Browsing by Author "Nkya, Elingarami"

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    Assessment of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among patients attending cardiac clinic at a referral hospital in Tanzania
    (AME Publishing Company, 2019-04-12) Roman, Wilfrida; Martin, Haikael; Nkya, Elingarami
    Background: Mortality and morbidity due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are escalating worldwide, with disproportionately significant worse outcomes in developing countries, due to rapid health and nutrition transition resulting from unplanned urbanization, negative effects of globalization and sedentary lifestyles. Despite the growing trends of CVDs cases in hospital settings especially in Tanzania, still no study has been conducted to evaluate CVD risk factors among patients attending cardiac clinics, to see how they respond to current treatment. This study aimed at assessing lifestyle risk factors and biomarkers associated with hypertension and coronary heart diseases among patients attending cardiac clinics at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre referral hospital in Tanzania. Methods: This was a cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted to determine the prevalence of lifestyle and intermediate risk factors for hypertension and coronary heart disease among patients with hypertension and coronary heart diseases who attended the cardiac clinic at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre referral hospital between April to July 2008. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, medical condition and lifestyle risk factors for hypertension and coronary heart diseases were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from each patient and analyzed by Cobas Integra and Maglumi analyzers, to detect and quantify important biomarkers. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze sociodemographic, lifestyle risk factors and biomarkers for hypertension and coronary heart diseases. Pearson’s chi-square (χ 2 ) tests were used to associate risk factors for hypertension and coronary heart diseases, and multinomial logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors for hypertension and coronary heart diseases. Results: Of the 100 patients recruited to participate in the study, 65% had hypertension, 23% had coronary heart diseases and 12% had both disease conditions. The most prevalent risk factors for hypertension and coronary heart diseases were: alcohol intake (67%), high blood pressure (59%), physical inactivity (61%), obesity (39%), alanine aminotransferase (43%), high-density lipoprotein (79%), low-density lipoprotein (65%), C-reactive protein (78%), sodium (41%) and potassium (40%). Moreover, age, plasma glucose, alanine aminotransferase, and C-reactive protein were found to be independently and positively associated with hypertension and coronary heart diseases. Conclusions: This study affirmed the exposure of patients to cardiovascular risk factors, despite being under medical management. These findings call for sensitization programs and additional interventions in the management of CVDs among patients attending cardiac clinics in Tanzania hospitals, to include health education on lifestyle risk factors modification and proper dietary habits.
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    Transfer of polonium-210 from soil to tobacco oroducts and their associated radiological dose to smokers in Tanzania
    (Journal of Ecological Engineering, 2026-03-15) Issa, Nurjed; Nkya, Elingarami; Sawe, Shovi; Moirana, Ruth
    This study investigated the transfer of polonium-210 (210Po) from soil to tobacco products and the associated radiological risks to smokers. Soil, tobacco leaf, and cigarette samples were collected from three major tobacco-growing regions, Iringa (Magubike), Tabora (Sikonge), and Ruvuma (Matimila), and analyzed using an alpha spectrometry system. The 210Po activity in soils. ranged from 178.49 ± 9.92 to 1190.20 ± 187.20 mBq/g in Iringa, 247.11 ± 9.90 to 1324.36 ± 25.76 mBq/g in Tabora, and 321.56 ± 31.52 to 1557.30 ± 41.62 mBq/g in Ruvuma, with mean values of 704.4 ± 187.2 mBq/g, 656.96 ± 25.76 mBq/g, and 819.49 ± 41.62 mBq/g, respectively. These values exceeded the global average of 25–150 mBq/g for 210Po. Tobacco leaves showed 210Po levels ranging from 6.00 ± 0.00 to 33.99 ± 4.00 mBq/g, with a mean of 17.77 mBq/g in Iringa; in Tabora, levels ranged from 7.94 ± 0.00 to 43.91 ± 13.97 mBq/g, with a mean of 28.34 mBq/g; and in Ruvuma, the highest values ranged from 5.99 ± 0.00 to 95.29 ± 11.91 mBq/g, with a mean of 33.06 mBq/g. The soil-to-leaf transfer factors (TFₛ→ₗ) averaged 0.0768 for Iringa, 0.0662 for Tabora, and 0.0452 for Ruvuma, indicating transfer of 210Po through roots and atmospheric deposition. The leaf-to-cigarette transfer factors were approximately 0.00116 for Winston, 0.00182 for Master, and 0.00248 for Portsman. Corresponding annual effective dose doses were 28.67 µSv for Winston, 43.00 µSv for Master, and 57.33 µSv for Portsman, which is below the limit of 1 mSv/year recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). Despite a low Exposure Hazard Index (EHI), long-term inhalation risks warrant ongoing monitoring of 210Po in soils, tobacco, and cigarettes to protect public health.