Peak expiratory flow as a surrogate for health related quality of life in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a preliminary cross sectional study.

Background: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) measures can capture the non-respiratory effects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). However the relationship with Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) is not well understood.

Aim: To determine the relationship of PEF and quality of life measurements in patients with COPD.

Effectiveness of thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis in the management of complicated spontaneous pneumothorax.

Background: Complicated (recurring or persistent) spontaneous pneumothorax requires intervention either by surgical or nonsurgical pleurodesis or other interventions. As for high-risk patients, aggressive interventions may be associated with morbidity, the safety and effectiveness of less aggressive alternative interventions like thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis (TTP) should be evaluated.

Methods: Data were extracted on patients who had undergone TTP for complicated spontaneous pneumothorax at Interventional Clinic, University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.

Low prevalence of asthma in sub Saharan Africa: a cross sectional community survey in a suburban Nigerian town.

Background: Asthma remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in developing countries but the prevalence in Nigeria is not well described.

Methods: Using the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) standard screening questionnaire and asthma criteria, we recruited a representative sample of adults resident in a suburban community in Nigeria through a stratified three-stage cluster sampling technique.

Results: Out of a total of 3590 individuals contacted, 2310 responded and provided completed data (62.

Respiratory symptom, lung function and exhaled carbon monoxide among a sample of traffic workers in Lagos, Nigeria: A pilot survey.

Background: Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is a major source of air pollution but the impact on health in Nigeria is not well described.

Patients And Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of road traffic workers and university students in Lagos. Eligible, accessible and willing participants were included in the sample.

Respiratory symptoms, lung function and particulate matter pollution in residential indoor environment in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Introduction: Particulate air pollution is associated with increased incidence of respiratory symptoms and decreased pulmonary, function but the relative impact of pollution from different domestic energy sources is not well-known or studied.

Aim: The study was aimed at assessing the association between particulate concentrations, respiratory symptoms and lung function.

Materials And Methods: It was a cross-sectional study comprised of randomly selected residents of three communities.

Prevalence and predictors of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in a sample of patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Nigeria.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM) are growing health challenges worldwide. However, the relation of OSA with type 2 diabetes is not well understood in developing countries. This study described the prevalence and predictors of OSA in type 2 DM patients using a screening questionnaire.

Tuberculosis treatment outcomes and interruption among patients assessing DOTS regimen in a tertiary hospital in semi-urban area of south-western Nigeria.

Background: Tuberculosis remains one of the most infectious diseases worldwide especially with the HIV pandemic. It is a cause of high morbidity and mortality in developing countries including Nigeria. Reasons contributing to high morbidity and mortality include high defaulting rate and treatment interruption.

Interferon-gamma treatment kinetics among patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Introduction: Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is essential for defence against Mycobacterium tuberculosis; however, levels in patients with active tuberculosis (TB) and changes during treatment have not been documented in our tuberculosis patients in Nigeria, hence this study has been carried out.

Objective: To determine variations, treatment kinetics, and predictive value of IFN-γ levels during treatment of active tuberculosis.

Design: Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were recruited and subsequently followed up for 3 months during treatment with anti-TB.

Determinants of health related quality of life in a sample of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Nigeria using the St. George's respiratory questionnaire.

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a multi-systemic and progressive disease. However the determinants of its impact on health related quality of life are not well-studied or understood in Nigeria.

Objectives: To assess the determinants of health related quality of life in COPD.

Diagnostic utility of QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube in active pulmonary Tuberculosis in Nigeria.

Background: The high positive responses obtained in active TB indicate that IGRAs may be useful in diagnosing active TB. This study aimed at evaluating the usefulness of Quantifer on-TB Gold-in Tube test (QFT-IT) in the diagnosis of active TB among Nigerians.

Methods: This study prospectively enrolled sputum smear positive TB cases and healthy disease free controls.

Smoking prevalence and attitudes regarding its control among health professional students in South-Western Nigeria.

Background: Tobacco use is one of the leading preventable causes of morbidity and mortality globally; about 70% of smokers see physicians each year. Health care professionals have a very unique role in motivating people to quit smoking.

Aim: The aims of this study were to document the smoking prevalence and attitudes regarding its control among these set of students who will be tomorrow's health care providers.

Differences in serial lung function recorded on four data-logging meters.

Objective: Lung function measurements performed several times daily are useful for the diagnosis of occupational asthma. Patient fabrication of hand-recorded charts can limit confidence in the results; this is overcome using electronic meters that log time and measurement. We have compared individual and meter differences in FEV1 and PEF recorded by hand and from meter logs using expert subjects on four data-logging spirometers with different methods of measurement and different quality control software.

Respiratory symptoms and lung function patterns in workers exposed to wood smoke and cooking oil fumes (mai suya) in Nigeria.

Background: 'Mai suya' is a common job in the most northern Nigeria in which there is significant exposures to wood smoke and oil fumes. The respiratory impact of these dual exposures on workers engaged in this work has not been previously documented, hence this study was carried out.

Aim: The aim is to study the prevalence, patterns and respiratory function assessment among this group.

Lipid profile in HIV/AIDS patients in Nigeria.

Introduction: Alterations of serum lipid profiles have been reported widely among Human Immuno deficiency Virus (HIV) positive patients on Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART). However, there are few data on serum lipid profile among treatment naïve HIV positive patients in our environment.

Objectives: To describe the pattern of lipid profile among treatment naïve HIV positive patients and changes following HAART initiation.

Influence of self-reported socio-economic status on lung function of adult Nigerians.

Objectives: Low socio-economic status is known to be associated with reduced lung function in childhood and early adulthood, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in older adults. The lung function of people in developing nations is known to be lower than that of their counterparts in developed nations. This study assessed whether childhood socio-economic status is related to lung function in adults in Nigeria.

The prevalence, management and burden of asthma - a Nigerian study.

Inadequate attention given to the management of asthma and ways of improving treatment could be a significant factor for the increase morbidity and mortality from asthma despite major advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. There seems to be paucity of data concerning the management pattern and burden of asthma in Africa. This study was under taken to determine the prevalence, management pattern and the burden of asthma.

Prevalence and patient characteristics associated with pleural tuberculosis in Nigeria.

Background: Tuberculosis is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with a growing death rate. The pleural space is a common extrapulmonary site of involvement. The aim of this paper is to document prevalence and types of pleural involvement in pulmonary tuberculosis and patient characteristics associated with its occurrence.

Hepatitis B and C virus co-infection in Nigerian patients with HIV infection.

Introduction: We set out to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses among human immunodeficiency virus infected individuals and its impact on pattern of presentation.

Methodology: A serological study for hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses was performed on 260 HIV-positive individuals. These patients were tested for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody.

Obstructive sleep apnea among adults in Nigeria.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common medical condition with significant adverse medical and public health consequences, but OSAS remains undiagnosed in many individuals. The Berlin questionnaire is a validated instrument that is used to identify individuals who are at risk for OSAS.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of high risk of OSAS in an adult population in Nigeria.

Prevalence and correlates of snoring among adults in Nigeria.

Introduction: Snoring is a common sleep problem with significant public health concerns. Studies have characterized this in most developed countries. Hitherto there have been no published studies on this subject in Nigeria.

Specific psychiatric morbidity among a sample of asthmatics in south western Nigeria.

Objective: This study was to identify specific psychiatric morbidity among asthma patients and to compare their rates to controls.

Method: Hundred consecutive asthmatics were screened using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), and the Present State Examination (PSE). The same instruments were also administered to 75 healthy individuals, and 75 orthopaedic patients.

Implications of psychosocial factors as precipitant of asthma attack among a sample of asthmatics.

Objective: To explore the relationship between psychosocial factors and asthma.

Methods: One hundred consecutive asthmatics were screened using the 30-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), Present state examination (PSE) and a socio-demographic schedule incorporating psychosocial variables. Chi-squared test, student "t" test and discriminant analysis were used in analysis.

A five-year review of tuberculosis mortality amongst hospitalised patients in Ile-Ife.

Background: Death from tuberculosis (TB) is the longest recorded indicator of the TB epidemic in industrialised countries. This study aims at investigating into various factors associated with death in hospitalised patients with tuberculosis in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Methods: A retrospective study of all admissions into the medical wards, total number of deaths and number of cases of deaths due to TB during the period 1998-2000 was done.

Prevalence of asthma symptoms among university students 15 to 35 years of age in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Introduction: Asthma continues to cause increasing morbidity and mortality among young adults in the developing world. There is scarcity of data on the prevalence of asthma among young Nigerian adults.

Methods: We studied the prevalence of asthma among students (15-35 years of age) of the Obafemi Awolowo University using a standardized questionnaire.

Pulmonary functions of wheat flour mill workers and controls in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Background: The impact of grain dust exposure on lung functions of grain handlers in Nigeria has remained largely undocumented. Lung functions of wheat flourmill workers and control subjects were assessed, and the prevalence of lung function abnormalities was compared among the occupational groups.

Methods: Study subjects consisted of 91 flour-millers, 30 matched internal controls from the maintenance unit of the same flourmill factory and 121 matched external controls.