Baixo peso ao nascer, prematuridade e restrição de crescimento intra-uterino: resultados dos dados de base da primeira coorte de nascimentos indígenas no Brasil (coorte de nascimentos Guarani).

ABSTRATO: FUNDO: O baixo peso ao nascer (BPN) continua sendo um importante problema de saúde global, associado a uma série de resultados adversos de saúde ao longo da vida. As evidências sugerem que o BPN é um determinante relevante de morbidade e mortalidade em grupos indígenas, que geralmente têm acesso limitado às políticas públicas de saúde e nutrição. O conhecimento da prevalência de BPN e de suas causas subjacentes pode contribuir com etapas essenciais para a prevenção de seus efeitos sobre a saúde. O estudo teve como objetivo estimar as prevalências de BPN, prematuridade e restrição de crescimento intra-uterino (RCIU) e investigar seus determinantes na primeira coorte de nascimentos indígenas no Brasil. MéTODOS: Este estudo transversal utilizou dados de linha de base coletados da primeira coorte de nascimentos indígenas no Brasil, a Coorte de Nascimentos Guarani. O Brasil é um dos países com maior diversidade étnica do mundo, com 305 povos indígenas e 274 línguas nativas. Os Guarani são uma das cinco maiores etnias, com aldeias localizadas principalmente na região sul. Todos os nascimentos únicos de 1º de junho de 2014 a 31 de maio de 2016 foram selecionados em 63 aldeias indígenas Guarani nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. Foi realizada regressão logística múltipla hierárquica. RESULTADOS: As taxas de prevalência de BPN, prematuridade e RCIU foram 15,5, 15,6 e 5,7%, respectivamente. As chances de BPN foram menores em recém-nascidos de mães que vivem em casas de tijolo e argamassa (OR: 0,25; IC 95%: 0,07-0,84) e foram maiores em filhos de mães ≤20 anos de idade (OR: 2,4; IC 95%: 1,29-4,44) e com anemia crônica antes da gravidez (OR: 6,41; IC 95%: 1,70-24,16). A prematuridade foi estatisticamente associada ao tipo de fonte de energia para cozinhar (fogão a lenha - OR: 3,87; IC 95%: 1,71-8,78 e fogueiras - OR: 2,57; IC 95%: 1,31-5,01). RCIU foi associado à primiparidade (OR: 4,66; IC 95%: 1,68-12,95) e anemia materna crônica antes da gravidez (OR: 7,21; IC 95%: 1,29-40,38). CONCLUSõES: Idade materna, estado nutricional e paridade, condições de moradia e exposição à poluição interna foram associados com resultados perinatais na população indígena Guarani. Esses resultados indicam a necessidade de investir no acesso e melhoria da assistência pré-natal; também no fortalecimento do Subsistema de Saúde Indígena, e em ações intersetoriais para o desenvolvimento de políticas habitacionais e de saneamento e melhorias ambientais ajustadas às necessidades e conhecimentos dos povos indígenas.

Malpractice and socioeconomic aspects in neurosurgery: a developing-country reality.

OBJECTIVE: Neurosurgery occupies a prominent place in medical malpractice, but cases are still underreported in Brazil. This study describes the socioeconomic issues of medical malpractice in neurosurgery procedures and how they culminate in unfavorable outcomes in a developing country. METHODS: The authors analyzed 112 neurosurgical procedures listed in the Brazilian Hospital Information System (Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde [SIHSUS]) records in the DATASUS (Departamento de Informática do SUS) database between January 2008 and February 2020. Malpractice data were collected using the JusBrasil platform, with the authors searching the name of each of the 112 neurosurgical procedures plus "medical malpractice" among the jurisprudence records for January 2008 to February 2020. A simple linear regression analysis was performed using appropriate software. Analyses were considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. RESULTS: According to DATASUS, 842,041 neurosurgical procedures were performed by the Brazilian Unified Health System between January 2008 and February 2020. The mean hospitalization cost for neurosurgical procedures was $714.06, and the average amount paid to professionals per procedure was $145.28 with variations according to the type of practice (public or private) in which they were performed, the complexity of the procedure, and the Brazilian region. The mortality rate and mean length of stay for neurosurgical procedures were 11.37% and 10.15 days, respectively. There were 79 medical malpractice lawsuits in the studied period. In these lawsuits, 26.58% of the court decisions were unfavorable to the neurosurgeons, with a mean compensation per procedure 15 times higher than the median value paid for all professionals in a neurosurgical procedure. The spine subspecialty had more lawsuits, and the brain tumor subspecialty had the most expensive compensation.A lack of resources in public healthcare negatively impacts inpatient care. The mortality rate was 1.5 times higher in public practice than in private practice and was inversely proportional to the MTCs paid for the neurosurgical procedure. Patients with the lower educational levels associated with limited access to good medical care could reflect the lower plaintiff motivation in regions with a low gross domestic product and Human Development Index. In most cases, there is no understanding from either the patient or his family about the health-disease process, nor that there was medical malpractice committed by the physician to be sued. CONCLUSIONS: The socioeconomic inequalities and the population's low awareness of their rights could explain the few malpractice cases reported in Brazil. The authors recommend better decisions regarding the investments to be made in neurosurgical procedures to reduce malpractice lawsuits.

Realizing the right to health in Brazil's Unified Health System through the lens of breast and cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Health is recognized as a fundamental right in Brazil's constitution. In the absence of a clearly defined benefit packages of healthcare services that are financed under the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS), courts have become important in adjudicating coverage decisions. Empirical assessments of equity and the right to health tend to focus on simple measures of access. However, these empirical perspectives belie the significant inequalities and rights violations that arise in the case of more complex health needs such as cancer. To shed light on these issues, this paper focuses on the care pathways for breast and cervical cancer and explores access and quality issues that arise at different points along the care pathway with implications for the realization of the right to health in Brazil. METHOD: A mixed method approach is used. The analysis is primarily based on a quantitative analysis of national representative administrative data principally from the cervical and breast cancer information systems and the hospital cancer registry. To gain more insights into the organization of cancer care, qualitative data was collected from the state of Bahia, through document analysis, direct observation, roundtable discussions with health workers (HWs), and structured interviews with health care administrators. RESULTS: The paper reveals that the volume of completed screening exams is well below the estimated need, and a tendency toward lower breast cancer screening rates in poorer states and for women in the lowest income brackets. Only 26% of breast cancer cases and 29% of cervical cancer cases are diagnosed at an early stage (stage 0 or I), thereby reducing the survival prospects of patients. Waiting times between confirmed diagnosis and treatment are long, despite new legislation that guarantees a maximum of 60 days. The waiting times are significantly longer for patients that follow the recommended patient pathways, and who are diagnosed outside the hospital. CONCLUSION: The study reveals that there are large variations between states and patients, where the poorest states and patients fare worse on key indicators. More broadly, the paper shows the importance of collecting data both on patient characteristics and health system performance and carry out detailed health system analysis for exposing, empirically, rights violations and for identifying how they can be addressed.

Dropout from interpersonal psychotherapy for mental health disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Dropout is one factor that might limit the effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT). Improved understanding of IPT dropout is an important research priority. This meta-analysis examined dropout rates from IPT in randomized controlled trials. Method: Seventy-two trials met inclusion criteria. Results: The weighted mean dropout rate from IPT was 20.6% (95% CI = 17.4-24.2). Dropout rates were similar for depressive (20.9%; 95% CI = 17.2-25.2), anxiety (16.1%; 95% CI = 11.1-22.9), and eating disorders (18.7%; 95% CI = 11.6-28.8). Dropout was highest when more stringent definitions of dropout were applied (e.g., failure to complete the entire IPT protocol versus failure to complete at least 50% of sessions) and was lowest when adolescent patients were sampled. There was some evidence that IPT was associated with significantly lower rates of dropout than both CBT and non-specific supportive therapies. These effects were generally replicated when analysing trials that provided a clear definition of treatment (rather than study) dropout. Conclusions: Overall, findings provide preliminary evidence to suggest that IPT may be an accepted and tolerated treatment option for patients with common mental health disorders. This review also highlights the need for future trials to rigorously report detail pertaining to patient dropout.

Monosegmental ALPPS after Bilateral Hepatectomy.

Associated liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) has emerged as an alternative for patients with bilobar colorectal liver metastasis and a small future liver remnant (FLR). In cases of extensive disease, ALPPS can be performed, leaving only one segment of the liver as FLR. We describe a case of monosegmental ALPPS using segment 4 as FLR. In conclusion, ALPPS should be reserved for a selected group of patients. Monosegmental ALPPS is feasible, but should be performed by hepatobiliary surgeons in specialized centers.

The Evidence-Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) in Chile: lessons learned from a year of coordinated efforts.

Informing the health policymaking process with the best available scientific evidence has become relevant to health systems globally. Knowledge Translation Platforms (KTP), such as the World Health Organization's Evidence Informed Policy Networks (EVIPNet), are a recognized strategy for linking research to action. This report describes the experience of implementing EVIPNet in Chile, from its objectives, organizational structure, strategy, activities, and main outputs, to its evolution over the course of its first year. Lessons learned are also covered. Of the activities initiated by EVIPNet-Chile, the Rapid Response Service proved to be a good starting point for engaging policymakers. Capacity building workshops and policy dialogues with relevant stakeholders were also successful. Additionally, EVIPNet-Chile developed a model for engaging academic institutions in policymaking through a network focused on preparing evidence briefs. A number of challenges, such as changing methods for producing rapid evidence syntheses, were also identified. This KTP implementation model located in a Ministry of Health could contribute to the development of similar initiatives in other health systems.

Para los sistemas de salud a nivel mundial se ha vuelto cada vez más importante contar con la mejor evidencia disponible como información para el proceso de formulación de políticas de salud. Las plataformas de traducción del conocimiento, como la Red de Políticas Informadas por la Evidencia (EVIPNet, por su sigla en inglés) de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, son estrategias reconocidas para vincular la investigación a la acción.En este informe se describe la experiencia de la utilización de EVIPNet en Chile, sus objetivos, estructura orgánica, estrategia, actividades y resultados principales de su evolución en el curso de su primer año. Se incluyen asimismo las enseñanzas extraídas.De las actividades iniciadas por EVIPNet en Chile, el servicio de respuesta rápida resultó ser un buen punto de partida para interesar a los responsables de las políticas. También fueron exitosos los talleres que se llevaron a cabo sobre creación de capacidades y los diálogos de política con los interesados directos pertinentes. Además, EVIPNet en Chile elaboró un modelo para invitar a instituciones académicas a participar en el proceso de formulación de políticas por medio de una red centrada en la preparación de resúmenes de datos científicos. Se encontraron también varios retos, como el cambio de métodos para producir síntesis rápidas de datos científicos. Este modelo de aplicación de plataformas de traducción del conocimiento, ubicado en un Ministerio de Salud, podría contribuir al desarrollo de iniciativas similares en otros sistemas de salud.

Fundamentar o processo de formulação de políticas de saúde com as melhores evidências científicas disponíveis tornou-se indispensável nos sistemas de saúde em todo o mundo. As plataformas de tradução de conhecimento, como as Redes de Políticas Informadas por Evidências (EVIPNet) da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), são parte de uma estratégia comprovada para vincular a pesquisa à ação.Este informe descreve a experiência de implantação da EVIPNet no Chile: dos objetivos, estrutura organizacional, estratégia, atividades e principais resultados à evolução ao longo do primeiro ano de atividade. As lições aprendidas são também apresentadas.Das atividades iniciadas pela EVIPNet-Chile, o Serviço de Resposta Rápida mostrou ser um bom ponto de partida para atrair a participação dos formuladores de políticas. Os seminários de capacitação e os colóquios sobre políticas com os interessados relevantes renderam bons resultados. Além disso, a EVIPNet-Chile elaborou um modelo para atrair a participação das instituições acadêmicas na formulação de políticas com uma rede dedicada ao preparo de resumos de evidências. Um dos muitos desafios identificados é modificar os métodos para produzir sínteses rápidas de evidências. Este modelo de implantação da plataforma de tradução de conhecimento sediado em um ministério da saúde poderia contribuir para a elaboração de iniciativas semelhantes em outros sistemas de saúde.

Modelo cuantitativo para mejorar el financiamiento de la atención primaria en Chile.

OBJECTIVE: Propose and apply a methodology to estimate adjusted expected expenditure in each locality in the Chilean primary health care (PHC) system in 2016. METHODS: First of all, expected per capita expenditure at the national level was calculated on the basis of a detailed health plan, and then a zero-sum adjustment was made to the expenditure in each locality, using the local age/sex profile and the local average socioeconomic level, years of life lost, and rurality, given their statistically significant impact on epidemiology and spending structures. RESULTS: The model establishes a conceptual and empirical link between expected expenditure and adjustment variables; it is flexible in terms of successive improvements; and its zero-sum property facilitates discussion of the global budget. When real data for the year 2016 in Chile were used, it was found that the absolute distance between the amounts in the model and the amounts actually used that year was 7.6%, on average. CONCLUSIONS: There are simple empirical options for calculating expected expenditure across localities, for which it is very helpful to have a good estimate of expected expenditure at the national level.

Civil society participation in the health system: the case of Brazil's Health Councils.

BACKGROUND: Brazil created Health Councils to bring together civil society groups, heath professionals, and government officials in the discussion of health policies and health system resource allocation. However, several studies have concluded that Health Councils are not very influential on healthcare policy. This study probes this issue further by providing a descriptive account of some of the challenges civil society face within Brazil's Health Councils. METHODS: Forty semi-structured interviews with Health Council Members at the municipal, state and national levels were conducted in June and July of 2013 and May of 2014. The geographical location of the interviewees covered all five regions of Brazil (North, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, South) for a total of 5 different municipal Health Councils, 8 different state Health Councils, and the national Health Council in Brasilia. Interview data was analyzed using a thematic approach. RESULTS: Health Councils are limited by a lack of legal authority, which limits their ability to hold the government accountable for its health service performance, and thus hinders their ability to fulfill their mandate. Equally important, their membership guidelines create a limited level of inclusivity that seems to benefit only well-organized civil society groups. There is a reported lack of support and recognition from the relevant government that negatively affects the degree to which Health Council deliberations are implemented. Other deficiencies include an insufficient amount of resources for Health Council operations, and a lack of training for Health Council members. Lastly, strong individual interests among Health Council members tend to influence how members participate in Health Council discussions. CONCLUSIONS: Brazil's Health Councils fall short in providing an effective forum through which civil society can actively participate in health policy and resource allocation decision-making processes. Restrictive membership guidelines, a lack of autonomy from the government, vulnerability to government manipulation, a lack of support and recognition from the government and insufficient training and operational budgets have made Health Council largely a forum for consultation. Our conclusions highlight, that among other issues, Health Councils need to have the legal authority to act independently to promote government accountability, membership guidelines need to be revised in order include members of marginalized groups, and better training of civil society representatives is required to help them make more informed decisions.

Epidemias de significação e políticas de saúde global: Do fim da AIDS ao fim da ampliação da resposta global da AIDS.

RESUMONas últimas quatro décadas e meia, a história da pandemia de HIV passou por várias fases que podem ser pensadas como ondas distintas em termos da resposta social e política que a pandemia gerou. Ao longo dessa história, houve batalhas importantes sobre os significados e interpretações que a resposta à pandemia produziu. Mas, especialmente na última década, parece haver uma crescente desconexão entre as alegações de sucesso feitas por muitas agências globais de saúde e formuladores de políticas e a realidade empírica que essas alegações encobrem. Este comentário argumenta que a 'ampliação' ('scale-up') da resposta à pandemia essencialmente chegou ao fim e enfatiza a importância de um debate político mais honesto sobre o estado atual da resposta global ao HIV. Argumenta que, a fim de melhor definir os rumos que tal resposta deve tomar no futuro, exige que pensemos criticamente sobre as formas como essa resposta se desenvolveu historicamente, que reconheçamos os avanços significativos alcançados nas últimas décadas, mas também que reconheçamos a encruzilhada a que chegou em meados da década de 2020.

Training of community health agents - a strategy for earlier recognition of mucopolysaccharidoses.

Primary Health Care (PHC) is the gateway for patients in the Brazilian unified health system (Sistema Único de Saúde-SUS), playing an extremely important role in the identification of potential patients with genetic diseases, and referral to specialized and tertiary health services. The PHC is composed of a multidisciplinary team, including the Community Health Agent, who is in direct contact with the community. To implement an educational program aimed at community health agents working in several municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. The training was focused on genetic diseases in general, with a special focus on identifying patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS). Tests were applied before and after the educational intervention, in order to assess the participants' knowledge on the topic at these two moments. The study covered a total of ten training sessions carried out in eight municipalities in the RS state, training 374 community health agents. The number of correct answers in the pre-test (n = 339) was 8,4 (SD 1.2), while in the post-test (n = 361) it was 9,2 (SD 0.8). Statistical analysis showed that the educational intervention effectively provided information about genetic diseases to the participants. Considering that community health agents are of fundamental importance in the identification and prevention of diseases and in the better navigation of the patients on the SUS, these professionals play a key role in the field of rare genetic diseases, and continuous training strategies should be taken.

Digital health and cardiovascular healthcare professionals in Portugal: Current status, expectations and barriers to implementation.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Digital health (DH) is a broad concept, bringing together technology and healthcare, that is playing an increasingly important role in the daily routine of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and promises to contribute to the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. There are no solid data on the position of Portuguese HCPs toward the implementation of DH in cardiovascular medicine. This national cross-sectional study aims to provide a snapshot of DH implementation in Portuguese cardiovascular HCP routines and to identify both expectations and barriers to its adoption. METHODS: An 18-question survey was created specifically for this study and distributed to 1174 individuals on the Portuguese Society of Cardiology mailing list. RESULTS: We collected 117 valid responses (response rate 10%). Almost all participants had smartphones and laptops, and two-thirds had tablets. Electronic medical information systems were the most used DH tool (84% of respondents) and were considered the most important for improving cardiovascular care. Implantable technologies (sensors and devices), telemedicine and social media were used by more than two out of three respondents and considered «very important¼ or «extremely important¼ by most of them. Most participants showed positive expectations regarding the impact of DH in cardiovascular medicine: 78% agreed that DH could improve health outcomes, 64% that it promotes health literacy and 63% that it could decrease healthcare costs. The top-rated barriers were patients' inability to use smartphones, limited access to electronic devices, and lack of legal regulation of DH. CONCLUSION: Most Portuguese cardiovascular HCPs had at least three electronic devices (mainly smartphones, laptops and tablets) and showed positive expectations regarding DH's current and future impact on cardiovascular medicine. Patient DH literacy, technology adoption, and DH regulation were identified as the most important barriers to increasing the adoption of DH tools in cardiovascular medicine.

Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Constraints in Patient Pathway and Mitigation Strategies.

Introduction: Respiratory diseases, ranking the third in Portugal, contribute significantly to illness and mortality. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third-leading cause of death globally. Identifying high-risk individuals and implementing early treatment is crucial due to the variability of COPD symptoms and exacerbations. This study aimed to identify effective strategies for preventing exacerbations and complications. Methods: A Delphi involving 15 experts was performed. Experts included physicians, nurses, health managers, policymakers, public health experts, and patient organizations. Consensus was achieved at 73.3% for each strategy using a scale ranging from "agree" to "disagree." Three rounds were conducted to address six questions related to early diagnosis and patient follow-up. Challenges faced by the Portuguese Health System in managing COPD, obstacles in COPD exacerbation diagnosis and management, and effective strategies to overcome barriers were identified in the first round. The second and third rounds involved analyzing the gathered information and voting on each indicator to achieve consensus, respectively. Indicators were categorized into constraints and barriers, and strategies for reducing COPD exacerbations and disease burden. Results: Out of a total of 134 valid indicators generated, 108 achieved consensus. Among the indicators agreed upon by experts, 18 pertained to barriers, challenges, and constraints, while 90 focused on action strategies for COPD. Among the strategies formulated, 25 consensus indicators target prevention strategies, 24 consensus indicators aim to enhance COPD referrals, and 41 consensus indicators focus on mitigating COPD exacerbations and reducing the overall disease burden. Discussion/Conclusion: This study emphasizes the need for integrated investment in respiratory healthcare and recognition of the impact of COPD on patients, healthcare systems, and economies. Prevention and appropriate treatment of exacerbations are crucial for effective COPD management and reducing associated morbidity and mortality. Experts highlight the importance of improving coordination between different levels of care, integrating information systems, and decentralizing hospital responsibilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the importance of individual and collective respiratory health, necessitating investment in health promotion and COPD awareness.

Introdução: As doenças respiratórias são uma das principais causas de doença e morte, ocupando o terceiro lugar em Portugal. Globalmente, a Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crónica (DPOC) é a terceira principal causa de morte, a seguir às doenças cardiovasculares e ao acidente vascular cerebral. Identificar indivíduos de alto risco e implementar tratamento precoce é crucial devido à variabilidade dos sintomas e exacerbações na DPOC. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar estratégias eficazes para prevenir exacerbações e complicações relacionadas. Métodos: Foi desenvolvido um estudo Delphi que envolveu 15 especialistas de diversas áreas, incluindo médicos, enfermeiros, gestores de saúde, decisores políticos, especialistas em saúde pública e representantes de organizações de pessoas com doença. Os especialistas utilizaram uma escala, variando de "Concordo" a "Discordo", para alcançar um nível de consenso de 73,3% para cada estratégia. Foram realizadas três rodadas para abordar seis perguntas relacionadas com o diagnóstico precoce e seguimento dos doentes. A primeira ronda centrou-se na identificação dos principais desafios enfrentados pelo sistema de saúde português na gestão da DPOC, dos obstáculos na identificação e gestão das exacerbações da DPOC e das estratégias eficazes para ultrapassar as barreiras identificadas. A segunda e a terceira rondas envolveram a análise da informação recolhida e a votação de cada indicador para obter consenso. Os indicadores resultantes foram categorizados em dois grupos: barreiras, desafios e constrangimentos na gestão da DPOC e estratégias de ação para melhorar a prevenção, a referenciação e diminuir exacerbações e o peso desta doença. Resultados: De um total de 134 indicadores válidos gerados, 108 obtiveram consenso. Dos indicadores consensualizados pelos peritos, 18 dizem respeito a barreiras, desafios e constrangimentos, enquanto 90 são referentes a estratégias de ação para a DPOC. Entre as estratégias formuladas, 25 indicadores com consenso visam estratégias de prevenção, 24 indicadores com consenso têm como alvo a referenciação da DPOC e 41 indicadores com consenso concentram-se em mitigar as exacerbações da DPOC e reduzir a carga da doença. Discussão/Conclusão: Este estudo enfatiza a necessidade de investimento integrado na saúde respiratória e o reconhecimento do impacto da DPOC na vida das pessoas, nos sistemas de saúde e na economia. A prevenção e o tratamento adequado das exacerbações são cruciais para uma gestão eficaz da DPOC e para reduzir a morbidade e a mortalidade associadas. Os especialistas destacam a importância de melhorar a coordenação entre diferentes níveis de cuidados, integrar sistemas de informação e descentralizar as responsabilidades hospitalares. A pandemia da COVID-19 reforçou a importância da saúde respiratória individual e coletiva, enfatizando a necessidade de investir na promoção da saúde e na consciencialização sobre a DPOC.

Knowledge and perception among adults of their congenital heart disease: A single center cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a complex condition requiring a multidisciplinary approach. It is crucial that adults with CHD (CHD) have adequate knowledge of their condition, enabling them to engage in their healthcare decisions and self-management. We aimed to investigate knowledge and perception among adults of their CHD. METHODS: Single-center, observational, cross-sectional study. A 25-item adapted survey of Leuven Questionnaire for CHD was used to assess four main domains: (1) disease and treatment, (2) endocarditis and preventive measures, (3) physical activity and (4) reproductive issues. RESULTS: 148 patients participated in the study. Patients had a significant lack of knowledge localizing their heart defect, recognizing drug side effects, acting in case of experiencing drug side effects, recognizing at least two symptoms of clinical deterioration, to adequately define endocarditis and most typical signs and risk factors, to acknowledge the hereditary nature of their CHD and risk of clinical deterioration during pregnancies. Patients with an education level ≥12th grade have higher knowledge in various items and, overall, the complexity of CHD was not associated with a better performance. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the existing knowledge gaps among adults with CHD. It underscores the need for tailored information and structured educational programs to improve management. By addressing these challenges, healthcare providers can enhance patient outcomes, improve quality of life, and promote long-term well-being for individuals with CHD.

Beyond clinical trials - The cost saving associated with dapagliflozin use in Portugal hospital clinical practice.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Heart failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. Dapagliflozin has proven efficacy in reducing the risk of death and hospitalization in HF patients, regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This paper aimed to project the potential impact of dapagliflozin on healthcare costs related to HF subsequent hospitalizations (HFHs) in Portuguese hospitals. METHODS: The total number of HF-related hospitalizations (hHF), HFHs, and the average length of stay for patients with a primary diagnosis of HF from six Portuguese hospitals, between January 2019 and December 2021, were collected and aggregated by hospital classification. Costs associated with HFHs were calculated according to Portuguese legislation and considering conservative, average, and complex approaches. Cost-saving projections were based on extrapolations from hHF risk reductions reported in dapagliflozin clinical trials. RESULTS: Considering a 26% risk reduction in hHF reported on pooled-analysis of DAPA-HF and DELIVER as the expected reduction in HFHs, the use of dapagliflozin would be associated with cost savings ranging from EUR 1612851.54 up to EUR 6587360.09, when considering all hospitals and the different approaches, between 2019 and 2021. A similar projection is observed based on 24% RRR derived by weighting DAPA-HF and DELIVER sub-analyses and PORTHOS epidemiological data. CONCLUSIONS: In this projection, dapagliflozin use in all eligible hHF patients is associated with a significant reduction in direct costs. Our data support that, in addition to the improvements in HF-related outcomes, dapagliflozin may have a significant economic impact on healthcare costs in Portuguese hospitals.

Real-world evaluation of vascular complications and comorbidities in Portuguese patients with type 2 diabetes: Results from the cMORE study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes poses a significant health challenge in Portugal, increasing the susceptibility to complications/comorbidities such as hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular (CV) disease. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of type 2 diabetes-related vascular complications/comorbidities and their pharmacological management in Portugal. METHODS: cMORE was a non-interventional, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted in 32 Portuguese primary healthcare units between October 2020 and 2022. Secondary data, including sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical information, cardiometabolic comorbidities, HbA1c levels, lipid parameters and medication, were collected from electronic medical records. RESULTS: Seven hundred and eighty adult patients with type 2 diabetes were included, predominantly male (55.5%), with an average age of 67.7 years and a mean disease duration of 10.5 years. Family history of type 2 diabetes (43.1%) and CV disease (32.1%) was prevalent. Mean HbA1c was 7.0%, progressively increasing with disease duration (p<0.001). Microvascular and macrovascular complications occurred in 38.1% and 19.6% of patients, respectively. The most prevalent comorbidities included overweight/obesity (85.5%), dyslipidemia (85.4%), and hypertension (82.6%). Multimorbidity burden was significant (99.3%) and positively correlated with older age, larger waist circumference, and overweight/obesity. Longer type 2 diabetes duration was associated with higher odds of diabetic retinopathy and CV disease/procedures, while dyslipidemia and hypertension were linked with older age, regardless of disease duration. Most patients received oral antidiabetic medications (94.6%), primarily biguanides (92.4%), followed by DPP-4 (39.1%) and SGLT2 inhibitors (34.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The cMORE study reveals a substantial burden of vascular complications/comorbidities among Portuguese patients with type 2 diabetes. Despite the high multimorbidity rates, effective type 2 diabetes management is observed, emphasizing the country's commitment to personalized care.

conTemporary reflectiOns regarding heart failure manaGEmenT - How to ovERcome the PorTuguese barriers (TOGETHER-PT).

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that is a significant burden in hospitalisations, morbidity, and mortality. Although a significant effort has been made to better understand its consequences and current barriers in its management, there are still several gaps to address. The present work aimed to identify the views of a multidisciplinary group of health care professionals on HF awareness and literacy, diagnosis, treatment and organization of care, identifying current challenges and providing insights into the future. METHODS: A steering committee was established, including members of the Heart Failure Study Group of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (GEIC-SPC), the Heart Failure Study Group of the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine (NEIC-SPMI) and the Cardiovascular Study Group (GEsDCard) of the Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine (APMGF). This steering committee produced a 16-statement questionnaire regarding different HF domains that was answered to by a diversified group of 152 cardiologists, internists, general practitioners, and nurses with an interest or dedicated to HF using a five-level Likert scale. Full agreement was defined as ≥80% of level 5 (fully agree) responses. RESULTS: Globally, consensus was achieved in all but one of the 16 statements. Full agreement was registered in seven statements, namely 3 of 4 statements for patient education and HF awareness and 2 in 4 statements of both HF diagnosis and healthcare organization, with proportions of fully agree responses ranging from 82.9% to 96.7%. None of the HF treatment statements registered full agreement but 3 of 4 achieved ≥80% of level 4 (agree) responses. CONCLUSION: This document aims to be a call-to-action to improve HF patients' quality of life and prognosis, by promoting a change in HF care in Portugal.

Social media use by cardiovascular healthcare professionals in Portugal.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Social media (SoMe) has a flourishing role in cardiovascular (CV) medicine as a facilitator of academic communication not only during conferences and congresses, but also by scientific societies and journals. However, there is no solid data illustrating the use of SoMe by CV healthcare professionals (CVHP) in Portugal. Hence, the main goal of this national cross-sectional survey was to accurately characterize SoMe use by Portuguese CVHPs. METHODS: A 35-item questionnaire was specifically developed for this study, approved by the Digital Health Study Group of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), and sent, by e-mail, to the mailing list of the SPC (including 1293 potential recipients). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: There were 206 valid answers. Fifty-two percent of respondents were female and 58% were younger than 44 years of age with almost two out of three participants being physicians. Ninety-two percent of the survey participants reported that they are currently using SoMe; LinkedIn was the most common platform used for professional purposes. Sixty-four percent believed SoMe had had a positive impact on their clinical practice; 77% and 49% had used SoMe for acquiring and sharing information related to COVID-19, respectively. In conclusion, the majority of Portuguese CVHPs that participated in this survey are actively using SoMe, with a greater participation of those <45 years of age; its clinical impact is positive, with a leading role in the dissemination of evidence during the COVID pandemic.

WITHDRAWN: Adherence to European guidelines for the use of aspirin in primary health care

The Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published, 10.1016/j.repc.2022.03.007. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal

Adherence to European guidelines for the use of aspirin in primary health care.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. The administration of low doses of aspirin in secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has been clearly established. However, the most recent guidelines do not recommend aspirin in primary prevention, reserving it for high-risk patients and after a risk/benefit assessment. The aim of this study was to assess adherence to European guidelines for the use of aspirin in primary and secondary prevention of ASCVD in primary health care. METHODS: The study population consisted of individuals aged >50 years registered at two primary health care units without (primary prevention) and with previous ASCVD events (secondary prevention). RESULTS: We studied a total of 1262 individuals, 720 in primary prevention and 542 in secondary prevention. A total of 61 individuals (8.5%) were under aspirin therapy in primary prevention, most of them taking 150 mg/day (57%). In secondary prevention, 195 patients (27%) were receiving aspirin only, most taking 150 mg/day (52%), and 166 patients (31%) were not under any antithrombotic or anticoagulant therapy. The 100 mg dosage was predominant in patients with ischemic heart disease with (64%) and without (64%) angina, as well as those with myocardial infarction (61.5%) and peripheral vascular disease (62%). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the prevalence of aspirin use in primary prevention was 8.5%. We found that 30% of patients were not taking either antithrombotic or anticoagulation therapy in secondary prevention. In both primary and secondary prevention, the 150 mg dosage was predominant.

Practical approach to referral from primary health care to a cardiology hospital consultation in 2022.

In Portugal, up to 38% of the population has cardiovascular disease, which highlights the importance of primary health care (PHC) in its management. Adequate management of people with cardiovascular disease often requires hospital referral for a cardiology consultation. However, it is not always easy to ascertain which situations should be referred, especially given that PHC does not have access to all diagnostic exams recommended by international guidelines, such as natriuretic peptides in heart failure or computed tomography coronary angiogram in chronic coronary syndromes, among others. The aim of this document is to describe a practical approach to the most frequent heart diseases that may require a referral for a hospital cardiology consultation. Thus, in the different chapters, the recommendations for referral are highlighted generically according to group of disease, as well as, albeit briefly, the initial clinical approach within the scope of PHC for a differential diagnosis and more efficient follow-up. A modified Metaplan methodology was used. A panel of 4 cardiology specialists and 3 specialists in General and Family Medicine developed this document, which should not be taken as an official guideline, but as additional guidance for the correct referral of patients. It is therefore advisable to validate these recommendations locally with the referral hospital, as well as to be aware of the respective international and national guidelines.