Background There is no information on the prevalence and incidence of atrial fibrillation in Ethiopia. We aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors and anticoagulant requirements of atrial fibrillation in an elderly Jimma population. Methods In a community-based cross-sectional study in 634 adult (≥40 years) Jimma population, we performed cardiovascular health examinations including a 12-lead electrocardiogram to estimate AF prevalence. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on medical history, lifestyle and use of medications. Stroke risk stratification was done using CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score. We used logistic regressions to determine the potential risk factors of AF. Results The overall prevalence of AF was 4.3%. AF was associated with sex, current smoking, hypertension and BMI. Nineteen out of twenty seven participants with AF were in need of anticoagulation to prevent risk of stroke. Conclusion The prevalence of AF is high and common risk factors were sex, current smoking, hypertension, and higher BMI in this cohort. More than two-third of study participants with AF were at higher need of oral anticoagulants.

Background. Anemia in pregnancy is defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of less than 11 grams (gm)/deciliter (dl) in venous blood. Globally, it affects 1.62 billion people. In developing countries, anemia is a major cause of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Globally, anemia contributes to 20% of all maternal deaths. Nearly 50% of the world’s population is estimated to be infected with Helicobacter pylori (HP). High prevalence of HP among pregnant women was also reported in developing countries than developed ones. The association between HP infection and occurrence of anemia is not well known in Ethiopia. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association between anemia and Helicobacter pylori infection among pregnant women attending antenatal care follow-up in Kulito Health Center, Halaba Zone, South Ethiopia. Methods. Institution-based cross-sectional study was employed. Systematic random sampling procedure was employed to select 236 pregnant women who attended antenatal care at Kulito Health Center. An interviewer-administered questionnaire supplemented by laboratory tests was used to obtain the data. The collected data were analyzed by using SPSS version 20.0. Results. The prevalence of anemia among antenatal care attendant pregnant women of Kulito Health Center was 27.5% with 36 (15.2%) of mild, 29 (12.3%) of moderate, and no severe cases of anemia. The overall prevalence of HP infection among study participants was found to be 129 (54.7%) (95% CI: 47.9–61.4). Factors significantly associated with anemia were presence of HP infection (AOR = 3.064, 95% CI: 1.336 7.027), low interpregnancy gap (AOR = 2.863, 95% CI: 1.245–6.582), being on the third trimester (AOR = 6.457; 95% CI: 1.276–32.729), and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) level <21 cm (AOR = 2.595, 95% CI: 1.044–6.450). Conclusion. This study revealed that anemia and HP infection were highly prevalent among pregnant women attending the antenatal follow-up clinic in Kulito Health Center. HP infection, low interpregnancy gap, being on the third trimester, and MUAC less than 21 cm were the independent factors associated with anemia. Recommendation. Pregnant women should be aware that anemia is a problem that can be prevented by early prevention and treatment of HP infection and undernutrition, using family planning to widen the interpregnancy gap. Further experimental studies are warranted to determine the cause and effect of the association between anemia and HP infection.

BACKGROUND፡ Abnormal blood glucose level is one of the most frequently encountered problems in children with severe illnesses. However, its magnitude and outcome have rarely been determined in Ethiopia. We aimed to determine the magnitude, associated factors and outcome of dysglycemia in critically ill children admitted to Jimma Medical Center.METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study was conducted on children aged 28 days to 14 years admitted with critical illnesses at the different units of the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health of Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia, from June to August 2019. Data were collected by trained medical personnel using structured questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) windows version 20.0. Dysglycemia was considered whenever the child had a random blood sugar >150mg/dl or <45mg/dl.RESULT: Dysglycemia was seen at admission in 139/481, 28.9% children; 24 (5.0%) had hypoglycemia whereas 115 (23.9%) had hyperglycemia. The factors associated with dysglycemia at admission were severe acute malnutrition (p=002, AOR=3.09, CI=1.18,7.77), impaired mental status (p=0.003, AOR=4.63, CI=1.68, 12.71), place of residence (p=0.01, AOR=1.85, CI=1.15-2.96) and presence of diarrhea on date of admission. Among the children who had dysglycemia at admission, 16/139, 11.5% died.CONCLUSION: Dysglycemia is a common problem in critically ill children in the setting. Blood glucose level should be determined for all critically ill children, and routine empirical administration of dextrose should be minimized since most of the children with dysglycemia had hyperglycemia than hypoglycemia.

Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) is a life-threatening medical condition requiring urgent evaluation and treatment. Despite the high burden of the disease in Ethiopia, limited studies and literatures are available that describe the clinical characteristics, and outcome of the disease in the country. Objectives: To determine the etiology, precipitating factors and treatment outcome and predictors of outcome among patients with AHF admitted to Emergency and Medical ward, Jimma university medical center, Southwest Ethiopia from July 12, 2021 to January 10, 2022.Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in AHF patients admitted to Emergency and Medical ward. We used Purposive sampling technique to get the sample population. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed according to the guidelines of Ethiopian national major non-communicable diseases assessment, European Society of Cardiology, and ACC/AHA. Imaging findings (chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and echocardiography), treatments given and hospital stay were abstracted from the patient’s card. SPSS software version 26 was used for data analysis. The level of significance was chosen at 5% and p–value ≤ 0.05 was reported statistically significant and results were reported as 95% confidence intervals.Result: We enrolled 184 AHF patients. Ninety eight (53.3%) patients were males. The mean age of the participants was 48.33(±18.855). Out of the total patients, 90 (48.9%) had denovo heart failure, 94 (51.1%) had acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and 66 (70.2%) of those with ADHF had readmission history of more than two times in the past 1 year.The most common chest X-ray findings in the patients were cardiomegaly; 168(91.3%). The most common identified precipitating cause for AHF was pneumonia; 54(29.3%). Systemic hypertension was the most common comorbidity being seen in 52 (28.3%) patients. Yet, pulmonary hypertension, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and tuberculosis were the next common comorbidities being found in 46 (25%), 31(16.8%), 12 (6.5%), 9 (4.9 %) respectively.Smoking history, admission systolic blood pressure, presence of acute coronary syndrome as precipitating factor, presence of chronic kidney disease as a comorbidity, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and troponin were all predictors in hospital mortality. Conclusion: Pneumonia and hypertension were the most common identified precipitating factors and comorbidities, respectively. Acute coronary syndrome, chronic kidney disease, smoking, and BUN are independent predictors of mortality in hospitalized AHF patients in JUMC.