Inflammatory Markers are Associated with Ischemic Stroke among Indigenous Africans: Evidence from the SIREN Study.

Background: Inflammation might predispose to worse outcomes after an ischemic stroke. This has not been characterized among indigenous Africans.

Purpose: We investigated the association between inflammatory biomarkers, stroke severity, and outcomes in Africans.

The role of community advisory boards in enhancing recruitment and retention in Alzheimer's disease and related dementia research in Africa: Experience from the READD-ADSP study.

Introduction:  The Recruitment and Retention of Alzheimer's Disease Diversity Genetic Cohorts in the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (READD-ADSP) was established to bridge the gap in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) research in Africa. We examined the role of Community Advisory Boards (CABs) in improving participant recruitment and retention in ADRD research in Africa, by exploring how culturally sensitive engagement, community trust-building, and stakeholder involvement influence research participation.

Methods:  A multi-site, multi-phased qualitative study approach that involved establishment of CABs, initial planning meetings and community engagement cum recruitment activities.

Antecedent sedative use is independently associated with stroke occurrence among west Africans: Evidence from the SIREN case-control study.

Background: Several factors have been independently associated with stroke occurrence globally. However, the association between sedative use and stroke risk is yet to be established in West Africa.

Objective: To assess the association between sedatives and stroke among West Africans.

Communicating the ethical, legal, and social issues in neurobiobanking and stroke genomic research in Africa: Project intervention tools development and evaluation procedures.

Background And Aim: Issues concerning appropriate Community Engagement (CE) and communication of research outcomes with stakeholders have received the attention of scholars in different sub-fields of clinical research. However, given its novel nature, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, CE addressing the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of neurobiobanking and stroke genomic research has not received much scholarly attention. Therefore, this study was designed as a pioneering effort to report the procedures for developing and evaluating intervention tools for the CE component of the African Neurobiobank for Precision Stroke Medicine ELSI Project.

Low vegetable consumption doubles the odds of stroke among people with hypertension: Findings from the SIREN Study in West Africa.

Background: While hypertension is a primary risk factor for higher stroke risk, adequate vegetable consumption has been linked with a lower odds of stroke. However, it is unclear whether low/inadequate vegetable consumption could aggravate the odds of stroke among people with hypertension. This study assessed the interaction of low vegetable consumption and hypertension with stroke among West Africans.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and severity of intracerebral hemorrhage: Insights from the SIREN study.

Background: We investigated the link between LDL-C and markers of ICH severity among Indigenous West Africans in the Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network study.

Methods: ICH severity was evaluated using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Stroke Levity Scale (SLS), and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The serum LDL-c of the study population was dichotomized into <133 mg/dl and ≥ 133 mg/dl using the optimum threshold by the Youden Index after assessing the linear relationship between the serum LDL-c measured at admission and ICH severity markers.

Research participants' perception of ethical issues in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research in Africa.

Background: There is a growing interest in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research in Africa. These raise several ethical issues, such as consent, re-use, data sharing, storage, and incidental result of biological samples. Despite the availability of ethical guidelines developed for research in Africa, there is paucity of information on how the research participants' perspectives could guide the research community on ethical issues in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research.

Knowledge of breast cancer among patients undergoing breast cancer treatment at a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in females worldwide. Western Africa has one of the highest mortality rates globally partly due to late presentation, often attributed to deficits in patient knowledge about the disease. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital among breast cancer patients.

Health-seeking behaviour of breast cancer patients receiving care at a tertiary institution in Ghana.

Background: Breast cancer incidence rates are rising in Africa and mortality is highest in West Africa. Reasons for poor survival are multifactorial but delays in seeking appropriate health care result in late presentation which contributes significantly to poor outcomes. Total delays of more than 3 months have been associated with advanced stage at presentation and poorer survival.

Satisfaction levels and associated influencing factors among inpatients and outpatients with breast cancer at a tertiary health facility in Ghana.

Objectives: To uncover variables linked to breast cancer patient satisfaction in order to improve policy choices and actions for breast cancer care in Ghana.

Design: We employed a cross-sectional design using a quantitative approach.

Setting: The Radiotherapy, Oncology and Surgery Departments of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra.

Dietary patterns associated with hypertension among stroke-free indigenous Africans: insights from the Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network study.

Background: The dietary factors associated with the high burden of hypertension among indigenous Africans remain poorly understood. We assessed the relationship between dietary patterns and hypertension among indigenous Africans.

Method: In this study, 1550 participants with hypertension matched (for age: ± 5 years, sex and ethnicity) with 1550 participants without hypertension were identified from the stroke-free population in the Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network study in Ghana and Nigeria.

Clinical and neuroimaging factors associated with 30-day fatality among indigenous West Africans with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with a high case fatality rate in resource-limited settings. The independent predictors of poor outcome after ICH in sub-Saharan Africa remains to be characterized in large epidemiological studies. We aimed to determine factors associated with 30-day fatality among West African patients with ICH.

Research participants' perception of ethical issues in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research in Africa.

Background: There is a growing interest in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research in Africa. These raise several ethical issues, such as consent, re-use, data sharing, storage, and incidental result of biological samples. Despite the availability of ethical guidelines developed for research in Africa, there is paucity of information on how the research participants' perspectives could guide the research community on ethical issues in stroke genomics and neurobiobanking research.

Risk Assessment Score and Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection Algorithm for Hypertension Among Africans: Models From the SIREN Study.

Background: This study aimed to develop a risk-scoring model for hypertension among Africans.

Methods: In this study, 4413 stroke-free controls were used to develop the risk-scoring model for hypertension. Logistic regression models were applied to 13 risk factors.

Family Needs Assessment of Patients with Cerebral Palsy Attending Two Hospitals in Accra, Ghana.

Background: The family represents the most essential and supportive environment for children with cerebral palsy (CP). To improve children's outcomes, it is crucial to consider the needs of families in order to offer family-centered care, which tailors services to these needs.

Objective: We conducted a needs assessment to identify the family needs of patients with CP attending two hospitals in Accra.

Patient-level and system-level determinants of stroke fatality across 16 large hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Every minute, six indigenous Africans develop new strokes. Patient-level and system-level contributors to early stroke fatality in this region are yet to be delineated. We aimed to identify and quantify the contributions of patient-level and system-level determinants of inpatient stroke fatality across 16 hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria.

Secondhand smoke exposure is independently associated with stroke among non-smoking adults in West Africa.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide, but little is known about the contribution of secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE) to stroke epidemiology among indigenous Africans.

Objective: To evaluate the association of SHSE with stroke among indigenous Africans.

Methods: We analyzed the relationship of SHSE with stroke among 2990 case-control pairs of adults who had never smoked (identified in the SIREN study) using conditional logistic regression at a two-sided P < 0.

Carotid and Vertebral Atherosclerosis in West African Stroke Patients: Findings from the Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network.

Background: We evaluated the characteristics of carotid and vertebral atherosclerosis in indigenous West Africans with stroke.

Methodology: Of the 3778stroke patients recruited between 01/2014 and 08/2017, 1070 (28.3%) received carotid and vertebral artery evaluation with B-mode Ultrasound.