Sidney Oparah - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Sidney Oparah

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin. Each year over 150,000 children ... more Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin. Each year over 150,000 children in Africa are born with SCA. Cognitive impairment is a common complication of SCA. This case-control study evaluated cognitive function in 41 adolescents and adults with SCA and an equal number of healthy demographically matched controls using the community screening interview for dementia (CSID), Trail Making Test A (TMTA), Saint Louis University Mental Status examination (SLUMS), and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Mood (anxiety and depression) was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The controls had better total scores on all screening instruments; however, the difference between their performance and that of the SCA adults was not statistically significant; SLUM (p = 0.179), TMTA (p = 0.359), MMSE (p = 0.241), and CSID (0.494). On specific task, the controls performed significantly better based on SLUM (naming), p = 0.016; SLUM (repetition), p = 0.0...

Dementia is a syndrome of progressive dysfunction of two or more cognitive domains associated wit... more Dementia is a syndrome of progressive dysfunction of two or more cognitive domains associated with impairment of activities of daily living. An understanding of the pathophysiology of dementia and its early diagnosis is important in the pursuit of possible disease modifying therapy for dementia. Neuroimaging has greatly transformed this field of research as its function has changed from a mere tool for diagnosing treatable causes of dementia to an instrument for pre-­-symptomatic diagnosis of dementia. This review focuses on the diagnostic utility of neuroimaging in the management of progressive dementias. Structural imaging techniques like computerized tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging highlights the anatomical, structural and volumetric details of the brain; while functional imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography, arterial spin labeling, single photon emission computerized tomography and blood oxygen level-­-dependent functional magnetic resonance ima...

Profile of nonhypertensive cardiovascular risk factors among traders in the Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Medicine, 2021

Background: The global burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is mainly driven by modifiable ri... more Background: The global burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is mainly driven by modifiable risk factors, with sub-Saharan Africa as the region to bear the brunt of the increasing burden. Emphasis has been on hypertension while side-lining the others to variable extents. Furthermore, the work environment, which plays an important role in the social life of adults has received less attention. This study aimed to identify nonhypertensive modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among traders in an urban market in Calabar metropolis, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we collected data on demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk profile from eligible traders at Marian market, using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The anthropometric and blood sugar measurements of the participants were duly obtained. Results: A hundred and fifty-one traders comprising 97 (64.2%) females and 54 (35.8%) participated in the study. Physical inacti...

Undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes: concordance between self-reported and actual profile among traders in Nigerian market

Nigerian Journal of Medicine, 2021

Background: Hypertension and diabetes rank high among cardiovascular risk factors, and in Africa,... more Background: Hypertension and diabetes rank high among cardiovascular risk factors, and in Africa, many affected persons are undiagnosed. Urban market traders are constrained from regular clinic visits by the fear of revenue loss occasioned by their absence from the stores, contributing to the reportedly high rates of undiagnosed and poorly treated cardiovascular conditions. This study determined the rate of undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes among traders in an urban market in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used an interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect data from 105 traders at Marian market Calabar, including information on demographic characteristics and self-reported statuses regarding hypertension and diabetes. Subsequently, blood pressure and random blood sugar values were measured. Results: Forty-three (41.0%) of the respondents correctly reported their statuses regarding hypertension and 93.3% of the respondents correctly reported t...

Suicidal Ideation among Epilepsy Patients at a Sub-Saharan Health Facility in Calabar, Nigeria (P6.285)

Neurology, 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify suicidal ideation and its determinants among per... more Objective: The aim of this study was to identify suicidal ideation and its determinants among persons diagnosed with epilepsy at the University of Calabar teaching hospital, Nigeria. Background: Psychopathological morbidity has been reported among people living with epilepsy. Co-existence of psychological distress in patients presenting to the clinics largely goes unrecognized, by attending clinicians, with consequent adverse impact on the outcomes of managing such patients. Design/Methods: We conducted a survey among epilepsy patients at their initial presentation to the adult neurology out-patient clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, from November 2015 to October 2016. In addition to generated data on demographics and epilepsy features, the participants were requested to affirm or refute entertainment of suicidal thoughts within the previous one month period. Results: Sixty five participants comprising of 38 (58.5%) males and 27 (41.5%) females, with a m...

Predictors of Anxiety and Depression Among Caregivers of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Children in Calabar, Nigeria

WHO ranks depression as the single largest contributor to global disability which is approximatel... more WHO ranks depression as the single largest contributor to global disability which is approximately 7.5% of all years lived with disability in 2015, anxiety disorders are ranked 6 th (3.4%). Due to the chronic course of the disease, it imparts negatively on the caregivers who demonstrate high levels of psychological distress and depression, increased rates of physiological illness, personal, financial, family, and social problems. This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2018 at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. A structured proforma was used to collect the baseline data which included socio-demography, relationship to the child, socioeconomic status etc. The anxiety and depression levels of these individuals were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sixty-four (64) parents/caregivers were interviewed who were predominantly females 79.7% with F: M ratio of 4:1. Most of the parents/caregivers ha...

Two-point discrimination threshold test is a widely employed method of evaluating tactile acuity.... more Two-point discrimination threshold test is a widely employed method of evaluating tactile acuity. It is valuable for assessing injuries to nerves supplying the hands and outcome of surgical manipulations. Availability of normative values for comparison is imperative for objective interpretation of two-point discrimination threshold tests. This study aims to determine the normative values of two-point discrimination thresholds in the thumbs of adult male Nigerians. In the methods, two-point discrimination tests were conducted, using a pair of blunt dividers and a meter rule, on the palmar surface of the distal portion of the thumb in the dominant hands of 146 healthy adult male Nigerians drawn from a university community. Participants were screened by conducting simple test of fine touch with a wisp of cotton wool; to exclude those with impaired results. In results, one hundred and forty six participants aged 18 to 55 years completed the study. The overall mean two point discriminati...

Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mar 21, 2020

Objective: To determine the relationship between illness perception, medication adherence and hea... more Objective: To determine the relationship between illness perception, medication adherence and health related quality of life in patients living with epilepsy. Design: A cross-sectional prospective survey among patients living with epilepsy recruited from two tertiary referral centers in Nigeria. Methods: Patients' illness perception, adherence to antiepileptic drugs, and health related quality of life were determined using the brief illness perception questionnaire (BIPQ), the eight-item Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS-8), and the patient weighted quality of life in epilepsy instrument (QOLIE-10-P) respectively. Correlation and linear regression analysis were used to test the relationship between the assessment variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: The under recognition and consequent mistreatment of migraine headache highlight the ... more Background: The under recognition and consequent mistreatment of migraine headache highlight the importance of quicker and easy to apply tools for migraine screening and diagnosis. The ID migraine fits the description of such a rapid screening diagnostic tool. Objective: To evaluate the ID migraine, in migraine headache diagnosis, among clinical students in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: Using a cross sectional design, we compared the performance of the ID migraine with that of the IHS criteria, used as a gold standard for migraine headache diagnosis, on a set of persons with recurrent headaches. Participants were recruited from a pool of 220 apparently healthy clinical students of the University of Calabar. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 20; and the level of significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: Fifty one persons who had recurrent headaches from the pool of students, comprising 25 (49%) males and 26 (51%) females, proceeded to complete the study. The mean age of the participants was 24.22 years ± 4.575. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive and negative predictive values we obtained for the ID migraine tool were 69.2%, 63.1%, 64.7%, 39.1% and 85.7%, respectively (kappa = 0.258; p= 0.043). Conclusion: The ID migraine had moderate sensitivity and specificity in our locality, and a low level of agreement with the IHS criteria. Its usefulness in our locality may be more in ruling out, rather than ruling in, migraine in persons with recurrent headaches.

Aim: Spurred on by the prevailing dearth of data from Nigeria and West Africa, in the context of ... more Aim: Spurred on by the prevailing dearth of data from Nigeria and West Africa, in the context of reports suggesting racially influenced phenotypic variation in the manifestation of myasthenia gravis, this study explored the clinical presentation of patients with myasthenia gravis at a tertiary health facility in Calabar, Nigeria. Study Design: We employed a cross-sectional study design. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. The period under review spanned from January 2006 to December 2019. Methods: We obtained relevant demographic and clinical data from those who presented with myasthenia gravis from June 2017 to December 2019, and retrospectively extracted demographic and clinical information at presentation, from the records of patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis at the outpatient neurology and ophthalmology clinics of the hospital from January 2006 to Original Research Article Oparah and Ibanga; AJMPC...

Utility of the ID-migraine tool in migraine without aura diagnosis: an experience from Nigeria

Journal of Medical and Allied Sciences

Diversity & Equality in Health and Care

The health and well-being of women have not been studied extensively and had not been the major f... more The health and well-being of women have not been studied extensively and had not been the major focus of policy fabricators and decision makers in Nigeria. It is imperative to explore the factors influencing health and the well-being of women in child-bearing age (WCBA).

Intradialysis blood pressure changes among chronic kidney disease patients on maintenance haemodialysis in a tertiary hospital south - south Nigeria: a 2 year retrospective study

Pan African Medical Journal

Recent Advances in Biology and Medicine

Cognitive dysfunction including dementia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD)... more Cognitive dysfunction including dementia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that has just been recently appreciated. It has negative outcomes in the management of patients with CKD. This study explored the possible biochemical and clinical features of patients with CKD that can predict the occurrence of cognitive impairment in patients with moderate to severe CKD. We evaluate patients with stages 3-5 CKD for the occurrence and predictors of cognitive impairment. Multiple areas of cognitive function were tested in this single-center study using Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSID) and Trial-Making Test A (TMTA)/Trial-Making Test B (TMTB). Cognitive impairment was correlated with patients’ routine biochemical, hematological, and selected clinical parameters. We observed a negative correlation between cognitive impairment and patient’s serum calcium (r 5 0.240; p 5 0.033) and estimated Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r 5 0.379; p 5 0.0006). Therefo...

The Open Ophthalmology Journal, 2016

Purpose: A retrospective study of the outcome of congenital and developmental cataract surgery wa... more Purpose: A retrospective study of the outcome of congenital and developmental cataract surgery was conducted in a public child eye health tertiary facility in children <16 years of age in Southern Nigeria, as part of an evaluation. Materials and Method: Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery with or without anterior vitrectomy was performed. The outcome measures were visual acuity (VA) and change (gain) in visual acuity. The age of the child at onset, duration of delay in presentation, ocular co-morbidity, non ocular co-morbidity, gender, and pre operative visual acuity were matched with postoperative visual acuity. A total of 66 children were studied for a period of six weeks following surgery. Results: Forty eight (72.7%) children had bilateral congenital cataracts and 18 (27.3%) children had bilateral developmental cataracts. There were 38(57.6%) males and 28 (42.4%) females in the study. Thirty Five (53%) children had good visual outcome (normal vision range 6/6/ -6/18) post-...

Spectrum of movement disorders at an outpatient neurology clinic: a 1 ½ year experience at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

Introduction: Few reports exist on movement disorders in Nigeria, particularly in the oil rich Ni... more Introduction: Few reports exist on movement disorders in Nigeria, particularly in the oil rich Niger delta region. Available reports have documented Parkinson`s disease as the most common. Method: To determine the spectrum and frequency of movement disorders seen at the University of Calabar outpatient neurology clinic, we reviewed the patients who presented with movement disorders at the clinic over a 1 ½ year period. Results: out of 427 patients with neurological conditions, 78 (18.3%) were cases of movement disorders. These comprised of 51 (65.4%) male and 27 (34.6%) female patients. Parkinsonism was the most common presentation, accounting for 41% of the patients. Others had Essential tremor (23.1%), Dystonias (14.1%), Cerebellar disorders (14.1%), Tics (2.6%) and other movement disorders made up the remaining 5.2%. Parkinson`s disease accounted for 87.4% of patients with parkinsonism. The mean age of Parkinsonism patients was 61.2 years ± 11.73. Conclusion: Parkinson`s disease ...

Outpatient neurological presentations at a tertiary health facility in southern Nigeria: a 2 year experience at the University of Calabar teaching Hospital, Calabar

Introduction: There is a dearth of data on the variety of outpatient neurological presentations i... more Introduction: There is a dearth of data on the variety of outpatient neurological presentations in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region. Available reports on neurological presentations in Nigeria tend to focus more on inpatients. Method: To determine the pattern of neurological diseases seen at the outpatient neurology clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, we reviewed the records of patients who presented at the facility over a 2 year period. Results: Five hundred and twenty three patients were seen at the outpatient neurology clinic, accounting for 17.5% of all medical outpatient cases who presented during the 2 year period reviewed. Male patients accounted for 56% of cases, while females made up 44%. The mean age of the patients was 46.3 years ± 15.89, with an age range of 15 to 89 years. A hundred of the patients (19.1%) were on post stroke follow up. Ninety (17.2%) of the cases had seizure disorders, whereas patients with movement disorders accounted fo...

Tetanus among Medical In-patients: a five year review of seasonal pattern at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital

To ascertain possible existence of seasonal variation in tetanus admissions at the University of ... more To ascertain possible existence of seasonal variation in tetanus admissions at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in Nigeria; we examined the records of tetanus admissions obtained from medical inpatients` documentations over a period of 5 years, spanning from 2005 to 2009. Eighty two tetanus patients comprising of 65 (79.3%) males and 17 (20.7%) females were admitted during the period under review. Forty three (52.4%) and 17 (47.6%) were admitted during the wet and dry seasons respectively (p = 0.296). The average monthly frequency of tetanus admissions was 6.8. The months of April (12), July (10) and march (9) recorded the most number of tetanus admissions, constituting 14.6%, 12.6% and 11.0% of total tetanus admissions respectively. The month of June recorded the least frequency of admission accounting for three (3.7%) of tetanus admissions (p = 0.048). The case fatality rate for tetanus was 43.9%. Twenty one (58.3%) and 15 (41.7%) of the tetanus mortality occurred durin...

Knowledge of Physicians in Cross River State Ministry of Health on women related issues in epilepsy

To assess the knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy among physicians in the Cross River State M... more To assess the knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy among physicians in the Cross River State Ministry of Health Workforce, those who attended a CME program on seizure disorders in Calabar, were requested to complete the KOWIE II questionnaire. Thirty nine physicians participated in the survey. One third of the respondents were aware of the effects of sex hormones on seizures, and the higher incidence of sexual dysfunction among women with epilepsy. Half of them were aware of undesirable effects of anti-epilepsy drugs (AEDs) on bone health. Two thirds were aware that pregnant women with epilepsy should not stop their medications, and that the best AED is the one most appropriate for the seizure type and syndrome. Three quarters of the respondents were aware of the need to administer folic acid and vitamin k to pregnant women and neonates of women on AEDs respectively. About 56% of them were aware that women on AEDs can safely breast feed. The overall mean KOWIE II score was 61.0%....


Knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy: a survey of residents at a tertiary hospital in Calabar, Niger delta region of Nigeria

Background: Reports reveal deficiencies in the knowledge of women related issues in epilepsy, amo... more Background: Reports reveal deficiencies in the knowledge of women related issues in epilepsy, among health care professionals, with consequent inadequate health education and poor health care delivery to this set of patients.Aim: To assess the knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy among residents at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.Method: Seventy two consenting residents from the Internal medicine, Family Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology departments of the hospital, were requested to complete the KOWIE II questionnaire designed to assess knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy. Results: One fifth of the respondents knew about the effects of sex hormones on seizures. Two fifths knew of the higher incidence of sexual dysfunction among women with epilepsy, the undesirable effects of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) on bone health, and the best choice of anti-epileptic drug in pregnancy. Two thirds knew of reduction in contraceptive efficacy by some AEDs, and the n...

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin. Each year over 150,000 children ... more Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin. Each year over 150,000 children in Africa are born with SCA. Cognitive impairment is a common complication of SCA. This case-control study evaluated cognitive function in 41 adolescents and adults with SCA and an equal number of healthy demographically matched controls using the community screening interview for dementia (CSID), Trail Making Test A (TMTA), Saint Louis University Mental Status examination (SLUMS), and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Mood (anxiety and depression) was assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The controls had better total scores on all screening instruments; however, the difference between their performance and that of the SCA adults was not statistically significant; SLUM (p = 0.179), TMTA (p = 0.359), MMSE (p = 0.241), and CSID (0.494). On specific task, the controls performed significantly better based on SLUM (naming), p = 0.016; SLUM (repetition), p = 0.0...

Dementia is a syndrome of progressive dysfunction of two or more cognitive domains associated wit... more Dementia is a syndrome of progressive dysfunction of two or more cognitive domains associated with impairment of activities of daily living. An understanding of the pathophysiology of dementia and its early diagnosis is important in the pursuit of possible disease modifying therapy for dementia. Neuroimaging has greatly transformed this field of research as its function has changed from a mere tool for diagnosing treatable causes of dementia to an instrument for pre-­-symptomatic diagnosis of dementia. This review focuses on the diagnostic utility of neuroimaging in the management of progressive dementias. Structural imaging techniques like computerized tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging highlights the anatomical, structural and volumetric details of the brain; while functional imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography, arterial spin labeling, single photon emission computerized tomography and blood oxygen level-­-dependent functional magnetic resonance ima...

Profile of nonhypertensive cardiovascular risk factors among traders in the Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Medicine, 2021

Background: The global burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is mainly driven by modifiable ri... more Background: The global burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is mainly driven by modifiable risk factors, with sub-Saharan Africa as the region to bear the brunt of the increasing burden. Emphasis has been on hypertension while side-lining the others to variable extents. Furthermore, the work environment, which plays an important role in the social life of adults has received less attention. This study aimed to identify nonhypertensive modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among traders in an urban market in Calabar metropolis, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we collected data on demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk profile from eligible traders at Marian market, using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The anthropometric and blood sugar measurements of the participants were duly obtained. Results: A hundred and fifty-one traders comprising 97 (64.2%) females and 54 (35.8%) participated in the study. Physical inacti...

Undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes: concordance between self-reported and actual profile among traders in Nigerian market

Nigerian Journal of Medicine, 2021

Background: Hypertension and diabetes rank high among cardiovascular risk factors, and in Africa,... more Background: Hypertension and diabetes rank high among cardiovascular risk factors, and in Africa, many affected persons are undiagnosed. Urban market traders are constrained from regular clinic visits by the fear of revenue loss occasioned by their absence from the stores, contributing to the reportedly high rates of undiagnosed and poorly treated cardiovascular conditions. This study determined the rate of undiagnosed hypertension and diabetes among traders in an urban market in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we used an interviewer-administered questionnaire to collect data from 105 traders at Marian market Calabar, including information on demographic characteristics and self-reported statuses regarding hypertension and diabetes. Subsequently, blood pressure and random blood sugar values were measured. Results: Forty-three (41.0%) of the respondents correctly reported their statuses regarding hypertension and 93.3% of the respondents correctly reported t...

Suicidal Ideation among Epilepsy Patients at a Sub-Saharan Health Facility in Calabar, Nigeria (P6.285)

Neurology, 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify suicidal ideation and its determinants among per... more Objective: The aim of this study was to identify suicidal ideation and its determinants among persons diagnosed with epilepsy at the University of Calabar teaching hospital, Nigeria. Background: Psychopathological morbidity has been reported among people living with epilepsy. Co-existence of psychological distress in patients presenting to the clinics largely goes unrecognized, by attending clinicians, with consequent adverse impact on the outcomes of managing such patients. Design/Methods: We conducted a survey among epilepsy patients at their initial presentation to the adult neurology out-patient clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, from November 2015 to October 2016. In addition to generated data on demographics and epilepsy features, the participants were requested to affirm or refute entertainment of suicidal thoughts within the previous one month period. Results: Sixty five participants comprising of 38 (58.5%) males and 27 (41.5%) females, with a m...

Predictors of Anxiety and Depression Among Caregivers of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Positive Children in Calabar, Nigeria

WHO ranks depression as the single largest contributor to global disability which is approximatel... more WHO ranks depression as the single largest contributor to global disability which is approximately 7.5% of all years lived with disability in 2015, anxiety disorders are ranked 6 th (3.4%). Due to the chronic course of the disease, it imparts negatively on the caregivers who demonstrate high levels of psychological distress and depression, increased rates of physiological illness, personal, financial, family, and social problems. This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from July to November 2018 at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria. A structured proforma was used to collect the baseline data which included socio-demography, relationship to the child, socioeconomic status etc. The anxiety and depression levels of these individuals were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Sixty-four (64) parents/caregivers were interviewed who were predominantly females 79.7% with F: M ratio of 4:1. Most of the parents/caregivers ha...

Two-point discrimination threshold test is a widely employed method of evaluating tactile acuity.... more Two-point discrimination threshold test is a widely employed method of evaluating tactile acuity. It is valuable for assessing injuries to nerves supplying the hands and outcome of surgical manipulations. Availability of normative values for comparison is imperative for objective interpretation of two-point discrimination threshold tests. This study aims to determine the normative values of two-point discrimination thresholds in the thumbs of adult male Nigerians. In the methods, two-point discrimination tests were conducted, using a pair of blunt dividers and a meter rule, on the palmar surface of the distal portion of the thumb in the dominant hands of 146 healthy adult male Nigerians drawn from a university community. Participants were screened by conducting simple test of fine touch with a wisp of cotton wool; to exclude those with impaired results. In results, one hundred and forty six participants aged 18 to 55 years completed the study. The overall mean two point discriminati...

Journal of Advances in Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mar 21, 2020

Objective: To determine the relationship between illness perception, medication adherence and hea... more Objective: To determine the relationship between illness perception, medication adherence and health related quality of life in patients living with epilepsy. Design: A cross-sectional prospective survey among patients living with epilepsy recruited from two tertiary referral centers in Nigeria. Methods: Patients' illness perception, adherence to antiepileptic drugs, and health related quality of life were determined using the brief illness perception questionnaire (BIPQ), the eight-item Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS-8), and the patient weighted quality of life in epilepsy instrument (QOLIE-10-P) respectively. Correlation and linear regression analysis were used to test the relationship between the assessment variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Saudi Journal of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: The under recognition and consequent mistreatment of migraine headache highlight the ... more Background: The under recognition and consequent mistreatment of migraine headache highlight the importance of quicker and easy to apply tools for migraine screening and diagnosis. The ID migraine fits the description of such a rapid screening diagnostic tool. Objective: To evaluate the ID migraine, in migraine headache diagnosis, among clinical students in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: Using a cross sectional design, we compared the performance of the ID migraine with that of the IHS criteria, used as a gold standard for migraine headache diagnosis, on a set of persons with recurrent headaches. Participants were recruited from a pool of 220 apparently healthy clinical students of the University of Calabar. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 20; and the level of significance was set as p < 0.05. Results: Fifty one persons who had recurrent headaches from the pool of students, comprising 25 (49%) males and 26 (51%) females, proceeded to complete the study. The mean age of the participants was 24.22 years ± 4.575. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive and negative predictive values we obtained for the ID migraine tool were 69.2%, 63.1%, 64.7%, 39.1% and 85.7%, respectively (kappa = 0.258; p= 0.043). Conclusion: The ID migraine had moderate sensitivity and specificity in our locality, and a low level of agreement with the IHS criteria. Its usefulness in our locality may be more in ruling out, rather than ruling in, migraine in persons with recurrent headaches.

Aim: Spurred on by the prevailing dearth of data from Nigeria and West Africa, in the context of ... more Aim: Spurred on by the prevailing dearth of data from Nigeria and West Africa, in the context of reports suggesting racially influenced phenotypic variation in the manifestation of myasthenia gravis, this study explored the clinical presentation of patients with myasthenia gravis at a tertiary health facility in Calabar, Nigeria. Study Design: We employed a cross-sectional study design. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. The period under review spanned from January 2006 to December 2019. Methods: We obtained relevant demographic and clinical data from those who presented with myasthenia gravis from June 2017 to December 2019, and retrospectively extracted demographic and clinical information at presentation, from the records of patients diagnosed with myasthenia gravis at the outpatient neurology and ophthalmology clinics of the hospital from January 2006 to Original Research Article Oparah and Ibanga; AJMPC...

Utility of the ID-migraine tool in migraine without aura diagnosis: an experience from Nigeria

Journal of Medical and Allied Sciences

Diversity & Equality in Health and Care

The health and well-being of women have not been studied extensively and had not been the major f... more The health and well-being of women have not been studied extensively and had not been the major focus of policy fabricators and decision makers in Nigeria. It is imperative to explore the factors influencing health and the well-being of women in child-bearing age (WCBA).

Intradialysis blood pressure changes among chronic kidney disease patients on maintenance haemodialysis in a tertiary hospital south - south Nigeria: a 2 year retrospective study

Pan African Medical Journal

Recent Advances in Biology and Medicine

Cognitive dysfunction including dementia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD)... more Cognitive dysfunction including dementia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that has just been recently appreciated. It has negative outcomes in the management of patients with CKD. This study explored the possible biochemical and clinical features of patients with CKD that can predict the occurrence of cognitive impairment in patients with moderate to severe CKD. We evaluate patients with stages 3-5 CKD for the occurrence and predictors of cognitive impairment. Multiple areas of cognitive function were tested in this single-center study using Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSID) and Trial-Making Test A (TMTA)/Trial-Making Test B (TMTB). Cognitive impairment was correlated with patients’ routine biochemical, hematological, and selected clinical parameters. We observed a negative correlation between cognitive impairment and patient’s serum calcium (r 5 0.240; p 5 0.033) and estimated Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r 5 0.379; p 5 0.0006). Therefo...

The Open Ophthalmology Journal, 2016

Purpose: A retrospective study of the outcome of congenital and developmental cataract surgery wa... more Purpose: A retrospective study of the outcome of congenital and developmental cataract surgery was conducted in a public child eye health tertiary facility in children <16 years of age in Southern Nigeria, as part of an evaluation. Materials and Method: Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery with or without anterior vitrectomy was performed. The outcome measures were visual acuity (VA) and change (gain) in visual acuity. The age of the child at onset, duration of delay in presentation, ocular co-morbidity, non ocular co-morbidity, gender, and pre operative visual acuity were matched with postoperative visual acuity. A total of 66 children were studied for a period of six weeks following surgery. Results: Forty eight (72.7%) children had bilateral congenital cataracts and 18 (27.3%) children had bilateral developmental cataracts. There were 38(57.6%) males and 28 (42.4%) females in the study. Thirty Five (53%) children had good visual outcome (normal vision range 6/6/ -6/18) post-...

Spectrum of movement disorders at an outpatient neurology clinic: a 1 ½ year experience at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

Introduction: Few reports exist on movement disorders in Nigeria, particularly in the oil rich Ni... more Introduction: Few reports exist on movement disorders in Nigeria, particularly in the oil rich Niger delta region. Available reports have documented Parkinson`s disease as the most common. Method: To determine the spectrum and frequency of movement disorders seen at the University of Calabar outpatient neurology clinic, we reviewed the patients who presented with movement disorders at the clinic over a 1 ½ year period. Results: out of 427 patients with neurological conditions, 78 (18.3%) were cases of movement disorders. These comprised of 51 (65.4%) male and 27 (34.6%) female patients. Parkinsonism was the most common presentation, accounting for 41% of the patients. Others had Essential tremor (23.1%), Dystonias (14.1%), Cerebellar disorders (14.1%), Tics (2.6%) and other movement disorders made up the remaining 5.2%. Parkinson`s disease accounted for 87.4% of patients with parkinsonism. The mean age of Parkinsonism patients was 61.2 years ± 11.73. Conclusion: Parkinson`s disease ...

Outpatient neurological presentations at a tertiary health facility in southern Nigeria: a 2 year experience at the University of Calabar teaching Hospital, Calabar

Introduction: There is a dearth of data on the variety of outpatient neurological presentations i... more Introduction: There is a dearth of data on the variety of outpatient neurological presentations in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region. Available reports on neurological presentations in Nigeria tend to focus more on inpatients. Method: To determine the pattern of neurological diseases seen at the outpatient neurology clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, we reviewed the records of patients who presented at the facility over a 2 year period. Results: Five hundred and twenty three patients were seen at the outpatient neurology clinic, accounting for 17.5% of all medical outpatient cases who presented during the 2 year period reviewed. Male patients accounted for 56% of cases, while females made up 44%. The mean age of the patients was 46.3 years ± 15.89, with an age range of 15 to 89 years. A hundred of the patients (19.1%) were on post stroke follow up. Ninety (17.2%) of the cases had seizure disorders, whereas patients with movement disorders accounted fo...

Tetanus among Medical In-patients: a five year review of seasonal pattern at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital

To ascertain possible existence of seasonal variation in tetanus admissions at the University of ... more To ascertain possible existence of seasonal variation in tetanus admissions at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital in Nigeria; we examined the records of tetanus admissions obtained from medical inpatients` documentations over a period of 5 years, spanning from 2005 to 2009. Eighty two tetanus patients comprising of 65 (79.3%) males and 17 (20.7%) females were admitted during the period under review. Forty three (52.4%) and 17 (47.6%) were admitted during the wet and dry seasons respectively (p = 0.296). The average monthly frequency of tetanus admissions was 6.8. The months of April (12), July (10) and march (9) recorded the most number of tetanus admissions, constituting 14.6%, 12.6% and 11.0% of total tetanus admissions respectively. The month of June recorded the least frequency of admission accounting for three (3.7%) of tetanus admissions (p = 0.048). The case fatality rate for tetanus was 43.9%. Twenty one (58.3%) and 15 (41.7%) of the tetanus mortality occurred durin...

Knowledge of Physicians in Cross River State Ministry of Health on women related issues in epilepsy

To assess the knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy among physicians in the Cross River State M... more To assess the knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy among physicians in the Cross River State Ministry of Health Workforce, those who attended a CME program on seizure disorders in Calabar, were requested to complete the KOWIE II questionnaire. Thirty nine physicians participated in the survey. One third of the respondents were aware of the effects of sex hormones on seizures, and the higher incidence of sexual dysfunction among women with epilepsy. Half of them were aware of undesirable effects of anti-epilepsy drugs (AEDs) on bone health. Two thirds were aware that pregnant women with epilepsy should not stop their medications, and that the best AED is the one most appropriate for the seizure type and syndrome. Three quarters of the respondents were aware of the need to administer folic acid and vitamin k to pregnant women and neonates of women on AEDs respectively. About 56% of them were aware that women on AEDs can safely breast feed. The overall mean KOWIE II score was 61.0%....


Knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy: a survey of residents at a tertiary hospital in Calabar, Niger delta region of Nigeria

Background: Reports reveal deficiencies in the knowledge of women related issues in epilepsy, amo... more Background: Reports reveal deficiencies in the knowledge of women related issues in epilepsy, among health care professionals, with consequent inadequate health education and poor health care delivery to this set of patients.Aim: To assess the knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy among residents at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.Method: Seventy two consenting residents from the Internal medicine, Family Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynecology departments of the hospital, were requested to complete the KOWIE II questionnaire designed to assess knowledge of women`s issues in epilepsy. Results: One fifth of the respondents knew about the effects of sex hormones on seizures. Two fifths knew of the higher incidence of sexual dysfunction among women with epilepsy, the undesirable effects of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) on bone health, and the best choice of anti-epileptic drug in pregnancy. Two thirds knew of reduction in contraceptive efficacy by some AEDs, and the n...