Distal Sensory Peripheral Neuropathy in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Positive Individuals Before and After Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation in Diverse Resource-Limited Settings.

BACKGROUND: Distal sensory peripheral neuropathy (DSPN) is a complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We estimate DSPN prevalence in 7 resource-limited settings (RLSs) for combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-naive people living with HIV (PLWH) compared with matched participants not living with HIV and in PLWH virally suppressed on 1 of 3 cART regimens. METHODS: PLWH with a CD4+ count <300 cells/mm3 underwent standardized neurological examination and functional status assessments before and every 24 weeks after starting cART. Matched individuals not living with HIV underwent the same examinations once.Associations between covariates with DSPN at entry were assessed using the χ2 test, and virally suppressed PLWH were assessed using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Before initiating cART, 21.3% of PLWH had DSPN compared with 8.5% of people not living with HIV (n = 2400; χ2(df = 1) = 96.5; P < .00001). PLWH with DSPN were more likely to report inability to work [χ2(df = 1) = 10.6; P = .001] and depression [χ2(df = 1) = 8.9; P = .003] than PLWH without DSPN. Overall prevalence of DSPN among those virally suppressed on cART decreased: 20.3%, week 48; 15.3%, week 144; and 10.3%, week 192. Incident DSPN was seen in 127 PLWH. Longitudinally, DSPN was more likely in older individuals (P < .001) and PLWH with less education (P = .03). There was no significant association between cART regimen and DSPN. CONCLUSIONS: Although the prevalence of DSPN decreased following cART initiation in PLWH, further research could identify strategies to prevent or ameliorate residual DSPN after initiating cART in RLSs.

Reduction of biologics in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The effects of dose reduction or spacing of all types of biologics in rheumatoid arthritis has not been consistently assessed in systematic reviews. We aimed to assess the effects of biologics reduction compared with dose maintenance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in low disease activity or remission. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis according to a previously registered protocol (PROSPERO registration: CRD42017069080); and searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library and trial registers up to July, 2020. Two researchers selected, extracted and assessed the risk of bias of controlled trials that randomized patients to reduction/spacing or dose maintenance of biologics. Low disease activity, disability and other clinically important outcomes were summarized in random effect meta-analyses. We rated the certainty of evidence according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. We included ten studies (n = 1331 patients), which assessed reduction or spacing of abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, or tocilizumab. Risk of bias was high in over half of trials, mainly due to lack of blinding. No statistically significant difference was found in low disease activity (RR = 0.90; 95% CI 0.78-1.04; I2 = 60%, very low certainty), and other outcomes. Subgroup analysis of blinded studies led to homogeneous results, which remained heterogeneous in open-label studies. Reduction or spacing biologics did not affect disease activity and other important outcome. Changes in the doses regimen should consider patient preferences, considering the low certainty of evidence.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Tuberculosis Coinfection in Multinational, Resource-limited Settings: Increased Neurological Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: AIDS Clinical Trial Group 5199 compared neurological and neuropsychological test performance of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected participants in resource-limited settings treated with 3 World Health Organization-recommended antiretroviral (ART) regimens. We investigated the impact of tuberculosis (TB) on neurological and neuropsychological outcomes. METHODS: Standardized neurological and neuropsychological examinations were administered every 24 weeks. Generalized estimating equation models assessed the association between TB and neurological/neuropsychological performance. RESULTS: Characteristics of the 860 participants at baseline were as follows: 53% female, 49% African; median age, 34 years; CD4 count, 173 cells/µL; and plasma HIV-1 RNA, 5.0 log copies/mL. At baseline, there were 36 cases of pulmonary, 9 cases of extrapulmonary, and 1 case of central nervous system (CNS) TB. Over the 192 weeks of follow-up, there were 55 observations of pulmonary TB in 52 persons, 26 observations of extrapulmonary TB in 25 persons, and 3 observations of CNS TB in 2 persons. Prevalence of TB decreased with ART initiation and follow-up. Those with TB coinfection had significantly poorer performance on grooved pegboard (P < .001) and fingertapping nondominant hand (P < .01). TB was associated with diffuse CNS disease (P < .05). Furthermore, those with TB had 9.27 times (P < .001) higher odds of reporting decreased quality of life, and had 8.02 times (P = .0005) higher odds of loss of productivity. CONCLUSIONS: TB coinfection was associated with poorer neuropsychological functioning, particularly the fine motor skills, and had a substantial impact on functional ability and quality of life. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT00096824.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus-associated Neurocognitive Impairment in Diverse Resource-limited Settings.

BACKGROUND: Neurocognitive impairment remains a common complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) despite effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). We previously reported improved neurocognitive functioning with ART initiation in 7 resource-limited countries for HIV+ participants from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) 5199 International Neurological Study (INS). Here, we apply normative data from the International Neurocognitive Normative Study (INNS) to INS to provide previously unknown rates of neurocognitive impairment. METHODS: The A5199 INS assessed neurocognitive and neurological performance within a randomized clinical trial with 3 arms containing World Health Organization first-line recommended ART regimens (ACTG 5175; PEARLS). The ACTG 5271 INNS collected normative comparison data on 2400 high-risk HIV-negative participants from 10 voluntary counseling and testing sites aligned with INS. Normative comparison data were used to create impairment ratings for HIV+ participants in INS; associations were estimated using generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: Among 860 HIV+ adults enrolled in ACTG 5199, 55% had no neurocognitive impairment at baseline. Mild neurocognitive impairment was found in 25%, moderate in 17%, and severe in 3% of participants. With the initiation of ART, the estimated odds of impairment were reduced 12% (95% confidence interval, 9%, 14%) for every 24 weeks (P < .0001) on ART. Mild impairment dropped slightly and then remained at about 18% out to week 168. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of HIV+ participants had neurocognitive impairment at baseline before ART, based on local norms. With ART initiation, there were significant overall reductions in neurocognitive impairment over time, especially in those with moderate and severe impairments. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT00096824.

Medication use in adults living in Brasilia, Brazil: a cross-sectional, population-based study.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of medicine use in adults of Brasilia and to elucidate the associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with adults (18 to 65 years) living in Brasilia, who were selected using a two-stage probabilistic sampling and interviewed in their home, from February to May 2012. The primary outcome was the use of medicines in the last 7 days. A Poisson regression with robust variance was employed to adjust for covariates following a hierarchical model. RESULTS: The study included 1820 individuals (11% losses), 60% of which were women, and the mean age was 37 ± 12.6 years. The prevalence of drug consumption was 35.7% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 33.5%-37.9%). Medicine consumption was significantly higher in women (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.54; 95%CI: 1.28-1.85); unemployed or retired people (PR = 1.35; 95%CI: 1.15-1.59); people with hypertension (PR = 2.33; 95%CI: 2.00-2.71), diabetes (PR = 1.46; 95%CI: 1.22-1.74), depression (PR = 1.32; 95%CI: 1.13-1.53), or other chronic diseases (PR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.26-1.79); and study participants who had a recent medical consultation (PR = 1.49; 95%CI: 1.29-1.71). Medication use was significantly higher at older ages. The participants obtained about half of the drugs from the Brazilian public health system, but this access was significantly different according to the economic class. CONCLUSIONS: Medication use was common among adults living in Brasilia and is associated with sex, age, health conditions, and access to healthcare.

Problem-based learning in pharmaceutical education: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of problem-based learning (PBL) on the learning achievements of pharmacy students. METHODS: We searched for controlled studies that compared PBL to traditional learning in pharmacy courses (graduate and undergraduate) in the major literature databases up to January 2014. Two independent researchers selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the studies. Meta-analyses of the outcomes were performed using a random effects model. RESULTS: From 1,988 retrieved records, five were included in present review. The studies assessed students' impressions about the PBL method and compared student grades on the midterm and final examinations. PBL students performed better on midterm examinations (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46; confidence interval [IC] 95%: 1.16, 1.89) and final examinations (OR = 1.60; IC 95%: 1.06, 2.43) compared with students in the traditional learning groups. No difference was found between the groups in the subjective evaluations. CONCLUSION: pharmacy students' knowledge was improved by the PBL method. Pharmaceutical education courses should consider implementing PBL.

Hypothermia for perinatal brain hypoxia-ischemia in different resource settings: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of hypothermia on mortality of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in different economic resources settings. METHODS: We searched for randomized controlled trials on MEDLINE, Embase and other databases. Duplicate reviewers selected the studies and extracted data. We calculated meta-analyses of the relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and used meta-regression to evaluate the gross domestic product per capita influence on hypothermia efficacy. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included (n = 1889); eight were conducted in lower income countries (n = 662). Hypothermia significantly reduced mortality (RR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.65-0.92). Meta-regression revealed that hypothermia efficacy does not increase as the gross domestic product per capita rises. CONCLUSIONS: There is enough evidence to support hypothermia as the standard care for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Evidence from low-resource settings is limited, but hypothermia efficacy was not shown to be associated with better resources countries.

Economic evaluation of poison centers: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to summarize and assess economic evaluations of poison centers (PCs) from the perspectives of society, the payer, and the healthcare system. METHODS: A systematic review was performed to identify complete economic evaluations regardless of the language or publication status. Two reviewers evaluated the abstracts for eligibility, extracted the data, and assessed the study quality using a standardized tool. RESULTS: In total, 422 non-duplicated studies were retrieved, but only nine met the eligibility criteria. Five of the eligible studies were published in the 1990s, and four were published in the 2000s. Six studies met at least seven of ten quality criteria. In all studies, the presence of PCs was compared with a scenario of their absence. Eight studies used cost-benefit analyses and one used a cost-effectiveness approach. The cost-benefit ratios ranged from 0.76 to 7.67, which indicates that each United States dollar (USD) spent on poison centers can save almost 8 USD on medical spending. A cost-effectiveness analysis showed that each successful outcome achieved by a PC avoids a minimum of 12,000 USD to 56,000 USD in other healthcare spending. CONCLUSIONS: The data in our review show that PCs are economically viable. PCs improve the efficiency of healthcare expenditure and contribute to the sustainability of the healthcare system. An investment in PCs is a rational public health policy approach that contrasts the current trend of reducing spending on PCs.

Meningeal Sporotrichosis Due to Sporothrix brasiliensis: A 21-Year Cohort Study from a Brazilian Reference Center.

Meningeal sporotrichosis is rare and occurs predominantly in immunosuppressed individuals. This retrospective study explored clinical and laboratory characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of patients with disseminated sporotrichosis who underwent lumbar puncture (LP) at a Brazilian reference center from 1999 to 2020. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models were used to estimate overall survival and hazard ratios. Among 57 enrolled patients, 17 had meningitis. Fifteen (88.2%) had HIV infection, and in 6 of them, neurological manifestations occurred because of the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). The most frequent symptom was headache (88.2%). Meningeal symptoms at first LP were absent in 7/17 (41.2%) patients. Sporothrix was diagnosed in cerebrospinal fluid either by culture or by polymerase chain reaction in seven and four patients, respectively. All but one patient received prolonged courses of amphotericin B formulations, and seven received posaconazole, but relapses were frequent. Lethality among patients with meningitis was 64.7%, with a higher chance of death compared to those without meningitis (HR = 3.87; IC95% = 1.23;12.17). Meningeal sporotrichosis occurs mostly in people with HIV and can be associated with IRIS. Screening LP is indicated in patients with disseminated disease despite the absence of neurological complaints. Meningitis is associated with poor prognosis, and better treatment strategies are needed.

A multinational study of neurological performance in antiretroviral therapy-naïve HIV-1-infected persons in diverse resource-constrained settings.

Little is known about how the prevalence and incidence of neurological disease in HIV-infected patients in resource-limited settings. We present an analysis of neurological and neurocognitive function in antiretroviral naïve individuals in multinational resource-limited settings. This prospective multinational cohort study, a substudy of a large international randomized antiretroviral treatment trial, was conducted in seven low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South America, and Asia. Subjects were HIV-infected and met regional criteria to initiate antiretroviral therapy. Standardized neurological examination and a brief motor-based neuropsychological examination were administered. A total of 860 subjects were studied. Overall 249 (29%) had one or more abnormalities on neurological examinations, but there was a low prevalence of HIV-associated dementia (HAD) and minor neurocognitive disorder (MND). Twenty percent of subjects had evidence of peripheral neuropathy. There were significant differences across countries (p < 0.001) in neuropsychological test performance. In this first multinational study of neurological function in antiretroviral naïve individuals in resource-limited settings, there was a substantial prevalence of peripheral neuropathy and low prevalence of dementia and other CNS diseases. There was significant variation in neurocognitive test performance and neurological examination findings across countries. These may reflect cultural differences, differences in HIV-related and unrelated diseases, and variations in test administration across sites. Longitudinal follow-up after antiretroviral treatment initiation may help to define more broadly the role of HIV in these differences as well as the impact of treatment on performance.

Factors associated with thrombocytopenia in patients with dengue fever: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Some patients with dengue fever tend to develop thrombocytopenia during the course of infection and are thus vulnerable to haemorrhagic manifestations and other complications. However, the factors associated with the development of thrombocytopenia are unknown. We aimed to identify factors associated with an increased risk of thrombocytopenia and haematological changes in patients with confirmed dengue fever. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Brazilian multicentre primary care databases. PARTICIPANTS: 387 patients had positive laboratory serological confirmation of dengue infection during 2014. The data were identified from two databases: Notification of Injury Information System (SINAN) and Municipal Laboratory. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The presence of thrombocytopenia (platelet count <1 50×109/L). The associations of factors that predisposed patients to thrombocytopenia and haematological changes were analysed using logistic regression. ORs and 95% CIs were calculated. RESULTS: Among 387 patients, 156 had both dengue and thrombocytopenia. The risk factors associated with thrombocytopenia included male sex (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.16 to 2.71, p=0.007), age of 46-64 years (OR: 2.20, 95% CI: 1.15 to 4.21, p=0.009) or ≥65 years (OR: 3.02, 95% CI: 1.40 to 6.50, p=0.002), presence of leucopenia (OR: 6.85, 95% CI: 4.27 to 10.99, p<0.001) and high mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) levels (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.29 to 3.12, p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Older age, male sex, presence of leucopenia and high MCH levels were identified as risk factors associated with the development of thrombocytopenia in this population.

Prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity in Amazon Region of Brazil and associated determinants: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity and to identify factors associated with it in the adult population from the metropolitan region of Manaus. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based study. SETTING: Interviews conducted between May and August of 2015 in eight cities that compose the metropolitan region of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 4001 adults aged ≥18 years. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Multimorbidity, measured by the occurrence of ≥2 and ≥3 chronic diseases, was the primary outcome. The associated factors were investigated by calculating the prevalence ratio (PR) obtained by Poisson regression, with robust adjustment of the variance in a hierarchical model. A factor analysis was conducted to investigate multimorbidity clusters. RESULTS: Half of the interviewees were women. The presence of a chronic disease was reported by 57.2% (95% CI 56.6% to 59.7%) of the interviewees, and the mean morbidity was 1.2 (1.1-1.2); 29.0% (95% CI 27.6% to 30.5%) reported ≥2 morbidities and 15.2% (95% CI 14.1% to 16.4%) reported ≥3 chronic conditions. Back pain was reported by one-third of the interviewees. Multimorbidity was highest in women, PR=1.66 (95% CI 1.50 to 1.83); the elderly, PR=5.68 (95% CI 4.51 to 7.15) and individuals with worse health perception, PR=3.70 (95% CI 2.73 to 5.00). Associated factors also included undergoing medical consultations, hospitalisation in the last year, suffering from dengue in the last year and seeking the same healthcare service. Factor analysis revealed a pattern of multimorbidity in women. The factor loading the most strength of association in women was heart disease. In men, an association was identified in two groups, and lung disease was the disease with the highest factorial loading. CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity was frequent in the metropolitan region of Manaus. It occurred most often in women, in the elderly and in those with worse health perception.

Generalized anxiety disorder and associated factors in adults in the Amazon, Brazil: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults using the seven-item GAD scale (GAD-7) and to evaluate the properties of the two-item (GAD-2) as a population screening tool. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional population-based study in the Manaus Metropolitan Region in 2015, Brazil. Adults aged 18 years or more were eligible to participate. We performed probabilistic three-phase sampling and collected sociodemographic and clinical variables. Descriptive statistics and a Poisson regression with robust variance with corrections for complex sampling were used. The accuracy of GAD-2 was assessed using GAD-7 as the gold standard. RESULTS: We included 4001 participants. The prevalence of GAD was 8.4% (95% confidence interval 7.6-9.4%) and was significantly associated with self-reported poor health status and presenting depressive symptoms (p < 0.01). GAD-2 sensitivity was 63.9%, and its specificity was 97.4%. LIMITATIONS: Because of the cross-sectional design of the study, the results are prone to reverse causality and recall bias. The surveyed people were not questioned about their medical diagnosis of anxiety, access to mental health services, or alcohol, tobacco or other drug use. The screening tools were not validated in the Brazilian or Amazon population. CONCLUSION: About eight in 100 adults living in Manaus presented GAD, and it is more prevalent among people with a poorer health status and depression. Because of its low sensitivity, GAD-2 is not useful as a screening tool.

Accuracy of self-reported hypertension in Brazilian adolescents: Analysis of the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents.

Given the high prevalence of hypertension in adolescents, it is important to investigate alternatives for estimating the magnitude of the disease. Our objective was to investigate the accuracy of self-reported hypertension. The study assessed participants of the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (ERICA). The following were calculated: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). The associations between inaccurate self-reporting and socioeconomic factors were investigated. The accuracy of self-reported hypertension had a sensitivity of 7.5% (95% CI, 6.9-8.2), a specificity of 96.6% (95% CI, 96.5-96.7), a PPV of 18.9% (95% CI, 17.4-20.5), and a NPV of 90.8% (95% CI, 90.6-91.0). The prevalence of inaccurate self-reported hypertension was smaller among girls (PR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.55-0.83) and younger boys (PR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.86) who were attending private schools. The use of self-reported hypertension was not a good strategy for investigating the hypertension in adolescents.

Accuracy of self-reported hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the sensitivity and specificity of self-reported hypertension (HTN) as compared with the clinical diagnosis in epidemiological studies. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global: Health & Medicine databases. In addition, we screened the references' lists of relevant reports to identify potentially eligible articles. There were no date or language restrictions. Studies were selected by two independent reviewers, who also extracted data and assessed methodological quality using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies criteria. A meta-analysis was performed to summarize sensitivity and specificity across studies and estimate heterogeneity. RESULTS: Out of 2304 records, 22 were included, corresponding to a population of 112 517 adults (55% women). There was substantial variation in sensitivity and specificity across countries and age groups. Several different techniques, devices, and reference ranges were used to diagnose HTN, and self-reporting underestimated its prevalence in the majority of studies. The sensitivity was 42.1% (95% confidence interval 30.9-54.2) and the specificity was 89.5% (95% confidence interval 84.0-93.3), with high heterogeneity (I > 99%). CONCLUSION: Less than half of patients with HTN would not be identified by self-reporting in epidemiological studies. Self-reported HTN has important limitations and may represent an important source of bias in research depending on regional, socioeconomic, and cultural differences.

Health-related quality of life and self-reported long-term conditions: a population-based survey.

OBJECTIVE:: To estimate and compare the effect of self-reported long-term health conditions and sociodemographic factors on perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS:: A population-based survey of adults (18 to 65 years) living in Brasilia, Brazil, was conducted in 2012. Descriptive and multivariate analyses using a Tobit model were performed with data on sociodemographic variables, self-reported conditions, and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) health states, providing utility scores (preferred health state) between 0 and 1 for HRQoL estimates. RESULTS:: The mean utility of 1,820 adults interviewed (mean age: 38.4±12.6 years) was 0.883 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.874-0.892), with 76.2% in the highest utility range (0.8 to 1.0). EQ-5D dimensions with moderate problems were pain/discomfort (33.8%) and anxiety/depression (20.5%). Serious problems were reported by only 0.3% of the sample in the mobility and self-care domain and by 3.1% in the pain/discomfort domain. Multivariate analysis revealed reduced HRQoL in individuals with depression, diabetes, and hypertension. Living in satellite towns (outside the city core), belonging to a lower economic class, or not being formally employed were also associated with decreased HRQoL. Beta coefficients for these impacts ranged from -0.033 (not formally employed) to -0.141 (depression), reflecting the strongest impact. CONCLUSION:: Of the long-term health conditions studied, depression had the greatest impact on HRQoL. Social class, employment status, and place of residence also affected HRQoL.

Prevalence of health services usage and associated factors in the Amazon region of Brazil: a population-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of healthcare use and associated factors in the Manaus metropolitan region and to describe the reasons for lack of access. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based study. SETTING: A survey conducted between May and August of 2015 in eight cities from Manaus metropolitan region, Amazonas, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 4001 adults ≥18 years of age. PRIMARY OUTCOMES MEASURES: Physician visits, dentist visits and hospitalisations in the last 12 months were the primary outcomes. Associated factors were investigated through the calculation of prevalence ratio (PR) obtained by hierarchical Poisson regression modelling. RESULTS: 4001 adults were included in the study, 53% of whom were women. The self-reported prevalence of medical visits was 77% (95% CI 75% to 77%); dentist visits, 36% (95% CI 34% to 37%) and hospital admission, 7% (95% CI 6% to 7%). Physician visits were higher in women PR=1.18 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.23), the elderly PR=1.18 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.26) and people with health insurance PR=1.14 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.19). Dentist visits declined with older age PR=0.38 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.49), lower education level PR=0.62 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.74) and lower economic class PR=0.65 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.75). Hospitalisations were found to be twice as frequent for women than for men and three times as frequent among those who reported very poor health status. Among the individuals who did not receive medical attention in the previous 2 weeks, 58% reported lack of facilities or appointment unavailable and 14% reported lack of doctors. CONCLUSION: While more than half visited the doctor in the last year, a lower proportion of people with socioeconomic inequities visited the dentist. Organisational and service policies are needed to increase equity in health services in the region.

Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among adults living in the Amazon, Brazil: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is an affective disorder and one of the main contributors to the burden of disease worldwide. Our purpose is to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors in the population of the Manaus Metropolitan Region. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study with a probabilistic three-phase sampling in 2015, based on a previously calculated sample size. Adults living in Manaus and seven inner cities of the metropolitan region were surveyed for depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and a cutoff score of ≥ 9. We performed a Poisson regression with robust variance using a hierarchical approach to calculate the prevalence ratio (PR) of depression and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Among 4001 participants (response rate 76%), the prevalence of current depressive symptoms was 7% (95% CI: 6-8%). Depressive symptoms were more frequent in inhabitants of Manaus than in those from the countryside (PR = 6.13, 95% CI: 2.91-12.91); in women than in men (PR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.96-3.33); in indigenous than in white people (PR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.24-5.30); and in those with hypertension (PR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.13-1.92), cardiac disease (PR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.12-2.33), and poor health status (fair: PR = 5.10, 95% CI: 2.50-10.37; bad: PR = 10.27, 95% CI: 4.92-21.44 very bad: PR = 21.14, CI 95%: 10.16-43.99). High school education (PR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32-0.95) and middle class economic status (PR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12-0.89) were protective factors. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the lack of measurement of physical activity, religious beliefs, leisure time, and use of alcohol and other drugs since these factors can affect depression and health status. CONCLUSION: Seven out of every 100 adults from the Manaus Metropolitan Region have depressive symptoms. This rate is higher in women, individuals living in Manaus, indigenous people, people with hypertension or chronic cardiac disease, and those with a poor health status.

Factors Associated with the Combined Use of Antidepressants and Benzodiazepines in Major Depression: A Case-Control Study.

The aim of this study was to identify the factors associated with the combined use of antidepressants and benzodiazepines (BDZs) in patients with major depression. We conducted a case-control study in the public health service of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The participants were all patients being treated with antidepressants, who were diagnosed with major depression. Patients who received a combination of antidepressants and BDZs were classified as cases, and those who used only antidepressants, as controls. Data were obtained from a pharmacy database, medical records and interviews with the healthcare team. The association of predisposing factors for combined therapy was analysed using logistic regression analysis, and the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Of the 1355 users of antidepressants, 265 had major depression, of whom 138 were cases and 127 were controls. The factors associated with combined use were age older than 35 years (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.7), absence of comorbidities (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-4.1) and no use of other drugs (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1-3.3). Patients with combined use were more likely to exhibit inadequate prescribing, including inappropriate antidepressants (OR 4.7, 95% CI 2.2-9.9), inadequate dosages (OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.4-9.6) and/or a non-recommended duration (OR 66.6, 95% CI 18.4-240.7). The factors identified showed the groups most susceptible to combined use in this population, who in turn are more likely to receive inappropriate prescriptions.