Prospective, Multicenter, Controlled Trial of Mobile Stroke Units.

BACKGROUND: Mobile stroke units (MSUs) are ambulances with staff and a computed tomographic scanner that may enable faster treatment with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) than standard management by emergency medical services (EMS). Whether and how much MSUs alter outcomes has not been extensively studied. METHODS: In an observational, prospective, multicenter, alternating-week trial, we assessed outcomes from MSU or EMS management within 4.5 hours after onset of acute stroke symptoms. The primary outcome was the score on the utility-weighted modified Rankin scale (range, 0 to 1, with higher scores indicating better outcomes according to a patient value system, derived from scores on the modified Rankin scale of 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating more disability). The main analysis involved dichotomized scores on the utility-weighted modified Rankin scale (≥0.91 or <0.91, approximating scores on the modified Rankin scale of ≤1 or >1) at 90 days in patients eligible for t-PA. Analyses were also performed in all enrolled patients. RESULTS: We enrolled 1515 patients, of whom 1047 were eligible to receive t-PA; 617 received care by MSU and 430 by EMS. The median time from onset of stroke to administration of t-PA was 72 minutes in the MSU group and 108 minutes in the EMS group. Of patients eligible for t-PA, 97.1% in the MSU group received t-PA, as compared with 79.5% in the EMS group. The mean score on the utility-weighted modified Rankin scale at 90 days in patients eligible for t-PA was 0.72 in the MSU group and 0.66 in the EMS group (adjusted odds ratio for a score of ≥0.91, 2.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75 to 3.36; P<0.001). Among the patients eligible for t-PA, 55.0% in the MSU group and 44.4% in the EMS group had a score of 0 or 1 on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days. Among all enrolled patients, the mean score on the utility-weighted modified Rankin scale at discharge was 0.57 in the MSU group and 0.51 in the EMS group (adjusted odds ratio for a score of ≥0.91, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.39 to 2.37; P<0.001). Secondary clinical outcomes generally favored MSUs. Mortality at 90 days was 8.9% in the MSU group and 11.9% in the EMS group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute stroke who were eligible for t-PA, utility-weighted disability outcomes at 90 days were better with MSUs than with EMS. (Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute; BEST-MSU ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02190500.).

The Impact of Health Inequities on Population-Based Breast Cancer Survival in a Colombian Population, 2008-2015.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain breast cancer survival estimates in Manizales, Colombia, considering socioeconomic level, health insurance regime and residential area, while adjusting for age, histology and stage at diagnosis. METHODS: Analytical cohort study based on breast cancer incident cases recorded by the Population-based Manizales Cancer Registry between 2008-2015. Patients were followed-up for 60 months. Cause-specific survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method for variables of interest, with the Wilcoxon-Breslow-Gehan test for differences. Cox multivariate regression models were fitted. RESULTS: 856 breast cancer cases were included. The 5-year cause-specific survival for the entire cohort was 78.2%. It was higher in women with special/exception health insurance, high socioeconomic level, <50 years old, ductal carcinoma, and stages I and II. Residential area did not impact survival. In Cox models, the subsidized health insurance regime (HR: 4.87 vs contributory) and low socioeconomic level (HR: 2.45 vs high) were predictors of the hazard of death in women with breast cancer, adjusted for age, histology, stage and interactions age-stage and insurance-stage. A positive interaction (synergistic effect modification) between health insurance regime and stage regarding to survival was observed. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors significantly contribute to the inequities in breast cancer survival, independent of the stage at diagnosis. This suggests the need for comprehensive interventions to remove barriers to accessing the health system. This research provides evidence of survival gaps mediated by certain social determinants of health and generates data on the overall performance of the Colombian health system.

Dengue, chikungunya and zika virus coinfection: results of the national surveillance during the zika epidemic in Colombia.

Our objective was to determine the frequency of zika (ZIKV), chikungunya (CHIKV) and dengue (DENV) virus coinfection and describe the mortality cases that occurred during the epidemiologic surveillance of the ZIKV epidemic in Colombia. We analysed all cases of suspected ZIKV infection that were reported to the National Institute of Health (October 2015-December 2016). DENV, CHIKV and ZIKV RNA were detected in serum or tissue samples using polymerase chain reaction assay. Medical records of the fatal cases were reviewed. We identified that 23 871 samples were processed. The frequency of viral agents was 439 (1.84%) for DENV, 257 (1.07%) for CHIKV and 10118 (42.38%) for ZIKV. Thirty-four (0.14%) cases of coinfection were identified. The CHIKV-ZIKV coinfection was present in 28 cases (82.3%), DENV-CHIKV in three (8.8%) and DENV-ZIKV in three (8.8%). Seven (20.6%) coinfection cases were fatal (two DENV-CHIKV cases and five CHIKV-ZIKV cases). Two cases were foetal deaths and the others were related to neurological syndrome and sepsis. In conclusion, the frequency of arbovirus coinfection during epidemic of ZIKV was low, and CHIKV-ZIKV coinfection was the most common. Mortality was high among coinfection patients. The role of each virus in the mortality cases of coinfection warrants further studies.

Serum cortisol levels and neuropsychological impairments in patients diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the relationship between neuropsychological variables and serum cortisol levels as a measure of physiological stress in patients with fibromyalgia. METHODOLOGY: A sample of 60 women was intentionally selected: 30 with Fibromyalgia diagnosis and 30 with normal controls. Cortisol levels were determined using two blood samples (AM and PM) and a neuropsychological and emotional battery was applied with a standardized protocol in Colombian population to evaluate different cognitive domains. Comparative and correlational non-parametric analyzes were performed, a multiple regression analysis to determine influences between variables. RESULTS: Significant differences between the study groups in the neuropsychological variables (attention, memory, language, visual-constructive praxis and executive functions (EF), (p<0.05) were found, obtaining better scores in the control group. Significant correlations between the cortisol profile, with false acknowledgments of Rey auditory- verbal learning test, and with perseverative errors of the Wisconsin test were found. Multiple regression analysis predicts the influence of memory and EF variables on the cortisol profile in an 88.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that, in patients with FM, there are neuropsychological alterations, mainly in executive functioning (cognitive flexibility) and episodic memory (evocation and storage). Likewise, executive dysfunction is related to physiological stress reciprocally and in turn are conditioned by emotional alterations such as symptoms of depression, which supports the neurophysiological model that compromises the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the prefrontal cortex, rich in corticosteroid receptors.

The Epidemiological Challenges of Breast Cancer among Premenopausal Women in Limited Resource Settings.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor among women of reproductive age and is also the most costly according to European reports. In this context, the aim of the present review is to identify factors that make breast cancer in premenopausal women an epidemiological challenge in developing countries. Epidemiological aspects of breast cancer, including risk factors, early detection methods, and treatment, are addressed. Breast cancer in premenopausal women should be included in the political and strategic agendas in developing countries to direct the necessary resources for prevention, detection, and control.

Knowledge and recommendations regarding breast cancer early screening in an upper middle income country: Primary and secondary health care professionals.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the current breast cancer prevention and control Mexican standard with recommendations that health care professionals provide to women for breast self-exams, clinical breast exams and mammography, as well as health care professional knowledge of the risk factors for and main clinical signs of the disease. METHODS: In 2012, using a cross-sectional design, trained interviewers surveyed health care providers in a sample of 798 medical units, of which 756 corresponded to the first and second levels of medical care. One health care professional from each unit was interviewed for the study. The sampling method was systematic and representative of the national and regional levels. Relative frequencies and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were obtained using the weighting factor assigned to each medical unit. RESULTS: Regarding the indicator about recommendations provided to the population regarding early screening for and risk factors and clinical signs of breast cancer, the average number of health care professional responses in accordance with the Mexican standard was 10.7 (95% CI 10.0-11.4) out of a maximum of 28 points, which corresponds to an average rate of 38.2% of responses (95% CI 35.6-40.8). The percentage of correct answers increased in all areas of breast exam knowledge as training hours in the previous year increased. CONCLUSIONS: Health care professionals are unaware of the current standards on breast cancer; therefore, these recommendations are not routinely translated into health care practice, which is a barrier to increasing the coverage of screening programs in health care services.

The association between sociodemographic characteristics, clinical indicators and body mass index in a population at risk of type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study in two Colombian cities.

AIMS: To assess the association between sociodemographic and clinical factors with body mass index (BMI) in a population at risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Bogotá and Barranquilla, Colombia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the PREDICOL Study. Participants with a FINDRISC ≥ 12 who underwent an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) were included in the study (n=1166). The final analytical sample size was 1101 participants. Those with missing data were excluded from the analysis (n=65). The main outcome was body mass index (BMI), which was categorized as normal, overweight, and obese. We utilized unadjusted and adjusted ordinal logistic regression analysis to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 41 % (n=449) and 47 % (n=517), respectively. Participants with a 2-hour glucose ≥139 mg/dl had 1.71 times higher odds of being overweight or obese (regarding normal weight) than participants with normal 2-hour glucose values. In addition, being a woman, waist circumference altered, and blood pressure >120/80 mmHg were statistically significantly associated with a higher BMI. CONCLUSION: Strategies to control glycemia, blood pressure, and central adiposity are needed in people at risk of T2D. Future studies should be considered with a territorial and gender focus, considering behavioral, and sociocultural patterns.

High levels of cardiovascular biomarkers in fatal Chikungunya virus infection.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection is an emerging arboviral disease that has spread geographically to many previously unaffected areas. Although severe cases of acute CHIKV infection have been documented, little is known about its pathogenesis. We aimed to determine the levels of cardiovascular biomarkers in fatal and non-fatal patients with acute CHIKV infection. This study included fatal and non-fatal patients with CHIKV reported to National System for Public Health Surveillance and laboratory-confirmed by the Colombian National Institute of Health. Each fatal patient was matched to 2 non-fatal patients for age (± 10 years). Blood samples were processed for cardiovascular biomarkers by multiplex immunoassays. Twenty-five cases of fatal CHIKV infection and 50 patients of non-fatal CHIKV infection were included. Nearly 20% of the population were under 10 years old and 52% were over 60. The median serum levels of endocan-1 (p = 0.000), creatine kinase MB isoenzyme (p = 0.000), oncostatin (p = 0.000), fatty-acid-binding protein 3 (p = 0.000) and fatty-acid-binding protein 4 (p = 0.000) were significantly higher in fatal CHIKV infection cases than in non-fatal patients. Troponin I tended to be higher in fatal CHIKV infection cases than in non-fatal CHIKV infection patients (p = 0.063). Among fatal patients, no significant differences were found in serum levels of cardiovascular biomarkers among younger (< 50 years-old) and older (≥ 50 years-old) patients. We found high serum levels of cardiovascular biomarkers in fatal CHIKV infection. These results promote the fact that endothelial and cardiac damage can occurs and may be significant factors related organ failure and death in these patients.

Risk of violence from a current or former partner: Associated factors and classification in a nationwide study in Colombia.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) includes assaults that risk a woman's bodily integrity. Intimate partners commit IPV, people with whom the victim shares (or shared) a close personal or sexual relationship. This phenomenon has a great global and national impact. Thus, it is necessary to establish trends of the risk of physical violence to women by their current or former partner in each department of Colombia and its relationship with sociodemographic and health characteristics. This study uses an ecological approach at the departmental level, with victims of intimate partner violence treated at the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (INMLyCF). Potential factors were identified through Bayesian factor analysis and were included in the model to estimate risk. The findings show that the Casanare department had the highest risk of producing victims (SMR: 2.545). In departments where the educational level of women is at or below primary school, there is a high-risk ß = 0.343 (0.285, 0.397) of them being assaulted. For the departments in which the employment of women is in sales and services or office workers, the associated factor presents a higher risk ß = 0.361 (0.201, 0.485), as in the risk related to affiliation with the social security system ß = 0.338 (0.246, 0.498), as well as sexual and reproductive life ß = 0.143 (0.003, 0.322). The following categories were associated with physical gender violence: no education and low participation in making purchases at home ß = 0.106 (0.049, 0.199), low participation in decisions about their health, and visits to family and friends ß = 0.240 (0.170, 0.299). Therefore, public health programs should strengthen women's empowerment in household decisions and increase their educational level to reduce this incidence.

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in Colombia, 2020: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to cause very high morbidity and mortality throughout Latin American countries. However, few population-based seroprevalence surveys have been conducted to quantify attack rates and characterize drivers of transmission. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in ten cities in Colombia between September and December 2020. The study involved multi-stage cluster sampling at each city. Participants provided a serum sample and answered a demographic and risk factor questionnaire. Prior infection by SARS-CoV-2 was ascertained using the "SARS-CoV-2 Total (COV2T) Advia Centaur - Siemens" chemiluminescence assay. FINDINGS: A total of 17863 participants from 7320 households participated in the study. Seroprevalence varied substantially between cities, ranging from 26% (95%CI 23-29 %) in Medellín to 68% (95%CI 62-74 %) in Guapi. There were no differences in seroprevalence by sex, but seropositivity was higher in certain ethnic groups. There was substantial heterogeneity in seroprevalence within cities, driven to a large extent by a strong association between socioeconomic stratum and seropositivity. INTERPRETATION: Colombia has been one of the Latin American countries most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study documented very high attack rates in several Colombian cities by the end of 2020 and identified key drivers of heterogeneities including ethnicity and socioeconomic stratum. Few studies of seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 have been conducted in Latin America, and therefore this study contributes to the fundamental understanding of the pandemic in the region. FUNDING: The study was sponsored by, Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología e Innovación -CT361/2020, Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, Fundación Universitaria del Norte, Imperial College of London, Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Sede Medellín), Universidad de Córdoba, California University, Unidad Nacional de Gestión del Riesgo, Centro de Atención y Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Infecciosas -CDI-, Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas -CIDEIM-, Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística - DANE, Fondo Nacional de Turismo -FONTUR-, Secretarías de Salud Departamentales, Distritales y Municipales and Instituto Nacional de Salud.

Neonatal late-onset infection with SARS CoV-2 / [Sepsis neonatal tardía por SARS CoV-2].

During the SARS COV-2 pandemic, the vast majority of infected patients are showing symptoms related to lung damage. At pediatric ages, especially newborns, symptoms from other organ systems without respiratory illness could make COVID-19 hard to diagnose. We are reporting three cases of newborns who were attended in the course of the mitigation phase in the emergency service of a maternal hospital in Barranquilla, Colombia, for high temperature and general compromised condition. During their clinical course, they developed gastrointestinal symptoms without showing any respiratory manifestations. They were not epidemiologically linked to a contact suspected to be a COVID-19 case and their mothers had had no respiratory symptoms since the public health emergency in our country was declared 45 days before. The absence of clinical respiratory manifestations in this group of patients with COVID-19 should draw clinicians' attention to the need to suspect SARS CoV-2 infection in febrile newborns.

Durante la pandemia por SARS CoV-2 la gran mayoría de pacientes ha presentado afectación pulmonar como síntoma cardinal. En los niños, especialmente en recién nacidos, la sintomatología debida al efecto en otros sistemas diferentes al respiratorio puede dificultar el diagnóstico. Se reportan tres casos de recién nacidos atendidos durante la fase de mitigación de la pandemia por SARS CoV-2 en el servicio de urgencias de un hospital materno-infantil en Barranquilla, Colombia, por presentar cuadros febriles que afectaban su estado general. En su evolución clínica predominó la sintomatología gastrointestinal sin que desarrollaran nunca manifestaciones respiratorias. La investigación epidemiológica no evidenció contacto con casos sospechosos o positivos para COVID-19. Sus madres no habían tenido síntomas respiratorios en los 45 días transcurridos desde la declaración de la emergencia en salud pública en el país. La ausencia de manifestaciones clínicas respiratorias en este grupo de pacientes con COVID-19 debe llamar la atención de los clínicos sobre la necesidad de sospechar la infección por SARS CoV-2 en recién nacidos con estados febriles.

Chikungunya outbreak (2015) in the Colombian Caribbean: Latent classes and gender differences in virus infection.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a mosquito-borne alphavirus of the Togaviridae family, is part of a group of emergent diseases, including arbovirus, constituting an increasing public health problem in tropical areas worldwide. CHIKV causes a severe and debilitating disease with high morbidity. The first Colombian autochthonous case was reported in the Colombian Caribbean region in September 2014. Within the next two to three months, the CHIKV outbreak reached its peak. Although the CHIKV pattern of clinical symptomatology has been documented in different epidemiological studies, understanding of the relationship between clinical symptomatology and variation in phenotypic response to CHIKV infection in humans remains limited. We performed a cross sectional study following 1160 individuals clinically diagnosed with CHIKV at the peak of the Chikungunya outbreak in the Colombian Caribbean region. We examined the relationship between symptomatology and diverse phenotypic responses. Latent Class Cluster Analysis (LCCA) models were used to characterize patients' symptomatology and further identify subgroups of individuals with differential phenotypic response. We found that most individuals presented fever (94.4%), headache (73.28%) and general discomfort (59.4%), which are distinct clinical symptoms of a viral infection. Furthermore, 11/26 (43.2%) of the categorized symptoms were more frequent in women than in men. LCCA disclosed seven distinctive phenotypic response profiles in this population of CHIKV infected individuals. Interestingly, 282 (24.3%) individuals exhibited a lower symptomatic "extreme" phenotype and 74 (6.4%) patients were within the severe complex "extreme" phenotype. Although clinical symptomatology may be diverse, there are distinct symptoms or group of symptoms that can be correlated with differential phenotypic response and perhaps susceptibility to CHIKV infection, especially in the female population. This suggests that, comparatively to men, women are a CHIKV at-risk population. Further study is needed to validate these results and determine whether the distinct LCCA profiles are a result of the immune response or a mixture of genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Our findings could contribute to the development of machine learning approaches to characterizing CHIKV infection in other populations. Preliminary results have shown prediction models achieving up to 92% accuracy overall, with substantial sensitivity, specificity and accuracy values per LCCA-derived cluster.

Spatial distribution of the relative risk of Zika virus disease in Colombia during the 2015-2016 epidemic from a Bayesian approach.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the spatial distribution of the risk of Zika virus disease in each region of Colombia during the 2015-2016 epidemic. METHODS: An ecological study was designed to estimate the risks for each Colombian region using first-order neighbors, covariate effects, and three adjacent periods of time (beginning, development, and end of the epidemic) to analyze the spatial distribution of the disease based on a Bayesian hierarchical model. RESULTS: Spatial distribution of the estimated risks of Zika virus disease showed that it increased in a strip that crosses the central area of the country from west to east. Analysis of the three time periods showed greater risk of the disease in the central and southern zones-Arauca and Santander-where the increase in risk was four times higher during the peak phase compared with the initial phase of the outbreak. CONCLUSION: In the identified high-risk areas, integrated surveillance systems for Zika virus disease and its complications must be strengthened to provide up-to-date and accurate epidemiological information. This information would allow those involved in policy and decision making to identify new outbreaks and risk clusters, enabling more focused and accurate measures to target at-risk populations.

[Prevalence of lymph node involvement in patients with endometrial cancer, Colombia 2009-2016: Exploratory analysis of associated factors].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of lymph node involvement in patients with endometrial cancer and to explore factors associated with lymph node invasion. METHODS: Prevalence study with exploratory analysis. The study included patients with endometrial cancer who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy plus bilateral salpyingooophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy in seven oncology centers in Colombia between 2009 and 2016. Patients who had received prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy, with a histological diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors, carcinosarcomas or synchronous or metachronous lesions were excluded. Non-probabilistic sampling. Sample size n=290. Measured variables: sociodemographic, clinical and histopathological, and pelvic or para-aortic lymph node involvement. The prevalence for the period is presented. The exploratory analysis was conducted using crude odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR by means of a multivariate model (unconditional logistic regression). RESULTS: Overall, 467 cases were retrieved. Of them, 163 were excluded because of non-availability of all the variables. In total, 304 patients were studied. The prevalence of lymph node involvement was 15.8 % (48/304). In the crude and adjusted analysis, factors associated with lymph node involvement were lymphovascular invasion (adjusted OR: 9.32; 95 % CI 4.27-21.15) and myometrial invasion (adjusted OR: 3.95; 95 % CI 1.29-14.98). CONCLUSIONS: Of the patients undergoing lymphadenectomy, 15 % have lymph node involvement. Less invasive diagnostic options than radical surgery to ascertain lymph node invasion should be assessed.

TITULO: PREVALENCIA DEL COMPROMISO GANGLIONAR EN PACIENTES CON CÁNCER DE ENDOMETRIO, COLOMBIA 2009-2016: ANÁLISIS EXPLORATORIO DE FACTORES ASOCIADOS. OBJETIVO: Determinar la prevalencia del compro miso ganglionar de pacientes con cáncer de endometrio y hacer una exploración de los factores asociados a la invasión ganglionar. METODOS: Estudio de prevalencia con análisis exploratorio. Se incluyeron pacientes con cáncer de endometrio llevadas a histerectomía abdominal total más salpingooforectomía bilateral y linfadenectomía pélvica, con o sin linfadenectomía paraaórtica en siete centros de oncología de Colombia, en el periodo 2009-2016. Se excluyeron pacientes con radioterapia o quimioterapia previa, diagnóstico histológico de tumores neuroendocrinos, carcinosarcomas, tumores sincrónicos o metacrónicos. Muestreo no probabilístico. Tamaño muestral n = 290. Variables medidas: sociodemográficas, clínicas e histopatológicas y compromiso ganglionar pélvico o paraaórtico. Se presenta la prevalencia de periodo; el análisis exploratorio se realizó por medio de odds ratio (OR) crudo y el ajustado mediante un modelo multivariado (regresión logística no condicional). RESULTADOS: Se obtuvieron 467 casos de los cuales se excluyeron 163 por no presentar la totalidad de las variables, se estudiaron 304 pacientes. La prevalencia del compromiso ganglionar fue del 15,8 % (48/304). Los factores asociados al compromiso ganglionar en el análisis crudo y ajustado fueron la invasión linfovascular (OR ajustado = 9,32; IC 95 %: 4,27-21,15) e invasión miometrial (OR ajustado = 3.95; IC 95 %: 1,29-14,98). CONCLUSIONES: El 15 % de las pacientes sometidas a linfadenectomía tienen compromiso ganglionar. Se deben evaluar alternativas diagnósticas menos invasivas que la cirugía radical para establecer la invasión ganglionar.

Health-Related Quality of Life of an adult population sample in Barranquilla, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate values of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) by focusing on the physical and mental health of an adult population sample in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study with 368 adults representing an adult population. The questionnaires included the health-related quality of life "CDC-Healthy Days", the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, and the Overall Disability Sum Score. The prevalence of fair or poor health status (FPH), frequent physical distress (FPD), frequent mental distress (FMD), and frequent activity limitation (FAL) was estimated according to socio-demographic characteristics, presence of depression, and physical disability. RESULTS: The mean age of 368 adults was 45.6 ± 18.3 years; 55.7% were males. Only 21% of this population considered their general health to be fair or poor. The prevalence of FPH, FPD, FMD and FAL was higher in women than in men, and increased with greater severity of depression and higher physical disability. Moreover, 12% of the population presented with mild depression, 3.8% with moderate depression, and less than 1% with severe depression. 94% of this population did not have an arms or legs disability. DISCUSSION: This study provides HRQOL values for an adult sample of the population of Barranquilla, Colombia. Overall, the HRQOL of this population, with subtle differences, is similar to other reports from Colombia. In general, women and people with depression and physical disabilities had a worse quality of life.

Long-term outcomes of Guillain-Barré syndrome possibly associated with Zika virus infection.

BACKGROUND: This prospective cohort investigation analyzed the long-term functional and neurologic outcomes of patients with Zika virus-associated Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in Barranquilla, Colombia. METHODS: Thirty-four Zika virus-associated GBS cases were assessed a median of 17 months following acute GBS illness. We assessed demographics, results of Overall Disability Sum Scores (ODSS), Hughes Disability Score (HDS), Zung Depression Scale (ZDS), and Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) questionnaires; and compared outcomes indices with a normative sample of neighborhood-selected control subjects in Barranquilla without GBS. RESULTS: Median age at time of acute neurologic onset was 49 years (range, 10-80); 17 (50%) were male. No deaths occurred. At long-term follow-up, 25 (73%) patients had a HDS 0-1, indicating complete / near complete recovery. Among the group, HDS (mean 1.4, range 0-4), ODSS (mean 1.9, range 0-9) and ZDS score (mean 34.4, range 20-56) indicated mild / moderate ongoing disability. Adjusting for age and sex, Zika virus-associated GBS cases were similar to a population comparison group (n = 368) in Barranquilla without GBS in terms of prevalence of physical or mental health complaints, though GBS patients were more likely to have an ODSS of ≥ 1 (OR 8.8, 95% CI 3.2-24.5) and to suffer from moderate / moderate-severe depression (OR 3.89, 95% CI 1.23-11.17) than the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcomes of Zika virus-associated GBS are consistent with those associated with other antecedent antigenic stimuli in terms of mortality and ongoing long-term morbidity, as published in the literature. Persons with Zika virus-associated GBS more frequently reported disability and depression after approximately one year compared with those without GBS.

Cancer incidence and mortality in Barranquilla, Colombia. 2008-2012.

OBJECTIVE: To describe cancer incidence and mortality during the 2008-2012 period in the District of Barranquilla. METHODS: Cancer incident cases were collected, analyzed and processed by the Barranquilla Population Cancer Registry during the study period. Population structure was obtained from the Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadìsticas (DANE) and mortality from the Sistema de Información de Cáncer en Colombia. The total and specific crude and specific incidence rates and mortality by age and gender were estimated, as well as by-age standardized incidence rates. Statistical analysis were performed with SPSS V24 and Canreg5. RESULTS: 8,182 cases of cancer were identified, excluding non-melanoma skin cancer (62.8% in women). 83.0% of the tumors had histological verification and only 5.2% were DCO. The adjusted incidence rate for all tumors was 116.5 per 100,000 in men and 155.4 per 100,000 in women. The most frequent locations were prostate and trachea-bronchi-lung in men, while in women, breast and cervix occupied the first places. Breast and prostate had the highest mortality rates in women and men, respectively. CONCLUSION: Specific behavior of cancer incidence and mortality in Barranquilla has important increases for the main types of tumors (breast and prostate) when compared to the country and other population registries. To provide data is key to showing a representative behavior of the Colombian Caribbean.

OBJETIVO: Describir el comportamiento de la incidencia y mortalidad del cáncer durante el período 2008-2012, en el Distrito de Barranquilla, Colombia. MÉTODOS: La información fue obtenida del Registro Poblacional de Cáncer de Barranquilla y el DANE. Se analizaron casos incidentes y muertes por cáncer en residentes de Barranquilla, desde enero 1 de 2008 hasta diciembre 31 de 2012. Los casos informados corresponden a tumores malignos primarios invasivos en todas las localizaciones, excepto carcinomas de células escamosas y células basales en piel. Se verificó la consistencia interna de los datos y se aplicaron indicadores de calidad sugeridos por la IARC. La población en riesgo se obtuvo de proyecciones poblacionales (1985-2020, DANE). Se estimaron tasas específicas por sexo y edad (grupos quinquenales) y se estandarizaron por método directo utilizando como referencia población mundial. RESULTADOS: Se identificaron 8,182 casos de cáncer, (62.8% en mujeres). 83.0% tuvieron verificación histológica y 5.2% fueron capturados sólo por certificado de defunción. La tasa global de incidencia de cáncer por 100,000 personas /año ajustada por edad fue 116.5 en hombres y 155.4 en mujeres. Las localizaciones más frecuentes de neoplasias malignas fueron: próstata y pulmón en hombres, y mama y cérvix para mujeres. Las mayores tasas de mortalidad se presentaron por los tumores de mama en mujeres y próstata en hombres. CONCLUSIÓN: la incidencia y mortalidad por cáncer en Barranquilla presentan aumentos importantes en los principales tumores (mama y próstata) con respecto a otras regiones de Colombia. Los datos aportados pueden considerarse representativos del comportamiento epidemiológico del cáncer en el caribe colombiano.

[Lifestyles and health status of migrants in a settlement of Barranquilla, Colombia, 2018]. / Modos de vida y estado de salud de migrantes en un asentamiento de Barranquilla, 2018.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the lifestyles and health status of returning Venezuelan and Colombian migrants in Villa Caracas, Barranquilla, in 2018. METHODS: Descriptive, cross-sectional study with systematic sampling of dwellings. 229 people over 15 years of age from 90 homes were included. RESULTS: Differences were found in the routes to arrive, commuting times and stay in the settlement between Venezuelan and returning Colombian migrants. Housing conditions and access to public services are limited: less than half of the dwellings have access to aqueduct, sewerage and bathrooms. In general, self-reported health status of migrants is very good or good and the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases was relatively low, with the exception of high blood pressure. Most of the people who consulted the emergency department reported effective access. Clinically significant depressive symptoms were found in 20% of the surveyed population. CONCLUSIONS: The migrants of Villa Caracas are under high social vulnerability conditions given their economic and environmental conditions. Despite their lack of enrollment in the Colombian health system, they reported access to emergency care.

OBJETIVO: Describir los modos de vida y el estado de salud de salud de migrantes venezolanos y colombianos de retorno asentados en Villa Caracas, Barranquilla, en el año 2018. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal con muestreo sistemático de viviendas. Fueron incluidas 229 personas mayores de 15 años procedentes de 90 viviendas. RESULTADOS: Se encontraron diferencias en las rutas para llegar, tiempos de traslado y estancia en el asentamiento entre migrantes venezolanos y colombianos en retorno. Las condiciones de la vivienda y el acceso a los servicios públicos son limitadas, menos de la mitad de las viviendas tienen acceso a acueducto, alcantarillado y baño. En general el estado de salud auto-reportado por los migrantes es muy bueno o bueno, las prevalencias de enfermedades crónicas fueron relativamente bajas, con excepción de hipertensión arterial. De los que consultaron al servicio de urgencias, la mayoría reportó acceso efectivo. Se encontraron síntomas depresivos clínicamente significativos para el 20% de la población encuestada. CONCLUSIONES: Los migrantes de Villa Caracas se encuentran en condiciones de alta vulnerabilidad social dadas sus condiciones económicas y ambientales. A pesar de la falta de aseguramiento al sistema de salud colombiano, reportaron acceso a la atención por urgencias.

Polimorfismos de los genes del sistema leptina-melanocortina asociados con la obesidad en la población adulta de Barranquilla / Polymorphisms of leptin-melanocortin system genes associated with obesity in an adult population from Barranquilla

Introducción. La obesidad se considera un grave problema de salud pública y por ello se hacen esfuerzos en la búsqueda de genes como el LEP, el LEPR y el MC4R del sistema leptina-melanocortina, el cual opera en la regulación neuroendocrina de la ingestión y el equilibrio energético e influye en la patogenia de la enfermedad. Los resultados contradictorios en torno a la asociación de estos genes con la obesidad plantean la necesidad de nuevas investigaciones. Objetivo. Analizar los polimorfismos rs2167270 del gen LEP, rs1137101 del gen LEPR y rs17782313 del gen MC4R asociados con la obesidad y sus variables clínicas y bioquímicas en una muestra de pacientes adultos de Barranquilla. Materiales y métodos. Se estudiaron 111 personas obesas y 155 no obesas como controles. Los polimorfismos se determinaron mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) en tiempo real. Se tomaron las medidas antropométricas, se evaluó la presión arterial y se hicieron pruebas bioquímicas. Resultados. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticas en la frecuencia alélica y genotípica de los polimorfismos en los grupos estudiados. En cuanto a las variables clínicas y bioquímicas, el genotipo CC del polimorfismo rs17782313 del gen MC4R, se asoció con un aumento de la presión arterial sistólica y, el alelo T y su genotipo homocigoto, con una disminución del colesterol HDL en los obesos. No se evidenció ningún efecto de los otros polimorfismos en estas variables. Conclusiones. Los polimorfismos rs2167270 del gen LEP, rs1137101 del gen LEPR y rs17782313 del gen MC4R, no se asociaron con obesidad en la población analizada. Se encontró que el polimorfismo rs17782313 del gen MC4R influyó en el aumento de la presión arterial sistólica y la disminución del colesterol HDL en las personas obesas.

Introduction: Obesity is considered a serious public health problem. Efforts have been directed to search for candidate genes such as LEP, LEPR, and MC4R involved in the leptin- melanocortin system. The neuroendocrine regulation of these genes on energy intake and balance influences the pathogenesis of this disease. Contradictory results regarding the association of these genes with obesity raise the need for new research. Objective: To analyze the association between obesity and LEP rs2167270, LEPR rs1137101, and MC4R rs17782313 polymorphisms and the clinical and biochemical variables in obese adults from Barranquilla, Colombia. Materials and methods: We analyzed 111 obese adults and 155 non-obese individuals as controls. The polymorphisms were determined by real-time PCR. Besides, anthropometric measures, blood pressure, and biochemical tests were evaluated. Results: No statistical differences were found in allele and genotype frequencies of gene polymorphisms between groups. The CC genotype of MC4R rs17782313 polymorphism was associated with increased systolic blood pressure and T allele and TT genotype, with decreased HDL cholesterol in obese adults. The effect of the other polymorphisms on these variables was not evidenced. Conclusions: LEP rs2167270, LEPR rs1137101, and MC4R rs17782313 polymorphisms were not associated with obesity in the population under study. MC4R rs17782313 polymorphisms were associated with an increase in systolic blood pressure and a decrease in HDL cholesterol.

Prevalence of lymph node involvement in patients with endometrial cancer, Colombia 2009-2016: Exploratory analysis of associated factors / Prevalencia del compromiso ganglionar en pacientes con cáncer de endometrio, colombia 2009-2016: análisis exploratorio de factores asociados

RESUMEN Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia del compro miso ganglionar de pacientes con cáncer de endometrio y hacer una exploración de los factores asociados a la invasión ganglionar. Materiales y métodos: estudio de prevalencia con análisis exploratorio. Se incluyeron pacientes con cáncer de endometrio llevadas a histerectomía abdominal total más salpingooforectomía bilateral y linfadenectomía pélvica, con o sin linfadenectomía paraaórtica en siete centros de oncología de Colombia, en el periodo 2009-2016. Se excluyeron pacientes con radioterapia o quimioterapia previa, diagnóstico histológico de tumores neuroendocrinos, carcinosarcomas, tumores sincrónicos o metacrónicos. Muestreo no probabilístico. Tamaño muestral n = 290. Variables medidas: sociodemográficas, clínicas e histopatológicas y compromiso ganglionar pélvico o paraaórtico. Se presenta la prevalencia de periodo; el análisis exploratorio se realizó por medio de odds ratio (OR) crudo y el ajustado mediante un modelo multivariado (regresión logística no condicional). Resultados: se obtuvieron 467 casos de los cuales se excluyeron 163 por no presentar la totalidad de las variables, se estudiaron 304 pacientes. La prevalencia del compromiso ganglionar fue del 15,8 % (48/304). Los factores asociados al compromiso ganglionar en el análisis crudo y ajustado fueron la invasión linfovascular (OR ajustado = 9,32; IC 95 %: 4,27-21,15) e invasión miometrial (OR ajustado = 3.95; IC 95 %: 1,29-14,98). Conclusión: el 15 % de las pacientes sometidas a linfadenectomía tienen compromiso ganglionar. Se deben evaluar alternativas diagnósticas menos invasivas que la cirugía radical para establecer la invasión ganglionar.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the prevalence of lymph node involvement in patients with endometrial cancer and to explore factors associated with lymph node invasion. Materials and methods: Prevalence study with exploratory analysis. The study included patients with endometrial cancer who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy plus bilateral salpyingooophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy in seven oncology centers in Colombia between 2009 and 2016. Patients who had received prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy, with a histological diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors, carcinosarcomas or synchronous or metachronous lesions were excluded. Non-probabilistic sampling. Sample size n=290. Measured variables: sociodemographic, clinical and histopathological, and pelvic or para-aortic lymph node involvement. The prevalence for the period is presented. The exploratory analysis was conducted using crude odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR by means of a multivariate model (unconditional logistic regression). Results: Overall, 467 cases were retrieved. Of them, 163 were excluded because of non-availability of all the variables. In total, 304 patients were studied. The prevalence of lymph node involvement was 15.8 % (48/304). In the crude and adjusted analysis, factors associated with lymph node involvement were lymphovascular invasion (adjusted OR: 9.32; 95 % CI 4.27-21.15) and myometrial invasion (adjusted OR: 3.95; 95 % CI 1.29-14.98). Conclusion: Of the patients undergoing lymphadenectomy, 15 % have lymph node involvement. Less invasive diagnostic options than radical surgery to ascertain lymph node invasion should be assessed.