South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde
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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are defined as conditions involving decreased blood flow to the heart that can lead to heart attacks, stroke or other disorders. CVDs are a common cause of death in low- and middle-income countries. In South Africa (SA) in particular, CVD is the leading cause of death after HIV/AIDS, responsible for 1 in 6 deaths. CVD risk factors include unhealthy diets, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol levels and diabetes. Omega-3 fatty acids may have a protective role in the risk of developing heart disease. ⋯ According to moderate- to high-certainty evidence, short-chain fatty acids and LCn3 have little or no effect on mortality or cardiovascular health. However, omega-3 ALA slightly reduces the risk of CVD events and arrhythmias.
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There is a lack of data on the frequency and pattern of colorectal adenomas in sub-Saharan Africa to guide diagnostic and preventive strategies for colorectal cancer (CRC) in the region. ⋯ This study provides a benchmark ADR for our catchment population and potentially across Africa. There is evidence of a continuing differential colorectal neoplasia risk according to ethnicity, with fewer adenomas being detected in black South Africans.
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There are limited data in South Africa (SA) on adverse drug reaction (ADR) patterns and common causative medicines, outside of HIV and tuberculosis treatment programmes. In SA, Western Cape Province has a pharmacovigilance programme that collects spontaneous reports of suspected ADRs from public sector healthcare facilities. ⋯ Enalapril and etonogestrel were responsible for a significant proportion of ADRs reported to this provincial programme. Future work should include quantification of preventability aspects to better inform gaps in healthcare worker knowledge that can be addressed in order to improve patient care.
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In 2018, 4% of all people living with HIV globally were adolescents aged 10 - 19 years. It is reported that adolescents on antiretroviral therapy (ART) are at increased risk of poor viral load suppression (VLS) compared with children and adults. ⋯ Targeted interventions are required to improve retention in care and VLS among adolescents on ART, with specific focus on older (15 - 19-year-olds) and pregnant adolescents.