Biocultural and social determinants of ill health and early mortality in a New Mexican paediatric autopsy sample.

RESULTS: Hispanic children have higher odds of growth stunting than non-Hispanic White children. Native American children die younger and have higher odds of respiratory diseases and porous lesions than Hispanic and non-Hispanic Whites. Rural/urban location does not significantly impact age at death, but housing type does. Individuals who lived in trailers/mobile homes had earlier ages at death. When intersections between housing type and housing location are considered, children who were poor and from impoverished areas lived longer than those who were poor from relatively well-off areas. CONCLUSIONS: Children's health is shaped by factors outside their control. The children included in this study embodied experiences of social and ELS and did not survive to adulthood. They provide the most sobering example of the harm that social factors (structural racism/discrimination, socioeconomic, and political structures) can inflict.

Postpartum readmission in Maryland by race and ethnicity, 2016-2019.

BACKGROUND: The majority of maternal deaths occur in the postpartum period. We sought to compare postpartum readmission by race and ethnicity to better understand whether there are disparities in maternal health in the postpartum period as indicated by readmission to the hospital. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use state-wide Maryland data to identify postpartum readmission rates by race and ethnicity, as well as the major risk factors, indications, and timing of readmission. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective study (2016-2019), childbirth hospitalizations for patients of childbearing age were identified from the Maryland State Inpatient Database, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Indication for readmission was described. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to determine racial and ethnic differences in postpartum readmissions, adjusting for maternal and obstetrical characteristics. RESULTS: Among total deliveries (n=260,778), 3914 patients (1.5%) were readmitted within 60 days of delivery. The most common primary diagnoses at readmission were hypertension and infection. The prevalence of readmission was 1.2% (1306/111,325) for White patients, 2.3% (1786/79,412) for Black patients, 1.2% (485/40,862) for Hispanic patients and 1.2% (337/29,179) for patients of Other race or ethnicity (P<.0001). Black patients had the highest rates of readmission for hypertensive disorders as compared with all other races (37%, P<.0001). In adjusted models, Black patients were more likely to be readmitted than White patients (odds ratio, 1.64; confidence interval, 1.52-1.77). The majority of all readmissions occurred in the first week after delivery with Black patients having higher rates of readmission in the second week relative to all other groups (P<.0001). CONCLUSION: Hypertension is a leading cause of postpartum readmission in Maryland. Black patients were more likely to be readmitted for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and to have delayed readmission relative to other race or ethnic groups. Maryland public health officials should address disparities with interventions targeting racial and ethnic minorities, patients at risk for hypertensive disorders, and barriers to timely care.

Improving the Outcome of Patients With Heart Failure: Assessment of Iron Deficiency and Intravenous Iron Replacement.

Background Iron deficiency (ID) has been shown to be a significant co-morbidity in patients with heart failure (HF), independent of their anaemia status. Correction of ID has been shown to improve quality of life, recurrent heart failure hospitalizations and morbidity. A quality improvement project was designed to improve the assessment and treatment of iron deficiency in HF patients in our tertiary care centre. Methods and results An initial baseline dataset was collected, followed by two cycles of interventions to help improve the care of HF patients admitted to our hospital over a two-month period. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle approach was applied, with the first intervention involving raising awareness of the importance and need to assess the iron status of HF patients through education provided to doctors, nurses and patients. Furthermore, information leaflets were produced and disseminated across the medical wards and through social media forums. The post-intervention datasets were collected and compared to the baseline outcomes. Baseline data showed that only four (20%) of heart failure patients had their iron status checked. Following the interventions, screening for ID increased to 80% (16), of which 85% (11) of those who identified as iron deficient received intravenous iron replacement. Conclusion The project was successful in improving the practice of screening for iron deficiency and intravenous replacement of iron in patients with HF.

Case Bias Case Basis: Expanding Morbidity and Mortality Conference to Examine the Impact of Disparities in Surgical Care.

INTRODUCTION: Originally designed as a forum to discuss adverse patient events, Surgery Morbidity & Mortality Conference (M&M) has evolved into an integral tool within surgical education where trainees at all levels are taught to critically examine decision-making. Others have expanded the scope of subsets of M&M conferences to include additional factors that influence patient outcomes, such as social determinants of health, implicit bias and structural policies that contribute to health disparities. In this study, we implemented a disparities-based discussion into our surgical department's weekly M&M conference and examined the effect(s) on participants' understanding and perceptions of key disparities in access to surgical care. METHODS: An anonymous electronic survey was sent to attendees of the Department of Surgery's M&M conference including faculty, residents and medical students prior to implementation of the intervention. The survey queried perceptions of the presence and impact of disparities in access to surgical care and how these are addressed at the study institution. The standard presenter slide template was updated to include a "Disparities Factors" section within the "Reasons for Complication" slide. After over 1 year, a postintervention survey was sent to conference attendees that included the same questions as the initial survey, as well as new questions related to the intervention. Descriptive statistics were performed on survey results, and comparisons were made for paired pre-post items. RESULTS: Eighty conference attendees completed the pre-intervention survey, and 70 completed the postintervention survey (22 [27.5%]; 22 [31.4%] attendings, 24 [30.0%]; 21 [30.0%] residents, 34 [42.5%]; 27 [38.6%] medical students respectively). Socioeconomics and language were most commonly identified both pre- and postintervention as the most important factors contributing to disparities in care experienced by patients at the study institution. Respondents agreed disparities in access significantly impact surgical care, and there was an increase in the number of respondents who reported feeling that disparities are being addressed postintervention. A total of 69% (n = 48) of respondents thought that integrating discussion of disparities in access to surgical care into M&M improved their understanding of the role these disparities play, 66% (n = 46) felt that their own thinking or practice changed regarding patient disparities, 84% (n = 59) reported integrating these discussions of disparities into M&M has been helpful overall. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of a disparities discussion in weekly M&M conference has led to positive change at the study institution, fostering a more comprehensive and socially conscious dialogue within the Department of Surgery. Survey respondents agreed that disparities exist in access to surgical care, and that the intervention improved their perceptions of how the study institution addresses disparities. Respondents felt that the integration of a disparities discussion was overall helpful, improved their knowledge of disparities in access to surgical care, and impacted their plans to address disparities in their own practices.

The association of state percent uninsured and the likelihood of low birth weight: evidence from the 2016-2019 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of state-level lack of health insurance among women of reproductive age with variation in state low birth weight (LBW) rates. STUDY DESIGN: This cross-section study analyzes data from the 2016-2019 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring Survey for respondents with singleton, live births. METHODS: Respondents were divided into groups by state-level percent of uninsured women aged 19-44 years. Poisson regression was used to model the association between state percent uninsured and likelihood of LBW, controlling for individual sociodemographic and clinical risk factors. Sensitivity analyses were done for Medicaid and non-Hispanic Black subpopulations and alternative state characteristics, including Gini coefficients, total and public welfare expenditures, and state reproductive rights rankings. RESULTS: In adjusted multiple regression analyses, compared to respondents from states with <7% uninsured, respondents from states with 7% or more uninsured had an increased risk of LBW status (7-8.99% uninsured: adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.18; 9-11.99% uninsured: aIRR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.17; >11.99% uninsured: aIRR 1.15, 95% CI 1.08-1.22). However, there was no evident dose-response gradient. Sensitivity analyses produced virtually identical findings for subpopulations, and no other state characteristics were significant. CONCLUSION: States with the highest level of insurance coverage had a significantly lower LBW rate than other states. However, there was little evidence for greater odds of LBW with the highest levels of uninsured. Individual risk factors dominated LBW models, while state differences in income inequality, reproductive health policy, and per capita spending explained little of the variance in LBW.

Equity M&M - Adaptation of the Morbidity and Mortality Conference to Analyze and Confront Structural Inequity in Internal Medicine.

BACKGROUND: At morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences, medical teams review cases for medical education and system improvement. Adverse outcomes are often driven by social inequity, but processes to analyze such outcomes are lacking. AIM: Adapt quality improvement and patient safety (QIPS) tools in the M&M format to systematically analyze adverse patient outcomes rooted in social and structural determinants of health (SSDH). SETTING: One-hour conferences conducted in health systems in Seattle, WA, and Dallas, TX. PARTICIPANTS: Equity M&M conferences were held 11 times, each with approximately 45 participants comprised of internal medicine trainees, faculty, and non-medical staff. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Conferences included a case narrative and counternarrative highlighting SSDH, an equity-framed root cause analysis, and potential interventions. PROGRAM EVALUATION: Conferences were received well across both institutions. Following conferences, most respondents reported increased identification of opportunities for action towards equity (88.5%) and confidence in discussing equity issues with colleagues (92.3%). DISCUSSION: Equity M&M conferences are a structured tool for deconstructing and confronting structural inequity that leads to adverse patient outcomes. Evaluations demonstrate educational impact on participants. Anecdotal examples suggest institutional impact. Other health systems could adopt this model for similar advocacy and system improvement.

Nurturing the Next Generation: Health Challenges in Infants and Children Across Asia and Africa.

Over the past 20 years, there has been a global improvement in the health of the world's population. For instance, the number of illnesses among children under five years old has been reduced by half in the last 40 years. Unfortunately, in the past decade, these positive trends have reversed in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa and some areas of South Asia. Asia and Africa carry the highest disease burden worldwide. The lack of adequately trained healthcare professionals in the public sector, as well as inequalities based on social, financial, and geographical factors, contribute to high mortality rates in Asian and African countries. Infants and children in lower-middle-income countries are particularly vulnerable to these healthcare system inequities. While the global under-five mortality rate has decreased by half in the last two decades, this progress is not observed in African and Asian countries, where the situation may even be worse in some cases. Mortality indicators, although crucial for assessing health status and making global comparisons, fail to fully capture the disease burden and healthcare utilization. Morbidity indicators, which provide insights into the prevalence of diseases, are underutilized due to limited data availability, ineffective reporting, and gaps in data storage and analysis. This article explores the morbidity data from two Asian and two African countries in an attempt to understand the most common health challenges faced by infants and children in these regions.

In our responses to the overdose epidemic, we cannot forget pregnant and postpartum people.

In 2021, there were over 100,000 drug overdose deaths in the United States (US). Death rates have increased faster among women than men, particularly among Black and Indigenous people. Although drug overdose is a leading cause of pregnancy-associated deaths, birthing people are rarely emphasized in discussions of overdose and research and services remain limited. Data show increases in drug use and deaths among women of child-bearing age, with risks continuing in the postpartum period. Harms experienced by birthing people who use drugs occur in the context of broader inequities in maternal morbidity and mortality that lead to disparate reproductive health outcomes. Shared structural antecedents (e.g. intersecting sexism and racism, stigma, and punitive policies) underlie overlapping epidemics of overdose and maternal morbidity and mortality. Here we discuss the unique challenges placed on birthing people who use drugs and make recommendations on how to mitigate harms by improving access to and delivery of quality care and addressing unjust policies and practices. We highlight the need for integrated health services, clearer guidelines rooted in equity, and the need for changes to policy and practice that support rather than punish. To better serve individuals and families impacted by substance use, we need multilevel solutions that advance gender equity and racial justice to reshape and/or dismantle the systems that undergird oppression.

Gender Disparities in Hospitalization Outcomes and Healthcare Utilization Among Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the United States.

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by various clinical manifestations. Despite efforts to improve outcomes, mortality rates remain high, and certain disparities, including gender, may influence prognosis and mortality rates in SLE. This study aims to examine the gender disparities in outcomes of SLE hospitalizations in the US. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between 2016 and 2020. The NIS database is the largest publicly available all-payer database for inpatient care in the United States, representing approximately 20% of all hospitalizations nationwide. We selected every other year during the study period and included hospitalizations of adult patients (≥18 years old) with a primary or secondary diagnosis of SLE using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. The control population consisted of all adult hospitalizations. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the strength of the association between gender and primary and secondary outcomes. The regression models were adjusted for various factors, including age, race, median household income based on patients' zip codes, Charlson comorbidity index score, insurance status, hospital location, region, bed size, and teaching status. To ensure comparability across the years, revised trend weights were applied as the healthcare cost and use project website recommends. Stata version 17 (StataCorp LLC, TX, USA) was used for the statistical analyses, and a two-sided P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Among the 42,875 SLE hospitalizations analyzed, women accounted for a significantly higher proportion (86.4%) compared to men (13.6%). The age distribution varied, with the majority of female admissions falling within the 30- to 60-year age range, while most male admissions fell within the 15- to 30-year age category. Racial composition showed a slightly higher percentage of White Americans in the male cohort compared to the female cohort. Notably, more Black females were admitted for SLE compared to Black males. Male SLE patients had a higher burden of comorbidities and were more likely to have Medicare and private insurance, while a higher percentage of women were uninsured. The mortality rate during the index hospitalization was slightly higher for men (1.3%) compared to women (1.1%), but after adjusting for various factors, there was no statistically significant gender disparity in the likelihood of mortality (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.027; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.570-1.852; P=0.929). Men had longer hospital stays and incurred higher average hospital costs compared to women (mean length of stay (LOS): seven days vs. six days; $79,751 ± $5,954 vs. $70,405 ± $1,618 respectively). Female SLE hospitalizations were associated with a higher likelihood of delirium, psychosis, and seizures while showing lower odds of hematological and renal diseases compared to men. Conclusion While women constitute the majority of SLE hospitalizations, men with SLE tend to have a higher burden of comorbidities and are more likely to have Medicare and private insurance. Additionally, men had longer hospital stays and incurred higher average hospital costs. However, there was no significant gender disparity in the likelihood of mortality after accounting for various factors.

Activating Life Course Theory through a Whole System Prevention Framework to Address the Wicked Problem of Maternal and Infant Morbidity and Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Racial/ethnic disparities in maternal and infant morbidity and mortality (MIM&M) is a wicked problem that is reinforced and perpetuated by our system[s] of care. Life Course Theory (LCT) helps to explain drivers of health disparities, but its application is challenged. An upstream approach that promotes systemic change requires the implementation of an expanded prevention framework that includes primordial and quaternary prevention. RESEARCH DESIGN: We developed an innovative expanded Whole System Prevention Framework (WSPF) that incorporates LCT, prevention (including primordial and quaternary prevention) and systems thinking. STUDY SAMPLE: We implemented this new conceptual Framework with two Healthy Start community partnerships through training, service mapping, and strategic planning to address upstream drivers of MIM&M. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Service mapping revealed few Healthy Start upstream activities/services with the predominance being delivered downstream at the program (microsystem) level. RESULTS: Service mapping provided a snapshot of the current service distribution of services across the systems. The preponderance were primary, secondary and tertiary prevention activities (75.5% and 65.6%) delivered at the program level (58.2% and 68%), revealing opportunities for upstream strategies to promote equity. The implementation process provided a new way to frame strategic planning and develop upstream strategies to promote health equity and reduce MIM&M. CONCLUSION: The Whole System Prevention Framework and its implementation methodology could be applied to address other wicked problems.

Increased maternal morbidity and mortality among Asian American and Pacific Islander women in the military health system.

BACKGROUND: Rates of maternal morbidity and mortality experienced by women in the United States have been shown to vary significantly by race, most commonly attributed to differences in access to healthcare and socioeconomic status. Recent data showed that Asian Pacific Islanders have the highest rate of maternal morbidity despite having a higher socioeconomic status. In the military, women of all races are granted equal access to healthcare, irrespective of socioeconomic class. We hypothesized that within the military, there would be no racial disparities in maternal outcomes because of universal healthcare. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate if universal access to healthcare, as seen in the military healthcare system, leads to similar rates of maternal morbidity regardless of racial or ethnic background. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of data from the National Perinatal Information Center reports obtained from participating military treatment facilities from April 2019 to March 2020 and included 34,025 deliveries. We compared racial differences in the incidence of each of the following 3 outcomes: postpartum hemorrhage, severe maternal morbidity among women with postpartum hemorrhage including transfusion, and severe maternal morbidity among women with postpartum hemorrhage excluding transfusion. RESULTS: A total of 41 military treatment facilities (a list of participating military treatment facilities are provided in the Appendix) provided data that were included. There was an increased rate of postpartum hemorrhage (relative risk, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.45-2.07), severe maternal morbidity including transfusion (relative risk, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 0.93-1.61), and severe maternal morbidity excluding transfusion (relative risk, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-3.8) among Asian Pacific Islander women when compared with Black or White women. CONCLUSION: Even with equal access to healthcare in the military, Asian Pacific Islander women experience statistically significant increased rates of postpartum hemorrhage and severe maternal morbidity excluding transfusion when compared with Black or White women. The increased rates of severe maternal morbidity including transfusion were not statistically significant.

Five-year morbidity and mortality of patients with ischemia with non-obstructive coronary artery disease and myocardial single-photon emission computed tomography perfusion defects.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with angina and a positive single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan for reversible ischemia, with no or non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) on invasive coronary angiography (ICA), represent a frequent clinical problem and predicting prognosis is challenging. METHODS: This was a retrospective single-center study on patients who underwent elective ICA with angina and a positive SPECT with no or non-obstructive CAD over a seven-year period. Cardiovascular morbidity, mortality, and major adverse cardiac events were assessed during a follow-up of at least three years after ICA, with the aid of a telephone questionnaire. RESULTS: Data on all patients who underwent ICA in our hospital over a period of seven years (between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2017) were analyzed. A total of 569 patients fulfilled the pre-specified criteria. In the telephone survey, 285 (50.1%) were successfully contacted and agreed to participate. Mean age was 67.6 (SD 8.8) years (35.4% female) and mean follow-up was 5.53 years (SD 1.85). Mortality was 1.7% (four patients, from non-cardiac causes), 1.7% underwent revascularization, 31 (10.9%) were hospitalized for cardiac reasons and 10.9% reported symptoms of heart failure (no patients with NYHA class>II). Twenty-one had arrhythmic events and only two had mild anginal symptoms. It was also noteworthy that mortality in the uncontacted group (12 out of 284, 4.2%), derived from public social security records, did not differ significantly from the contacted group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with angina, a positive SPECT for reversible ischemia and no or non-obstructive CAD on ICA have excellent long-term cardiovascular prognosis for at least five years.

Disparities in opioid use disorder-related hospital use among postpartum Virginia Medicaid members.

INTRODUCTION: The overdose crisis is increasingly revealing disparities in opioid use disorder (OUD) outcomes by race and ethnicity. Virginia, like other states, has witnessed drastic increases in overdose deaths. However, research has not described how the overdose crisis has impacted pregnant and postpartum Virginians. We report the prevalence of OUD-related hospital use during the first year postpartum among Virginia Medicaid members in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic. We secondarily assess how prenatal OUD treatment is associated with postpartum OUD-related hospital use. METHODS: This population-level retrospective cohort study used Virginia Medicaid claims data for live infant deliveries between July 2016 and June 2019. The primary outcome of OUD-related hospital use included overdose events, emergency department visits, and acute inpatient stays. Independent variables of interest were prenatal receipt of medication for OUD (MOUD) and receipt of non-MOUD treatment components in line with a comprehensive care approach (e.g., case management, behavioral health). Both descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed for all deliveries and stratified by White and Black non-Hispanic individuals to bring attention to the devastating impacts of the overdose crisis within communities of color. RESULTS: The study sample included 96,649 deliveries. Over a third were by Black birthing individuals (n = 34,283). Prenatally, 2.5 % had evidence of OUD, which occurred more often among White (4 %) than Black (0.8 %) non-Hispanic birthing individuals. Postpartum OUD-related hospital use occurred in 10.7 % of deliveries with OUD, more commonly after deliveries by Black, non-Hispanic birthing individuals with OUD (16.5 %) than their White, non-Hispanic counterparts (9.7 %), and this disparity persisted in the multivariable analysis (Black AOR 1.64, 95 % CI 1.14-2.36). Postpartum OUD-related hospital events were less frequent for individuals receiving versus not receiving postpartum MOUD within 30 days prior to the event. Prenatal OUD treatment, including MOUD, was not associated with decreased odds of postpartum OUD-related hospital use in the race-stratified models. CONCLUSION: Postpartum individuals with OUD are at high risk for mortality and morbidity, especially Black individuals not receiving MOUD after delivery. An urgent need remains to effectively address the systemic and structural drivers of racial disparities in transitions of OUD care through the one-year postpartum period.

Raça/cor da pele e morbimortalidade por COVID-19 no estado de São Paulo - SP / Race/skin color and covid-19 morbidity and mortality in the state of São Paulo ­ SP / Raza/color de piel y morbimortalidad por covid-19 en el estado de São Paulo - SP

Objetivo: analisar a relação entre a raça/cor da pele e a morbimortalidade por COVID-19 no estado de São Paulo-SP. Métodos: Estudo ecológico, retrospectivo e analítico, cujos dados foram coletados no Sistema Estadual de Análise de Dados (SEADE) do Governo do Estado de São Paulo e correspondem ao período de fevereiro de 2020 a setembro de 2021. Na análise de dados, utilizou-se o modelo de regressão com distribuição binomial-negativa múltipla, para comparar a incidência e a mortalidade específica entre as raças/cores de pele. Resultados: ao se compararem as curvas de incidência de COVID-19, houve diferença estatística significativa entre as comparações de todos os grupos de raça/cor da pele. Na comparação entre tendências branca vs parda, o resultado foi p = 0,007; na comparação entre tendências branca vs preta, p = <0,001; na comparação entre tendências parda vs preta, p = 0,003. Porém, quando foram comparadas as tendências de incidência por sexo e faixa etária e as tendências de óbito, não houve diferença estatística. Conclusão: a raça/cor da pele influenciou nas curvas de incidência geral por COVID-19 no estado de São Paulo, porém a não associação com a mortalidade pode estar relacionada com a falta de informação sobre raça/cor/etnia nas fichas de notificação, afetando consequentemente sua disponibilidade nos sistemas de informação, o que reforça a importância da divulgação de dados epidemiológicos oficiais de qualidade.(AU)

Objective: to analyze the relationship between ethnicity/skin color and morbi-mortality from COVID-19 in the state of São Paulo-SP. Methods: ecological, retrospective, and analytical study, whose data were collected from the State Data Analysis System (SE-ADE) of the Government of the State of São Paulo, covering from February 2020 to September 2021. Data analysis used a regression model with multiple binomial negative distribution, to compare the incidence and mortality specific between ethnicities/skin colors. Results: a comparison between the incidence curves of COVID-19 showed a signi-ficant statistical difference between all groups of ethnicity/skin color. In the comparison of trends between white and brown, the result was p = 0.007; in the comparison of trends between white and black, it was p = 0.001; in the comparison of trends between brown and black, p = 0.003. However, when we compare the trends of incidence per sex and age group with death trends, there was no statistical difference. Conclusion: ethnicity/skin color has influenced general incidence curves by COVID-19 in São Paulo. The fact that it was not associated with mortality can be related with the lack of information about ethnicity/color in notification forms, thus affecting the availability of such data in information systems, which reiterates the importance of publicizing quality official epidemiological data.(AU)

Objetivo: analizar la relación entre la raza/color de piel y la morbimortalidad por Covid-19 en el estado de São Paulo-SP.Métodos: estudio ecológico, retrospectivo y analítico, cuyos datos fueron recolectados en el Sistema Estatal de Análisis de Datos (SEADE) del Gobierno del Estado de São Paulo y corresponden al período de febrero de 2020 a septiembre de 2021. Para el análisis de datos se utilizó el modelo de regresión con distribución binomial-negativa múltiple para comparar la incidencia y la mortalidad específica entre las razas/colores de piel.Resultados: al comparar las curvas de incidencia de Covid-19, hubo una diferencia estadística significativa entre las comparaciones de todos los grupos de raza/color de piel, siendo que en la comparación entre tendencias blanca vs parda p= 0,007; comparación entre tendencias blanca vs negra p= <0,001; comparación entre tendencias parda vs negra p= 0,003. Sin embargo, cuando se compararon las tendencias de incidencia por sexo y grupo etario y las tendencias de muerte, no hubo diferencia estadística. Conclusión: la raza/color de piel influyó en las curvas de incidencia general por Covid-19 en el estado de São Paulo, sin embargo, la no-asociación con la mortalidad puede estar relacionada con la falta de información sobre raza/color/etnia en las fichas de notificación, y consecuentemente su disponibilidad en los sistemas de información, reforzando la importancia de la divulgación de datos epidemiológicos oficiales de calidad.(AU)

Risk Assessment and Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring in Transgender and Gender-Diverse Individuals Receiving Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate cardiovascular risk factors and prevalent coronary artery disease (CAD) using Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) scoring in transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and compare the CAC scores of TGD individuals with those of the general population. METHODS: TGD individuals aged ≥30 years, without known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), other than tobacco use and family history of CVD, on GAHT were recruited, and baseline information, including metabolic parameters, was collected. CAC scores were obtained and compared with those of a cisgender age-matched population. RESULTS: Of 25 transwomen recruited, 24 underwent CAC scans. Of them, 2 (8.3%) had a CAC score of >0 to 99 and 1 (4.1%) had a CAC score of ≥100. Of 22 transmen recruited, 16 underwent CAC scans. Of them, 26 (12.5%) had a CAC score of >0 to 99 and none had a CAC score of ≥100. Framingham Risk Scores were not correlated with the presence of CAC. CONCLUSION: The presence of CAC in this small cohort of TGD individuals on GAHT was similar to that in the cisgender age-matched population. CAC scoring is a means to assess the prevalence of CAD in TGD individuals and identify those in whom aggressive risk reduction is indicated.

Modeling the impact of COVID-19 pandemic-driven increases in alcohol consumption on health outcomes and hospitalization costs in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Alcohol consumption increased in the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and risky drinking are linked to harmful health effects. This paper aimed to project future health and cost impacts of shifts in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: An individual-level simulation model of the long-term drinking patterns for people with life-time AUD was used to simulate 10 000 individuals and project model outcomes to the estimated 25.9 million current drinkers with life-time AUD in the United States. The model considered three scenarios: (1) no change (counterfactual for comparison); (2) increased drinking levels persist for 1 year ('increase-1') and (3) increased drinking levels persist for 5 years ('increase-5'). SETTING: United States. PARTICIPANTS: Current drinkers with life-time AUD. MEASUREMENTS: Life expectancy [life-years (LYs)], quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), alcohol-related hospitalizations and associated hospitalization costs and alcohol-related deaths, during a 5-year period. FINDINGS: Short-term increases in alcohol consumption (increase-1 scenario) resulted in a loss of 79 000 [95% uncertainty interval (UI]) 26 000-201 000] LYs, a loss of 332 000 (104 000-604 000) QALYs and 295 000 (82 000-501 000) more alcohol-related hospitalizations, costing an additional $5.4 billion ($1.5-9.3 billion) over 5 years. Hospitalizations for cirrhosis of the liver accounted for approximately $3.0 billion ($0.9-4.8 billion) in hospitalization costs, more than half the increase across all alcohol-related conditions. Health and cost impacts were more pronounced for older age groups (51+), women and non-Hispanic black individuals. Increasing the duration of pandemic-driven increases in alcohol consumption in the increase-5 scenario resulted in larger impacts. CONCLUSIONS: Simulations show that if the increase in alcohol consumption observed in the United States in the first year of the pandemic continues, alcohol-related mortality, morbidity and associated costs will increase substantially over the next 5 years.

Trend of morbidity and mortality indicators due to acute diarrheal disease in children under five years old in the State of Piauí (2000-2019) / Tendência de indicadores de morbimortalidade por doenças diarreicas agudas em menores de cinco anos no estado do Piauí (2000-2019)

Abstract Objectives: to analyze the trend of morbidity and mortality indicators due to acute diarrheal diseases in children under five years old in Piauí. Methods: ecological study with data from the Information Technology Department at the Public Health System. The indicators of hospitalization rate and coefficient of mortality from the disease between 2000 and 2019 were calculated. A descriptive analysis of the indicators was carried out in the studied period and by the macro-regions in the State. For trend analysis, the simple linear regression model with log-transformation was used. Trends were classified as increasing, decreasing and stable, with a significance level of 5%. Results: the average on hospitalization rate was higher in the semi-arid macro-region (36.6/1000 children under five years old) and lower in Teresina (14.9/1000 children under five years old). The mean mortality coefficients were higher in the coastal macro-region (0.98/1000 live births) and lower in Teresina (0.47/1000 live births). The indicators showed a downward trend in all analyzed locations (p<0.05). A turning point was noted from 2009, with a significant reduction in hospitalization rates in the savanna and semi-arid macro-regions. Conclusion: indicators of morbidity and mortality due to acute diarrheal diseases in children under five years old showed a downward trend in Piauí between 2000 and 2019, with differences in trends between the evaluated macro-regions.

Resumo Objetivos: analisar a tendência de indicadores de morbimortalidade por doenças diarreicas agudas em menores de cinco anos no Piauí. Métodos: estudo ecológico com dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde. Calculou-se os indicadores taxa de internação e coeficiente de mortalidade pela doença entre 2000 e 2019. Realizou-se análise descritiva dos indicadores no período estudado e pelas macrorregiões do estado. Para análise da tendência, foi utilizado o modelo de regressão linear simples com log-transformação. As tendências foram classificadas como crescentes, decrescentes e estáveis, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: a média das taxas de internação foi maior na macrorregião semiárido (36,6/1000 menores de cinco anos) e menor em Teresina (14,9/1000 menores de cinco anos). A média dos coeficientes de mortalidade foi maior na macrorregião litoral (0,98/1000 nascidos vivos) e menor em Teresina (0,47/1000 nascidos vivos). Os indicadores mostraram tendência de redução em todos os locais analisados (p<0,05). Notou-se um ponto de inflexão a partir de 2009, com redução significativa das taxas de internação nas macrorregiões cerrados e semiárido. Conclusão: os indicadores de morbimortalidade por doenças diarreicas agudas em menores de cinco anos mostraram tendência de redução no Piauí entre 2000 e 2019, com diferenças das tendências entre as macrorregiões avaliadas.

A Survey-Based Assessment of the Practices Governing Morbidity and Mortality Conferences and the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences are essential components for resident education and provide a valuable tool to improve patient safety and quality of care. M&M conferences help identify important gaps in safety and reduce avoidable events in future patient care. Active methods to improve the utilization of M&M conferences have been shown to enhance their educational value for residents, faculty and multidisciplinary teams in healthcare institutions. Objective: The purpose of this study was to use a survey-based methodology to assess how morbidity and mortality conferences are conducted in residency programs, including characteristics such as frequency, involvement of personnel and the effects of COVID-19. Methods: From February to October 2021, a validated 19 question survey was electronically distributed to residency program directors in anesthesiology, emergency medicine and general surgery, after a search for email addresses in the ACGME database. The survey was created and hosted on Google Forms. Results: A total of 125 of 713 program directors (17.5%) responded to the survey. Eighty-three percent of respondent programs reported mandatory participation for residents, with residents providing most of the presentations. Case presentations utilized various formats including SBAR, adverse event analysis and root cause analysis as the most common modalities. Though most programs reported no change in frequency of M&M conferences due to COVID-19, most respondents reported a shift to a virtual or hybrid platform. Conclusion: M&M conferences are an important educational and quality improvement modality, and many residency directors changed practice to incorporate virtual platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain uninterrupted educational sessions. Nonetheless, significant variation still exists in how these conferences are conducted between different institutions.

Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Management of Monkeypox Virus: A Clinical Review Article.

The start of 2022 was marked by the sudden surge in the detection of the viral disease - monkeypox. The recent and ongoing COVID-19 epidemic makes the re-emerging of viral zoonosis particularly worrisome. The rapid spread of the monkeypox virus has sparked concerns about the start of a new epidemic. In this review, I summarize the epidemiology, clinical signs, and symptoms, transmission, diagnosis, management, and prevention of the monkeypox virus. Clinicians need to have a high index of suspicion for monkeypox in patients with high-risk factors presenting with new onset progressive rash. Patients with confirmed or suspected monkeypox infections need to be isolated until all the lesions have resolved.

Application of systems analysis to safety incident investigations in a single centre using anaesthesia as an example.

BACKGROUND: Systems analysis is widely recommended for patient safety investigations in medicine, but the method is poorly described in the veterinary literature. METHODS: Anaesthetic safety incidents were discussed in debriefs and then reported on standardised forms. Investigators performed informal interviews with team members involved in case management and interrogated clinical records. Finally, incidents were discussed during morbidity and mortality conferences. Systems analysis involved developing a timeline for the case, identifying any care delivery problems (CDPs) that occurred and contributing factors associated with them, and developing control measures to reduce system weaknesses. RESULTS: From 15 incidents, 32 CDPs were identified. These were categorised into 11 thematic groups. Misdiagnosis (n = 8), human resource allocation (n = 8), failure in planning (n = 6) and technical error (n = 5) were most frequent. Individual factors were identified in 15 (100%), team factors in 12 (80.0%), animal and owner factors in 11 (73.3%), organisation factors in 10 (66.7%), work environmental factors in 10 (66.7%) and task and technology factors in four (26.7%) investigations. Numerous immediate and longer term recommendations were made regarding how to manage systems weaknesses. LIMITATIONS: Investigations were limited to pre-procedural anaesthetic safety incidents. CONCLUSIONS: Systems analysis applied to incident investigations can highlight areas for improvement within veterinary healthcare systems.