Individual and familial characteristics of patients with podoconiosis attending a clinic in Musanze District, Rwanda: A retrospective study

BACKGROUND: Podoconiosis is a progressive swelling of the legs affecting genetically susceptible people who live in areas with irritant red clay soils and walk barefoot. The disease is a public health concern in many countries, including Rwanda. METHODS: This retrospective study described individual and familial characteristics of patients with podoconiosis attending the Heart and Sole Africa (HASA) clinics in Rwanda. Data on patient characteristics and family history were retrieved from electronic medical records (January 2013 – August 2019). A multiple regression analysis was used to explore factors influencing age of onset of podoconiosis. RESULTS: Among 467 patients with podoconiosis, the mean (standard deviation) age of onset was 34.4 (19.6) years, 139 (29.8%) patients developed podoconiosis at <20 years of age, 417 (89%) came from Musanze or neighboring Burera Districts, and 238 (51.0%) had a family history of podoconiosis. Increasing patient age was associated with older age at onset of disease (p<0.001), while an increased number of relatives with podoconiosis (p<0.002) was significantly associated with earlier disease onset. CONCLUSION: Most patients with podoconiosis were women, and more than half had a family history of podoconiosis. An increased number of relatives with podoconiosis was associated with a significantly younger age at disease onset.