Internal Medicine Commons^™

Disease Activity And Functional Status And Their Relation To Depression In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis, Joe Rosana Rakiro

Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Rheumatoid Arthritis, one of the commonest forms of inflammatory arthritis, has significant societal impact with regards to cost, induction of disability and loss of productivity. This impact is magnified in the presence of comorbid mood disorders, as these constitute independent factors for unexplained flares and relapses.

Purpose: The primary purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between disease activity and depression in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients.

Methods: Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis attending rheumatology clinic at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi were recruited into the study. The patients’ disease activity and functional status were assessed using the Clinical Disease …

Acinetobacter Infections: A Retrospective Study To Determine In – Hospital Mortality Rate And Clinical Factors Associated With Mortality, Rajiv Patel

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Acinetobacter infections are increasingly being recognized as a cause for significant in – hospital morbidity and mortality worldwide. Increasingly multi – drug resistant strains of Acinetobacter are being isolated, increasing the burden on healthcare resources. Our objectives were to determine the outcomes and clinical factors related to outcomes of Acinetobacter infections at the Aga Khan University Hospital.

Methods: A retrospective study of Acinetobacter infections (from any site) was conducted. Patient records were used to gather relevant clinical information. The collected data was tabulated and analysed for any significant differences in demographic or clinical variables. The Pearson Chi squared test …

Long-Term Outcomes And Factors Associated With Mortality Among Patients With Moderate To Severe Pulmonary Hypertension In Kenya, Abdulaziz Mansur Abeid

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a condition that carries significant morbidity and mortality. Studies done in sub-Saharan Africa have reported poor short-term outcomes. However, data on long-term outcomes and prognostic factors are lacking.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the one and two-year survival rates and prognostic factors associated with mortality in patients with moderate to severe PH.

Methods: A retrospective review of moderate to severe PH patients [pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), ≥45 mmHg] diagnosed at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi from 2014 to 2017 was carried out. Demographic, clinical and in hospital outcome data were extracted from medical …

A Randomized Control Trial Of English-Speaking Advanced Cancer Patients At Akus Medical And Surgical Clinics And The Impact On Qol Of One Session Of Dignity Therapy, Miriam Gatehi-Muriithi

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Palliative care is a modality of treatment that addresses physical, psychological and spiritual symptoms. Dignity therapy, a form of psychotherapy, was developed by Professor Harvey Chochinov, MD in 2005.

Methods: This was a randomized control trial of 144 patients (72 in each arm) randomized into group 1 (intervention arm) and group 2 (control arm). Baseline ESAS scores were determined in both arms following which group 1 received Dignity therapy while Group 2 received usual care only. Data collected was presented as Legacy documents to group 1 participants. Post intervention ESAS scores were obtained in both groups after 6 weeks. …

Risk Factors, Clinico-Pathologic Characteristics And Outcomes In Young Kenyan Female Patients With Breast Cancer In Akuh-N, Gilford Mutwiri Mwikamba

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Breast cancer in the young refers to a diagnosis of breast cancer in a female under the age of forty years. This is considered a distinct disease with different risk factors, biology, and prognosis. Young age at breast cancer diagnosis is reportedly more common among African-Americans. The highest proportion of breast cancer in the young has been reported in Africa. Early detection of breast cancer in Africa is hampered by lack of access to health care services, appropriate screening tools, and high cost of magnetic resonance imaging for the high risk groups. Despite a worse prognosis, management of breast …

The Association Between Asymptomatic And Mild Neurocognitive Impairment And Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy Amongst People Living With Hiv, Violet Maloba Awori

Theses & Dissertations

Background: HIV disease is associated with neurocognitive impairment which is one of the neurological complications of the viral infection. The spectrum of HIV Associated neurocognitive impairment has significantly changed since the advent of ART. The inclusion of the asymptomatic but cognitively impaired population of patients has changed the dynamics of this population, and requires further research to identify the impact it has on the progression of the disease as well as on any other aspects. Poor adherence to ART is one of the main causes of treatment failure and studies done previously point towards the milder forms of Neurocognitive Impairment …

Factors That Influence Advance Directives Completion Amongst Terminally Ill Patients At Akuhn, Stephen Omondi Otieno

Theses & Dissertations

Background: An advance directive is a written or verbal document that legally stipulates a person’s health care preference while they are competent to make decisions for themselves, and which is then used to guide decisions on life-sustaining treatment in the event that they become incapacitated. Advance directives can take one of four forms: a living will, a limitation of care document, a do-not-resuscitate order, and an appointment of a surrogate by durable power of attorney. The completion rate of advance directives varies from region to region, and it is influenced by different patient, caregiver, legal, institutional, cultural, and religious factors. …

Outcomes In Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes At The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Mohamed Hasham Varwani

Theses & Dissertations

Background: As the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa rises, coronary artery disease, with its acute presentations, is being increasingly recognized in Kenyans and treated at tertiary level hospitals. It is just over a decade since the introduction and wide availability of modern cardiology services, including interventional cardiology in Kenya.

Following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), patients remain at high risk of death and other adverse events such as heart failure, recurrent myocardial infarction, stroke, and bleeding. Local and regional data on long-term outcomes following ACS are lacking. These data are important to clinicians for prognostication and to health …

The Diagnostic Accuracy Of Determine™ Tb Lam Antigen In Detection Of Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Eptb), Fatimah Osman Juma

Theses & Dissertations

Background: TB remains a key global health challenge; particularly Extra pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) and is also a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. The increasing incidence of EPTB compounded by difficulties in making a timely diagnosis portends to poor prognosis and increased mortality. Delays in diagnosis and misdiagnosis of EPTB in suspected patients account for mortality as well. Challenges in diagnosis of EPTB are mainly due to disease related factors, the paucibacillary nature of disease and challenges with sample collection and processing. Reference standard test such as TB culture, geneXpert and histology which are used in the …

The Effect Of Body Mass Index On Graft Function And Kidney Transplant Outcomes, Morgan Galle

Theses & Dissertations

Background: When determining eligibility for kidney transplantation, body mass index (BMI) is often a debatable criterion for transplant due to the clinical indication, an elevated BMI has adverse effects on kidney transplant outcomes. There is a current gap in research on the effect BMI has on kidney transplant outcomes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the role BMI plays in post-kidney transplant clinical outcomes including delayed graft function, new onset diabetes after transplant, wound complications, hospital length of stay, albumin, and readmissions to the hospital from initial hospitalization and at six months following kidney transplantation. The primary …

Respiratory Function Amongst Asymptomatic Hiv Positive And Hiv Negative Clients At Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Noah Kipkemei Murbiy

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Spirometry is used to asses respiratory function abnormalities. This is usually in reference to a validated normal range unique to a particular gender, race, age, weight and height. Majority of persons are usually asymptomatic until the expected FEV1 has decreased by 50%. Early intervention on the abnormalities even in this asymptomatic group has been shown to retard the rate of pulmonary deterioration. An unpublished audit at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, revealed that majority of newly diagnosed HIV positive persons were admitted at the Critical Care Units with a pulmonary cause which later resulted in poor outcomes. This …

Comparison Of Cardiovascular Risk Profiles Amongst Newly Diagnosed Cancer Patients And Non-Cancer Patients At The Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi, Majid Lingani-Ncube Sikosana

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are fast becoming the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Low and Middle-income countries (LMIC) with cancers and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) becoming the most prominent. CVD can be prevented if appropriate measures of screening and treatment of modifiable risk factors are addressed. This may translate to reduced risk of CVDs and some cancers in the long term. Increasing evidence exhibits common risk factors for both CVDs and cancer and that CVDs and their risk factors when present in cancer patients may worsen the overall outcome.

Objectives: The primary objective was to determine and compare …

A Randomised Comparative Trial Of Seven Versus Fourteen Day Triple Therapy For Helicobacter Pylori Eradication At The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Ahmed Sokwala

Theses & Dissertations

Background: Helicobacter is associated with a number of important upper gastrointestinal conditions including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric malignancy. Proton pump inhibitor -based triple therapies are considered the standard regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication, but the optimal duration of these regimens is still controversial. Local studies are required to evaluate the H. pylori eradication rates in a country for adequate eradication to prevent H. pylori infection and complications

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to compare 7 day and 14 day regimens and determine the optimum duration of triple therapy for H. pylori eradication.

Methods: A …

Risk Of Contrast Induced Nephropathy In Hiv Patients Receiving Radiographic Contrast At Three Aga Khan Hospitals, Sitna A. Mwanzi

Theses & Dissertations

Aim: To study the influence of HIV infection on the development of contrast induced nephropathy in patients receiving radio contrast material

Design: Prospective cohort study

Patients and setting:One hundred and twenty five (125) HIV positive patients and one hundred and fifty five (155) HIV negative patients selected from in and out patient departments of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi and Aga Khan Hospitals in Mombasa and Kisumu, were evaluated for the study between August 2008 and August 2009.

Methodology: Eligible patients undergoing radiological evaluation requiring the use of radio contrast material were consecutively recruited for the study after …

A Randomised Comparative Clinical Trial Of Prokinetic Agents And Proton Pump Inhibitors In H. Pylori Negative Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia, Mzee Ngunga

Theses & Dissertations

Aim: To compare the efficacy of prokinetic agents and proton pump inhibitors in symptom relief of patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia.

Design: Comparative prospective single blind clinical trial.

Patients and setting: Fifty four cases of non-ulcer dyspepsia in whom H. pylori has been eradicated were seen in the specialist gastroenterology clinic of a tertiary care hospital.

Methodology: Patients with dyspepsia and negative endoscopy for peptic ulcer disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, hiatus hernia and upper gastrointestinal malignancy in whom H pylori has been eradicated but still had dyspepsia were assessed and scored using the modified Glasgow dyspepsia severity score (GDSS) at baseline. …

Prevalence, Risk Factors And Outcome Of Acute Kidney Injury At The Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi, Peter W. Munyu

Theses & Dissertations

Introduction: Acute kidney failure (acute kidney injury, AKI) is a group of syndromes that result in a decline in the glomerular filtration rate. In 2002, the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative (ADQI) group proposed the RIFLE criteria to standardize the definitions of AKI severity and outcome. This criterion has been validated in several studies. AKI is frequently encountered in hospitalized patients; it has a negative impact on mortality and morbidity. A lot of work has been done to describe the epidemiology of AKI in developed countries. The same does not apply for developing countries. This study was designed to evaluate AKI …