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Background Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is an important contributor to total physical activity and the focus of many interventions promoting activity in high-income populations. Little is known about LTPA in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and with expected declines in physical activity due to rapid urbanisation and lifestyle changes we aimed to assess the sociodemographic differences in the prevalence of LTPA in the adult populations of this region to identify potential barriers for equitable participation. Methods A two-step individual participant data meta-analysis was conducted using data collected in SSA through 10 population health surveys that included the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. For each sociodemographic characteristic, the pooled adjusted prevalence and risk ratios (RRs) for participation in LTPA were calculated using the random effects method. Between-study heterogeneity was explored through meta-regression analyses and tests for interaction. Results Across the 10 populations ( N  = 26,022), 18.9% (95%CI: 14.3, 24.1; I 2  = 99.0%) of adults (≥ 18 years) participated in LTPA. Men were more likely to participate in LTPA compared with women (RR for women: 0.43; 95%CI: 0.32, 0.60; P  < 0.001; I 2  = 97.5%), while age was inversely associated with participation. Higher levels of education were associated with increased LTPA participation (RR: 1.30; 95%CI: 1.09, 1.55; P  = 0.004; I 2  = 98.1%), with those living in rural areas or self-employed less likely to participate in LTPA. These associations remained after adjusting for time spent physically active at work or through active travel. Conclusions In these populations, participation in LTPA was low, and strongly associated with sex, age, education, self-employment and urban residence. Identifying the potential barriers that reduce participation in these groups is necessary to enable equitable access to the health and social benefits associated with LTPA.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes, and to assess its awareness and related risk factors among adult Guineans. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1 100 adults (46.6% women) aged 35-64 years from Lower Guinea, during September to December 2009, using the WHO STEPwise approach of surveillance of chronic disease risk factors. Data were collected in three steps: demographic and behavioural risk factors, blood pressure and anthropometric measurements, and fasting blood cholesterol and glucose testing. A multi-stage cluster sample design was applied to generate nationwide representative data. Results: The mean age of all participants was 47.3 years (SD 8.8), similarly in Conakry, rural Lower Guinea and urban Lower Guinea. The prevalence of diabetes was 5.7% (95% CI 4.0-8.1). Among participants with diabetes, only 44.0% were aware of their status. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, determinants of diabetes prevalence were urban residency, male sex, age group 45-64 years, increased waist circumference, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Male sex, rural residency, age group 45-54 years, no formal education, waist circumference, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were independent predictors of screen-detected diabetes. Conclusion: The present study found a high prevalence and low awareness of diabetes, suggesting the need for appropriate actions to strengthen primary healthcare approaches towards non-communicable diseases in Guinea.

Premixed insulins are an important tool for glycemic control in persons with diabetes. Equally important in diabetes care is the selection of the most appropriate insulin regimen for a particular individual at a specific time. Currently, the choice of insulin regimens for initiation or intensification of therapy is a subjective decision. In this article, we share insights, which will help in rational and objective selection of premixed formulations for initiation and intensification of insulin therapy. The glycemic status and its variations in a person help to identify the most appropriate insulin regimen and formulation for him or her. The evolution of objective glucometric indices has enabled better glycemic monitoring of individuals with diabetes. Management of diabetes has evolved from a ‘glucocentric’ approach to a ‘patient-centered’ approach; patient characteristics, needs, and preferences should be evaluated when considering premixed insulin for treatment of diabetes. Funding : Novo Nordisk, India.

High salt intake is a major risk factor of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Improving knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to salt intake in the general population is a key component of salt reduction strategies. The objective of this study was to describe and compare the KAP of adults related to salt in urban areas of five countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The survey included 588 participants aged 25 to 65 years who were selected using convenience samples in the urban areas of Benin, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, and Seychelles. Socio-demographic and food consumption were assessed using a structured closed-ended questionnaire administered by survey officers. Height, weight, and blood pressure were measured. Food consumption varied largely between countries. Processed foods high in salt, such as processed meat, cheese, pizzas, and savory snacks were consumed rather infrequently in all the countries, but salt-rich foods, such as soups or bread and salty condiments, were consumed frequently in all countries. The majority of the participants knew that high salt intake can cause health problems (85%) and thought that it is important to limit salt intake (91%). However, slightly over half (56%) of the respondents regularly tried to limit their salt intake while only 8% of the respondents thought that they consumed too much salt. Salt and salty condiments were added most of the time during cooking (92% and 64%, respectively) but rarely at the table (11%). These findings support the need for education campaigns to reduce salt added during cooking and for strategies to reduce salt content in selected manufactured foods in the region.

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is the best surrogate of average blood glucose control in diabetic patients, and lowering HbA1c significantly reduces diabetes complications. Moreover, immediate feedback of HbA1c measurement to patients may improve control. However, HbA1c is unavailable in most parts of Africa, a continent with one of the highest burden of diabetes. To translate these evidences, we are conducting a multicentric project in 10 health care facilities in Guinea and Cameroon to evaluate the feasibility and one-year benefit of affordable HbA1c measurement with immediate feedback to patients on diabetes control and related outcomes. We consecutively enrolled patients with diabetes mellitus independently of the type of disease. We hypothesised an average 1%-decrease in HbA1c in a 1000-patient study population, with a 20% increase in the number of patients reaching treatment goals within 12 months of intervention and follow-up. A total of 1, 349 diabetic patients aged 56.2±12.6 years are enrolled (813 in Cameroon and 536 in Guinea) of whom 59.8% are women. The mean duration of diabetes is 7.4±6.3 years and baseline HbA1c is 9.7±2.6% in Guinea and 8.6±2.5% in Cameroon. To investigate whether the introduction of routine HbA1c measurement with immediate feedback to patients and provision of relevant education would improve diabetes control after one year. The impact of the intervention on diabetes associated-complications and mortality warrant further assessment in the long term.

Abstract We measured the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of a total of 24 non-diabetic volunteers and diabetic patients using a point-of-care (POC) analyser in three Cameroonian cities at different altitudes. Although 12 to 25% of duplicates had more than 0.5% (8 mmol/mol) difference across the sites, HbA1c values correlated significantly (r = 0.89–0.96). Further calibration studies against gold-standard measures are warranted.

The possibility of other types of diabetes should be considered in the child who has negative diabetes-associated autoantibodies and (B): an autosomal dominant family history of diabetes (maturity-onset diabetes of the young [MODY]) age less than 12 months and especially in first 6 months of life (NDM [neonatal diabetes mellitus]) mild-fasting hyperglycemia (5.5-8.5 mmol [100-150 mg/dL]), especially if young, non-obese, and asymptomatic a prolonged honeymoon period over 1 year or an unusually low requirement for insulin of ≤0.5 U/kg/day after 1 year of diabetes associated conditions such as deafness, optic atrophy, or syndromic features (mitochondrial disease) a history of exposure to drugs known to be toxic to β-cells or cause insulin resistance (eg, immunosuppressive drugs such as tacrolimus or cyclosporin; gluocorticoids or some antidepressants). While type 1 diabetes remains the most common form of diabetes in young people in many populations, especially those of European background, type 2 diabetes has become an increasingly important public health concern globally among children in high risk ethnic populations as well as in those with severe obesity, see ISPAD guideline on type 2 diabetes . Diabetes in young people usually presents with characteristic symptoms such as polyuria, polydipsia, nocturia, enuresis, weight loss—which may be accompanied by polyphagia, behavioral disturbance including reduced school performance, and blurred vision. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) can be used as a diagnostic test for diabetes providing that stringent quality assurance tests are in place and assays are standardized to criteria aligned to the international reference values, and there are no conditions present which preclude its accurate measurement. [...]the validity of HbA1c as a measure of average glucose is complicated in the context of hemoglobinopathies, certain forms of anemia, or any other condition that affects normal red blood cell turnover.

Hypertension is a major and fast-growing public health problem in Africa. We determined the prevalence of hypertension and assessed the levels of awareness, treatment and control in Guinea. A cross-sectional study based on a stratified cluster random sampling was conducted. In all, 2491 adults (1351 women) aged 15–64 years were selected and screened during September–December 2009. Hypertension (systolic (and/or diastolic) blood pressure ⩾140 (90) mm Hg or use of antihypertensive medications) and diabetes mellitus (fasting capillary glucose ⩾110 mg dl −1 or use of antidiabetic medications) were determined. Logistic regressions were used to investigate the determinants of hypertension. The mean body mass index was 22.4 kg m −2 (s.d.=4.5). The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes was, respectively, 29.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 29.8–30.0) and 3.5% (95%CI 3.4–3.5). The prevalence of hypertension was 29.4% (29.3–29.5) in men and 30.4% (30.4–30.6) in women. The prevalence was 62.5% in the 44–64 years age group. Overall, 75.8% of hypertensive participants were undetected before the survey and 34.9% of those aware of their hypertensive status were receiving treatment, of whom 16.3% were at target control levels. Age, education, diabetes and obesity were the main factors associated with hypertension. There was a high prevalence of hypertension among the adults in Guinea, but with low awareness, treatment and control rates. Urgent response is needed in the form of integrated and comprehensive action targeting major non-communicable diseases in the country.

We measured the glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of a total of 24 non-diabetic volunteers and diabetic patients using a point-of-care (POC) analyser in three Cameroonian cities at different altitudes. Although 12 to 25% of duplicates had more than 0.5% (8 mmol/mol) difference across the sites, HbA1c values correlated significantly (r = 0.89-0.96). Further calibration studies against gold-standard measures are warranted.

Identification and characterization of snake venom toxins that interfere with hemostasis have important implications for the treatment of snake envenomation, the bioprospecting of therapeutically useful molecules, and the development of research tools for investigating hematologic disorders. Many venoms have been shown to possess thrombolytic activity. However, it remains unclear if actions on other clot-stabilizing proteins beyond fibrin chains contribute significantly to venom-induced thrombolysis because the clot-wide targets of venom proteases and the mechanisms responsible for thrombolysis are not well understood. Here, we utilize a high-throughput time-based thrombolysis assay in combination with untargeted peptidomics to provide comprehensive insight into the effects of venom from six snake species on blood clot degradation. We compare thrombolytic profiles across venoms with variable levels of proteases and generate venom-specific fingerprints of cleavage specificity. We also compare the specific effects of venoms that possess a range of thrombolytic activity on fibrin subunits and other clot-bound proteins involved in clot structure. Venoms with higher thrombolytic activity demonstrated an enhanced ability to target multiple sites across fibrin chains critical to clot stability and structure, as well as clot-stabilizing proteins including fibronectin and vitronectin. Collectively, this study significantly expands our understanding of the thrombolytic and fibrinolytic effects of snake venom by determining the full suite of clot-specific venom targets that are involved in clot formation and stability.