Glycemic status and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in populations at risk of diabetes in two Latin American cities.

PURPOSE: To estimate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) according to glycemic status, and its relationship with sociodemographic and clinical factors in a population at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: Cross-sectional study, using cluster sampling. Data were collected from 1135 participants over 30 years of age, at risk of developing T2D from the PREDICOL project. Participants' glycemic status was defined using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Participants were divided into normoglycemic subjects (NGT), prediabetes and diabetics do not know they have diabetes (UT2D). HRQOL was assessed using the EQ-5D-3L questionnaire of the EuroQol group. Logistic regression and Tobit models were used to examine factors associated with EQ-5D scores for each glycemic group. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 55.6 ± 12.1 years, 76.4% were female, and one in four participants had prediabetes or unknown diabetes. Participants reported problems most frequently on the dimensions of Pain/Discomfort and Anxiety/Depression in the different glycemic groups. The mean EQ-5D score in NGT was 0.80 (95% CI 0.79-0.81), in prediabetes, 0.81 (95% CI 0.79-0.83), and in participants with UT2D of 0.79 (95% CI 0.76-0.82), respectively. Female sex, older age, city of residence, lower education, receiving treatment for hypertension, and marital status were significantly associated with lower levels of HRQOL in the Tobit regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: HRQOL of NGT, prediabetes, and UT2D participants was statistically similar. However, factors such as gender, age. and place of residence were found to be significant predictors of HRQOL for each glycemic group.

Predictors of diabetes risk in urban and rural areas in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional habits low in fruits and vegetables and sedentary lifestyle are associated with a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). However, it is important to assess differences between urban and rural areas. This study aimed to analyze the associations between the risk of developing T2D and setting in the Colombian north coast in 2017. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1,005 subjects. Data was collected by interviewing self-identified members of an urban community and a rural-indigenous population. The interaction terms were evaluated as well as the confounders. Then, adjusted binary logistic regressions were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI). RESULTS: subjects with a high risk of T2D are more likely to belong to the urban setting (OR = 1.908; 95%CI = 1.201-2.01) compared with those with lower T2D after adjusting for age, Body Mass Index (BMI), physical activity, history of high levels of glycemia, and diabetes in relatives. CONCLUSIONS: Urban communities are more likely to have T2D compared with rural-indigenous populations. These populations have differences from the cultural context, including personal, and lifestyle factors.

COVID-19 en la Región Caribe Colombiana: un análisis documental / Covid19 in the Colombian Caribbean Region: A Documentary analysis

Resumen Introducción: El impacto social y sanitario que ha generado la pandemia COVID-19 a nivel global permite repensar aspectos de vigilancia epidemiológica y comunicación en tiempos de crisis. Objetivo: Describir el comportamiento de la pandemia COVID-19 en los departamentos y distritos especiales de la región caribe colombiana. Materiales y Métodos: Análisis documental e interpretativo a partir de fuentes secundarias de vigilancia nacional "SIVIGILA" y datos de entes territoriales. Resultados: Cartagena de Indias es la primera unidad territorial del Caribe en presentar casos por COVID-19, seguido de Santa Marta y Barranquilla. El mayor número de casos se registró en Barranquilla, Atlántico, Cartagena y Córdoba. Así mismo, la mayor tasa de muertes por 100 000 habitantes se registró en Barranquilla, Atlántico, Córdoba, Santa Marta, Sucre y Cartagena. En el Caribe se implementaron estrategias de distanciamiento social como prohibición de eventos masivos y cierre de fronteras. Discusión: Para describir el comportamiento de la pandemia es importante que las autoridades sanitarias continúen asumiendo el reto para la detección, sistematización y manejo oportuno de los casos. El comportamiento de la pandemia ha sido similar en los departamentos del Caribe Colombiano, hay una homogeneidad al momento de acatar las normas del gobierno, y cada región adaptó diferentes estrategias dentro de un marco general para reducir la incidencia de la enfermedad. Se recomienda fortalecer la similitud entre los datos reportados por el Ministerio de Salud, SIVIGILA y los entes territoriales. El talento humano en salud cualificado puede soportar este ejercicio a fin de superar la actuación mediática y avanzar hacia la gobernanza.

Abstract Background: The social and health impact generated by the COVID-19 pandemic allows us to re-think aspects of epidemiological surveillance and communication in struggle-times. Objective: To describe the behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic in the departments and special districts of the Colombian Caribbean region. Methodology: This is a documentary and interpretive analysis from secondary sources of National Surveillance "SIVIGILA" and data from local governments. Results: Cartagena de Indias is the first territorial area in the Caribbean to present cases COVID-19, followed by Santa Marta and Barranquilla. The highest number of cases was registered in Barranquilla, Atlántico, Cartagena and Córdoba. Likewise, the highest death rate per 100,000 inhabitants was observed in Barranquilla, Atlántico, Córdoba, Santa Marta, Sucre and Cartagena. In the Caribbean, social distancing was implemented, as well as the limitation of mass gatherings and border closure. Discussion: To describe the pandemic behavior, it is important that health authorities continue to assume the challenges of detection, systematization, and timely handling of cases. The COVID-19 performance has been similar in the Colombian Caribbean. There is a homogeneity regarding the government regulations compliance and each region adapted different strategies to reduce the incidence of the dicease. It is recommended to strengthen the concordance between the data reported by the Ministry of Health, SIVIGILA, and the territorial entities. Qualified human talent can support this exercise in order to overcome the media performance through the strengthening of governance.

Utilización de anticonceptivos en población migrante: el caso de las gestantes migrantes venezolanas en dos ciudades receptoras de la costa norte de Colombia / Contraceptive use in the migrant population: the case of pregnant Venezuelan migrants in two receiving cities on the north coast of Colombia / Uso de anticoncepcionais em população migrante: O caso das gestantes migrantes venezuelanas em duas cidades receptoras do litoral norte da Colômbia

Resumen Objetivo: Describir la utilización de métodos anticonceptivos de gestantes migrantes venezolanas, en dos ciudades de la costa norte de Colombia (Barranquilla y Riohacha), entre 2018 y 2019. Metodología: Se diseñó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. Las participantes se seleccionaron mediante muestreo sistemático en hospitales y muestreo en bola de nieve en la comunidad. Un cuestionario estandarizado permitió la recolección de variables sociodemográficas, de migración, de uso de anticonceptivos, entre otras. Resultados: Fueron encuestadas 552 mujeres gestantes provenientes de Venezuela, principalmente jóvenes, casadas o en unión libre; la minoría de los embarazos fueron planificados (37,7 %), aun cuando las mujeres conocían sobre métodos de anticoncepción. El preservativo (condón) y la píldora fueron los métodos más conocidos (94,7 y 96,1 %, respectivamente). Conclusión: Casi todas las mujeres conocen métodos anticonceptivos y los lugares dónde obtenerlos; no obstante, solo la mitad logró conseguirlos la última vez que los buscó; así, la mayoría de los embarazos fueron no planificados. La garantía de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos, incluyendo la satisfacción de necesidades de planificación familiar, debe ser una prioridad en las acciones de atención a la población migrante, en el marco del fenómeno migratorio colombo-venezolano.

Abstract Objective: To describe the use of contraceptive methods by pregnant Venezuelan migrants in two cities on the north coast of Colombia (Barranquilla and Riohacha), between 2018 and 2019. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed. Participants were selected through systematic sampling in hospitals and snowball sampling in the community. A standardized questionnaire allowed the sociodemographic, migration, contraceptive use and other variables to be collected. Results: 552 pregnant, mainly young, women from Venezuela who are married or living with their partner were surveyed. The minority of pregnancies were planned (37.7%), even though the women knew about contraception methods. The condom and the pill were the most well-known methods (94.7 and 96.1%, respectively). Conclusion: Nearly all of the women knew about birth control and where it can be accessed. However, only half managed to get them the last time they looked for them, meaning that most of the pregnancies were unplanned. Guaranteed sexual and reproductive rights, including satisfactory family planning requirements, must be a priority in actions aimed at the migrant population, within the framework of the Colombian-Venezuelan migratory phenomenon.

Resumo Objetivo: Descrever o uso de métodos anticoncepcionais de gestantes migrantes venezuelanas, em duas cidades do litoral norte da Colômbia (Barranquilla e Riohacha), entre 2018 e 2019. Metodologia: Foi desenhado um estudo de corte transversal descritivo. As participantes foram selecionadas através de uma amostragem sistemática em hospitais e amostragem em bola de neve feita na comunidade. Um questionário padrão permitiu a coleta de variáveis sócio demográficas, de informação relacionada à migração, ao uso de anticoncepcionais, entre outras. Resultados: O questionário foi aplicado a 552 mulheres gestantes vindas da Venezuela, principalmente jovens, casadas ou em união estável; a minoria das gestações foi planejada (37,7%), mesmo conhecendo os métodos anticoncepcionais. O preservativo (camisinha) e a pílula foram os métodos mais identificados (94,7 e 96,1% respectivamente). Conclusão: Quase todas as mulheres conhecem métodos anticoncepcionais e os lugares onde podem obtê-los; porém somente a metade delas conseguiu adquiri-los quando procuraram pela última vez; assim que a maioria das gestações não foi planejada. A garantia dos direitos sexuais e reprodutivos, incluindo a satisfação das necessidades de planejamento familiar, deve ser uma prioridade nos programas de atenção à população migrante, dentro do marco do fenômeno migratório colombo-venezuelano.

Weather and Suicide: A Decade Analysis in the Five Largest Capital Cities of Colombia.

Historically, seasonal variations in suicide rates were thought to be associated with changes in weather. Most of this evidence however, is based on studies that were conducted in developed countries that are located outside the tropics. As such, it is necessary to examine this association in developing countries, such as Colombia, which do not experience marked seasons. In addition, it is important to adjust for the effect of holidays when analyzing this association as they have been reported to be a relevant confounding factor. Our objective was to estimate the association between daily suicide incidence among men and women in five major Colombian cities (Bogotá, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla, and Bucaramanga) and daily temperature and rainfall. For this purpose, we conducted a multi-city, multi-temporal ecological study from 2005 to 2015, using data from the suicide mortality registries (provided by the National Administrative Department of Statistics). Daily measurements of the two weather variables were obtained from the official historical registry of the meteorological station at each city airport. We used these data to estimate conditional Poisson models for daily suicide counts, stratifying by sex and adjusting for holidays. Although we found that none of the weather variable estimators could reject the null hypothesis, we uncovered an association between suicide incidence and long weekends in the total suicide model (Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR): 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04⁻1.23). We found no evidence of association between weather variables and suicide in Colombia. Our study is based on daily observations and it provides evidence of absence of this association in a tropical country that does not experience marked seasons.

Association between air pollution and suicide: a time series analysis in four Colombian cities.

BACKGROUND: Recent epidemiological studies have suggested that air pollution could be associated with suicide. However, other studies have criticized these results for being analytically weak and not taking into account potential confounding factors. As such, further studies examining the relationship under diverse contexts are necessary to help clarify this issue. This study explored the association between specific air pollutants (NO2, SO2, PM10, PM2.5, CO and O3) and suicide incidence in four Colombian cities after adjusting for climatic variables and holidays. METHODS: A time series of daily suicides among men and women living in Bogota, Medellin, Cali and Bucaramanga was generated using information from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) for the years 2011-2014. At the same time, the average daily concentration of each air pollutant for each city was obtained from monitoring stations belonging to the National Air Quality Surveillance System. Using this information together, we generated conditional Poisson models (stratified by day, month and year) for the suicide rate in men and women, with air pollutants as the principal explanatory variable. These models were adjusted for temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and holidays. RESULTS: No association was found between any of the examined pollutants and suicide: NO2 (IRR:0.99, 95% CI: 0.95-1.04), SO2 (IRR:0.99, 95% CI: 0.98-1.01), PM10 (IRR:0.99, 95% CI:0.95-1.03), PM2.5 (IRR:1.01, 95% CI: 0.98-1.05), CO (IRR:1.00, 95% CI:1.00-1.00) and O3 (IRR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.96-1.04). In the same way, no association was found in stratified models by sex and age group neither in lagged and cumulative effects models. CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for major confounding factors, we found no statistically significant association between air pollution and suicide in Colombia. These "negative" results provide further insight into the current discussion regarding the existence of such a relationship.