Measuring the quality of self-care of elderly patients with dementia in a developing country.

In developing countries like Uganda, people with dementia are cared for by non-medically trained family members with minimal support from the formal healthcare system. The quality of care in this setting is largely unknown but significantly affects the well-being of those with dementia. A tool designed to measure the quality of informal care for old frail adults with or without dementia was translated into Luganda.

Psychological distress among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Uganda.

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) present growing global health challenges, especially in aging populations, such as Uganda. In Uganda, familial caregiving, predominantly undertaken by female relatives, is the primary form of support provided to patients with ADRD. Cultural stigma around dementia and limited access to support services amplify caregivers' challenges.

Psychological Distress among family caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias in Uganda.

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) present growing global health challenges, especially in aging populations such as Uganda. In Uganda, familial caregiving, predominantly undertaken by female relatives, is the primary form of support for patients with ADRD. Cultural stigma around dementia and limited access to support services amplify caregivers' challenges.

Systemic inflammation and Oxidative stress with stroke mortality among patients admitted in tertiary Hospital in Uganda: a prospective cohort study in southwestern Uganda.

Background: Stroke is an inflammatory state that causes death and chronic disability. Inflammation and oxidative stress are a predictor of poor clinical outcome, its effects are controversial and has not been evaluated in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of CT head confirmed ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke admitted within 7 days of onset of motor weakness.

Blood pressure variability and early neurological outcomes in acute and subacute stroke in Southwestern Uganda.

Background: Greater blood pressure variability has detrimental effects on clinical outcome after a stroke; its effects are controversial and have not been evaluated in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of patients with CT head confirmed ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes admitted to a tertiary hospital within 7 days of onset of unilateral neurological deficits. Blood pressure variability indices, standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) of systolic and diastolic blood pressure between day 0 and day 7, were calculated with a subsequent modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score on day 14 post-stroke.

Frequency of RANTES gene polymorphisms and their association with incidence of malaria: a longitudinal study on children in Iganga district, Uganda.

Background: The severity and outcome of malaria is influenced by host immunity in which chemokines such as Regulated upon Activation, Normal T cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES) play an important role. Previous studies show that variations in the RANTES gene affect RANTES protein production, hence altering host immunity. In this study, the relationship between presence of mutations in RANTES and incidence of malaria in a cohort of children living in a malaria-endemic area of Uganda was determined.