study was to assess the global management of vaginal cancer in the Radiotherapy Department, at Hassan II University Hospital, Fez, Morocco. We conducted a retrospective study of vaginal cancer cases treated at the radiotherapy department of Hassan II University Hospital between January 2012 and December 2022. Twenty-five cases of vaginal cancer were identified during the study period. In our study series, the median age was 62 years old with a range from 34 to 81 years. The average diagnostic delay was 12 months, 88% were multiparous and the notion of risky sexual behavior has been affirmed by none of them. Out of the patients we observed, 21 had squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina, one adenocarcinoma, and 3 cases of melanoma. The primary mode of treatment for the majority of our patients was concomitant radio chemotherapy, which was administered to 21 patients. Surgery was not performed on any of the patients. In the absence of consensus in the literature on the optimal treatment, concomitant radio chemotherapy remains the standard treatment for locally advanced vaginal cancer. Currently, interests are focused on the role of HPV in the genesis of vaginal cancer and on the HPV vaccine to prevent virus-induced lesions. In fact, the emphasis should be on primary prevention with prophylactic HPV vaccination.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"48"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12065564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144016069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Prevalence of trachoma in the Popokabaka and Kasongolunda health zones in Kwango province Democratic Republic of Congo: a quantitative study].","authors":"Francisca Fataki Kimwesa, Prince Kimpanga Diangs, Jean Paul Tambwe, Felix Makangila, Jean Kalenga Nkashama","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.45.44440","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.45.44440","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>trachoma is a major public health problem worldwide. Africa is the continent most affected, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is confronted with ocular complications due to this pathology. Data from the partial mapping of trachoma in the DRC show that it is widespread, justifying further studies. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of trachoma in two health zones in southwest DRC.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>a trachoma prevalence survey was conducted in February 2023 in the Popokabaka and Kasongolunda health zones in Kwango province, DRC. A sample of 20 villages was selected by cluster sampling proportional to size. In the households selected in each village, all people aged 1 to 9 and those aged 15 and over were screened using the World Health Organization (WHO) simplified classification system, and the data were subjected to descriptive statistics and prevalence calculations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the prevalence of follicular trachoma in children aged 1 to 9 was 8.9%, and that of trachomatous trichiasis in subjects aged 15 and over was 0.1%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>this prevalence exceeds the WHO critical threshold (5%). Interventions appropriate to the communities concerned are needed to eliminate trachoma by 2030.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"45"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12065566/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144062838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[Knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescent girls about menstrual hygiene in Kisangani].","authors":"Alpha Ngandru Kiza, Samuel Bosongo Itigaino, Gédéon Katenga Bosunga, Charles Kayembe Tshilumba, Alliance Tagoto Tepunipage, Eugène Basandja Longembe, Santhos Lobwa Bosongo, Jean Didier Bosenge Nguma, Joris Losimba Likwela, John Panda Lukongo Kitronza","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.44.44917","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.44.44917","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>menstruation is a physiological phenomenon that is accompanied by crucial needs for proper management. It is shrouded in silence, myth and taboo, hence the need to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescent students about menstrual hygiene (MH), factors associated with it and repercussions on their schooling.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>we conducted an analytical cross-sectional study on 553 adolescent girls from 38 secondary schools in Kisangani City between September 2023 and February 2024. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using Stata 13 software. Univariate analysis summarized the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, as well as their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding menstrual hygiene. Multivariate analyses identified factors associated with good knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene (MH), as well as good menstrual hygiene management, using adjusted odds ratios to assess the associations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>the majority of participants, aged 15 to 17 years, with an average age of menarche of 12.8 years, were enrolled in private schools and came from families with a middle socio-economic status. While 70.2% had attended a course on menstrual hygiene and 91.5% had received information about menstruation before their first period, only 11.0% had good knowledge of menstrual hygiene, and the prevalence of good menstrual hygiene practices was only 12.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that living in the Makiso commune (ORa=1.8; 95% CI=1.0-3.4; p=0.049), attending a family life education course that covers menstrual hygiene (ORa=2.7; 95% CI=1.1-6.3; p=0.025), being in the final year of secondary school (ORa=2.4; 95% CI=1.1-5.3; p=0.025), and having mothers or sisters as sources of information (ORa=2.7; 95% CI=1.4-5.1; p=0.002) were significantly associated with good knowledge of menstruation and menstrual hygiene. Furthermore, attending a private school (ORa=0.6; 95% CI=0.3-0.9; p=0.041) and having a mother with a university education (ORa=1.9; 95% CI=1.1-3.3; p=0.016) were associated with good practices.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>although most adolescents had been informed about menstruation before menarche, only 11% had good knowledge of menstrual hygiene and 12.3% adopted good practices. Life education, particularly on menstrual hygiene, is crucial to improving these aspects.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"44"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12065557/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144002016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among rural and urban populations at a provincial hospital in Northern Rwanda: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"James Gafirita, Cuthbert Musarurwa, Evirate Ntaganda, Marguerite Uwimana, Aime Dieudonne Hirwa, Mediatrice Mukahigiro, Laetitia Twizerimana, Marie Louise Nshimirimana, Stephen Rulisa, Charlotte Bavuma, Emile Ivan, David Tumusiime","doi":"10.11604/pamj.2025.50.43.44307","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2025.50.43.44307","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Africa has long been associated with high infectious disease rates and nutritional deficiencies. However, due to lifestyle changes and nutritional transitions driven by industrialization, NCDs and over-nutrition now coexist with infectious diseases. Our study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in rural and urban populations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>this cross-sectional study enrolled participants aged 35 and 65 years presenting at a provincial hospital in Rwanda. We collected demographic, lifestyle, anthropometric, laboratory, and clinical data using the World Health Organization STEPwise tool for NCDs. We used the NCEP ATP III criteria to define the MetS criteria.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>of the 422 study participants, the majority; 322 (76.5%) were females and the overall median (IQR) age was 47 (40-53) years. Overall, 156 (37.0%) of the participants resided in a rural area. The overall frequency of MetS was 219 (51.9%) (95% CI 47.1-56.7) and was significantly higher in participants resident in an urban area 152 (57.1%) vs 67 (42.9%) rural areas (p=0.005). Hypoalphalipoproteinaemia was the most prevalent single component of the MetS 253 (61.3%) and was also the single most prevalent component in participants from urban settings; 166 (63.6%), whilst in rural-based participants, hypertension 98 (62.8%) was the most prevalent MetS component. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, BMI, LDL-C, TC, and increased age were significantly associated with MetS in participants residing in both rural and urban areas.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>a high frequency of MetS was observed in the present study with a higher frequency occurring in urban participants. Targeted health education on behavioral risk factors is recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":48190,"journal":{"name":"Pan African Medical Journal","volume":"50 ","pages":"43"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12065559/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143990877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}