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BackgroundCommunity health worker (CHW) programmes are a valuable component of primary care in resource-poor settings. The evidence supporting their effectiveness generally shows improvements in disease-specific outcomes relative to the absence of a CHW programme. In this study, we evaluated expanding an existing HIV and tuberculosis (TB) disease-specific CHW programme into a polyvalent, household-based model that subsequently included non-communicable diseases (NCDs), malnutrition and TB screening, as well as family planning and antenatal care (ANC).MethodsWe conducted a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial in Neno District, Malawi. Six clusters of approximately 20 000 residents were formed from the catchment areas of 11 healthcare facilities. The intervention roll-out was staggered every 3 months over 18 months, with CHWs receiving a 5-day foundational training for their new tasks and assigned 20–40 households for monthly (or more frequent) visits.FindingsThe intervention resulted in a decrease of approximately 20% in the rate of patients defaulting from chronic NCD care each month (−0.8 percentage points (pp) (95% credible interval: −2.5 to 0.5)) while maintaining the already low default rates for HIV patients (0.0 pp, 95% CI: −0.6 to 0.5). First trimester ANC attendance increased by approximately 30% (6.5pp (−0.3, 15.8)) and paediatric malnutrition case finding declined by 10% (−0.6 per 1000 (95% CI −2.5 to 0.8)). There were no changes in TB programme outcomes, potentially due to data challenges.InterpretationCHW programmes can be successfully expanded to more comprehensively address health needs in a population, although programmes should be carefully tailored to CHW and health system capacity.

ObjectivesNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for one-third of disability-adjusted life years in Malawi, and access to care is exceptionally limited. Integrated services with HIV are widely recommended, but few examples exist globally. We report descriptive outcomes from an Integrated Chronic Care Clinic (IC3).DesignThis is a retrospective cohort study.SettingThe study includes an HIV–NCD clinic across 14 primary care facilities in the rural district of Neno, Malawi.ParticipantsAll new patients, including 6233 HIV–NCD diagnoses, enrolled between January 2015 and December 2017 were included. This included 3334 patients with HIV (59.7% women) and 2990 patients with NCD (67.3% women), 10% overall under age 15 years.InterventionsPatients were seen at their nearest health centre, with a hospital team visiting routinely to reinforce staffing. Data were collected on paper forms and entered into an electronic medical record.Primary and secondary outcome measuresRoutine clinical measurements are reported at 1-year post-enrolment for patients with more than one visit. One-year retention is reported by diagnosis.ResultsNCD diagnoses were 1693 hypertension, 668 asthma, 486 epilepsy, 149 diabetes and 109 severe mental illness. By December 2018, 8.3% of patients with NCD over 15 years were also on HIV treatment. One-year retention was 85% for HIV and 72% for NCDs, with default in 8.4% and 25.5% and deaths in 4.0% and 1.4%, respectively. Clinical outcomes showed statistically significant improvement for hypertension, diabetes, asthma and epilepsy. Of the 1807 (80%) of patients with HIV with viral load results, 85% had undetectable viral load.ConclusionsThe IC3 model, built on an HIV platform, facilitated rapid decentralisation and access to NCD services in rural Malawi. Clinical outcomes and retention in care are favourable, suggesting that integration of chronic disease care at the primary care level poses a way forward for the large dual burden of HIV and chronic NCDs.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with hypertension is very high in Africa. We investigated the prevalence and correlates of CKD in patients with hypertension (defined as currently taking hypertension drugs at enrolment or systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg and / or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 110 mmHg) attending longitudinal care in rural Malawi, where currently no data on prevalence of CKD in patients with hypertension exists. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all hypertensive patients who were screened for CKD between January 2018 and April 2019. Screening was done using serum creatinine, and CKD epidemiology formula was used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We used Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes definitions of renal insufficiency and CKD. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the variables and logistic regression analysis was used to identify correlates of CKD. During the study duration, 1197 patients with hypertension were screened for CKD. The mean creatinine and eGFR was 0.90 mg/dl (Confidence Interval (CI) 0.85–0.94 mg/dl) and 84.1 ml/min/1.73m2 (CI 82.7–85.4 ml/min/1.73m2) respectively. About half of the patients had a normal eGFR (48.3%, n = 578) and 36.3% (n = 435) had mildly decreased eGFR. The prevalence of renal insufficiency was 15.4% (CI 13.4–17.5, 184/1197) and the prevalence of CKD was 7.1% (CI 5.7–8.7%). By eGFR category in the CKD patients, 41.2% (n = 35), 31.8% (n = 27), 24.7% (n = 21) and 2.3% (n = 2) had CKD stage 3a, 3b, 4 and 5 respectively. CKD was strongly associated with age and diabetes. We found moderately high renal insufficiency and CKD in this cohort. We propose investing in screening for CKD in patients with hypertension in other clinics in Malawi.

Objective Patients with diabetes are at high risk of developing renal insufficiency and chronic kidney disease (CKD). As a result, screening for CKD is essential in diabetic patients as part of their care. This study investigated the prevalence of renal insufficiency, CKD, and correlates of CKD in diabetic patients attending Integrated Chronic Care Clinics in Neno District, Malawi. Results Of 203 diabetic patients, 148 (73%) were screened for CKD by measurement of serum creatinine and urinary protein between April 2016 and January 2019. 39.2% (n = 58) of the patients had abnormal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), as estimated by CKD Epidemiology Collaboration formula and/or ≥ 2+ urine protein. 13.5% (95% CI 8.4–20.0%, 20/148) of the patients had renal insufficiency based on eGFR of less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. 8.8% (95% CI 4.8–14.6%, 13/148) had CKD based on eGFR of less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 measured twice at least 3 months apart. In bivariate analysis, CKD was associated with older age, high systolic blood pressure and lower fasting blood sugar. Despite the low sample size, the study showed a moderately high prevalence of renal insufficiency and CKD in a rural cohort of diabetic patients in Malawi.