Seasonal variation and Heart failure decompensation in sub-Saharan African patients: A cross sectional study

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to examine the association between maternal healthcare utilisation and complete childhood vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa.DesignOur study was a cross-sectional study that used pooled data from 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.ParticipantsA total of 60 964 mothers of children aged 11–23 months were included in the study.Outcome variablesThe main outcome variable was complete childhood vaccination. The explanatory variables were number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, assistance during delivery and postnatal care (PNC).ResultsThe average prevalence of complete childhood vaccination was 85.6%, ranging from 67.0% in Ethiopia to 98.5% in Namibia. Our adjusted model, children whose mothers had a maximum of three ANC visits were 56% less likely to have complete vaccination, compared with those who had at least four ANC visits (adjusted OR (aOR)=0.44, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.46). Children whose mothers were assisted by traditional birth attendant/other (aOR=0.43, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.56) had lower odds of complete vaccination. The odds of complete vaccination were lower among children whose mothers did not attend PNC clinics (aOR=0.26, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.29) as against those whose mothers attended.ConclusionThe study found significant variations in complete childhood vaccination across countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Maternal healthcare utilisation (ANC visits, skilled birth delivery, PNC attendance) had significant association with complete childhood vaccination. These findings suggest that programmes, interventions and strategies aimed at improving vaccination should incorporate interventions that can enhance maternal healthcare utilisation. Such interventions can include education and sensitisation, reducing cost of maternal healthcare and encouraging male involvement in maternal healthcare service utilisation.

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Right ventricular ejection fraction as predictor of outcome in acute heart failure using RV ellipsoid model: A retrospective analysis of a prospective cross-sectional study

JRSM Cardiovascular Disease ◽

10.1177/20480040211002775 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 ◽

pp. 204800402110027

Author(s):

Eshan Ashcroft ◽

Otar Lazariashvili ◽

Jonathan Belsey ◽

Max Berrill ◽

Pankaj Sharma ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Ejection Fraction ◽

Right Ventricular ◽

Retrospective Analysis ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Volume Estimation ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Ventricular Ejection Fraction ◽

Rv Function

Objectives The right ventricular (RV) function is an important prognostic factor in acute and chronic heart failure (HF). Echocardiography is an essential imaging modality with established parameters for RV function which are useful and easy to perform. However, these fail to reflect global RV volumes due to reliability on one acoustic window. It is therefore attractive to calculate RV volumes and ejection fraction (RVEF/E) using an ellipsoid geometric model which has been validated against MRI in healthy adults but not in the HF patients. Design This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective cross-sectional study enrolling 418 consecutive patients with symptoms of HF according to a predefined study protocol. All patients underwent echocardiographic assessment of RV function using Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) and RV fractional area change (RVFAC) and RVEF/E. Setting Single centre study with multiple locations for acute in-patients including high dependency units. Participants Patients with acute or exacerbation of chronic HF older than 18 y.o. Main outcome measures Ability of RVEF/E to predict patient outcomes compared with two established parameters of RV function over two-year follow-up period. Primary outcome measure was all-cause mortality. Results RVEF/E is equal to TAPSE & RVFAC in predicting outcome (p ≤ 0.01 vs p ≤ 0.01) and provides additional benefit of RV volume estimation based on standard 2D echo measurements. Conclusions In this study we have shown that RVEF/E derived from ellipsoid model is not inferior to well established measures of RV function as a prognostic indicator of outcome in the acute HF.

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Factors associated with family functioning in patients with heart failure and their family members: An international cross‐sectional study

Journal of Advanced Nursing ◽

10.1111/jan.14810 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mahdi Shamali ◽

Hanne Konradsen ◽

Erla K. Svavarsdottir ◽

Mohsen Shahriari ◽

Audur Ketilsdottir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Family Functioning ◽

Family Members ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Patients With Heart Failure

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Knowledge about self-care and associated factors among heart-failure patients in Ayder Referral Hospital, Ethiopia, 2018: A cross-sectional study

Proceedings of Singapore Healthcare ◽

10.1177/2010105820962141 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 201010582096214

Author(s):

Tsegu Hailu Gebru ◽

Haftea Hagos Mekonen ◽

Kbrom Gemechu Kiros

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

New York ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Self Care ◽

Heart Association ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Referral Hospital ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Knowledge Age

Background: Good knowledge of self-care related to heart failure (HF) is key to improve patient outcomes. However, information regarding how much patients know about self-care is lacking in developing countries, particularly in the study setting. Objective: The objectives of this study were to assess HF patients’ knowledge about self-care and to explore predictors among HF patients in Ayder comprehensive specialised referral hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study design was undertaken in Ayder comprehensive specialised referral hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia. A total of 408 HF patients participated, and the study was done between February and April 2018. An interviewer-assisted structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Bivariate logistic regression and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to identify the predictors associated with knowledge about self-care. Results: The mean age of the participants was 45.4 years (standard deviation=19 years). Around 255 (62.5%) of the participants had poor self-care knowledge. Age, New York Heart Association classes, duration of the disease and previous hospitalisation were the factors associated with knowledge about self-care. Conclusion: More than half of all participants had poor knowledge about self-care. Improving existing prevention strategies and strengthening patients’ knowledge are recommended to address this knowledge deficit.

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