Prevalence and associated risk factors for elevated blood pressure in young adults in South Africa.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa has been shown to have a high prevalence of hypertension (58% in rural black South Africans) with an accelerated course ending in end-stage renal disease. We sought to determine whether the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (EBP) in early adulthood was associated with any risk factors and/or renal target-organ damage in young adulthood, which could prevent development of these cardiorenal sequelae.

Methods: Data including risk factors for hypertension and markers of kidney damage were collected from young adults ( = 933; age 28 years; 52% female) participating in the Birth to Twenty Plus (BT20) cohort in Soweto, South Africa.

The socioeconomic gradient of alcohol use: an analysis of nationally representative survey data from 55 low-income and middle-income countries.

Background: Alcohol is a leading risk factor for over 200 conditions and an important contributor to socioeconomic health inequalities. However, little is known about the associations between individuals' socioeconomic circumstances and alcohol consumption, especially heavy episodic drinking (HED; ≥5 drinks on one occasion) in low-income or middle-income countries. We investigated the association between individual and household level socioeconomic status, and alcohol drinking habits in these settings.

Prevalence and risk factors of lower extremity disease in high risk groups in Malawi: a stratified cross-sectional study.

Objective: Low/middle-income countries face a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular diseases. However, among cardiovascular diseases, burden of and associations with lower extremity disease (LED) (peripheral arterial disease and/or neuropathy) is neglected. We investigated the prevalence and factors associated with LED among individuals known to have cardiovascular disease risk factors (CVDRFs) in Malawi, a low-income country with a significant prevalence of CVDRFs.

Rural-Urban Differences in Diabetes Care and Control in 42 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Cross-sectional Study of Nationally Representative Individual-Level Data.

Objective: Diabetes prevalence is increasing rapidly in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), but there are limited data on the performance of health systems in delivering equitable and effective care to rural populations. We therefore assessed rural-urban differences in diabetes care and control in LMICs.

Research Design And Methods: We pooled individual-level data from nationally representative health surveys in 42 countries.

Apolipoprotein L1 High-Risk Genotypes and Albuminuria in Sub-Saharan African Populations.

Background And Objectives: Recessive inheritance of African-specific kidney risk variants is associated with higher risk of nondiabetic kidney disease, progression to kidney failure, and early-onset albuminuria that precedes eGFR decline. The effect of risk variants on kidney disease in continental Africans is understudied. Objectives of this study were to determine risk allele prevalence and associations between genotypes and kidney disease in West, East, and South Africa.

Quality of life and associated factors among people receiving second-line anti-retroviral therapy in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: Studies which examine quality of life (QOL) provide important insights that are needed to understand the impacts of HIV/AIDS anti-retroviral treatment (ART), comorbid conditions and other factors on the daily activities of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLH). This study aimed to determine the inter-relationships between clinical factors, behavioural, socio-demographic variables and QOL among PLH.

Methods: The secondary analysis used data collected from 293 people living with HIV/AIDS (PLH) receiving second-line ART in Johannesburg in a clinical trial which evaluated the non-inferiority of ritonavir-boosted darunavir (DRV/r 400/100 mg) compared to ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r) over a 48 week-period.

Telemedicine in Surgical Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.

Background: Access to timely and quality surgical care is limited in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Telemedicine, defined as the remote provision of health care using information, communication and telecommunication platforms have the potential to address some of the barriers to surgical care. However, synthesis of evidence on telemedicine use in surgical care in LMICs is lacking.

Equitable access to quality trauma systems in low-income and middle-income countries: assessing gaps and developing priorities in Ghana, Rwanda and South Africa.

Injuries in low-income and middle-income countries are prevalent and their number is expected to increase. Death and disability after injury can be reduced if people reach healthcare facilities in a timely manner. Knowledge of barriers to access to quality injury care is necessary to intervene to improve outcomes.

Cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 and associated risk factors among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Objectives: This study assesses the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) during South Africa's first wave and examines the associated demographic, health-related and occupational risk factors for infection.

Methods: Multistage cluster sampling was used in a cross-sectional study to recruit 1309 HCWs from two academic hospitals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa over 6 weeks in November and December 2020. Prior test results for SARS-CoV-2 PCR and participants' characteristics were recorded while a blood sample was drawn for detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein.

Use of statins for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in 41 low-income and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study of nationally representative, individual-level data.

Background: In the prevention of cardiovascular disease, a WHO target is that at least 50% of eligible people use statins. Robust evidence is needed to monitor progress towards this target in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), where most cardiovascular disease deaths occur. The objectives of this study were to benchmark statin use in LMICs and to investigate country-level and individual-level characteristics associated with statin use.

Access to care following injury in Northern Malawi, a comparison of travel time estimates between Geographic Information System and community household reports.

Introduction: Injuries disproportionately impact low- and middle-income countries like Malawi. The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery's indicators include the population proportion accessing laparotomy and open fracture care, key trauma interventions, within two hours. The "Golden Hour" for receiving facility-based resuscitation also guides injury care system strengthening.

Small steps, strong shield: directly measured, moderate physical activity in 65 361 adults is associated with significant protective effects from severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Objective: To determine the association between directly measured physical activity and hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, ventilation and mortality rates in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19.

Methods: Directly measured physical activity data from 65 361 adult patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis from 19 March 2020 to 30 June 2021, were grouped by activity level: low (<60 min/week), moderate (60-149 min/week) and high activity (≥150 min/week). The association of physical activity levels and the risk of adverse outcomes was analysed using modified Poisson regression.

Prevalence of anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS) among the parents of babies admitted to neonatal units: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Parents of babies admitted to neonatal units (NNU) are exposed to a range of potentially distressing experiences, which can lead to mental health symptoms such as increased anxiety and post-traumatic stress (PTS). This review aimed to describe how anxiety and PTS are defined and assessed, and to estimate anxiety and PTS prevalence among parents of babies admitted to NNU.

Method: Medline, Embase, PsychoINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health literature were searched to identify studies published prior to April 14, 2021.

Use of Machine Learning and Statistical Algorithms to Predict Hospital Length of Stay Following Colorectal Cancer Resection: A South African Pilot Study.

The aim of this pilot study was to develop logistic regression (LR) and support vector machine (SVM) models that differentiate low from high risk for prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS) in a South African cohort of 383 colorectal cancer patients who underwent surgical resection with curative intent. Additionally, the impact of 10-fold cross-validation (CV), Monte Carlo CV, and bootstrap internal validation methods on the performance of the two models was evaluated. The median LOS was 9 days, and prolonged LOS was defined as greater than 9 days post-operation.