COP27 Climate Change Conference: urgent action needed for Africa and the world

No abstract.

Performance de l’oxymétrie nocturne dans le diagnostic du Syndrome d’apnées Hypopnées Obstructives du sommeil à Kinshasa

Contexte et objectif. La prise en charge d’un patient avec un syndrome d’apnées hypopnées obstructives du sommeil (SAHOS) nécessite l’enregistrement du sommeil qui reste très peu accessibilité en Afrique subsaharienne. La présente étude a évalué la performance de l’oxymétrie nocturne dans le diagnostic du SAHOS à Kinshasa. Méthodes. Dans une étude transversale et analytique, tous les patients à risque de SAHOS ont bénéficié d’une oxymétrie nocturne et d’une polygraphie ventilatoire entre juillet 2021 et mars 2022. La sensibilité (Se), la spécificité (Sp) et les valeurs prédictives positive (VPP) et négatives (VPN) de l’oxymétrie nocturne ont été déterminées. La courbe ROC a été rapportée, aire sous la courbe (ASC) calculée, p < 0,05. Résultats. 323 patients ont été inclus (âge moyen de 57,9 ± 13,1 ans avec un sex ratio H/F de 1,5). L’obésité centrale était présente chez 88 %. Le STOP-BANG moyen était de 4,8 ±0,9. Les comorbidités les plus rencontrées étaient l’HTA (58,5%), le diabète sucré (22,6%), la BPCO (9,3%) et l’AVC 2,2%. La Se et Sp étaient respectivement, de 94,4 et 88,9% et ASC à 0, 92. Conclusion. L’oxymétrie nocturne est un examen non invasif d’accès facile ayant une sensibilité et une spécificité élevée dans le diagnostic du SAHOS dans notre milieu. English title: Performance of nocturnal oximetry in the diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome in Kinshasa Context and objective. Management of a patient with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) needs a sleep recording which is unavailable in sub-Saharan Africa. The present study aimed to evaluate the performance of nocturnal oximetry in the diagnosis of OSAHS in Kinshasa. Methods. In an analytical cross-sectional study, patients at risk of OSAHS underwent nocturnal oximetry and ventilatory polygraphy between July 2021 and March 2022. The sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and positive (PPV) and negative (VPN) predictive values of nocturnal oximetry were determined. ROC curve was reported, area under the curve (AUC) calculated, p<0.05. Results. 323 patients were involved (average age of 57.9±13.1 years with a sex ratio M/F of 1.5). Abdominal Obesity was present in 88% of patients. The mean STOPBANG was 4.8 ±0.9. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (58.5%), diabetes mellitus (22.6%), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (9.3%) and stroke 2.2%. The Se and Sp were 94.4 and 88.9% respectively and AUC was 0.92. Conclusion. Nocturnal oximetry is a non-invasive examination of easy access with high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of OSAHS in our environment. Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, nocturnal oximetry, ventilatory polygraphy, performance, Kinshasa

Pattern of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Associated with Human Exposure to Dengue Virus in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dengue is a worldwide public health concern. The current study assessed the extent of human exposure to the dengue virus in relation to the distribution pattern of Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus in Kinshasa. Cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 2021 and 2022. The baseline entomological survey involved 19 municipalities using a grid cell sampling approach. All containers holding water were inspected for the presence of larvae in each grid. The collected larvae were kept in an insectary until the adult emergence for morphological identification. Four hundred febrile patients attending the hospital were screened for the presence of dengue antibodies (IgG, IgM) and NS1 antigen using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) Biosynex®. Residences of positive cases were geo-referenced. We evaluated 1850 grid cells, of which 19.5% were positive for Aedes larvae. The positive grid cells were identified in the Ndjili (44.0%), Mont Ngafula (32.0%) and Ngaliema (26.0%), and Limete (32.0%) municipalities. The Ae. aegypti (11.2%) predominated in the northwestern, and Ae. albopictus (9.1%) appeared in the high vegetation coverage areas. Of 61 (15.3%) participants exposed to dengue, 8.3% presented acute dengue. Young, (6-17 years), male, and Mont Amba district participants were most exposed to dengue. In conclusion, dengue occurrence in Kinshasa overlaps somewhat the geographical and ecological distributions of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Both species are not homogenously distributed, likely due to environmental factors. These findings can assist the targeted control activities.

Pulmonary rehabilitation in Africa: where are we? a multimethod study

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an integral part of the management of patients with chronic respiratory diseases. However, there is limited information available on the effectiveness and practice of PR in Africa. This study was conducted to examine the prevalence, structure, and organization of PR in Africa, as well as its substance and claimed efficacy. We conducted a multimethod study involving systematic review of PR studies (obtained from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane databases) and a web-based survey of African healthcare professionals engaged in PR (using a standardized questionnaire). The review included papers on at least one component of PR in Africa and excluded those on PR from other continents or assessing pulmonary disorders in general without PR, cardio-rehabilitation, or physiotherapy practice in general in Africa. The Cochrane risk of bias and the Newcastle Ottawa scale instruments were used to assess the quality of included studies. We narratively synthesised data across the studies to produce a holistic picture. Of the 14 studies included for qualitative synthesis, seven were randomized controlled trials on the effectiveness of PR treatments with a total number of 333 participants. Of the 39 surveys mailed to health professionals working in Africa, only 14 (35.8%) were returned. We found aerobic exercise and breathing exercises were the most used technique and that quality of life, exercise capacity, and lung function improved significantly after PR treatments. There were differences in the duration, frequency, and length of the programs across the continent. Half of the respondents indicated that their institutions had one or more PR programs for inpatient, outpatient, maintenance, and/or home-based programs. Additionally, aerobic activities, upper and lower extremity strength training were the most frequently used exercise modalities in PR programs, followed by breathing exercises. Pulmonary rehabilitation is understudied in Africa, but it has been linked to improved lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life. There is a need to invest in techniques tailored to the continent to enhance the implementation of pulmonary rehabilitation in Africa.

Factors associated with uncontrolled asthma in adult asthmatics in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo

Background

The ultimate goal of asthma treatment is long-term control. Uncontrolled asthma is a major public health problem worldwide, but there is a lack of data on asthma control and its causes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Objective

To determine the socio-demographic, environmental, clinical, and biological factors and comorbidities associated with uncontrolled adult asthma in Kinshasa, DRC.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study of 216 male and female asthmatics aged 18 and over consecutively recruited from tertiary clinics and the community in Kinshasa between June 2017 and February 2018. For each subject, socio-demographic, clinical, para clinical and environmental data were recorded. Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV₁) values were obtained by Spirometry, allergen testing performed using the skin prick test, serum vitamin D levels measured by radioimmunoassay, and asthma control assessed using the asthma control test (ACT) score. Multiple logistic regression identified factors associated with uncontrolled asthma.

Results

The average age of participants was 45.2 (SD 17.6) years, 74% were female, and 42% had a low educational level. Among all asthmatics, the prevalence of uncontrolled asthma was 56%, abnormal serum vitamin D level 95%, abnormal FEV₁ 65%, sensitization to two allergens (cat dander and dust mites) 18%, sleep disorders 37%, and heartburn 60%. Male (aOR 2.24; 95% CIs 1.04–4.79), low educational level (aOR 3.26; 95% CIs 1.54–6.67), sensitization to both cat dander and dust mites (aOR 2.67; 95% CIs 1.16–6.14), FEV₁ ≤80% (aOR 2.07; 95% CIs 1.08–3.96), abnormal serum vitamin D level (aOR 5.11; 95% CIs 1.17–22.33), sleep disorders (aOR 1.96; 95% CIs 1.04–3.71), and heartburn (aOR 2.02; 95% CIs 1.04–3.92) were significantly associated with uncontrolled asthma.

Conclusion

Uncontrolled asthma is common in Kinshasa, and these factors associated with uncontrolled asthma may be considered as targets for future intervention strategies.

Molecular surveillance of Plasmodium falciparum resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Malaria is a major public health problem in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite progress achieved over the past decade in the fight against malaria, further efforts have to be done such as in the surveillance and the containment of Plasmodium falciparum resistant strains. We investigated resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies currently in use in Democratic Republic of Congo by surveying molecular polymorphisms in three genes: pfcrt, pfmdr1 and pfk13 to explore possible emergence of amodiaquine, lumefantrine or artemisinin resistance in Democratic Republic of Congo. This study essentially revealed that resistance to chloroquine is still decreasing while polymorphism related to amodiaquine resistance seems to be not present in Democratic Republic of Congo, that three samples, located in the east of the country, harbor Pfmdr1 amplification and that none of the mutations found in South-East Asia correlated with artemisinine resistance have been found in Democratic Republic of Congo. But new mutations have been identified, especially the M476K, occurred in the same position that the M476I previously identified in the F32-ART strain, strongly resistant to artemisinine. Antimalarial first-line treatments currently in use in Democratic Republic of Congo are not associated with emergence of molecular markers of resistance.

Investigation on possible transmission of monkeys' Plasmodium to human in a populations living in the equatorial rainforest of the Democratic republic of Congo

Plasmodiums are protozoa that may infect various hosts. Only five species are now recognized as naturally parasitizing humans: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale and Plasmodium knowlesi. This fifth species, P. knowlesi, previously identified as naturally parasitizing the monkey Macaca fascicularis, has been microscopically confused for a long time with P. malariae or P. falciparum and it was not possible to correctly differentiate them until the advent of molecular biology. To date, natural human infections with P. knowlesi only occur in Southeast Asia and a similar phenomenon of natural transmission of simian plasmodium to humans has not been reported elsewhere. This study was conducted to investigate a possible transmission of African small monkey's plasmodium to humans in populations living near the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where several species of non-human primates are living. Two successive real-time PCRs were identified in the literature and used in combination for purpose. Only P. falciparum was found in this study. However, studies with larger samples and with more advanced techniques should be conducted.