West African journal of medicine
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With the epidemiological transition phenomenon, more countries are expected to move from a disease pattern dominated by infectious diseases to one characterised by non-communicable diseases. Many developing countries are contending with infectious diseases as well as non-communicable diseases, yet little is known about the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in poor urban communities in developing countries. The objective of this community based study was to determine the prevalence of selected cardiovascular risk factors in an urban inner city community which had been followed up prospectively from 1993 to 1998. ⋯ When adjusting for gender, the association between hypertension and other CVD risk factors remained similar for males and females and gender was not a modifier of the factors. Of the CVD risk factors studied, Age > 40 years and obesity, were significantly associated with the presence of hypertension in this community (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.0001), smoking, alcohol intake and gender were not (P > 0.05). It is necessary to implement a national plan for the control of cardiovascular diseases in order to reduce and keep to minimum cardiovascular diseases and its complications in the country.
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Comparative Study
A comparison of the efficacy of alfentanil and remifentanil analgesic infusions for spinal surgery.
The use of alfentanil infusion was compared with that of remifentanil infusion for spinal cord surgery in a retrospective review. The aim was to compare the outcome when methohexitone was used as the only hypnotic agent in the two groups. ⋯ It also provided better haemodynamic stability than alfentanil without excesive hypotension (p > 0.05). Our experience here indicated that remifentanil provided better flexibility of use with less tachycardia and respiratory depression than alfentanil for spinal surgery.
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A retrospective study to determine the influence of blood transfusion emergency response interval on Mortality from childhood severe anaemia was carried out. Admission records of all children with severe anaemia over a 5-year period was reviewed. Those who either died before transfusion or got discharged against medical advice were excluded. ⋯ Mortality (Case fatality) increases with increase in transfusion emergency response interval within 24 hours. Based on the transfusion emergency response interval versus mortality curve, a mortality risk assessment scores were derived for use in clinical practice to determine the risk of dying from the disease. We recommend that national or hospital policy on blood transfusion be enunciated to ensure that all patient with severe anaemia get transfused within 2 hours of diagnosis.