Abstract: To compare left ventricular (LV) geometry patterns among normotensive type 2 diabetics (NT2DM) with normoalbuminuria, NT2DM with microalbuminuria and healthy controls. A cross-sectional study conducted at the medical outpatient department of a Teaching Hospital from January 2013 to March 2014. Sixty-three normoalbuminuric NT2DM, 71 microalbuminuric NT2DM and fifty-nine healthy controls were recruited. Microalbuminuria was tested for using Micral test strips (Roche, Germany). Trans-thoracic echocardiography was carried out on all subjects. Relative wall thickness (RWT), left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and LV geometry patterns were compared among the three groups. The three groups were age and sex-matched and appropriate statistical tests were used for comparisons with p<0.05. The proportions of abnormal LV geometry (33.3% vs 71.4% vs 84.5%), LVMI and RWT showed a significant stepwise increase from healthy controls through normoalbuminuric NT2DM and to microalbuminuric NT2DM (all p<0.01). Concentric remodeling (CR) was the commonest pattern among the three groups. Left ventricular mass index and RWT correlated significantly with duration of DM and body mass index (all p< 0.01). Microalbuminuria showed a strong direct association with abnormal LV geometry (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.63-6.57, p<0.01) while duration of DM was found to be an independent predictor of LV geometry remodeling (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.02-1.49, p = 0.03) among normotensive diabetics. Although CR was the commonest pattern across the three patient groups, those with microalbuminuria had the highest proportion and risk of LV remodeling. Early screening and prompt treatment of microalbuminuria in NT2DM is hereby recommended.Abstract: To compare left ventricular (LV) geometry patterns among normotensive type 2 diabetics (NT2DM) with normoalbuminuria, NT2DM with microalbuminuria and healthy controls. A cross-sectional study conducted at the medical outpatient department of a Teaching Hospital from January 2013 to March 2014. Sixty-three normoalbuminuric NT2DM, 71 microalbuminuric...Show More
Abstract: The study was a descriptive study, designed to describe the status of sanitation facilities and hygiene practices in Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Five communities were selected by simple random sampling for the study. Multi-stage random sampling technique which involved four stages was used to select 410 households and structured questionnaire, observation and key-informant interview were used for data collection. The statistical package for social sciences software (SPSS version 20) and MS Excel (2010) were used for data analysis. Results from the study shows that 46.1% of respondents used borehole water as main source of water. Basic types of toilet facilities available in the studied communities were inadequate and substandard; this further compound the already existing poor sanitation and unsafe hygiene practices (26.6% traditional pit latrine). Approximately 52.9% of respondents had handwashing stand to wash hands after defecating while 5.4% used basin with tap for handwashing. 53.9% of respondents washed hands with water only, while 45.6% of respondents washed hands with soap. The lack of access to potable water supply and toilet facilities could affect the general hygiene status of the communities. It was recommended among others that the government should provide more basic sanitary facilities and adequate potable water. Good personal and community hygiene requires sufficient water and basic sanitary facilities.Abstract: The study was a descriptive study, designed to describe the status of sanitation facilities and hygiene practices in Yakurr Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. Five communities were selected by simple random sampling for the study. Multi-stage random sampling technique which involved four stages was used to select 410 households and ...Show More
