Survival and predictors of mortality in patients with heart failure in the cardiology department of the Center Hospitalier Basse Terre in Guadeloupe: historical cohort study.

Background: Despite the progress made in recent years in the treatment of Acute Heart Failure (AHF), its prognosis remains poor in the developing country. The objective of this study is to analyze the survival and predictors of mortality of patients with acute heart failure in the cardiology department of the Basse Terre Hospital Center in Guadeloupe.

Methods: this was a historical cohort study carried out over a period from June 2021 to June 2022, targeting all acute heart failure patients undergoing cardiac monitoring in the cardiology department of the Basse Terre Hospital Center in Guadeloupe.

Clinical, ultrasound and anatomopathological concordance of thyroid nodules in Kinshasa: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The European Thyroid Association Thyroid Imaging Data and Reporting Systems (EU-TIRADS) is widely used in the risk stratification of thyroid nodule malignancy. However, data on the subject in Sub-Saharan Africa are limited. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical, sonographic and histopathological concordance of thyroid nodules in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer.

Proportion of thyroid cancer and other cancers in the democratic republic of Congo.

Background: Cancer diagnosis is increasing around the world and in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The proportion of thyroid cancer has increased over the past three decades. There are very few studies on cancer epidemiology, and in particular on thyroid cancer in the DRC.

Development and validation of a screening tool for SPondyloArthritis Screening in Sub-Saharan Africa: SpASSS questionnaire.

Objective: To develop and validate a screening tool to identify patients with a high likelihood for Spondyloarthritis (SpA) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo).

Methods: The development of the SpA Screening questionnaire in Sub Saharian Africa (SpASSS) questionnaire followed 3 steps: The item generation was carried out by a systematic literature review according to the PRISMA guidelines on the clinical manifestations of SpA, interviewing clinical experts and the classification criteria for Spondyloarthritis. The candidate questions were tested in a population of 50 consecutive patients with confirmed diagnosis of spondyloarthritis, in a control population of rheumatic disease excluding SpA and in a group of 200 non-rheumatic participants, randomly chosen in the general population for question reduction and validation.

Ultrasound performance using the EU-TIRADS score in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer in Congolese hospitals.

The thyroid imaging reporting and data systems by the European Thyroid Association (EU-TIRADS) has been widely used in malignancy risk stratification of thyroid nodules. However, there is a paucity of data in developing countries, especially in Africa, to validate the use of this scoring system. The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of the EU-TIRADS score in Congolese hospitals, using pathological examination after surgery as the gold standard in Congolese hospitals.

[Acceptability of the screening test for COVID-19 in the Brazzaville population].

The COVID-19 pandemic affects populations worldwide without distinction. Large-scale RT-PCR testing was proposed to the populations to promote early diagnosis and management. The absence of publications related to COVID-19/Congo testing justified this study.

Factors Associated with Liver Enzyme Abnormalities in HIV-HBV and/or HCV Co-infected Patients in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Multicenter Cross-sectional Study.

Background And Objective: Liver enzyme abnormalities (LEA) are extremely common and sometimes severe in individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but data for this disorder are lacking in the developing countries. The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with LEA in HIV-hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study included 180 people living with HIV (PLWHIV) mono-infected or co-infected with HBV/HCV between November 10, 2013 and January 10, 2014 in Kinshasa.

Circulating Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 level independently predicts incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis black Africans patients.

Background: Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The aim of the present study was to determine whether Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) could be an independent predictor of CV events and all-cause mortality in black African haemodialysis patients.

Methods: We carried out a prospective cohort study of all consecutive hemodialysis (HD) patients between August 2016 and July 2020, admitted in six hemodialysis centers of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients at Kinshasa Medical Center and a survival analysis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Despite it being a global pandemic, there is little research examining the clinical features of severe COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to identify predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients at Kinshasa Medical Center (KMC).

Methods: In this retrospective, observational, cohort study carried out at the Kinshasa Medical Center (KMC) between March 10, 2020 and July 10, 2020, we included all adult inpatients (≥ 18 years old) with a positive COVID-19 PCR result.

Frequency and factors associated with proteinuria in COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional study.

Proteinuria is a marker of severity and poor outcome of patients in intensive care unit (ICU). The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of proteinuria and the risk factors associated with proteinuria in Congolese COVID-19 patients. The present cross sectional study of proteinuria status is a post hoc analysis of data from 80 COVID-19 patients admitted at Kinshasa Medical Center (KMC) from March 10 to July 10, 2020.

Thyroid cancer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Frequency and risk factors.

Background: The prevalence of thyroid cancer is increasing steadily in most countries, partly due to better, earlier diagnosis. However, there is little data for developing countries, where the technical platform is often very limited, especially in Africa.

Objectives: To assess the frequency of thyroid cancer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, and ultrasound risk factors.

Circulating Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Levels Predict Future Cardiovascular Event Risks in Hemodialyzed Black African Patients.

Context And Objective: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality in patients. In this context, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) appears to be the new biomarker identified as interfering in lipid homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate the association between PCSK9, dyslipidemia, and future risk of cardiovascular events in a population of black Africans.

Prognostic Significance of Abnormal Ankle-Brachial Index Among Long-term Hemodialysis Patients in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Objective: Early identification of atherosclerosis using a non-invasive tool like ankle-brachial index (ABI) could help reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease among long-term hemodialysis patients. The study objective was to assess the frequency and impact of abnormal ABI as a marker of subclinical peripheral artery disease (PAD) in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Methods: This was a historic cohort study of kidney failure patients on long-term hemodialysis for at least 6 months.

[Determinants of non-compliance with antiretroviral therapy in adult patients in Kinshasa].

Introduction: the purpose of this study was to identify the determinants of non-compliance of persons living with HIV with antiretroviral treatment in Kinshasa.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in Kinshasa from 1 May to 31 August 2015. The study population was composed of patients aged at least 18 years living with HIV who had been treated with antiretroviral drugs for at least 3 months.

Predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients at Kinshasa University Hospital, Democratic Republic of the Congo, from March to June 2020.

Introduction: since the 1 case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Kinshasa on March 102020, mortality risk factors have not yet been reported. The objectives of the present study were to assess survival and to identify predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients at Kinshasa University Hospital.

Methods: a retrospective cohort study was conducted, 141 COVID-19 patients admitted at the Kinshasa University Hospital from March 23 to June 15, 2020 were included in the study.

[Care providers' knowledge and willingness to prescribe pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)].

Introduction: reducing the incidence of new HIV infections is a public health goal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the knowledge and willingness to prescribe PrEP in Kinshasa.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional analytical study among care providers of 4 health facilities where HIV treatment was offered in the city of Kinshasa from April to October 2017.

Factors associated with acceptability of HIV self-testing (HIVST) among university students in a Peri-Urban area of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Introduction: this paper examines the acceptability of HIV self-testing (HIVST) by students in a university in the DRC and identifies factors associated with uptake of HIVST.

Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 290 students from Kikwit University. Data were summarized using proportions and predictions of acceptability of HIVST by logistic regression.

Performance of creatinine- or cystatin C-based equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate in sub-Saharan African populations.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best index for kidney function; however, the applicability of GFR estimating equations in sub-Saharan African populations remains unclear. In a cross-sectional study of adults living in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (n=210) and Abidjan, Ivory Coast (n=284), we evaluated the performance of creatinine and cystatin C-based equations using plasma clearance of iohexol as the reference standard. The race coefficient did not improve the performance of creatinine-based GFR estimates; in fact, both the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology (CKD-EPI) equations performed better without the race coefficient in participants with GFR ≥60 mL/min/1.

Performance of glomerular filtration rate estimation equations in Congolese healthy adults: The inopportunity of the ethnic correction.

Context And Objective: In the estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), ethnicity is an important determinant. However, all existing equations have been built solely from Caucasian and Afro-American populations and they are potentially inaccurate for estimating GFR in African populations. We therefore evaluated the performance of different estimated GFR (eGFR) equations in predicting measured GFR (mGFR).

Reverse epidemiology of elevated blood pressure among chronic hemodialysis black patients with stroke: a historical cohort study.

Background: Stroke is the third leading cause of cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients. The objective of this study was to assess the extent of stroke in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Historical cohort of patients enrolled in two hemodialysis (HD) centers from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011, including 191 patients (mean age 52 years, 68% men).