Clearing the Air to Address Pollution's Cardiovascular Health Crisis.

Air pollution is a critical global health issue that significantly impacts cardiovascular health. The air pollutant PM (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less) has been positioned as a leading environmental risk factor for morbidity and mortality, especially from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Evaluating the Effectiveness of African School of Hypertension for Non-Physician Health Workers, a Qualitative Study: QuASH Hypertension Study.

Background: The implementation of task sharing and shifting (TSTS) policy as a way of addressing the shortage of physicians and reducing the burden of hypertension in Africa birthed the idea of the African School of Hypertension (ASH). The ASH is saddled with the responsibility of training non-physician health workers across Africa continent in the management of uncomplicated hypertension.

Aim: To get feedback from some faculty members and students who participated in the first ASH programme.

Stroke occurrence by hypertension treatment status in Ghana and Nigeria: A case-control study.

Background: Hypertension is preeminent among the vascular risk factors for stroke occurrence. The wide gaps in awareness, detection, treatment, and control rates of hypertension are fueling an epidemic of stroke in sub-Saharan Africa.

Purpose: To quantify the contribution of untreated, treated but uncontrolled, and controlled hypertension to stroke occurrence in Ghana and Nigeria.

ACHIEVE conference proceedings: implementing action plans to reduce and control hypertension burden in Africa.

The prevalence of hypertension, the commonest risk factor for preventable disability and premature deaths, is rapidly increasing in Africa. The African Control of Hypertension through Innovative Epidemiology, and a Vibrant Ecosystem [ACHIEVE] conference was convened to discuss and initiate the co-implementation of the strategic solutions to tame this burden toward achieving a target of 80% for awareness, treatment, and control by the year 2030. Experts, including the academia, policymakers, patients, the WHO, and representatives of various hypertension and cardiology societies generated a 12-item communique for implementation by the stakeholders of the ACHIEVE ecosystem at the continental, national, sub-national, and local (primary) healthcare levels.

Clinical and neuroimaging factors associated with 30-day fatality among indigenous West Africans with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with a high case fatality rate in resource-limited settings. The independent predictors of poor outcome after ICH in sub-Saharan Africa remains to be characterized in large epidemiological studies. We aimed to determine factors associated with 30-day fatality among West African patients with ICH.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.

Background: Data regarding the features and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Africa are increasingly available.

Objectives: To describe socio-demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 86 adult patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between March and November 2020.

African Control of Hypertension through Innovative Epidemiology and a Vibrant Ecosystem (ACHIEVE): novel strategies for accelerating hypertension control in Africa.

Hypertension is a leading preventable and controllable risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and the leading preventable risk for death globally. With a prevalence of nearly 50% and 93% of cases uncontrolled, very little progress has been made in detecting, treating, and controlling hypertension in Africa over the past thirty years. We propose the African Control of Hypertension through Innovative Epidemiology and a Vibrant Ecosystem (ACHIEVE) to implement the HEARTS package for improved surveillance, prevention, treatment/acute care of hypertension, and rehabilitation of those with hypertension complications across the life course.

Preliminary study of perceived cardiovascular disease risk and risk status of adults in small rural and urban locations in Ibadan, Nigeria.

The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been on the rise in developing countries like Nigeria recently. Studies on perceived CVD risk and the risk status of adults in Ibadan are not readily available, hence this study. A mixed-method design involving a cross-sectional survey and an exploratory qualitative study was utilized.

Patient-level and system-level determinants of stroke fatality across 16 large hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Every minute, six indigenous Africans develop new strokes. Patient-level and system-level contributors to early stroke fatality in this region are yet to be delineated. We aimed to identify and quantify the contributions of patient-level and system-level determinants of inpatient stroke fatality across 16 hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria.

Effect of precursor concentration on stoichiometry and optical properties of spray pyrolyzed nanostructured NiO thin films.

In this study, spray pyrolysis was used to produce nanostructured NiO thin films from high purity nickel acetate (Ni(CHCOO).3HO) precursors on pre-heated ultrasonically cleaned soda-lime glass substrates. The metallic constituent concentrations in the films were varied, and the precursors were produced in distilled water at various molarities ranging from 0.

Secondhand smoke exposure is independently associated with stroke among non-smoking adults in West Africa.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, but little is known about the contribution of secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE) to stroke epidemiology among indigenous Africans.

Objective: To evaluate the association of SHSE with stroke among indigenous Africans.

Methods: We analyzed the relationship of SHSE with stroke among 2990 case-control pairs of adults who had never smoked (identified in the SIREN study) using conditional logistic regression at a two-sided P < 0.

Differential associations between pre-diabetes, diabetes and stroke occurrence among West Africans.

Background: There are limited data from Africa on the burden and associations between pre-diabetes (pre-DM), diabetes mellitus (DM) and stroke occurrence in a region experiencing a profound rise in stroke burden.

Purpose: To characterize the associations between stroke and dysglycemic status among West Africans.

Methods: The Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) is a multicenter, case-control study involving 15 sites in Ghana and Nigeria.

Frequent vegetable consumption is inversely associated with hypertension among indigenous Africans.

Aims: The relationship between vegetable consumption and hypertension occurrence remains poorly characterized in sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed the association of vegetable consumption with odds of hypertension among indigenous Africans.

Methods And Results: We harmonized data on prior vegetable consumption and hypertension occurrence (defined as one of the following conditions; systolic blood pressure ≥140 or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or previous diagnosis or use of antihypertensive medications) from 16 445 participants across five African countries (Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Burkina Faso) in the Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network and Africa Wits-INDEPTH partnership for Genomic studies.

Carotid and Vertebral Atherosclerosis in West African Stroke Patients: Findings from the Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network.

Background: We evaluated the characteristics of carotid and vertebral atherosclerosis in indigenous West Africans with stroke.

Methodology: Of the 3778stroke patients recruited between 01/2014 and 08/2017, 1070 (28.3%) received carotid and vertebral artery evaluation with B-mode Ultrasound.

Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF 23) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) as markers of mineral bone disease among Nigerians with non-diabetic kidney disease.

Background: Excess cardiovascular burden in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been attributed to the occurrence of CKD-Mineral Bone Disease (CKD - MBD). This study aimed to determine the spectrum of CKD-MBD among Nigerians with CKD using Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF 23) and intact Parathyroid Hormone (iPTH).

Methods: Cross sectional survey of 105 patients with non-diabetic CKD and 104 controls.

Bedtime dosing of antihypertensive medications: systematic review and consensus statement: International Society of Hypertension position paper endorsed by World Hypertension League and European Society of Hypertension.

Antihypertensive drug therapy is one of the most efficient medical interventions for preventing disability and death globally. Most of the evidence supporting its benefits has been derived from outcome trials with morning dosing of medications. Accumulating evidence suggests an adverse prognosis associated with night-time hypertension, nondipping blood pressure (BP) profile and morning BP surge, with increased incidence of cardiovascular events during the first few morning hours.

Day and night blood pressure variability among older persons in South-Western Nigeria.

Background: Hypertension is the largest contributor to the global burden of disease. Emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease include blood pressure variability (BPV), but evidence on BPV is lacking among older Nigerians. We reported BPV in a cohort of older persons at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.