Accuracy of Remote Examination for Detecting Potentially Malignant Oral Lesions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the accuracy of remote examination by photographs compared to in-person clinical examination for detecting potentially malignant oral lesions (PMOLs). Methods: The Reporting Guide and Guidelines for Writing Systematic Reviews (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis [PRISMA]) guided the reporting of findings. The search was conducted by two independent reviewers in six databases with no language restriction until November 2022. The Population, Test-Index, Reference Standard, Outcome and Study Design (PIROS) strategy guided the eligibility criteria, and studies with adult patients (P) examined remotely (I) and in-person (R) to verify the detection of PMOLs (O) were considered. The methodological quality was assessed by QUADAS-2, and the certainty of the evidence was measured by the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Results: A total of 769 files were identified. After removing duplicates and reading titles and abstracts, 16 were read in full, from which 6 articles then comprised the qualitative synthesis. The oral clinical examination was the reference standard in four studies. Five studies presented high risk of bias in at least one assessment domain. A high probability of detection of PMOL by remote examination (97.37%) was observed for the three studies included in the meta-analysis, which presented high heterogeneity among them. The certainty of evidence for the outcome was considered very low. Conclusions: Remote tools for detecting PMOLs may be feasible and assertive, but new studies are required to incorporate them into clinical practice. Clinical Relevance: Remote examination for the detection of PMOLs has the potential to favoring the early diagnosis of malignant lesions.

Tooth wear prevalence in individuals with Down syndrome: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review investigated the prevalence of tooth wear between patients with and without Down syndrome. METHODS: Six databases (Embase, LILACS, Livivo, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) and grey literature (Google Scholar, OpenGrey and ProQuest) were searched until March 7, 2022. Observational studies were included to assess the differences in tooth wear prevalence and/or severity in Down syndrome and non-syndromic controls. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations were followed. Three reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, assessed the methodological quality (Joanna Briggs Institute) and graded the certainty of evidence through the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results were summarized through meta-analyses using a random-effects model. The protocol was registered at PROSPERO (CRD42021266997). RESULTS: Of the 1382 records identified, six cross-sectional studies were included. Individuals with Down syndrome had a higher prevalence and were more likely to have tooth wear than individuals without Down syndrome (44% × 15%; OR = 4.43; 95% CI 3.17-6.18; p < 0.00001; I2 = 8%). Also, the severity of tooth wear was higher in the Down syndrome group (n = 275) compared with the controls (n = 294). The certainty of evidence analysis was very low. CONCLUSIONS: Based on very low certainty of the evidence, patients with Down syndrome had a higher prevalence and likelihood and severity of tooth wear when compared to those without Down syndrome. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Screening early tooth wear lesions should be carefully done in the Down syndrome population since its occurrence is remarkable compared to the general population.

The Implementation of an Integrated Oral Care Protocol for Pediatric Cancer Patients: a Qualitative Study.

AIM: In this study, we evaluated the impact of an integrated oral care protocol for pediatric patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment from the perspective of the multidisciplinary team, oral healthcare team, and caregivers. SUBJECT AND METHODS: This was a qualitative study carried out in the pediatric sector of a reference cancer hospital in Brazil. Focus group and individual semi-structured interview techniques were used, and the data were analyzed by the Discourse of the Collective Subject (DCS) method. RESULTS: A total of 44 professionals involved in providing care to children and adolescents with cancer and 38 caregivers were interviewed. All interviewees perceived an improvement in the patients' oral health condition. Health professionals reported a reduction in the occurrence and severity of oral mucositis (OM). Communicating with the medical team and understanding the importance of oral care to the patient's systemic condition were the greatest difficulties reported by the oral healthcare team. CONCLUSION: This implementation project contributed to establishing a complete multidisciplinary team to assist pediatric patients in all their needs during antineoplastic treatment. The integrated oral care protocol further contributed to reducing the occurrence and severity of OM by increasing its surveillance and diagnostic efficiency, which, altogether, improved the patients' quality of life.

The impact of oral health education on the incidence and severity of oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Oral health education is an effective measure to prevent oral mucositis (OM) by improving self-management and effectively engaging patients in their health care. This systematic review aimed to determine the impact of oral health education interventions on the incidence and severity of OM. Bibliographical searches were carried out by two independent examiners in Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Virtual Health Library, and SIGLE, until June 2022. The eligibility criteria were based on the PICO strategy, considering studies with pediatric oncology patients, aged 0 to 19 years, who had attended oral health education activities and had been examined for the incidence and/or severity of OM. Data were extracted for qualitative synthesis and organized in spreadsheets. The quality assessment of the selected studies was performed using the ROBINS-I tool. Meta-analysis was based on the group frequencies of OM ulcerative lesions, adopting a significance level of 5%. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) was used to define the certainty of the evidence. The primary search retrieved 1827 articles. After removing duplicate records and screening titles and abstracts for eligibility, a total of 21 articles were selected for full-text analysis. Of these, seven eligible studies were included for data extraction and qualitative synthesis, while four studies were selected for quantitative synthesis. All studies had a longitudinal design; three performed a before-after comparison and four were controlled studies. OM was assessed by the following scales: OAG, WHO, ChIMES, and WCCNR. While data analysis of the selected studies was heterogeneous, the implementation of oral health education strategies was found to reduce the incidence and severity of OM during the follow-up period. The meta-analysis showed a favorable outcome for the educational intervention. The likelihood of patients attending oral health education activities to manifest OM ulcerative lesions was significantly lower (P = 0.002) than that of the control. The GRADE analysis presented a low certainty of the evidence. To conclude, oral health education interventions improved OM outcomes in pediatric oncology patients with a low quality of evidence.

The effectiveness of an oral health education and prevention program on the incidence and severity of oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients: a non-randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of an Oral Health Education and Prevention Program (OHEPP) on the incidence and severity of oral mucositis (OM) in pediatric cancer patients. The OHEEP was a ludic strategy for promoting oral health and monitoring the oral health condition. METHODS: We compared the incidence and severity of OM in patients who attended the OHEPP against those under similar conditions who did not receive educational interventions. Both groups were examined for 6 weeks by calibrated examiners (k > 0.8) using the modified Oral Assessment Guide (OAG). A total of 14 patients aged 2 to 18 years were included in each group and matched for sex, age, tumor type, and treatment modality. The incidence and severity of OM were compared using the chi-squared test (α = 5%), and the relative risk and effectiveness of the OHEPP were calculated with a statistical power of 0.97. Differences in total OAG scores between the groups were determined by the Mann-Whitney test (α = 5%). RESULTS: There was a higher incidence of OM in patients who did not attend the OHEPP (P = 0.005), and the relative risk of developing OM was significantly lower in OHEPP attendants (RR: 0.73; CI 0.60-0.92). No difference in the occurrence of severe OM was observed. OHEPP reduced the risk of developing OM by 1.4-fold, with an effectiveness of 27%. There was a difference in total OAG scores (P = 0.041). CONCLUSION: Participation in OHEPP was an effective measure to reduce the incidence of OM in pediatric cancer patients.

Integrated oral care contributes positively to the course of treatment of oncopediatric patients.

The purpose of this study was to implement a model of permanent oral health care for oncopediatric patients and to observe its effects on severe oral mucositis and subsequent treatment interruptions. We performed a quasi-experimental study in the Pediatric Department of Napoleão Laureano Hospital, in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil. A integrated oral care was implemented by a dentistry team for prevention of comorbidities, such as infections, oral pain, oral function maintenance, oral mucositis, and interventions for lesions due to severe oral mucositis. The oral comorbidities were compared before and after the implementation. The duration of severe oral mucositis (SOM) before and after the interventions and the interruptions in treatment due to SOM were the main outcome measures. Permanent oral health care reduced the duration of SOM and reduced pediatric chemotherapy interruptions due to SOM by 81.8%.Conclusion: The permanent oral health care to offer to oncopediatric patients increased surveillance regarding oral comorbidities and reduced chemotherapy interruptions due to severe oral mucositis. This care plan could be adopted anywhere around the world. What is Known: • Several studies on oral care for pediatric oncology patients, especially regarding both prevention of and treatment for oral mucositis during antineoplastic therapy, have been published. What is New: • This study describes the benefits of permanent oral care with daily oral surveillance for pediatric patients, which reduced the duration of severe oral mucositis, increased surveillance and the efficiency in diagnostic for signs of oral mucositis, enabling early intervention, and decreased chemotherapy interruptions, contributing positively to the course of treatment.

Socioeconomic indicators and economic investments influence oral cancer mortality in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: It is necessary to recognize the influence of socioeconomic factors on oral cancer indicators in Latin American countries. This study aimed to analyze the influence of socioeconomic indicators and economical investments on oral cancer mortality rates in Latin American countries. METHODS: This cross-sectional study considered the age-standardized mortality rate (ASR) of oral cancer within the period 2000-2015. The oral cancer mortality rate (for both sexes and age groups 40-59 and 60 years old or more), socioeconomic aspects (Gini Inequality Index, unemployment rate and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita) and investments in different sectors (%GDP invested in health per capita and by the government, %GDP invested in education by the government and %GDP invested in research and development) were considered. Tweedie multivariate regression was used to estimate the effect of independent variables on the mortality rate of oral cancer, considering p < 0.05. RESULTS: This study showed that being male and aged 60 or over (PR = 14.7) was associated with higher mortality rate for oral cancer. In addition, greater inequality (PR = 1.05), higher health expenditure per capita (PR =1.09) and greater investment in research and development (PR = 1.81) were associated with a higher mortality rate from oral cancer. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic factors and economical investments influence the mortality rate of oral cancer in Latin American countries. This emphasizes oral cancer is a socioeconomic-mediated disease.

A hospital-based oral health education program impacts in pediatric cancer patients-A pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of an oral health education and preventive program (OHEPP) for pediatric cancer patients. METHODS: This was a single-arm study with 27 children and adolescents undergoing antineoplastic treatments. Patients were followed up for 10 weeks, and their oral health conditions were evaluated using the Modified Gingival Index (MGI), Visible Plaque Index (VPI), and the modified Oral Assessment Guide (OAG). Audiovisual resources, storytelling, and ludic instruments were used to provide oral health education to patients and parents/caregivers. RESULTS: The patients' mean age was 9.41 (±4.49) years, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia was the most prevalent diagnosis (22.2%). Mean MGI and VPI values were 0.82 (±0.59) and 54.11% (±19.92%) at baseline and 0.33 (±0.29) and 19.83% (± 11.47%) after 10 weeks, respectively (p < .05). The mean OAG score was 9.51 (±2.54) and 36 cases (19.8%) of severe oral mucositis (SOM) were documented. Patients with higher MGI were more likely to develop SOM. CONCLUSION: The OHEPP had a positive impact on pediatric patients undergoing cancer therapy by improving their periodontal health, reducing biofilm accumulation, and preventing the development of OM lesions.

Oral health surveys of Traditional Peoples and Communities in Brazil: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review protocol is to map the available evidence regarding all the oral health surveys of Traditional Peoples and Communities (TPCs) in Brazil. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The review question of the protocol is: 'What evidence is available on the oral health surveys of Traditional Peoples and Communities in Brazil?'. Observational studies that report oral health surveys of TPC in Brazil will be included. The protocol considered the Problem, Concept and Context strategy to guide data collection, as established by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The search strategy will consider Medical Subject Headings terms, synonyms and relevant free terms about epidemiological surveys in oral health and TPC in Brazil, with no limits to data, language, subject or search type, in the databases Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE/PubMed), Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Scopus, Web of Science and Embase. Bibliographic searches will be updated until June 2023. The selection will be carried out by two independent, blinded reviewers, following the eligibility criteria, based on the title and abstract identified in the initial search. Potentially eligible studies will be fully read to confirm eligibility and collect relevant information. The categorisation of the studies will consider the author and year of publication, the traditional group studied, the study design, geographic location, age group, sample size, data collection method and the main oral health problem evaluated and its outcome. The data obtained and extracted will be presented in table format and text and presented using the visualisation of similarities method. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The present study does not need ethical approval. The protocol title was registered in the Open Science Framework (DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/BQ5J3). A final article will be prepared presenting the results of the scoping review, and will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The findings of this review will be presented at national conferences and scientific meetings.

Does the presence of oral health teams influence the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality of patients in intensive care units? Systematic review.

AIMS: To verify whether oral health teams influence the oral health status, ventilator-associated pneumonia incidence and mortality rate of patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bibliographic searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, Embase, Livivo, Open Grey, Academic Google, and Cochrane databases. The assessment of the methodological quality and risk of bias of the included studies and a random-effects meta-analysis to summarize relative risk data for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and mortality were performed. An analysis of the certainty of the evidence was performed for the main outcomes analyzed. RESULTS: Records of 518 studies were analyzed by reading titles and abstracts. Five studies were included according to eligibility criteria. The meta-analysis showed that ICU patients undergoing dental care by an oral health team had a lower incidence of VAP (OR = 0.33; 95% CI: 014-0.76) but did not lower mortality rates (OR = 0.46 95% CI: 0.16-1.32). The certainty of the evidence was considered very low. CONCLUSION: Dental care provided by oral health teams in a hospital environment did not influence oral health status or mortality, although it contributed to a reduction in VAP of patients admitted to the ICU.

Diagnosis of mucosal changes and hospitalized oral cancer patients in Brazil: influence of socioeconomic factors.

This study aimed to analyze the influence of socioeconomic factors on the frequency of diagnoses of oral mucosal changes and the number of hospitalized patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from all Brazilian cities in the period 2011-2017. The frequency of diagnoses of oral mucosal changes and the number of hospitalized patients of oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil were extracted from the Primary Care Information System (SIAB) and Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) databases. The socioeconomic factors evaluated were the Gini coefficient of inequality, municipal Human Development Index (MHDI), inadequate basic sanitation rate, employment rate, illiteracy rate and expected years of schooling. Associated factors were examined using bivariate Spearman's correlations and multivariate Poisson regressions, and statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlations between study variables and regression coefficients were obtained. A higher frequency of diagnoses of mucosal changes was observed in cities with a higher Gini coefficient (B = 11.614; p < 0.001), higher MHDI (B = 11.298; p < 0.001), and higher number of hospitalized patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer (B = 0.001, p < 0.002). Cities with higher Gini coefficients (B = 8.159, p < 0.001), higher inadequate basic sanitation rates (B = 0.09, p = 0.001), lower expected years of schooling (B = -0.718, p < 0.001), and higher illiteracy rates (B = 0.191, p < 0.001) had a higher frequency of hospitalized patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer. In conclusion, more developed cities showed a higher frequency of diagnoses of mucosal changes. Greater inequality and worse socioeconomic conditions are associated with a higher frequency of hospitalized patients with oral and oropharyngeal cancer in Brazil.

Impact of oral health on nutritional status, self-perception of oral health and quality of life of institutionalized elderly.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the influence of oral health on nutritional status, self-perception of oral health and health related quality of life of institutionalized elders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 193 institutionalized elders living in the metropolitan region of João Pessoa (Brazil). The independent variables included were: 1) caries experience (DMFT index and its components); 2) use and need of dental prostheses; and 3) type of edentulism. The dependent variables included were related to nutritional status, self-perception of oral health and health-related quality of life. Data were submitted to a descriptive and comparative analysis, through correlation, association and difference tests, considering a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). RESULTS: No statistical significant correlations or associations between the oral health status and nutritional status and quality of life were found (p>0.05). Individuals who did not need prosthesis had higher scores for nutritional status. Self-perception of oral health and health-related quality of life did not vary significantly according to the studied variables. CONCLUSIONS: The oral health status has a limited impact on the nutritional status, and does not impact the self-perception of oral health and quality of life of the institutionalized elders. Key words:Nursing homes, oral health, quality of life.

Glass ionomer cements compared with composite resin in restoration of noncarious cervical lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Restoring noncarious cervical lesions are challenging to clinical practice. This study aimed to compare the clinical performance/longevity of glass ionomer cements (GIC) and composite resins (CR) used for noncarious cervical lesions (NCCL) through a systematic review and meta-analysis (MA). DATA: Randomized and controlled clinical trials and nonrandomized clinical trials, which compared the clinical performance/longevity of CR and GIC (conventional and/or resin-modified) in the treatment of NCCL, were included. SOURCE: The methodological quality and risk of bias were evaluated using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Seven MAs were performed considering (1) the clinical performance of the parameters in common: retention, marginal discoloration, marginal adaptation, secondary caries, color, anatomic form, surface texture and (2) a follow-up time of 12, 24 and 36 months. The prevalence of successful restorations and the total number of restorations per clinical parameter/follow-up time were used to calculate the relative risk (95% CI). STUDY SELECTION: After screening of the studies, 13 studies were used for quantitative synthesis. The risk difference (CI 95%, α, I2) between GIC and CR for anatomic form was 0.00 (-0.02, 0.02; p = 0.83; 0%); for color was -0.02 (-0.08, 0.04; p = 0.48; 80%); for surface texture was -0.02 (-0.06, 0.02; p = 0.31; 63%); for secondary caries was -0.00 (-0.01, 0.01; p = 0.87; 0%); for marginal discoloration was 0.01 (-0.01, 0.03; p = 0.23; 3%); for marginal adaptation was 0.01 (-0.01, 0.04; p = 0.34; 32%) and for retention was 0.07 (0.02, 0.12; p = 0.003; 76%). CONCLUSION: GIC showed a clinical performance significantly higher than CR in regard to retention, whereas for the other parameters, GIC was similar to CR. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: NCCLs is increasingly prevalent among the population and this type of lesion causing defects in the tooth that affect not only aesthetics but also everyday habits, such as drinking, eating and teeth brushing, due to the sensitivity these lesions cause.

Does non-institutionalized elders have a better oral health status compared to institutionalized ones? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review compared the oral health status between institutionalized and non-institutionalized elders. The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs and Cochrane Library, in a comprehensive and unrestricted manner. Electronic searches retrieved 1687 articles, which were analyzed with regards to respective eligibility criteria. After reading titles and abstracts, five studies were included and analyzed with respect their methodological quality. Oral status of institutionalized and non-institutionalized elderly was compared through meta-analysis. Included articles involved a cross-sectional design, which investigated 1936 individuals aged 60 years and over, being 999 Institutionalized and 937 non-institutionalized elders. Studies have investigated the prevalence of edentulous individuals, the dental caries experience and the periodontal status. Meta-analysis revealed that institutionalized elderly have greater prevalence of edentulous (OR = 2.28, 95%CI = 1.68-3.07) and higher number of decayed teeth (MD = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.71-1.05) and missed teeth (MD = 4.58, 95%CI = 1.89-7.27). Poor periodontal status did not differ significantly between groups. Compared to non-institutionalized, institutionalized elders have worse dental caries experience.

Impact of Saliva and Cariogenic Microbiota on the Chemotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis in Oncopediatric Patients: A Preliminary Longitudinal Study.

This study aims to evaluate the salivary parameters and cariogenic microbiota of pediatric oncological patients and their correlation with severe oral mucositis (SOM). A preliminary longitudinal study included patients in the age range from 4 to 18 years (n = 26), with diagnosis of primary cancer, who were followed up before and after time intervals of two, five, and ten weeks of induction chemotherapy. Oral mucosa examinations were performed by means of the modified Oral Assessment Guide (OAG) by calibrated examiners (κ > 0.70). Saliva analysis (unstimulated saliva flow (USF), clinical saliva viscosity (CSV), and pH) and microbiological (total Streptococcus (TS) and Streptococcus of the mutans group (SMG)) tests were performed using unstimulated saliva. The data were analyzed by the Wilcoxon and Spearman Correlation tests (α = 5%). The patients were predominantly of the female sex (n = 15; 57.7%), adolescents (n = 15; 57.7%), and patients with hematological tumors (n = 21; 80.8%). SOM was more frequent in the tenth week (n = 7; 28.6%). The values of USF, CSV, pH, TS, and SMG were not changed by the institution of chemotherapy (p > 0.05). These values were correlated with SOM and the time, TS and SMG, and CSV and SMG. The salivary and microbiological parameters investigated did not influence the severity of oral mucositis in the pediatric patients oncological..

Photobiomodulation for Oral Mucositis - A Microcosting and Budget Impact Analysis from a Brazilian Perspective

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure the costs of preventive and therapeutic protocols of Photobiomodulation (PBM) for oral mucositis (OM) and their budgetary impact on Brazil's Ministry of Health (BMH). Material and Methods: A partial economic analysis was performed to estimate the costs using a bottom-up approach from a social perspective. Monetary values were assigned in Brazilian reais (BRL). The costs of the preventive protocol were calculated for five, 30, and 33 consecutive PBM sessions, depending on the antineoplastic treatment instituted. The costs of the therapeutic protocol were calculated for 5 or 10 sessions. The annual financial and budgetary impact was calculated considering the groups of oncologic patients with a higher risk of development of OM, such as those with head and neck and hematological cancer and pediatric patients. Results: The cost of a PBM session was estimated at BRL 23.75. The financial impact of providing one preventive protocol per year for all oncologic patients would be BRL 14,282,680.00, 0.030% of the estimated budget for hospital and outpatient care of the BMH in 2022. The financial and budgetary impacts of providing one treatment for OM for all patients in one year would be BRL 2,225,630.31 (0.005%, most optimistic scenario) and BRL 4,451,355.63 (0.009%, most pessimistic scenario). Conclusion: The budgetary impact of implementing PBM protocols in the Brazilian Healthcare System is small, even in a pessimistic scenario.

Oral Mucositis in Children with Leukemia Undergoing Chemotherapy: A Case Series

ABSTRACT Objective: To report nine cases of pediatric patients with Acute Lymphoid Leukemia (ALL) or Acute Myeloid Leukemia who developed severe oral mucositis (SOM) at the first week of chemotherapy. Material and Methods: The cases were selected from a sample of 105 children followed for 10 consecutive weeks. Hematological and personal data were obtained from the patient's medical records. The oral cavity was examined weekly using the modified Oral Assessment Guide. Results: More of the patients were male (55.6%), had black/brown skin (55.6%), with ALL (66.7%), and the mean age was 5.55. Two patients had values below normal for leukocytes, platelets, and creatinine over the follow-up. However, all patients showed changes in the normality of hematological data in most weeks. The most used chemotherapeutic agents were aracytin, etoposide, and methotrexate, known for their high stomatotoxic potential. Patients had 2 to 6 (mean of 4) episodes of SOM and 4 to 7 (mean of 5.5) episodes of OM. One patient at week 7, one patient at week 5, and one patient at weeks 2 and 10 did not have OM. Saliva (84 times) and lips (44 times) were the most affected items. Conclusion: The patients showed oscillations in the severity of oral mucositis and hematological parameters over the follow-up. All patients were exposed to stomatotoxic drugs during the initial phase of cancer treatment.

Fatores associados ao tempo entre o diagnóstico e o início do tratamento do câncer infantojuvenil / Factors associated with the time between diagnosis and initiation of childhood cancer treatment

Objetivou-se analisar a distribuição do câncer infantojuvenil e identificar fatores associados ao atraso no início do tratamento oncológico, na Paraíba, a partir dos Registros Hospitalares de Câncer, de 2010 a 2018. Estudo observacional, descritivo e analítico, com 896 registros de crianças e adolescentes (0-19 anos), identificando-se características epidemiológicas, clínicas e o cumprimento da Lei Federal 12.732/12 (lei dos 60 dias para início do tratamento). Os dados foram analisados pela regressão logística (α=5%). Constatou-se que 80,2% dos pacientes iniciaram o tratamento no tempo previsto por lei (≤ 60 dias). Observou-se que indivíduos de 10 a 19 anos, com tumores sólidos, submetidos à cirurgia e tratados em um dos quatro RHC's da Paraíba apresentam maiores chances de terem a terapia antineoplásica iniciada em um tempo superior a 60 dias. Conclui-se que o atraso no início do tratamento contra o câncer infantojuvenil está associado a características epidemiológicas e clínicas dos pacientes oncológicos pediátricos.

This study aimed to analyze the distribution of childhood cancer and identify factors associated with delay in starting cancer treatment, in the state of Paraíba, from the Hospital-Based Cancer Registries (HBCR), from 2010 to 2018. Observational, descriptive and analytical study, with 896 records of children and adolescents (0-19 years), identifying epidemiological and clinical characteristics and compliance with Federal Law 12732/12 (maximum of 60 days to start treatment). Data were analyzed by logistic regression (α=5%). The results showed that 80.2% patients started treatment within the time prescribed by law (≤ 60 days). Individuals aged 10 to 19 years, with solid tumors, undergoing surgery and treated in one of the four HBCR in Paraíba are more likely to have anticancer therapy initiated after 60 days. The delay in starting treatment against childhood cancer is associated with epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric cancer patients.

Impact of COVID-19 on Oral Healthcare for Oncopediatric Patients: The Setting in a Reference Hospital in Northeast Brazil

Abstract Objective: To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental care provided to pediatric cancer patients assisted in a referral hospital. Material and Methods: This is an observational, retrospective study based on secondary data extracted from worksheets of dental procedures for patients aged between 0 and 19 years assisted in the pediatric oncology sector of a hospital in João Pessoa, PB, Brazil. Dental procedures performed by the interdisciplinary team of researchers from August 2018 to February 2020 (19 months prior to the pandemic) and from April 2020 to October 2021 (19 months during the pandemic) were totaled and compared. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Results: There was a reduction of 80.2% in dental interventions implemented in the sector during the pandemic, with the number of procedures decreasing from 6,210 (the period before the pandemic) to 1,229 (during the pandemic). Most procedures in both periods were performed for patients assisted in beds, for whom there was a reduction of care provided for 81.2% from 5,275 to 994 procedures. Dental procedures in the outpatient clinic decreased by 74.9%, from 935 to 235. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted dental care provided to pediatric oncology patients by restricting dental procedures to emergency demands, compromising performance prevention and health promotion actions.