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INTRODUCTION: La coronaropathie serait fréquente chez les survivants d´accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC). L´objectif de l´étude était de déterminer la prévalence de la coronaropathie chez les survivants d´AVC suivis au centre hospitalier universitaire départemental Borgou-Alibori (CHUD/B-A). METHODES: il s´est agi d´une étude transversale menée du 1er mars au 31 août 2019. Elle a inclus tous les patients victimes d´AVC, d´âge = 18 ans, reçus dans l´unité de neurologie du CHUD/B-A entre janvier 2012 et juillet 2019, ayant survécu à la phase aiguë, et chez qui le consentement éclairé écrit ou celui d´un tuteur (patients sévèrement handicapés) a été obtenu. Un entretien individuel, des mesures anthropométriques, un examen physique, un électrocardiogramme et une revue du dossier médical ont été effectués. La présence de coronaropathie a été définie par un antécédent documenté, des anomalies ST/T et/ou Q évocatrices (critères de Minnesota) ou un questionnaire de dépistage de l´angine de poitrine positif. Les facteurs associés à la coronaropathie ont été recherchés par une régression logistique. RESULTATS: un total de 101 patients était inclus avec un âge moyen de 57,2±10,5 ans. Le délai médian depuis la survenue de l´AVC était de 11 mois [2,0-23,5]. Les AVC ischémiques prédominaient (57,4%). La prévalence de la coronaropathie était estimée à 49,5%. Les facteurs associés à la coronaropathie étaient la non-scolarisation (p=0,036), l´obésité (p=0,036) et le tabagisme ancien (p=0,044). CONCLUSION: cette étude montre une fréquence élevée de coronaropathie chez les survivants d´AVC. Il est important de dépister la coronaropathie dans cette cible afin d´optimiser la prise en charge.

Currently, little is known on the relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness (CF), physical activity (PA), and functional outcomes after stroke, especially in low- and middle-income countries. We examine the relationships between CF, PA, and functional outcomes in one-year poststroke in Benin, a lower middle-income country. A case–control study was carried out in northern Benin. Twenty-one participants with chronic strokes were matched to 42 controls according to sex and age. PA patterns and associated energy expenditure (EE) were assessed with a BodyMedia's senseWear armband. CF was evaluated with the Physical Working Capacity at 75% of the predicted maximal heart rate index. The functional outcomes were evaluated using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and the ACTIVLIM-Stroke scale. Both people with stroke and the healthy pairs spent much time in sedentary behavior (median [P25; P75]: 672 [460; 793] min vs 515 [287; 666] min, p = 0.006). Although people with chronic stroke performed fewer steps compared to healthy controls (median: 2767 vs 5524, p = 0.005), results showed that total EE was not statistically significant in either group (median: 7166 Kcal vs 8245 Kcal, p = 0.07). In addition, the mRS score (r = 0.47, p = 0.033) and the ACTIVLIM-Stroke measure (r = 0.52, p = 0.016) were moderately associated with the CF index of people with chronic stroke. The study showed clear trends for lower levels of PA in both people with chronic stroke and health controls. A correlation exists between CF, disability, and functional outcomes among stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the availability of health workers and medications for clinical management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in African hospital centers. Availability and affordability analyses of disease-modifying treatments were performed. Methods: A multicenter observational study involving African hospitals was conducted. A standard questionnaire was developed based on the European Federation of the Neurological Societies (EFNS) guidelines. We collected data on multidisciplinary care and availability of medicines. The availability and affordability were evaluated according to the WHO guidelines. Results: Nine hospital centers from eight African countries participated. We observed a low degree of implementation of multidisciplinary care in ALS management. Riluzole was only available in centers from South Africa, Senegal, Tunisia, and Togo. This treatment was unaffordable and the adjusted price was highly variable among countries. The cost of riluzole was partly or fully covered by patients, which implies a substantial economic burden. Conclusion: Our findings strengthen the need to promote multidisciplinary care in the clinical management of ALS in Africa. Disease-modifying medication should be both available and affordable. Local and international collaboration is needed to improve ALS health care access in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: We describe and compare the sociodemographic and clinical features, treatments, and prognoses and survival times of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Africa.Methodology: We conducted a multicentre, hospital-based cohort study in Africa. Patients with ALS diagnosed in the neurology departments of participating hospitals from 2005 to 2017 were included. Subgroup analysis was performed by subcontinent. Survival analyses were conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model.Results: Nine centres from eight African countries participated. A total of 185 patients with ALS were included: 114 from Northern Africa, 41 from Western Africa and 30 from Southern Africa. A male predominance (male to female ratio 2.9) was evident. The median age at onset was 53.0 years (IQR 44.5-64.0 years). The onset was bulbar in 22.7%. Only 47 patients (26.3%) received riluzole, mainly in Northern and Western Africa. The median survival from the time of diagnosis was 14.0 months (95% CI 10.7 to 17.2 months). The median survival was longer in Northern Africa (19.0 months, 95% CI 10.8 to 27.2 months) than in Western (4.0 months, 95% CI 0.8 to 7.1 months) and Southern (11.0 months, 95% CI 5.6 to 16.4 months) Africa (Breslow test, p<0.0001). Both subcontinental location and riluzole treatment independently affected survival.Conclusion: More African patients with ALS were male and younger and exhibited a lower proportion of bulbar onset compared with patients with ALS from Western nations. Survival was consistent with that in Western registers but far shorter than what would be expected for young patients with ALS. The research improves our understanding of the disease in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusionFirst healthcare actors in neurological diseases management, General Practitioners (GPs) still limited in the assessment of Peripheral Neuropathies (PN). This study assesses the knowledge, attitudes, practices (KAP) of GPs on PN in Benin in 2021 and identifying associated factors to low KAP.It was a cross-sectional study conducted from 20 November 2020 to 30 June 2021 which included GPs registered in the National Order of Physicians in Benin and interns in last year of medical studies (MS). An overall KAP score of 24 points was derived. KAP levels were low (score < 17), medium (17 to 19) and high (score ≥ 20). Multivariable regression models were performed to identify factors associated with low KAP.645/1,066 participants (60.5%) were included in the study with median age 28 years [Interquartile range IQR: 26-30 years], and 442 (68.5%) were male. The KAP level was low in 70.1%. 16.7% had a low knowledge of polyneuropathy manifestations, 35% perceived PN as an incurable disease. Lack of knowledge on PN before MS (adjusted Odds-ratio aOR = 1.6 [95% confidence interval CI: 1.1–2.3]), and no postgraduate training on PN (aOR = 1.8 [95% CI: 1.–-3.0]) were associated with low overall KAP level. Working in rural area (aOR = 0.4 [95%CI: 0.2–0.7]), and being an intern (aOR = 0.6 [95%CI: 0.4–0.9]) were associated with better overall KAP level.This study highlights the need for better training with strong emphasis on PN during the MS and the organization of postgraduate training for GPs; the cornerstone for improving the management of PN in Benin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]