Educational Status and Risks of Cardiovascular Disease in Awka, Southeast Nigeria

Background and Objectives: All over the world, cardiovascular risks constitute a heavy healthcare burden, affecting people with different levels of education, across economies in both the developed and the developing ones. Differences in educational levels in cardiovascular risks have not been completely defined. This study was set out to evaluate the influence of levels of education on the risks of cardiovascular disease in an urban community in Awka, southeast Nigeria. Methodology: In this cross sectional study of 294 subjects conducted in Awka in 2017, biodata, anthropometric and demographic data were obtained. A questionnaire was used to extract information on smoking, alcohol use, tobacco snuff use, diabetes mellitus status, time spent at work > 10 hours daily and night sleep duration < 4 hours. Blood pressure and body mass index were measured. Data were analyzed and the association between levels of education and the potential cardiovascular risks determined. Results: The prevalence of smoking was 5.4%, tobacco snuff use 5.4%, alcohol 42.2%, thickened arterial wall 27.2%, meat protein 91.8%, diabetes mellitus 9.5%, time spent at work > 10 hours daily 29.3%, obesity 33.3%, hypertension 58.5%, night sleep < 4 hours 5.4%. Levels of education has association with tobacco use (p = 0.009), alcohol use (p = 0.013), thickened arterial wall (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), time spent at work > 10 hours daily (p < 0.001), obesity (p = 0.020), hypertension (p < 0.001), meat consumption (p = 0.047). However, smoking and night sleep < 4 hours have no significant association with levels of education, p = 0.415, and p = 0.132. Conclusion: There was variability in the prevalence of cardiovascular risks at different levels of education. The prevalence of smoking and night sleep duration < 4 hours did not vary with levels of education. The prevalence of tobacco snuff and thickened arterial wall was high in primary education holders and meat consumption in secondary education. Alcohol prevalence increased with increasing levels of education. Diabetes mellitus, time spent oat work > 10 hours daily, hypertension and obesity increased in prevalence with increasing levels of education but declined with tertiary education.

Sociodemographic Factors for Vitamin D Levels in Children with Acute Respiratory Infection

Background and Objectives: Childhood acute respiratory infection is a public health problem with significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The present study was to assess the sociodemographic determinants of vitamin D levels in patient with acute respiratory infections (ARIs) receiving care in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in Nnewi, Nigeria, on 250 children with ARI. Sociodemographic data were collected and serum vitamin D levels of the subjects were assayed. The association between sociodemographic variables and vitamin D was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 250 children with ARI aged 1 - 59 months were enrolled in this study, with slight male preponderance (57.2%). About 60% of the population was less than 2 years. The majority (85.6%) of the subjects had adequate vitamin D levels (≥20 ng/dL). The mean serum vitamin D level in the subjects was (52.2 ± 25.6 ng/mL). Multivariate logistic regression showed that only gender was significantly related to vitamin D levels with males found to have a lower risk of vitamin D deficiency. {OR = 0.05 (0.004 - 0.77)}, p = 0.03. Conclusion: The association between male gender and high levels of vitamin D in acute respiratory infection was significant in this study. Further studies, however, should explore a probable role for vitamin D supplementation in children with ARI.

BMI and Risk Factors of Underweight and Obesity in HIV Subjects in Eastern Nigeria

Background and Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV) is a global healthcare problem. Progression of HIV infection is commonly associated with decreasing weight. In the early phases of HIV infection, factors associated with weight changes are not completely known. This study evaluated the body mass index (BMI) and its potential risk factors in drug-naive HIV subjects in Owerri, Eastern Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of HIV subjects. BMI was determined. Relevant investigations were performed. Potential risk factors of BMI were analyzed at different BMI categories. Association of variables with BMI and the strength of variables to predict BMI, underweight and obesity were determined. Results: The mean BMI of the HIV subjects was 26.2 ± 5.4 kg/m2. Underweight was present in 24 (6.1%), overweight in 150 (38.4%) and obesity in 84 (21.5%) of the HIV subjects. High spot urine creatinine (SUCr), high 24-hour urine osmolality (24HUOsm), high serum cholesterol and high hemoglobin predicted BMI in HIV subjects. Low 24HUOsm predicted under weight, whereas low 24-hour urine protein (24 HUP) and high 24HUOsm predicted obesity in HIV subjects. Conclusion: The prevalence of underweight was low (6.1%), overweight high (38.4%) and obesity high (21.5%) in HIV subjects. High SUCr, high 24HUOsm, high serum cholesterol and high hemoglobin were predictors of BMI in HIV subjects. Low 24HUOsm was a predictor of underweight, while low 24HUP and high 24HUOsm were predictors of obesity in HIV subjects. Abnormalities of serum lipids, renal function, and anemia were common in HIV subjects who were underweight and in those obese. Underweight HIV subjects should be evaluated at the early stages for dyslipidemia, renal damage and anemia.