Fernando Kemta Lekpa

Background Mental health disorders are a growing concern among university students, who face converging academic, social and economic pressures. Data from sub-Saharan African universities remain scarce, and no study had previously quantified this burden at the University of Dschang. We aimed to determine the prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression among students on the main campus and to identify the factors associated with each outcome. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical components between 1 January and 30 May 2026 among students enrolled on the main campus of the University of Dschang. Participants were selected by multistage stratified probabilistic sampling across all six faculties. Stress, anxiety and depression were measured with the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21) and sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; score > 5 defining poor sleep). Associations were examined by bivariable analysis followed by multivariable logistic regression using forward likelihood-ratio selection. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Of 2,000 students approached, 1,453 were analysed (inclusion rate 72.7%); median age was 21 years (IQR 19–23) and 872 (60.0%) were women. The prevalence of stress was 44.7% (95% CI 42.3–47.3), of anxiety 73.2% (95% CI 70.8–75.2) and of depression 68.5% (95% CI 65.9–70.8). At least one disorder was present in 81.7% of participants and all three in 39.5%. Poor sleep quality, reported by 69.1%, was independently associated with all three outcomes (stress aOR 2.73 [95% CI 1.93–3.86], p < 0.001; anxiety aOR 2.42 [95% CI 1.49–3.92], p < 0.001; depression aOR 2.95 [95% CI 1.90–4.57], p < 0.001), as was high academic time pressure. Enrolment in the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences was associated with higher odds of anxiety (aOR 6.05 [95% CI 2.95–12.42]; p < 0.001) and depression (aOR 3.82 [95% CI 2.11–6.94]; p < 0.001) but with lower odds of stress (aOR 0.72 [95% CI 0.54–0.96]; p = 0.024). Regular physical activity was associated with lower odds of stress (aOR 0.67 [95% CI 0.49–0.92]; p = 0.012), and postgraduate enrolment with lower odds of anxiety (aOR 0.59 [95% CI 0.38–0.91]; p = 0.016). Conclusion Students at the University of Dschang carry a high and largely overlapping burden of psychological distress. Poor sleep quality and academic time pressure were associated with all three outcomes and are modifiable. Because exposures and outcomes were measured simultaneously, these associations cannot be interpreted causally.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a slowly evolving multifactorial disorder that affects joints, particularly the knee. Periodontitis is an infection of the tissues supporting the teeth, leading to significant tooth loss. Recent studies suggest an association between Knee OA (KOA) and periodontitis, with the prevalence of periodontitis increasing with the severity of KOA. We aimed to determine the prevalence and distribution of periodontitis and the association between the severity of KOA and periodontitis in subjects living with KOA. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an outpatient clinic at the Rheumatology unit of the Douala General Hospital between October 2022 and June 2023. Data were collected using a questionnaire, an endo-buccal examination grid, radiological images and medical records. A multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed, including the relevant variables in the bivariate analysis. Results We included 253 participants (201 women) with a median age of 63 years [54–70]. The mean VAS was 52.7 ± 27.9 mm. The mean Lequesne index was 12.25 ± 5.03. Kellgren and Lawrence (K&L) grade 2 was predominant (61.7%), as was tricompartimental KOA (85.4%). The prevalence of periodontitis was 62.5%. Periodontitis was significantly associated with radiological K&L grade 4 (OR: 5.39 [1.27–28.98]; p = 0.03), poor oral hygiene (OR: 34 [7.46277.71]; p < 0.001), visits to the dentist [in case of problems] (OR: 8.54 [3.09–28.58]; p < 0.001) and brushing time (OR: 21.93 [5.66-123.24]; p < 0.001). Conclusion Periodontitis is common in patients with KOA in Cameroon and is associated with the severity of KOA and poor oral hygiene.

Very little is known about the burden of chronic low back pain in Africa. This study aimed at assessing disability and associated factors in chronic low back patients in Cameroon. We carried a hospital-based cross-sectional study including patients suffering from low back pain (LBP) of at least 12 weeks’ duration. Disability was assessed using the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). RMDQ > 4 described persons with dysfunctional levels of disability. Multivariable linear regression was used to investigate factors associated with higher RMDQ scores hence greater disability. Variables investigated included; gender, age, marital status, employment status and type, smoking history, alcohol consumption, income, pain intensity, LBP duration, psychological wellbeing, sleep satisfaction, leg pain, numbness/paresthesia, bowel/bladder dysfunction symptoms (BBDS), body mass index (BMI), and days of work absence. A sample of 136 adults (64% female) with a mean age of 50.6 ± 12.2 years participated in the study. Median duration of LBP was 33 (25th – 75th percentile: 12–81) months. Mean RMDQ score was 12.8 ± 6. In multivariable linear regression, pain intensity (β = 0.07, p = 0.002), longer days of work absence (β = 0.15, p = 0.003) and BBDS (β =2.33, p = 0.029) were associated with greater disability. Factors such as consumption of alcohol (β = − 3.55, p = 0.005) and higher psychological wellbeing scores (β = − 0.10, p = 0.004) significantly contributed to less disability (lower RMDQ scores). Dysfunctional levels of disability were present in 88.1% of patients. CLBP is associated with significant disability and this relationship is driven by several factors. Multidisciplinary management strategies especially those targeted to improve pain control, manage BBDS and improve psychological wellbeing could reduce disability and improve quality of life.