Parakou

This research aims to find out if wearable sensors can help detect early signs of health problems after major surgery. The study focuses on surgical patients who might become critically ill after their operations. It evaluates if continuous monitoring of vital signs like heart rate and oxygen levels using wearable devices can identify patient deterioration sooner than standard care. The study is observational and involves multiple countries including Benin, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda, and the United Kingdom. Participants will wear wireless sensors on their chest and fingers before, during, and after surgery for up to 10 days. These sensors record vital signs continuously but do not affect patient care, as clinical teams will not access the data during the study. The first two stages of the study involved testing device usability with healthcare workers, while this third stage collects real-time sensor and clinical event data to explore links between physiological changes and patient complications. During the study, participants will have their vital signs monitored with wearable devices while also receiving standard clinical observations. Researchers will collect cardiovascular, respiratory, and temperature data alongside routine care information and clinical events. They will follow patients for 10 days of monitoring plus an additional 30-day follow-up to observe complications. The goal is to gather data to help design future algorithms for early detection of postoperative problems without changing current treatment practices.

Researchers are evaluating the Stroke Minimization through Additive Anti-atherosclerotic Agents in Routine Treatment II SMAART-II study, which aims to test a polypill strategy to reduce vascular risk in patients who recently experienced a stroke. This Phase 3 trial seeks to compare the effectiveness of a fixed-dose combination pill against usual care over 24 months, with a focus on improving cardiovascular outcomes in an under-resourced healthcare setting in Ghana. The study involves two groups one receiving the polypill Polycapae, which combines aspirin, simvastatin, hydrochlorothiazide, ramipril, and atenolol taken as two capsules once daily, and the other receiving standard care with treatments at the discretion of their doctors. Patients already on similar medications will have their treatments replaced by the polypill if assigned to that group. Both groups providers receive training on recommended biomarker targets for stroke secondary prevention. Participants will be monitored for up to 24 months, with regular assessments of vascular risk factor control, adherence to medical therapy, safety, and quality of life using specific health-related questionnaires. Researchers will track major adverse cardiovascular events and measure composite vascular risk at 12 and 24 months. The study includes safety and tolerability monitoring throughout the period and aims to develop strategies for integrating this treatment approach into routine care.