IntroductionThe scale-up of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has led to a significant improvement in survival of the HIV-positive patient but its effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are less known and context-dependent. Our aim was to assess the temporal changes and factors associated with HRQOL among HIV-positive adults initiating HAART in Burkina Faso.MethodsHIV-positive people initiating HAART were prospectively included and followed over a one-year period in three HIV clinics of Ouagadougou. HRQOL was assessed at baseline and at each follow-up visit using physical (PHS) and mental (MHS) summary scores derived from the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item short-form health survey (MOS SF-36) questionnaire. Toxicity related to HAART modification and self-reported symptoms were recorded during follow-up visits. Determinants associated with baseline and changes in both scores over a one-year period were assessed using a mixed linear model.ResultsA total of 344 patients were included. Their median age at baseline was 37 years [interquartile range (IQR) 30–44] and their median CD4 count was 181 cells/mm3 (IQR 97–269). The mean [standard deviation (SD)] PHS score increased from 45.4 (11.1) at baseline to 60.0 (3.1) at 12 months (p<10−4) and the mean (SD) MHS score from 42.2 (8.7) to 43.9 (3.4) (p<10−2). After one year of treatment, patients that experienced on average two symptoms during follow-up presented with significantly lower PHS (63.9) and MHS (43.8) scores compared to patients that presented no symptoms with PHS and MHS of 68.2 (p<10−4) and 45.3 (p<10−3), respectively.DiscussionThe use of HAART was associated with a significant increase in both physical and mental aspects of the HRQOL over a 12-month period in this urban African population. Perceived symptoms experienced during follow-up visits were associated with a significant impairment in HRQOL. The appropriate and timely management of reported symptoms during the follow-up of HAART-treated patients is a key component to restore HRQOL.

Cardiovascular risks should be regarded during the care of HIV-infected patients.

Background: Achieving and maintaining glycemic targets are a challenge for health practitioners around the world. We aimed to study the factors associated with prolonged poor diabetes control in the cohort of T2DM patients monitored and treated in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Yalgado OUEDRAOGO Teaching Hospital in Ouagadougou in order to optimize therapeutic education in these patients. Methodology: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study combining retrospective data collection from the last year of patient follow-up and prospective collection of some information. The study included all diabetic patients, aged at least 18 years old, followed and treated in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Yalgado OUEDRAOGO Teaching Hospital between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2018 following a systematic random sampling with a sampling step of 10. The variables collected were sociodemographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes-related characteristics.

Setting Drug resistance threatens tuberculosis (TB) control, particularly among HIV-infected persons. Objective We surveyed antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs from lower-income countries on prevention and management of drug-resistant TB. Design We used online questionnaires to collect program-level data in 47 ART programs in Southern Africa (14), East Africa (8), West Africa (7), Central Africa (5), Latin America (7) and Asia-Pacific (6 programs) in 2012. Patient-level data were collected on 1,002 adult TB patients seen at 40 of the participating ART programs. Results Phenotypic drug susceptibility testing was available at 36 (77%) ART programs, but only used for 22% of all TB patients. Molecular drug resistance testing was available at 33 (70%) programs and used for 23% of all TB patients. Twenty ART programs (43%) provided directly observed therapy (DOT) during the whole treatment, 16 (34%) during intensive phase only and 11 (23%) did not follow DOT. Fourteen (30%) ART programs reported no access to second-line TB regimens; 18 (38%) reported TB drug shortages. Conclusions Capacity to diagnose and treat drug-resistant TB was limited across ART programs in lower income countries. DOT was not always implemented and drug supply was regularly interrupted, which may contribute to the global emergence of drug resistance.

The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics of the patients "lost to follow-up" and determining factors of lost to follow-up at the patients infected by HIV. This is a descriptive and analytical retrospective study made on patients with or not by HAART, registered in the Day hospital of Ouagadougou. Of 5118 adult patients studied, 402 (7.9%) lost to follow-up. Among these patients, 340 (84.5%) had an unknown vital status, 28 (7%) were alive and 34 (8.5%) died. Mean age was 37.5 years. After active research, 16 from 21 patients under HAART were in treatment interruption. The main factors associated with the loss of follow-up were: no schooling (p=0,008), residing outside the capital (p=0,002) and being infected with HIV2 (p< 10(-3)). The phenomenon of loss of follow-up is important and concerned mainly not informed patients.