Early identification of individuals at risk for loss to follow-up of tuberculosis treatment: A generalised hierarchical analysis.

BACKGROUND: We characterise the loss to follow-up (locally termed abandoned) of tuberculosis treatment with individual and ecological health determinants and to identify the predictive capacity of these risk factors. METHODS: A cohort study with individual and ecological characterisation of patients diagnosed with tuberculosis in Sergipe/Brazil from 2015 to 2018 with either loss to follow-up or completion of treatment as a therapeutic outcome was performed. The examined variables were based on the social determinants of health with descriptive analysis, binary logistic regression, a generalised hierarchical model and graphical presentation using a nomogram. RESULTS: The loss to follow-up accounted for 18.21% of the 2,449 studied cases. The characteristics revealed that the highest abandonment percentages were people who: were male (20.0%), had black skin colour (20.3%), were aged 20-39 years (21.8%), had 4-7 years of schooling (23.6%), re-entered treatment after abandonment (36.5%), used alcohol (31.0%), used drugs (39.3%), were smokers (26.5%) and were homeless (55.4%). The ecological characteristics showed that individuals living in municipalities with a high human development index (HDI; odds ratio [OR]: 1.91) and high-income inequality (OR: 1.81) had a greater chance of not finishing the treatment. Most of these variables were identified as predictors in the generalised hierarchical model; the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve had 0.771 precision and 84.0% accuracy. CONCLUSION: The group of identified characteristics influenced the loss to follow-up of tuberculosis treatment. This data provides evidence for the early identification of individuals who are at greater risk of abandoning tuberculosis treatment.

Systematic Review of Pooling Sputum as an Efficient Method for Xpert MTB/RIF Tuberculosis Testing during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

GeneXpert-based testing with Xpert MTB/RIF or Ultra assays is essential for tuberculosis diagnosis. However, testing may be affected by cartridge and staff shortages. More efficient testing strategies could help, especially during the coronavirus disease pandemic. We searched the literature to systematically review whether GeneXpert-based testing of pooled sputum samples achieves sensitivity and specificity similar to testing individual samples; this method could potentially save time and preserve the limited supply of cartridges. From 6 publications, we found 2-sample pools using Xpert MTB/RIF had 87.5% and 96.0% sensitivity (average sensitivity 94%; 95% CI 89.0%-98.0%) (2 studies). Four-sample pools averaged 91% sensitivity with Xpert MTB/RIF (2 studies) and 98% with Ultra (2 studies); combining >4 samples resulted in lower sensitivity. Two studies reported that pooling achieved 99%-100% specificity and 27%-31% in cartridge savings. Our results show that pooling may improve efficiency of GeneXpert-based testing.

Intervenções de restrição de mobilidade social durante a pandemia de COVID-19 e suas repercussões psicossociais no Brasil / Interventions of mobility restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic and psychosocial repercussions in Brazil

A pandemia da COVID-19 (doença do coronavírus 2019), causada pelo novo coronavírus da síndrome respiratória aguda grave (SARS-CoV-2), tem causado importantes repercussões geopolíticas, aos diversos sistemas de saúde e à economia mundial, uma vez que se dispersou rapidamente e, até a presente data, foram notificados mais de 3,5 milhões de casos em todo o mundo. Medidas de restrição de mobilidade têm sido adotadas em diversos países, resultando em aumento de sintomas de medo, estresse, ansiedade e depressão, uma vez que a redução do contato social está relacionada a desfechos de saúde física e mental negativos. Portanto, é imprescindível a elaboração de diretrizes de saúde mental que considerem a existência da diversidade sociocultural e disparidades socioeconômicas. (AU)

Objective: Reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic (Coronavirus Disease 2019), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Method: reflection article on the restriction of social mobility during the pandemic. Results: The COVID-19 has been provoking important repercussions for the geopolitical status, several health systems and the global economy, since it disseminated rapidly and there are more than 3,5 million confirmed cases worldwide. Mobility restrictions have been adopted in several countries, resulting in increasing of fear, distress, anxiety and depression symptoms once the reduction of social contact is related to negative physical and mental health outcomes. Conclusion: it is urgent to elaborate mental health guidelines considering the existing socio-cultural diversity and socioeconomic disparities. (AU)

Objetivo: Refletir sobre la pandemia da COVID-19 (enfermedad por el coronavirus 2019), causada por el coronavirus 2 del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave (SARS-CoV-2). Metodo: Artículo de reflexión sobre la restricción de la movilidad social durante la pandemia. Resultados: La COVID-19 ha causado importantes repercusiones geopolíticas en los diferentes sistemas de salud y la economía mundial, ya que se dispersó rápidamente y, hasta la fecha, se han notificado más de 3,5 millones de casos en todo el mundo. Se han adoptado medidas de restricción de movilidad en varios países, lo que resulta en un aumento de los síntomas de miedo, estrés, ansiedad y depresión, ya que la reducción del contacto social está relacionada con resultados negativos para la salud física y mental. Conclusión: es esencial desarrollar pautas de salud mental que consideren la existencia de diversidad sociocultural y disparidades socioeconómicas. (AU)

Determining the association between dengue and social inequality factors in north-eastern Brazil: A spatial modelling.

Dengue is a global public health problem. The Dengue Virus (DENV) serotypes are transmitted by an Aedes aegypti mosquito. Vector control is among the primary methods to prevent the disease, especially in tropical countries. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of dengue and its relationship with social inequalities using spatial modelling. An ecological study with temporal and spatial analysis was conducted in the state of Sergipe, Northeast Brazil, over a period of 18 years. Spatial modelling was used to determine the influence of space on dengue incidence and social inequalities. The epidemic rates in 2008, 2012, and 2015 were identified. Spatial modelling explained 40% of the influence of social inequalities on dengue incidence in the state. The main social inequalities related to the occurrence of dengue were the percentage of people living in extreme poverty and inadequate sanitation. The epidemic situation even increased the risk of dengue in the population of the state of Sergipe. These results demonstrate the potential of spatial modelling in determining the factors associated with dengue epidemics and are useful in planning the intersectoral public health policies.