Publications by authors named "Dike Ojji"
Background: To address the growing burden of hypertension and related diseases, Nigeria seeks to reduce excess dietary sodium through policymaking. The current study aims to describe the levels and sources of dietary sodium intake among Nigerian adults to inform targeted policies for reducing sodium intake.
Methods: From June 2023 to July 2023, adults aged 18 to 70 years old were recruited from the Federal Capital Territory, Kano States, and Ogun States to participate in a population-based, cross-sectional non-communicable diseases survey.
Article Synopsis
- Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a measure of variability in red blood cell sizes and may indicate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, especially in low-resource areas, according to a study in Ghana and Nigeria.
- The study involved 319 adults with hypertension who underwent assessments like blood pressure and RDW measurement, revealing an average RDW of 13.96% and a median CVD risk score of 8.11%.
- Findings showed that RDW is positively correlated with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and WHO CVD risk scores, suggesting RDW could be a useful predictor of CVD risk in this population, particularly with an RDW cutoff of >14
Background: Despite the proven efficacy of evidence-based healthcare interventions in reducing adverse outcomes and mortality associated with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a vast majority of affected individuals in Africa remain deprived of such care. Hydroxyurea (HU) utilization among SCD patients in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) stands at less than 1%, while in Nigeria, approximately 13% of patients benefit from HU therapy. To enhance HU utilization, targeted implementation strategies addressing provider-level barriers are imperative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), a rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) coexists with a persistent high burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Integrating care for chronic conditions is potentially beneficial, but the optimal approach remains unclear. By use of a narrative review of 14 recent case studies from different SSA countries, examples of NCD and HIV healthcare integration were described.
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- * A qualitative study was conducted with 19 project teams across 20 countries to identify challenges and facilitators in the early phases of policy engagement, yielding 15 themes from 43 interviews with stakeholders involved in research and government.
- * Key strategies for successful policy engagement include understanding the local policy landscape, fostering networks of policy champions, allowing genuine contributions from policy leaders, and promoting two-way learning between researchers and policymakers.
Background: Intake of trans-fatty acids (TFAs) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In April 2023, Nigeria passed regulations limiting TFA content in foods, fats, and oils, but the current level of TFA exposure in the Nigerian population is unknown.
Objectives: To quantify trans-fatty acid (TFA) biomarkers in dried blood spots from Nigerian adults in the Federal Capital Territory before policy enforcement, establish baseline levels for future evaluations, assess subgroup variations by demographic and socioeconomic factors, and compare TFA levels with data from 30 countries worldwide.
Background: Single-pill combinations (SPCs) of three low-dose antihypertensive drugs can improve hypertension control but are not widely available. A key issue for any combination product is the contribution of each component to efficacy and tolerability. This trial compared a new triple SPC called GMRx2, containing telmisartan, amlodipine, and indapamide, with dual combinations of components for efficacy and safety.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFamily History of Hypertension and Echocardiographic Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hypertensive Nigerians.
Glob Health Epidemiol Genom
September 2024
Introduction: Studies on the relationship between a family history of hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy are sparse. We evaluated this relationship in patients with essential hypertension.
Methods: A total of 1668 patients with essential hypertension were consecutively enrolled in the prospective Federal Medical Centre Abuja Hypertension Registry.
Background: In line with the WHO Global Action Plan's objective to achieve a 30% relative reduction in the mean population intake of sodium by 2025, the Nigeria Sodium Study (NaSS) team, which aimed to evaluate the implementation and scale-up of national sodium reduction programme, hosted a policy meeting May 22, 2023, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. The aim was to deliberate on strategies for translating data on salt levels in food and dietary patterns, intending to strengthen sodium policies in Nigeria, with the ultimate goal of producing evidence-based information that can effectively guide strategies and policies for sodium reduction.
Methods: Policymakers from federal, state, and local government levels attended, as well as representatives from national and international universities and non-governmental organizations.
As people living with HIV experience increased life expectancy, there is a growing concern about the burden of comorbid non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension. This brief describes the current policy landscape on the management of HIV and hypertension in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, stakeholder engagement meetings, and the resulting five policy recommendations rooted in an ongoing research study designed to integrate hypertension management into HIV care across primary health centers in the State. In order to identify the current gaps in integrated care, discussion sessions with three stakeholder groups (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Healthcare workers (HCWs) including community health extension workers (CHEWs) in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria participated in a hypertension training series following the Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model which leverages technology and a practical peer-to-peer learning framework to virtually train healthcare practitioners. We sought to evaluate the patient-level effects of the hypertension ECHO series.
Methods: HCWs from 12 of 33 eligible primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in the Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria Program (NCT04158154) were selected to participate in a seven-part hypertension ECHO series from August 2022 to April 2023.
Article Synopsis
- A clinical trial tested a new single-pill combination of low-dose medications (telmisartan, amlodipine, and indapamide) to treat hypertension, comparing two doses against a placebo over four weeks.
- Results showed significant reductions in home systolic blood pressure (SBP) for both medication doses compared to placebo, with reductions of -7.3 mm Hg and -8.2 mm Hg, respectively, and a notable increase in blood pressure control rates among those taking the medications.
- Safety observations indicated low treatment discontinuation rates, with the ¼ dose showing only 1.6% discontinuations due to adverse effects, while the ½ dose had a 5
Importance: With the high burden of hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a need for effective, safe and scalable treatment strategies.
Objective: To compare, among Black African adults, the effectiveness and safety of a novel low-dose triple-pill protocol compared with a standard-care protocol for blood pressure lowering.
Design And Setting: Randomized, parallel-group, open-label, multicenter trial conducted in public hospital-based family medicine clinics in Nigeria.
Article Synopsis
- - The text emphasizes the need for comprehensive approaches to combat hypertension, highlighting the importance of high-quality treatment and stakeholder collaboration to improve care services and retention in treatment.
- - The study aims to evaluate how different simulated interventions can affect retention rates in hypertension care within the primary health care system in Nigeria, using system dynamics modeling that includes insights from diverse stakeholders.
- - Results from stakeholder workshops showed that training health care workers could significantly enhance retention rates in hypertension care, suggesting it is a key strategy for addressing the issue in Nigeria.
Background: Blood pressure (BP) control among treated patients in Africa is very suboptimal, with low levels of combination therapy use and therapeutic inertia being among the major barriers to effective control of hypertension. The VERONICA-Nigeria study aims to evaluate, among Black African adults with hypertension, the effectiveness and safety of a triple pill-based treatment protocol compared to Nigeria hypertension treatment protocol (standard care protocol) for the treatment of hypertension.
Methods: This study involves a randomized, parallel-group and open-label trial.
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of hypertension in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, African Index Medicus, and Embase databases to identify studies published from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2021. We used a random-effects model to estimate the pooled prevalence of hypertension and mean SBP/DBP level on a sex-specific basis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHypertension poses a significant health burden globally. In Nigeria, hypertension prevalence is on the rise, with low rates of awareness, treatment, and control. This policy brief explores the critical gaps addressed by the Hypertension Treatment in Nigeria (HTN) Program, highlighting its strengths, initial outcomes, and scalability in primary care settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are associated with high and rising burden of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the leading causes of NCD-related deaths worldwide and is a foremost public health problem in Nigeria. As part of National policy, Nigeria has committed to implement the World Health Organization (WHO) Package of Essential Non-communicable Disease interventions for primary care.
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- The study highlights the lack of data on adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa with elevated blood pressure (BP) and its long-term cardiovascular risks.
- Using meta-analysis from over 37,000 adolescents, it found that 7.2% of 10-14 year-olds and 13.0% of 15-19 year-olds in SSA have elevated BP.
- The research estimates that between 201,000 to 503,000 excess cardiovascular events could be linked to hypertension in those transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.
Article Synopsis
- Hypertension is identified as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) globally, especially impacting mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria.
- This study calculated the contribution of hypertension to various CVD types in Nigeria, showing it is responsible for 13.2% of myocardial infarctions and 24.6% of strokes, with variations across different age and gender groups.
- The findings emphasize the need for targeted public health strategies and policies focused on hypertension management to help reduce the overall burden of CVD in Nigeria.
Article Synopsis
- - Nigeria aims to limit industrial trans fatty acids (iTFA) in food to improve public health, specifically targeting ischaemic heart disease (IHD), but the impact and costs are unclear.
- - Using Markov cohort models, researchers estimated that a mandatory iTFA limit would prevent nearly 10,000 IHD deaths and save around $90 million in healthcare costs over the first decade.
- - The analysis suggests that implementing this policy is cost-effective and could lead to significant health benefits, supporting the idea of regulating iTFAs as a beneficial health strategy for Nigeria.
Background: Only one out of every ten Nigerian adults with hypertension has their blood pressure controlled. Health worker training is essential to improve hypertension diagnosis and treatment. In-person training has limitations that mobile, on-demand training might address.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are associated with a high and rising burden of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is among the leading causes of NCD-related deaths worldwide and is a foremost public health problem in Nigeria. As part of the National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs, Nigeria has committed to implementing the World Health Organization (WHO) Package of Essential NCD control interventions.
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