Procalcitonin Correlates With Cardiovascular Risk Better Than Highly Sensitive C-Reactive Protein in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa: Results From a Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiological agent of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Among the risk factors associated with the severity of this disease is the presence of several metabolic disorders. For this reason, the aim of this research was to identify the comorbidities and laboratory parameters among COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), comparing the patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) with those who did not require IMV, in order to determine the clinical characteristics associated with the COVID-19 severity. Methods. We carried out a cross-sectional study among 152 patients who were admitted to the ICU from April 1st to July 31st, 2021, in whom the comorbidities and laboratory parameters associated with the SARS-CoV-2 infection severity were identified. The data of these patients was grouped into two main groups: “patients who required IMV” and “patients who did not require IMV”. The nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test for continuous data and the χ2 test for categorical data were used to compare the variables between both groups. Results. Of the 152 COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the ICU, 66 required IMV and 86 did not require IMV. Regarding the comorbidities found in these patients, a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension and obesity was observed among patients who required IMV vs. those who did not require IMV (p<0.05). Concerning laboratory parameters, only glucose, Interleukin 6 (IL-6), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher among patients who required IMV than in those who did not require IMV (p<0.05). Conclusion. This study performed in a Mexican population indicates that comorbidities such as: T2DM, hypertension and obesity, as well as elevated levels of glucose, IL-6, LDH and CRP are associated with the COVID-19 severity.

Download Full-text

Maternal healthcare utilsation and complete childhood vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa: a cross-sectional study of 29 nationally representative surveys

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045992 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. e045992

Author(s):

Eugene Budu ◽

Bright Opoku Ahinkorah ◽

Richard Gyan Aboagye ◽

Ebenezer Kwesi Armah-Ansah ◽

Abdul-Aziz Seidu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Utilisation ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Childhood Vaccination ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Service Utilisation ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Maternal Healthcare ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sub Saharan

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.

Download Full-text

Assessment of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and lipid levels in healthy adults and patients with coronary artery disease, with and without periodontitis - a cross-sectional study

Journal of Periodontal Research ◽

10.1111/jre.12172 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 836-844 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

K. R. V. Kumar ◽

V. Ranganath ◽

R. Naik ◽

S. Banu ◽

A. S. Nichani

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Lipid Levels ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Artery Disease

Download Full-text

Predictors of HIV Testing among Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0164052 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e0164052 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Ibitola O. Asaolu ◽

Jayleen K. Gunn ◽

Katherine E. Center ◽

Mary P. Koss ◽

Juliet I. Iwelunmor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hiv Testing ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sub Saharan

Download Full-text

Childhood Diarrhea Determinants in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross Sectional Study of Tiko-Cameroon

Challenges ◽

10.3390/challe6020229 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 229-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Ayuk Tambe ◽

Leonie Nzefa ◽

Nchang Nicoline

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Childhood Diarrhea ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sub Saharan

Download Full-text

THE IMPACT OF COMBINATION OF BREASTFEEDING AND EFFLEURAGE MASSAGE IN REDUCING PAIN RESPONSE IN INFANTS INDUCED BY BLOOD SAMPLING IN C-REACTIVE PROTEIN TEST: AN OBSERVATIONAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Belitung Nursing Journal ◽

10.33546/bnj.353 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 242-248

Author(s):

Alfi Maziyah ◽

Diyah Fatmasari ◽

Desak Made Wenten Parwati ◽

Rr. Sri Endang Pujiastuti

Keyword(s):

Intervention Group ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Blood Sampling ◽

Control Group ◽

Pain Response ◽

Sectional Study ◽

C Reactive Protein ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Reactive Protein ◽

Massage Group

Background: C-reactive protein test is one of clinical assessments to minimize risks of infection in infants. However, its procedure may cause pain. Pain in the infant may result in negative metabolic behavior, physiology and metabolic response. Objective: This study was to describe the infant's pain response by administering a combination of breastfeeding and an effleurage massage on the blood sampling procedure of C-reactive protein examination. Methods: This was a descriptive observational cross-sectional study. There were 30 infants selected using consecutive sampling technique, which 15 samples assigned in an intervention group (combination of breastfeeding and effleurage massage) and a control group. Premature Infant Pain Profile (PIPP) instrument was used to measure pain. Univariate analysis was performed with the aim to describe data in mean and median.Results: The average of pain response at 1-minute observation in the combination of breastfeeding and effleurage massage group was 7.47 ± 1.356, and the average of pain response in the control group was 10.80 ± 1.897. The average pain at 5-minutes in the intervention group was 3.53 ± 1.922 and control group was 6.00 ± 1.852. Conclusions: Pain responses in the combination of breastfeeding and effleurage massage group were lower than the pain response in the control group.

Download Full-text