Publications by authors named "Dwomoa Adu"

Background: Apolipoprotein L1 gene () variants are risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) among Black Americans. Data are sparse on the genetic epidemiology of CKD and the clinical association of variants with CKD in West Africans, a major group in the Black population.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study involving participants from Ghana and Nigeria who had CKD stages 2 through 5, biopsy-proven glomerular disease, or no kidney disease.

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Background: Infective endocarditis is an uncommon but well-known post-transplant complication with significant morbidity and mortality. It has been observed to be about 171 times more common in solid organ transplant patients than in the general population. With the increasing rate of end-stage kidney disease, the higher demand for kidney transplantation with better graft survival, and life expectancy rates, more transplant recipients may develop infective endocarditis as a late post-transplant complication.

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Early detection is a key strategy to prevent kidney disease, its progression and related complications, but numerous studies show that awareness of kidney disease at the population level is low. Therefore, increasing knowledge and implementing sustainable solutions for early detection of kidney disease are public health priorities. Economic and epidemiological data underscore why kidney disease should be placed on the global public health agenda - kidney disease prevalence is increasing globally and it is now the seventh leading risk factor for mortality worldwide.

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Introduction: Diet, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and Apolipoprotein L1 () (DCA) Study is examining the role of dietary factors in CKD progression and nephropathy. We describe enrollment and retention efforts and highlight facilitators and barriers to enrollment and operational challenges, as well as accommodations made in the study protocol.

Methods: The DCA study is enrolling participants in 7 centers in West Africa.

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Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the burden of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with CKD in Africa is not well characterized. We determined the prevalence of selected cardiovascular risk factors, and association with CKD in the Human Heredity for Health in Africa Kidney Disease Research Network study.

Methods: We recruited patients with and without CKD in Ghana and Nigeria.

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In the absence of malignancy or other severe comorbidity, kidney transplantation offers better survival rates and quality of life than dialysis. Despite this survival advantage, many lower- and upper-middle-income countries do not offer adequate kidney transplant services. This is particularly troubling because end-stage kidney disease often is more common in these countries than in high-income countries and overall is less costly in the life of a patient.

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health burden with a continuously increasing prevalence associated with an increasing incidence of diabetes and hypertension in aging populations. CKD is characterized by low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and other renal impairments including proteinuria, thus implying that multiple factors may contribute to the etiology this disease. While there are indications of ethnic differences, it is hard to disentangle these from confounding social factors.

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Background: Women of African ancestry are highly predisposed to preeclampsia which continues to be a major cause of maternal death in Africa. Common variants in the APOL1 gene are potent risk factor for a spectrum of kidney disease. Recent studies have shown that APOL1 risk variants contribute to the risk of preeclampsia.

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The diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome relies on clinical presentation and descriptive patterns of injury on kidney biopsies, but not specific to underlying pathobiology. Consequently, there are variable rates of progression and response to therapy within diagnoses. Here, an unbiased transcriptomic-driven approach was used to identify molecular pathways which are shared by subgroups of patients with either minimal change disease (MCD) or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

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Variants in the () gene (G1-rs60910145, rs73885319, G2-rs71785313) are common in Africans and in individuals of recent African ancestry and are associated with an increased risk of non-diabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) and in particular of HIV associated nephropathy (HIVAN). In light of the significantly increased risk of HIVAN in carriers of two risk alleles, a role in HIV infectivity has been postulated in the mechanism of associated kidney disease. Herein, we aim to explore the association between HIV viremia and genotype.

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Background: The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) - Human Heredity and Health in Africa (H3Africa) Biorepository (I-HAB) seeks to provide high-quality biospecimens for research. This depends on the ability of clinical research sites (CRS) - who provide biospecimens - to operate according to well-established industry standards. Yet, standards are often neglected at CRSs located in Africa.

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Hypertension and obesity are the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, but their association is not well characterized in Africa. We investigated regional patterns and association of obesity with hypertension among 30 044 continental Africans. We harmonized data on hypertension (defined as previous diagnosis/use of antihypertensive drugs or blood pressure [BP]≥140/90 mmHg/BP≥130/80 mmHg) and obesity from 30 044 individuals in the Cardiovascular H3Africa Innovation Resource across 13 African countries.

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Objectives: The association between psychosocial stressors (PS) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) among sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations is unknown. We examined the association between PS and CKD prevalence among rural and urban Ghanaians and Ghanaian migrants living in three European cities. We also assessed if the influence of PS on CKD is partially mediated by primary risk factors (hypertension and diabetes) of CKD.

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Objectives: Studies from high-income countries suggest higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among individuals in low socioeconomic groups. However, some studies from low/middle-income countries show the reverse pattern among those in high socioeconomic groups. It is unknown which pattern applies to individuals living in rural and urban Ghana.

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Aim: Data on the changing levels in renal morbidity and mortality are scant globally. We sought to assess trends in renal disease mortality and attributable causes over a 20 year period in Ghana.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 20 year autopsy records of the Pathology Departments of leading teaching hospitals in Ghana, (Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi) from January 1994 to December 2013.

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Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major burden among sub-Saharan African (SSA) populations. However, differences in CKD prevalence between rural and urban settings in Africa, and upon migration to Europe are unknown. We therefore assessed the differences in CKD prevalence among homogenous SSA population (Ghanaians) residing in rural and urban Ghana and in three European cities, and whether conventional risk factors of CKD explained the observed differences.

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Background: Ethnic minority groups in high-income countries are disproportionately affected by Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) for reasons that are unclear. We assessed the association of educational and occupational levels with CKD in a multi-ethnic population. Furthermore, we assessed to what extent ethnic inequalities in the prevalence of CKD were accounted for by educational and occupational levels.

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There are major gaps between our growing knowledge of effective treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD), and the delivery of evidence-based therapies to populations around the world. Although there remains a need for new, effective therapies, current evidence suggests that many patients with CKD are yet to fully realize the benefits of blood pressure-lowering drugs (with and without reducing proteinuria with renin-angiotensin system blockade), wider use of statins to reduce atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events, and better glycemic control in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. There are many barriers to optimizing evidence-based nephrology care around the world, including access to health care, affordability of treatments, consumer attitudes and circumstances, the dissemination of appropriate knowledge, the availability of expertise and structural impediments in the delivery of health care.

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global public health problem with significant gaps in research, care, and policy. In order to mitigate the risks and adverse effects of CKD, the International Society of Nephrology has created a cohesive set of activities to improve the global outcomes of people living with CKD. Improving monitoring of renal disease progression can be done by screening and monitoring albuminuria and estimated glomerular filtration rate in primary care.

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