Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is a public teaching hospital located in the Ablekuma South Metropolitan District in Accra, Ghana. It is the only public tertiary hospital in the southern part of the country. It is a teaching hospital affiliated with the medical school of the University of Ghana. Three centres of excellence, the National Cardiothoracic Centre, the National Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Radiotherapy Centres are all part of it. In 2019, the hospital gained a license from the Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA), after meeting the requirement.Established on 9 October 1923, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has grown from an initial 200-bed capacity to 2,000. It is currently the third largest hospital in Africa and the leading national referral centre in Ghana.Korle-Bu, which means the valley of the Korle Lagoon, was established as a general hospital to address the health needs of the indigenous people under the administration of Sir Gordon Guggisberg, then Governor of the Gold Coast.Population growth and the proven efficacy of hospital-based treatment caused a rise in hospital attendance in Korle-Bu. By 1953, demand for the hospital's services had escalated so high that the government was compelled to set up a task force to study the situation and make recommendations for the expansion of the hospital.The government accepted and implemented the recommendations of the task force which resulted in the construction of new structures, such as the Maternity, Medical, Surgical and Child Health Blocks. This increased the hospital's bed capacity to 1,200.Korle-Bu gained teaching hospital status in 1962, when the University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) was established for the training of medical doctors.The UGMS and five other constituent schools are now subsumed under the College of Health Sciences to train an array of health professionals. All the institutions of the college however, undertake their clinical training and research in the hospital.The hospital currently has 2,000 beds and 17 clinical and diagnostic Departments/Units. It has an average daily attendance of 1,500 patients and about 250 patient admissions.Clinical and diagnostic departments of the hospital include Medicine, Child Health, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pathology, Laboratories, Radiology, Anaesthesia, Surgery, Polyclinic, Accident Centre and the Surgical/Medical Emergency as well as Pharmacy. Other departments include Pharmacy, Finance, Engineering, General Administration.The hospital also provides specialisation in various fields such as Neuro-surgery, Dentistry, Eye, ENT, Renal, Orthopaedics, Oncology, Dermatology, Cardiothoracic, Radiotherapy, Radio diagnosis, Paediatric Surgery and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns.The Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burn Centre, the National Cardiothoracic Centre and the National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine in particular also draw a sizeable number of their clientele from neighbouring countries such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Togo.Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital recently carried out the first ever kidney transplant in Ghana. It is one of the few hospitals in Africa where DNA tests are carried out. Other specialised services the hospital provides include brachytherapy intervention for the treatment of prostate cancer and keyhole surgeries.Plans are underway to venture into molecular testing. All these are part of the grand plan to offer a wider spectrum of specialist care to position Ghana as the hub of health tourism within the West Africa Sub region.
Background:Central obesity is strongly associated with cardiometabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular disease (CVD), yet CVD burden may vary by metabolic phenotype among affected adults. This study examined whether metabolically unhealthy central obesity (MUCO) is associated with higher CVD prevalence than metabolically healthy central obesity (MHCO), whether CVD increases in a dose-response manner with metabolic abnormality burden, and whether associations vary by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES 2011-March 2020, including adults ≥20 years with central obesity (≥102 cm (40″) in men; ≥88 cm (35″) in women). Metabolic phenotype was defined by four abnormalities: elevated blood pressure (≥130/85 mmHg or antihypertensive use), dysglycemia (HbA1c ≥ 5.7%, self-reported diabetes, or diabetes medication use), low HDL cholesterol (<40 mg/dL in men or <50 mg/dL in women), and hypercholesterolemia (physician diagnosis or lipid-lowering therapy). Participants were classified as MHCO (0-1 abnormality) or MUCO (≥2 abnormalities); abnormalities were summed (0-4) to assess dose-response. The outcome was self-reported physician-diagnosed CVD (coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, or angina). Survey-weighted Poisson regression estimated adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results:Among 11,657 adults with central obesity, 6,997 were MHCO and 4,660 MUCO, representing 128.4 million U.S. adults. Weighted CVD prevalence was higher in MUCO than MHCO (15.7% vs 7.3%). After adjustment, MUCO was associated with higher CVD prevalence (PR 1.48; 95% CI 1.30-1.68; p < 0.001). Each additional metabolic abnormality increased CVD prevalence by 29% (PR 1.29; 95% CI 1.21-1.38; p < 0.001). The association was strongest among adults aged 20-39 years (PR 3.89; 95% CI 2.22-6.81), despite low absolute prevalence. Conclusions:Among U.S. adults with central obesity, metabolic dysfunction is associated with higher CVD prevalence, with a clear dose-response relationship. These findings support phenotype-based cardiovascular risk stratification beyond waist circumference and emphasize early identification and management of metabolic abnormalities, particularly in younger adults.
Background:The global tuberculosis (TB) burden remains high, though several interventions have been instituted to fight the TB epidemic. Community perception and understanding play a critical role in health-seeking behaviors, ultimately influencing the acceptance and effectiveness of control efforts. In observance of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day in 2022 and 2023, we engaged the community and sought their understanding of TB and diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods:Interactive educational sessions were held in the outpatient department, basic schools, nursing college, and the market. A validated questionnaire was administered to consenting adults to evaluate their knowledge and views on TB and DM. Responses from participants were gathered using the KoboToolbox data collection program. Participants also underwent health screening, and those identified with TB and or DM were sent to Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) for appropriate management. Results:The survey documented responses from 285 individuals. The majority of the participants (63.5%) were women, aged 36-59 (38.3%), and had only basic school education (50.9%). Among the 179 individuals aware of TB, 48% accurately recognized bacteria or germs as its causative agents. Nonetheless, certain myths persisted, with around 6% attributing the disease to witchcraft or curses and 21% unclear of its genesis. Approximately 85% of individuals were aware of DM, while around 72% ascribed its etiology to dietary factors. Concerning community members' engagement with patients diagnosed with TB, only 52.3% indicated they would have contact with those living with TB, whereas 82.5% expressed willingness to engage with those with diabetes mellitus. Approximately 55% of the participants perceived that both TB and DM are incurable. Conclusion:Our findings reveal critical knowledge gaps and widespread misconceptions about TB and DM. These gaps can be reduced through health education campaigns and community engagement that foster timely health-seeking behaviors, improving disease outcomes.
Alzheimer's disease manifests differently across ancestral groups, with African populations showing distinct fluid biomarker levels, neuroimaging patterns, and post mortem pathology. These differences may compromise diagnostic accuracy and exacerbate health disparities. This systematic review, examined studies published from 2015 to 2025 assessing amyloid-β and tau via fluid assays and neuroimaging. Findings reveal ancestry-linked variation where African populations exhibit lower cerebrospinal fluid/plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 and p-tau181 ratios, with neuroimaging showing broadly similar reduced positron emission tomography patterns but slightly elevated amyloid and reduced tau signals. Limited post mortem data suggest reduced plaque and tangle densities despite comparable dementia severity. Genetic, environmental, and sociocultural factors contribute to these disparities. Diagnostic thresholds derived from non-African cohorts risk underdiagnosing AD in African individuals. There is an urgent need to recalibrate and validate biomarker protocols to ensure equitable and accurate dementia diagnosis across diverse populations.
INTRODUCTION:Poor glycaemic control, indicated by a haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 7% or higher, increases the risk of active tuberculosis (TB) in patients with diabetes, while active TB can worsen glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, contributing to type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM) progression. The bidirectional relationship between TB and DM is well recognised, but the evolution of glycaemic status during TB treatment, particularly the distinction between transient and persistent dysglycaemia, is not well understood in high-burden settings. METHODS:We conducted a prospective cohort study of 120 newly diagnosed pulmonary TB patients in Ghana, categorised as TB-Only (n = 66), TB with established DM on metformin (TB-DMt, n = 39), and TB with dysglycaemia not requiring pharmacological therapy (TB-DMnt, n = 15). HbA1c was measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months. RESULTS:TB-DMt patients were older, had higher BMI and persistently elevated HbA1c (p < 0.001). In contrast, TB-DMnt patients showed significant HbA1c decline during and after TB treatment, normalising by 6 months (p < 0.016). Most TB-Only patients maintained stable euglycaemia. Transient dysglycaemia resolved in TB-DMnt, while persistent hyperglycaemia was confined to those with pre-existing DM (TB-DMt). CONCLUSION:Routine HbA1c monitoring during TB therapy can distinguish transient dysglycaemia from true diabetes, supporting more precise risk stratification and tailored management of TB patients.
Purpose:Pain is the most common symptom in sickle cell disease (SCD). Due to a lack of objective markers, pain assessment relies on patient report, which can be highly subjective and lead to miscommunications regarding care. While digital pain tools show promise for improving pain communication, digital literacy barriers and cultural differences may limit their use, particularly in low-resource settings. There is a lack of data on the effectiveness of digital pain tools in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest burden of SCD. Painimation is a digital application that uses animations and graphical images to assess pain location, quality, and intensity. We evaluated its feasibility, acceptability, and utility in a Ghanaian SCD cohort. Patients and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Individuals age >10 years with SCD were recruited from the pediatric and adult SCD clinics. Participants were asked to use Painimation and complete a clinical history and an 11-item questionnaire addressing the feasibility, utility, and acceptability of the app. Results:Of the 38 consented patients (66% female, median age: 16 years), 87% reported being comfortable using the touchscreen, and 74% said the app was easy to use. Most participants (68%) reported the app was not burdensome to complete during a pain episode. Participants reported that the body shading (92%), animation selection (92%), and intensity adjustment (87%) features were useful for communicating pain. The app took 102 seconds to complete on average. The most commonly selected pain animation was throbbing (50%), and the most frequently reported pain locations were the legs (35%), back (42%), arms (35%), and chest (35%). Conclusion:Painimation was feasible, acceptable, and useful for pain reporting in this Ghanaian SCD cohort. Pain reports using Painimation mirrored known SCD pain profiles, with predominant throbbing pain and frequent leg and back involvement. Digital health tools may improve pain assessment and management in low-resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
