Incidence and Predictors of Progression to Chagas Cardiomyopathy: Long-Term Follow-Up of Trypanosoma cruzi-Seropositive Individuals.

BACKGROUND: There are few contemporary cohorts of Trypanosoma cruzi-seropositive individuals, and the basic clinical epidemiology of Chagas disease is poorly understood. Herein, we report the incidence of cardiomyopathy and death associated with T. cruzi seropositivity. METHODS: Participants were selected in blood banks at 2 Brazilian centers. Cases were defined as T. cruzi-seropositive blood donors. T. cruzi-seronegative controls were matched for age, sex, and period of donation. Patients with established Chagas cardiomyopathy were recruited from a tertiary outpatient service. Participants underwent medical examination, blood collection, ECG, and echocardiogram at enrollment (2008-2010) and at follow-up (2018-2019). The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and development of cardiomyopathy, defined as the presence of a left ventricular ejection fraction <50% or QRS complex duration ≥120 ms, or both. To handle loss to follow-up, a sensitivity analysis was performed using inverse probability weights for selection. RESULTS: We enrolled 499 T. cruzi-seropositive donors (age 48±10 years, 52% male), 488 T. cruzi-seronegative donors (age 49±10 years, 49% male), and 101 patients with established Chagas cardiomyopathy (age 48±8 years, 59% male). The mortality in patients with established cardiomyopathy was 80.9 deaths/1000 person-years (py) (54/101, 53%) and 15.1 deaths/1000 py (17/114, 15%) in T. cruzi-seropositive donors with cardiomyopathy at baseline. Among T. cruzi-seropositive donors without cardiomyopathy at baseline, mortality was 3.7 events/1000 py (15/385, 4%), which was no different from T. cruzi-seronegative donors with 3.6 deaths/1000 py (17/488, 3%). The incidence of cardiomyopathy in T. cruzi-seropositive donors was 13.8 (95% CI, 9.5-19.6) events/1000 py (32/262, 12%) compared with 4.6 (95% CI, 2.3-8.3) events/1000 py (11/277, 4%) in seronegative controls, with an absolute incidence difference associated with T. cruzi seropositivity of 9.2 (95% CI, 3.6-15.0) events/1000 py. T. cruzi antibody level at baseline was associated with development of cardiomyopathy (adjusted odds ratio, 1.4 [95% CI, 1.1-1.8]). CONCLUSIONS: We present a comprehensive description of the natural history of T. cruzi seropositivity in a contemporary patient population. The results highlight the central importance of anti-T. cruzi antibody titer as a marker of Chagas disease activity and risk of progression.

Anaphylaxis in Brazil between 2011 and 2019.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of population-based studies of anaphylaxis from low- and middle-income countries. This hampers public health planning and investments and may influence availability of adrenaline auto-injectors. OBJECTIVE: We conducted the first national population-based study of anaphylaxis hospitalization in Brazil. METHODS: Descriptive study using routinely reported data to the Brazilian Hospital Information System for the years 2011-2019. Information available is coded based on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 and covers main cause of hospitalization (primary cause) and any conditions contributing to it (secondary cause). RESULTS: Over 9 years, we identified 5716 admissions due to anaphylaxis for all causes. The average hospitalization rate related to anaphylaxis was 0.71/100,000 population per year, with a 2.4% (95% CI 1.9%, 2.9%) increase per annum over the study period. Admissions were more frequent among females (52.8%), except for cases due to insect sting. Most admissions occurred in adulthood, from 30 to 59 years (36.3%) but 13.8% in preschool children (0-4 years). There were more young children admitted for food-related anaphylaxis, and more adults admitted for drug/iatrogenic-related anaphylaxis. There were 334 cases (5.8% of admissions) of fatal anaphylaxis over the study period, with increased case fatality rate over time. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first study of anaphylaxis hospital admissions using nation-wide data from a low- or middle-income country. Hospital admissions and fatalities from anaphylaxis in Brazil appear to be increasing.

Validation of physician certified verbal autopsy using conventional autopsy: a large study of adult non-external causes of death in a metropolitan area in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Reliable mortality data are essential for the development of public health policies. In Brazil, although there is a well-consolidated universal system for mortality data, the quality of information on causes of death (CoD) is not even among Brazilian regions, with a high proportion of ill-defined CoD. Verbal autopsy (VA) is an alternative to improve mortality data. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of an adapted and reduced version of VA in identifying the underlying causes of non-forensic deaths, in São Paulo, Brazil. This is the first time that a version of the questionnaire has been validated considering the autopsy as the gold standard. METHODS: The performance of a physician-certified verbal autopsy (PCVA) was evaluated considering conventional autopsy (macroscopy plus microscopy) as gold standard, based on a sample of 2060 decedents that were sent to the Post-Mortem Verification Service (SVOC-USP). All CoD, from the underlying to the immediate, were listed by both parties, and ICD-10 attributed by a senior coder. For each cause, sensitivity and chance corrected concordance (CCC) were computed considering first the underlying causes attributed by the pathologist and PCVA, and then any CoD listed in the death certificate given by PCVA. Cause specific mortality fraction accuracy (CSMF-accuracy) and chance corrected CSMF-accuracy were computed to evaluate the PCVA performance at the populational level. RESULTS: There was substantial variability of the sensitivities and CCC across the causes. Well-known chronic diseases with accurate diagnoses that had been informed by physicians to family members, such as various cancers, had sensitivities above 40% or 50%. However, PCVA was not effective in attributing Pneumonia, Cardiomyopathy and Leukemia/Lymphoma as underlying CoD. At populational level, the PCVA estimated cause specific mortality fractions (CSMF) may be considered close to the fractions pointed by the gold standard. The CSMF-accuracy was 0.81 and the chance corrected CSMF-accuracy was 0.49. CONCLUSIONS: The PCVA was efficient in attributing some causes individually and proved effective in estimating the CSMF, which indicates that the method is useful to establish public health priorities.

Global implementation of the world health organization's International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11: The allergic and hypersensitivity conditions model.

The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) provides a common language for use worldwide as a diagnostic and classification tool for epidemiology, clinical purposes and health management. Since its first edition, the ICD has maintained a framework distributing conditions according to topography, with the result that some complex conditions, such as allergies and hypersensitivity disorders (A/H) including anaphylaxis, have been poorly represented. The change in hierarchy in ICD-11 permitted the construction of the pioneer section addressed to A/H, which may result in more accurate mortality and morbidity statistics, including more accurate accounting for mortality due to anaphylaxis, strengthen classification, terminology and definitions. The ICD-11 was presented and adopted by the 72nd World Health Assembly in May 2019, and the implementation is ongoing worldwide. We here present the outcomes from an online survey undertaken to reach out the allergy community worldwide in order to peer review the terminology, classification and definitions of A/H introduced into ICD-11 and to support their global implementation. Data are presented here for 406 respondents from 74 countries. All of the subsections of the new A/H section of the ICD-11 had been considered with good accuracy by the majority of respondents. We believe that, in addition to help during the implementation phase, all the comments provided will help to improve the A/H classification and to increase awareness by different disciplines of what actions are needed to ensure more accurate epidemiological data and better clinical management of A/H patients.

Changing the history of anaphylaxis mortality statistics through the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases-11.

We review the history of the classification and coding changes for anaphylaxis and provide current and perspective information in the field. In 2012, an analysis of Brazilian data demonstrated undernotification of anaphylaxis-related deaths because of the difficulties of coding using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. This work triggered strategic international actions supported by the Joint Allergy Academies and the International Classification of Diseases World Health Organization (WHO) leadership to update the classification of allergic disorders for the International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11), which resulted in construction of the pioneer "Allergic and hypersensitivity conditions" chapter. The usability of the new framework has been tested by evaluating the same data published in 2012 from the ICD-11 perspective. Coding accuracy was much improved, reaching 95% for definite anaphylaxis. As the results were provided to the WHO Mortality Reference Group, coding rules have been changed, allowing anaphylaxis to be recorded as an underlying cause of death in official mortality statistics. The mandatory use of ICD-11 from January 2022 for documenting cause of death could have 2 immediate consequences: (1) the reported number of anaphylaxis-related deaths might increase because of more appropriate coding and (2) the cross-sectional and longitudinal mortality data generated might ultimately lead to a better understanding of anaphylaxis epidemiology and improved health policies directed at reducing anaphylaxis-related mortality.

Impact of Kasai portoenterostomy on liver transplantation outcomes: A retrospective cohort study of 347 children with biliary atresia.

Biliary atresia (BA) is the main diagnosis leading to liver transplantation (LT) in children. When diagnosed early in life, a Kasai portoenterostomy (Kasai-PE) can prevent or postpone LT. Instances of previous operations can result in difficulties during the LT. We hypothesized that a previous Kasai-PE could affect LT outcomes. A retrospective cohort study of 347 BA patients submitted to LT between 1995 and 2013 at Hospital Sírio-Libanês and A. C. Camargo Cancer Center was conducted. Patients were divided into those with a previous Kasai portoenterostomy early failure (K-EF), Kasai portoenterostomy late failure (K-LF), and those with no Kasai portoenterostomy (No-K). Primary outcomes were patient and graft survival. A total of 94 (27.1%) patients had a K-EF, 115 (33.1%) had a K-LF, and 138 (39.8%) had No-K before LT. Children in the K-LF group were older and had lower Pediatric End-Stage Liver Disease (PELD) scores. Patients in both K-EF and K-LF groups had more post-LT biliary complications. After Cox-multivariate analysis adjusting for confounding factors to determine the influence of Kasai-PE on patient and graft survival, the K-LF group had an 84% less probability of dying and a 55% less chance to undergo retransplantation. The K-LF group had a protective effect on posttransplant patient and graft survival. When properly performed, the Kasai procedure can postpone LT and positively affect outcomes. Having a K-EF and having not performed a Kasai-PE had the same effect in patient and graft survival; however, a previous Kasai-PE can increase post-LT complications as biliary complications and bowel perforations.

Sepsis-related deaths in Brazil: an analysis of the national mortality registry from 2002 to 2010.

INTRODUCTION: Limited population-based epidemiologic information about sepsis' demography, including its mortality and temporal changes is available from developing countries. We investigated the epidemiology of sepsis deaths in Brazil using secondary data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System. METHODS: Retrospective descriptive analysis of Brazilian multiple-cause-of-death data between 2002 and 2010, with sepsis-associated International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) code indicated as the cause of death. Population-based sepsis associated mortality rates and trends were estimated. Annual population-based mortality rates were calculated using age-stratified population estimates from the 2010 census provided by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics as denominators. RESULTS: The total number of annual deaths recorded in Brazil increased over the decade, from 982,294 deaths reported in 2002 to 1,133,761 deaths reported in 2010. The number of sepsis associated deaths also increased both in absolute numbers and proportions from 95,972 (9.77% of total deaths) in 2002 to 186,712 deaths (16.46%) in 2010. The age-adjusted rate of sepsis-associated mortality increased from 69.5 deaths per 100,000 to 97.8 deaths per 100,000 population from 2002 to 2010 (P < 0.001). Sepsis-associated mortality was higher in individuals older than 60 years of age as compared to subjects aged 0 to 20 years (adjusted rate ratio 15.7 (95% confidence interval (CI) 15.6 to 15.8)) and in male subjects (1.15 (95% CI 1.15 to 1.16)). CONCLUSIONS: Between 2002 and 2010 the contribution of sepsis to all cause mortality as reported in multiple-cause-of-death forms increased significantly in Brazil. Age-adjusted mortality rates by sepsis also increased in the last decade. Our results confirm the importance of sepsis as a significant healthcare issue in Brazil.

Serotype Distribution and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Streptococcus pneumoniae in COVID-19 Pandemic Era in Brazil.

Despite the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine, Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a cause of invasive diseases in Brazil. This study provides the distribution of serotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns for pneumococcal isolates before and during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic in two age groups, <5 and ≥50 years. This is a national laboratory-based surveillance study that uses data from the Brazilian national laboratory for invasive S. pneumoniae from the pre-COVID-19 (January 2016 to January 2020) and COVID-19 (February 2020 to May 2022) periods. Antimicrobial resistance was evaluated by disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration. The year 2020 was marked by a 44.6% reduction in isolates received and was followed by an upward trend from 2021 onwards, which became evident in 2022. No differences were observed in serotypes distribution between the studied periods. The COVID-19 period was marked by the high prevalence of serotypes 19A, 3, and 6C in both age groups. Serotypes 19A and 6C were related to non-antimicrobial susceptibility. We observed a reduction in S. pneumoniae, without changes in serotypes distribution and epidemiological capsular switch during the COVID-19 period. We observed elevated resistance rates, mainly to penicillin and ceftriaxone for non-meningitis cases in children under 5 years of age.

Machine learning for predicting Chagas disease infection in rural areas of Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Chagas disease is a severe parasitic illness that is prevalent in Latin America and often goes unaddressed. Early detection and treatment are critical in preventing the progression of the illness and its associated life-threatening complications. In recent years, machine learning algorithms have emerged as powerful tools for disease prediction and diagnosis. METHODS: In this study, we developed machine learning algorithms to predict the risk of Chagas disease based on five general factors: age, gender, history of living in a mud or wooden house, history of being bitten by a triatomine bug, and family history of Chagas disease. We analyzed data from the Retrovirus Epidemiology Donor Study (REDS) to train five popular machine learning algorithms. The sample comprised 2,006 patients, divided into 75% for training and 25% for testing algorithm performance. We evaluated the model performance using precision, recall, and AUC-ROC metrics. RESULTS: The Adaboost algorithm yielded an AUC-ROC of 0.772, a precision of 0.199, and a recall of 0.612. We simulated the decision boundary using various thresholds and observed that in this dataset a threshold of 0.45 resulted in a 100% recall. This finding suggests that employing such a threshold could potentially save 22.5% of the cost associated with mass testing of Chagas disease. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight the potential of applying machine learning to improve the sensitivity and effectiveness of Chagas disease diagnosis and prevention. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of integrating socio-demographic and environmental factors into neglected disease prediction models to enhance their performance.

Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Chagas Disease: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal manifestations among individuals with positive serology for Chagas disease (ChD) and to describe the clinical gastrointestinal manifestations of the disease. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted based on the criteria and recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The PubMed, Scopus, Virtual Health Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases were used to search for evidence. Two reviewers independently selected eligible articles and extracted data. RStudio® software was used for the meta-analysis. For subgroup analysis, the studies were divided according to the origin of the individuals included: 1) individuals from health units were included in the health care service prevalence analysis, and 2) individuals from the general population were included in the population prevalence analysis. A total of 2,570 articles were identified, but after removal of duplicates and application of inclusion criteria, 24 articles were included and 21 were part of the meta-analysis. Most of the studies were conducted in Brazil. Radiological diagnosis was the most frequent method used to identify the gastrointestinal clinical form. The combined effect of meta-analysis studies showed a prevalence of gastrointestinal manifestations in individuals with ChD of 12% (95% CI, 8.0-17.0%). In subgroup analysis, the prevalence for studies involving health care services was 16% (95% CI, 11.0-23.0%), while the prevalence for population-based studies was 9% (95% CI, 5.0-15.0%). Megaesophagus and megacolon were the main forms of ChD presentation in the gastrointestinal form. The prevalence of gastrointestinal manifestations of ChD was 12%. Knowing the prevalence of ChD in its gastrointestinal form is an important step in planning health actions for these patients.

Effect of 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine on pneumonia among children, Brazil.

Pneumonia is most problematic for children in developing countries. In 2010, Brazil introduced a 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) to its National Immunization Program. To assess the vaccine's effectiveness for preventing pneumonia, we analyzed rates of hospitalization among children 2-24 months of age who had pneumonia from all causes from January 2005 through August 2011. We used data from the National Hospitalization Information System to conduct an interrupted time-series analysis for 5 cities in Brazil that had good data quality and high PCV10 vaccination coverage. Of the 197,975 hospitalizations analyzed, 30% were for pneumonia. Significant declines in hospitalizations for pneumonia were noted in Belo Horizonte (28.7%), Curitiba (23.3%), and Recife (27.4%) but not in São Paulo and Porto Alegre. However, in the latter 2 cities, vaccination coverage was less than that in the former 3. Overall, 1 year after introduction of PCV10, hospitalizations of children for pneumonia were reduced.

Usefulness of the Hospital Information System for maternal mortality surveillance in Brazil. / Utilidade do Sistema de Informação Hospitalar na vigilância da mortalidade materna no Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the capability of hospital records in the Hospital Information System (SIH) to add valuable and complementary information to the Mortality Information System (SIM) in studies on maternal mortality. We calculated and compared the maternal mortality ratio from the SIH and SIM databases, by age group and region, to highlight differences between groups and assess the coverage of maternal deaths using SIH compared with SIM. METHODS: Obstetric hospitalizations were defined based on three sources (codes ICD-10 in diagnoses; procedures; billing information). Hospital and SIM mortality ratios were calculated by dividing maternal deaths in hospitals affiliated to the Unified Brazilian Health System (SUS) per live births (SINASC) in the same hospitals. RESULTS: In 2019, we identified 2,497,957 obstetric admissions, 0.04% (946) with in-hospital mortality as outcome. The presence of three criteria identified 98% of obstetric hospitalizations and 83% of obstetric hospitalizations with death as outcome. The comparison of mortality ratios between SIH (45.5 MMR; 95%CI 42.7 - 48.5) and SIM (49.7 MMR; 95%CI 46.7 - 52.8) was not statistically significant (p-value: 0.053). CONCLUSION: The analysis of SIH was able to provide additional information for the monitoring and surveillance of maternal health in Brazil. Although there are differences between the mortality rates, the SIH, as a complementary information system to the SIM, may be valid in studies on maternal mortality and morbidity.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a capacidade dos registros hospitalares (SIH) em adicionar informações úteis e complementares ao Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade (SIM) no entendimento da mortalidade materna. Calcular e comparar a Razão de Mortalidade Materna (RMM) hospitalar e a RMM do SIM dos óbitos maternos ocorridos em hospitais, por faixa etária e por região, para demonstrar diferenças entre os grupos e avaliar a cobertura de óbitos maternos do SIM em relação ao SIH. MÉTODOS: As internações obstétricas foram definidas com base em três critérios (códigos da 10a Revisão da Classificação Estatística Internacional de Doenças e Problemas Relacionados à Saúde ­ CID-10 nos diagnósticos; procedimentos; cobrança de parto). As RMM hospitalar e do SIM foram calculadas dividindo-se os óbitos maternos ocorridos nos hospitais conveniados ao Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) pelos nascidos vivos (Sistema de Informação sobre Nascidos Vivos ­ SINASC) desses estabelecimentos. RESULTADOS: Em 2019, identificamos 2.497.957 registros de internações obstétricas, 0,04% (946) com óbito hospitalar. Os três critérios localizaram 98% das internações obstétricas e 83% das internações com óbitos, revelando inconsistências entre diagnósticos e procedimentos. A comparação entre a RMM do SIH (45,5, intervalo de confiança ­ IC95%, 42,7­48,5) e a do SIM (49,7, IC95%, 46,7­52,8) não foi estatisticamente significante (p-valor 0,053). CONCLUSÃO: A análise do SIH foi capaz de prover informações adicionais ao monitoramento e vigilância da saúde materna no Brasil. Embora haja diferenças entre as RMM, o SIH como sistema de informação complementar ao SIM pode ser válido nos estudos sobre mortalidade e morbidade materna.

The Changing Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus Acquisition Among HIV-Infected Individuals in Brazil.

Identification of mechanisms of hepatitis C virus (HCV) acquisition among HIV-infected people is critical for prevention guidance. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for HCV infection and variations in HCV genotype distribution in a cohort of HIV-HCV coinfected patients in Brazil. This was a cross-sectional observational epidemiological study of a cohort of HIV-HCV coinfected individuals seen at a referral center for HIV-infected patients in the city of São Paulo between January and December 2017. The time of HCV acquisition, as determined by chart review, was categorized as before 2000, between 2000 and 2009, and from 2010 onward. HCV genotypes were determined by gene amplification and analysis. Among 3,143 HIV-infected individuals analyzed, 362 (11.5%) were HCV-HIV coinfected. Overall, the reported modes of HCV acquisition were sexual exposure in 172 (47.5%), injection drug use (IDU) in 86 (23.8%), use of inhaled drugs in 67 (18.5%) and blood transfusion in 10 (2.8%) individuals. All individuals who acquired HCV after IDU became infected before 2010. HCV acquisition by sexual contact was reported by 26.4%, 65.9%, and 63.8% of patients before 2000, between 2000 and 2009, and from 2010, respectively. There was an increase (p < .001) in the proportion of cases due to sexual transmission from the period before 2000 (26.4%) to between 2000 and 2009 (65.9%). There was no corresponding increase from 2000 and 2009 to after 2010 (p = .751). HCV genotype 1 was most prevalent at all time periods. The genotype 3 frequency decreased over time (test for trend p < .001), whereas genotype 4, extremely uncommon before 2010, became the second most prevalent genotype from 2010 onward. In HIV-infected individuals in Sao Paulo, Brazil, sexual transmission has replaced IDU as the most frequent mode of HCV acquisition.

Chronic medical conditions associated with invasive pneumococcal diseases in inpatients in teaching hospitals in São Paulo city: Estimating antimicrobial susceptibility and serotype-coverage of pneumococcal vaccines.

BACKGROUND: Chronic conditions increase the risk of invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD). Pneumococcal vaccination remarkably reduced IPD morbimortality in vulnerable populations. In Brazil, pneumococcal vaccines are included in the National Immunization Program (PNI): PCV10 for < 2 years-old, and PPV23 for high risk-patients aged ≥ 2 years and institutionalized ≥ 60 years. PCV13 is available in private clinics and recommended in the PNI for individuals with certain underlying conditions. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed using clinical data from all inpatients from five hospitals with IPD from 2016 to 2018 and the corresponding data on serotype and antimicrobial-non-susceptibility of pneumococcus. Vaccine-serotype-coverage was estimated. Patients were classified according to presence of comorbidities: healthy, without comorbidities; at-risk, included immunocompetent persons with specific medical conditions; high-risk, with immunocompromising conditions and others RESULTS: 406 IPD cases were evaluated. Among 324 cases with information on medical conditions, children < 5 years were mostly healthy (55.9%), while presence of comorbidity prevailed in adults ≥ 18 years old (> 82.0%). Presence of ≥1 risk condition was reported in ≥ 34.8% of adults. High-risk conditions were more frequent than at-risk in all age groups. Among high-risk comorbidity (n = 211), cancer (28%), HIV/AIDS (25.7%) and hematological diseases (24.5%) were the most frequent. Among at-risk conditions (n = 89), asthma (16.5%) and diabetes (8.1%) were the most frequent. Among 404 isolates, 42.9% belonged to five serotypes: 19A (14.1%), 3 (8.7%), 6C (7.7%), 4 and 8 (6.2% each); 19A and 6C expressed antimicrobial-non-susceptibility. The vaccine-serotype-coverage was: PCV10, 19.1%, PCV13, 43.8%; PCV15, 47.8%; PCV20, 62.9%; PCV21, 65.8%, and PPV23, 67.3%. Information on hospital outcome was available for 283 patients, of which 28.6% died. Mortality was 54.2% for those with meningitis. CONCLUSION: Vaccine with expanded valence of serotypes is necessary to offer broad prevention to IPD. The present data contribute to pneumococcal vaccination public health policies for vulnerable patients, mainly those with comorbidity and the elderly.

Trends in Pneumococcal and Bacterial Meningitis in Brazil from 2007 to 2019.

The pneumococcal conjugate vaccination (PCV) was introduced into the Brazilian Childhood National Immunization Program in 2010; however, universal pneumococcal vaccination for older adults has not been implemented yet. Our aim is to evaluate the trends in pneumococcal meningitis incidence and case fatality rate (CFR) across all age groups from 2007 to 2019 using data from the National Surveillance System. The pre-PCV (2007-2009) and post-PCV (2011-2019) periods were compared; changes in incidence and CFR were assessed by joinpoint regression. Additional analyses of bacterial meningitis were performed to compare the patterns and trends. Over the 13-year period, 81,203 and 13,837 cases were classified as bacterial and pneumococcal meningitis, respectively. S. pneumoniae was the main etiological agent of bacterial meningitis in adults aged ≥50 years and the most lethal in all age groups. In the post-PCV period, a 56.5% reduction in the average incidence was seen in pneumococcal meningitis in the pediatric population. In contrast, there was an increasing trend among adults. The CFR for pneumococcal and bacterial meningitis remained stable in most age groups during the study period. These findings highlight the value of expanding pneumococcal vaccination policies, including vaccines that provide better indirect protection from children to adults and broadening vaccination to older adults.

Sarcopenia, frailty, and elective surgery outcomes in the elderly: an observational study with 125 patients (the SAFESOE study).

Background: Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by loss of muscle mass, strength and function. Frailty, a state of vulnerability with diminished reserves. The measurement of perioperative risk does not include the assessment of these variables, as little is known about how these conditions impact each other. Methods: Observational study with a cross-sectional and a prospective cohort component. Elderly people over 60 years of age, able to walk and to independently perform activities of daily living were consecutively recruited in the preoperative period of non-emergency surgical procedures. Frailty was measured by the modified frailty index (mFI-11). Sarcopenia was measured by: (1) thickness and echogenicity on ultrasound; (2) handgrip strength on dynamometry and (3) gait speed. Data obtained from eight muscle groups were submitted to Principal Component Analysis. Postoperative complications were measured using the Clavien-Dindo scale. Follow-up was performed for 1 year to record readmissions and deaths. Results: Between February and May 2019, 125 elderly people were recruited, median age of 71 years (IQR 65-77), 12% of whom were frail. Frailty was associated with older age, use of multiple medicines, presence of multimorbidity and greater surgical risk according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) scale, in addition to lower gait speeds and lower handgrip strength. Frailty was also independently associated with smaller measurements of muscle thickness but not with echogenicity, and with longer hospital and Intensive care unit (ICU) stays. Prevalence of sarcopenia was 14% when considering at least two criteria: low walking speed and low handgrip strength. For muscle thickness, lower values were associated with female gender, older age, frailty, lower gait speeds and lower muscle strength, higher proportion of postoperative complications and higher occurrence of death. For echogenicity, higher values were related to the same factors as those of lower muscle thickness, except for postoperative complications. Lower gait speeds and lower handgrip strength were both associated with higher proportions of postoperative complications, and longer hospital stays. A higher mortality rate was observed in those with lower gait speeds. Conclusion: Sarcopenia was associated with frailty in all its domains. Unfavorable surgical outcomes were also associated with these two conditions.

Evaluation of the properties of WHODAS-12 measurements in individuals with Chagas disease in Brazil.

Numerous tests employed to predict cardiac and functional status are expensive and not widely accessible for a considerable number of patients, particularly those diagnosed with Chagas disease (CD) residing in remote and endemic regions. To date, there is no knowledge of studies that have validated instruments that address functionality in an expanded way, including the biopsychosocial factors in patients with CD. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), in its 12-item shortened version (WHODAS-12) when applied to patients with CD. This is a cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort that follows individuals with CD (SaMi-Trop). Data collection took place between October 2019 and March 2020. In the interviews, sociodemographic information, life habits, clinical information, and indicators of disability measured by WHODAS-12 were collected. Descriptive analysis, internal consistency and construct validity of the instrument were performed. A total of 628 patients with CD were interviewed, most were women (69.5%), their mean age was of 57 years, and most declared an average self-perception of health (43.4%). The 12 items of WHODAS-12 were distributed into three factors, which together account for 61% of the variance. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index was 0.90, indicating adequacy of the sample for factor analysis. The internal consistency of the global scale showed alpha = 0.87. The percentage of incapacity was 16.05%, indicating mild incapacity for the evaluated patients. WHODAS-12 is a valid and reliable measure to assess the disability of the Brazilian population with CD.

Excess Mortality due to natural causes among whites and blacks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Excess Mortality by all causes considers deaths directly related to COVID-19 and those attributed to conditions caused by the pandemic. When stratified by social dimensions, such as race/color, it allows for the evaluation of more vulnerable populations. The study estimated the excess mortality by natural causes, separating the white and black populations in 2020. METHODS: Public civil registration data on deaths observed in 2020, corrected for under registration, were used. The expected number of deaths was estimated based on the mortality rates observed in 2019, applied to the estimated population in 2020. The difference between the values expected and observed and the proportion of excess was considered the excess mortality. RESULTS: The present study found an excess of 270,321 deaths (22.2% above the expected) in 2020. Every state of Brazil reported deaths above the corresponding expected figure. The excess was higher for men (25.2%) than for women (19.0%). Blacks showed an excess of 27.8%, as compared to whites at 17.6%. In both sexes and all age groups, excess was higher in the black population, especially in the South, Southeast, and Midwest regions. São Paulo, the largest in population number, had twice as much excess death in the black population (25.1%) than in the white population (11.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed racial disparities in excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. The higher excess found for the black suggests an intrinsic relationship with the socioeconomic situation, further exposing the Brazilian reality, in which social and structural inequality is evident.

Absence of neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant in convalescent sera from individuals infected with the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 virus or its Gamma variant.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate if neutralizing antibody responses induced by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 strain that was dominant at the beginning of the pandemic or by the Gamma variant was effective against the Omicron variant. METHODS: Convalescent sera from 109 individuals, never exposed to a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, who had mild or moderate symptoms not requiring hospitalization following either a documented SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain infection or a Gamma variant infection, were assayed for in vitro neutralizing antibody activity against their original strains and the Omicron variant. RESULTS: Following an infection with the ancestral strain, 56 (93.3%), 45 (77.6%) and 1 (1.7%) serum sample were positive for neutralizing antibodies against the ancestral, Gamma variant, and Omicron variant, respectively. After infection with the Gamma variant, 43 (87.8%) and 2 (4.1%) sera were positive for neutralizing antibodies against the Gamma and Omicron variants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Neutralizing antibodies generated following mild or moderate infection with the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral strain or the Gamma variant are not protective against the Omicron variant.