Oghenekaro G. Egbi

Prevalence of hypertension and its correlates among employees of a tertiary hospital in Yenagoa, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Hypertension (HTN) is a common medical problem with increasing prevalence and dire consequences. Considering the relative proximity of hospital workers to health care delivery, one may expect a better control of HTN and associated risk factors in this population. The objective of the current study was to determine the prevalence of HTN and risk factors among hospital employees in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS All employees of the Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa (Bayelsa State, Nigeria) were invited for a HTN screening exercise on the world kidney day on March 14, 2013. A total of 231 participants completed this cross-sectional study. Data was obtained with a pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire while blood pressure was taken with an Accoson sphygmomanometer. Anthropometry was done using standardized protocols. Urine and blood were analyzed for glucose. HTN was defined as blood pressure >140/90 or prior diagnosis or use of antihypertensives. Data was entered, stored and analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 20. RESULTS The crude and age-adjusted prevalence of HTN among the hospital employee was 21.3% and 23.8% respectively. Age, marital status, educational level, body mass index, waist circumference (WC) and waist hip ratio showed significant association with HTN in the univariate analysis. However, in multivariate regression analysis, only older age and abnormal WC predicted HTN. CONCLUSION The prevalence of HTN among the hospital employees compared with reports in other population and was predicted by advancing age and abnormal WC. The study underscores the need for introduction of HTN screening programs among hospital employees especially staff that are older with truncal obesity.

Prevalence and correlates of chronic kidney disease among civil servants in Bayelsa state, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a public health problem with rising incidence and prevalence world-wide. Despite the fact that Sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria appears to be badly hit by this epidemic, there is a paucity of data on CKD prevalence in these regions and where data exists, they are mostly hospital-based. OBJECTIVES The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence and correlates of CKD in an urban civil service population in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 179 civil servants in the Bayelsa State secretariat were screened for CKD during the World Kidney Day on March 2012. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m 2 body surface area and/or proteinuria. Socio-demographic data was obtained using interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire while anthropometric measurements were taken. Blood pressure (BP), urinalysis, serum urea and creatinine were also assessed. RESULTS The prevalence of CKD in the study was 7.8%. Age >50 years was associated with CKD in univariate analysis but none of age, gender, body mass index, BP or hyperglycemia independently predicted it. CONCLUSION The prevalence of CKD among Nigerian civil servants was fairly high and was associated with advancing age. Routine screening for CKD in this population is recommended.

Prevalence and determinants of cognitive impairment in patients with chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study in Benin City, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a public health concern and may be complicated by cognitive impairment (CI) contributing significantly to morbidity and poor prognosis. This hospital-based study aimed at determining the prevalence and the determinants of CI among CKD patients in Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 190 CKD patients and a 100 healthy control subjects completed this cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic data and history of common clinical features of CKD were obtained with the use of interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaires. The six-item cognitive impairment test was used for assessment of cognitive function of patients and controls. RESULTS The prevalence of CI in Stages 3, 4, and 5 CKD patients were 24.0%, 41.6%, and 46.2%, respectively with overall prevalence of 35.3% while only 6.0% of controls had CI (P = 0.03). The most potent determinants of CI were low hematocrit (odds ratio [OR] =3.50), low serum bicarbonate levels (OR = 2.20), and high serum urea (OR = 2.11). CONCLUSION CKD is associated with significant CI in Nigerian patients especially with progressive deterioration in renal function. There is a need for regular evaluation of CKD patients for cognitive deficits.

Cognitive deficits of patients with chronic kidney disease and effect of hemodialysis

Methods: This was a case-controlled analytical study of one hundred and ninety CKD patients and a hundred control subjects recruited and neuro-psychologically assessed with a computer assisted test battery, the Iron Psychology (acronym – FePsy) preand post-hemodialysis. The study was conducted between December 2009 and July 2010 at a tertiary health facility in cosmopolitan southern Nigeria and involved consecutive patients with clinical evidence of CKD based on symptoms and estimated GFR. Demographic, clinical and biochemical variables were related to cognitive performance using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis. The outcome measures were scores of psychomotor speed tasks (simple auditory and visual reaction times), recognition memory tests and sustained attention task (binary choice task). The Iron Psychology (FePsy) was used to assess the simple reaction time, complex reaction time, memory and concentration of the CKD patients and controls.

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in patients with metabolic syndrome: a single centre experience in Nigeria

BAcKgrounD The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is increasing worldwide, not sparing developing countries like Nigeria. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is also assuming epidemic proportions globally. Metabolic syndrome has been associated with CKD in several reports, most of which are foreign based. Given that data on CKD in MS patients is rare in this part of the world, the study was undertaken with the aim of determining the prevalence of CKD in patients with MS.