Polysubstance use in a Brazilian national sample: Correlates of co-use of alcohol and prescription drugs.

Background: Responses to problem substance use have largely focused on illicit drugs, but reports on rising prescription drug misuse worldwide raise questions about their combined use with alcohol and potential consequences. The current study assessed prevalence of alcohol in conjunction with nonmedical opioid and benzodiazepine use across a nationally representative sample of adults in Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional data on prevalence were estimated from the 2015 Brazilian Household Survey on Substance Use. We estimated past month nonmedical use of benzodiazepines and alcohol and past month nonmedical use of opioids and alcohol among adults who reported any past-year alcohol use. Zero-inflated Poisson models assessed independent correlates of alcohol and nonmedical opioid use, and alcohol and nonmedical benzodiazepine use. Results: Among adults who reported past year alcohol use, 0.4% (N = 257,051) reported past month alcohol and non-medical benzodiazepine use, and 0.5% (N = 337,333) reported past month alcohol and non-medical opioid use. Factors independently associated with co-use of alcohol and benzodiazepines included having depression (adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR):4.61 (95%CI 1.76-12.08)), anxiety (aPR:4.21 (95%CI 1.59-11.16)) and tobacco use (aPR: 5.48 (95%CI 2.26-13.27)). Factors associated with past-month alcohol and opioid use included having experienced physical or a threat of violence (aPR: 4.59 (95%CI 1.89-11.14)), and tobacco use (aPR:2.81(95%CI:1.29-6.12)). Conclusions: Co-use of prescription drugs with alcohol remains relatively rare among Brazilians, but findings point to a unique profile of persons at risk. Results of this study are important in light of changing dynamics and international markets of prescription drugs and the need for more research on use of these substances on a global scale.

Reproducibility on science: Challenges and advances in Brazilian alcohol surveys.

BACKGROUND: Reproducibility in Science is challenging and may be hard to achieve in alcohol research. Previous general population surveys in Brazil have estimated the prevalence of alcohol dependence to be around 10%. We aim to estimate alcohol use and dependence using different methods and definitions. METHODS: The 3rd Brazilian Household Survey on Substance Use (BHSU-3) was a nationwide, probability sample survey that interviewed 16,273 individuals. DSM-IV-TR criteria were used to determine alcohol dependence. In the BHSU-2 (covering only Brazil's 108 largest municipalities), alcohol dependence was defined as fulfilling 2/6 DSM-III criteria. Using the BHSU-3 data, alcohol use was estimated at: [1] the national level, [2] BHSU-2 municipalities, taking into consideration the sample design, and [3] BHSU-2 municipalities, ignoring the sample design. Alcohol dependence was calculated using: BHSU-3 and BHSU-2 definitions, two denominators ([A] population and [B] 12-month drinkers), and [1], [2], [3]. RESULTS: Lifetime alcohol use ranged from 66.4% (95%CI:64.8-68.0 [1]) to 70.1% ([95%CI:69.1-71.0], [3]). The estimated population presenting with alcohol dependence ranged from N = 2.3 million (BHSU-3 definition, [1]) to N = 4.3 million (BHSU-2 definition, [1]). In the first case, the prevalence among the general population [A] and drinkers [B] was 1.5% (95%CI:1.2-1.8) and 3.5% (95%CI:2.8-4.2), respectively. In second case, prevalence was 2.8% (95%CI:2.4-3.3, [A]) and 6.6% (95%CI:5.6-7.6, [B]). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of alcohol dependence may vary as much as 4.3 times, analyzing the same dataset in different ways. Brazilian research on alcohol is funded by governmental research and policy-making agencies, providing subsidies for alcohol policy in the country. It is crucial that sufficient methodological information is provided in order to guarantee reproducibility and consistency over time.

Factors associated with PrEP awareness according to age and willingness to use HIV prevention technologies: the 2017 online survey among MSM in Brazil.

Brazil has the largest population of individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Latin America with a disproportional prevalence of infection among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study evaluated PrEP awareness by age (18-24, 25-35, ≥36 years), its associated factors and the willingness to use HIV prevention technologies among MSM using a GSN app in Brazil. Inclusion criteria were ≥18 years-old, cisgender men and HIV-negative serostatus. Of 7242 individuals, 4136 (57%) completed the questionnaire. PrEP awareness was reported by 51% (though lower among MSM aged 18-24 and ≥36 years) and its associated factors were higher family income, most friends with the same sexual orientation, high number of male sexual partners and marijuana use. HIV testing (never vs. at least once) lead to an almost 3-fold increase in the odds of PrEP awareness. High HIV risk perception led to increased PrEP awareness only among MSM aged 18-24 years. A total of 2335 (56%) was willing to use daily oral PrEP. PrEP awareness remains low in Brazil and mobile tools are key strategies to reach MSM and increase awareness of prevention technologies. Community-based interventions could add to online campaigns to reach the most vulnerable, which include young, non-white and lower-income MSM.

Syndemics among individuals enrolled in the PrEP Brasil Study.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent psychosocial problems may synergistically increase the risk of HIV infection (syndemics), representing a challenge for prevention. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of syndemics among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) enrolled in the Brazilian pre-exposure prophylaxis demonstration study (PrEP Brasil Study). METHODS: Secondary cross-sectional analysis of the PrEP Brasil Study was performed. Of 450 HIV-seronegative MSM/TGW enrolled in the PrEP Brasil Study- conducted at Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil- 421 participants with complete data were included in the present analysis. Syndemics was defined as occurrence of ≥2 of the following conditions: polysubstance (≥2) use, binge drinking, positive depression screen, compulsive sexual behavior, and intimate partner violence (IPV). RESULTS: The prevalence of recent polysubstance use was 22.8%, binge drinking 51.1%, positive depression screening 5.2%, compulsive sexual behavior 7.1%, and IPV 7.3%. Syndemics prevalence was 24.2%, and associated factors were younger age (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 0.95, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 0.92-0.98 per year increase), TGW vs. MSM (aOR 3.09, 95% CI: 1.2-8.0), some college education or more vs. less than college (aOR 2.49, 95% CI: 1.31-4.75), and multiple male sexual partners in prior 3 months (aOR 1.69, 95% CI: 0.92-3.14). CONCLUSION: Given the high prevalence of syndemics, particularly of polysubstance use and binge drinking, PrEP delivery offers an opportunity to diagnose and intervene in mental and social well-being.

ERICA: prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in Brazilian adolescents. METHODS We evaluated 37,504 adolescents who were participants in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a cross-sectional, school-based, national study. The adolescents, aged from 12 to 17 years, lived in cities with populations greater than 100,000 inhabitants. The sample was stratified and clustered into schools and classes. The criteria set out by the International Diabetes Federation were used to define metabolic syndrome. Prevalences of metabolic syndrome were estimated according to sex, age group, school type and nutritional status. RESULTS Of the 37,504 adolescents who were evaluated: 50.2% were female; 54.3% were aged from 15 to 17 years, and 73.3% were from public schools. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 2.6% (95%CI 2.3-2.9), slightly higher in males and in those aged from 15 to 17 years in most macro-regions. The prevalence was the highest in residents from the South macro-region, in the younger female adolescents and in the older male adolescents. The prevalence was higher in public schools (2.8% [95%CI 2.4-3.2]), when compared with private schools (1.9% [95%CI 1.4-2.4]) and higher in obese adolescents when compared with nonobese ones. The most common combinations of components, referring to 3/4 of combinations, were: enlarged waist circumference (WC), low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) and high blood pressure; followed by enlarged WC, low HDL-c and high triglycerides; and enlarged WC, low HDL-c, high triglycerides and blood pressure. Low HDL was the second most frequent component, but the highest prevalence of metabolic syndrome (26.8%) was observed in the presence of high triglycerides. CONCLUSIONS ERICA is the first Brazilian nation-wide study to present the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and describe the role of its components. Despite the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome being low, the high prevalences of some components and participation of others in the syndrome composition shows the importance of early diagnosis of this changes, even if not grouped within the metabolic syndrome.

Oral health-related quality of life of 11- and 12-year-old public school children in Rio de Janeiro.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the association between oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), measured through the Child-OIDP, and demographic characteristics, self-reported oral problems, and clinical oral health measures, among 11- to 12-year-old school children in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, having as its target population 11- and 12-year-old students of both sexes, formally enrolled in 6- and 7-year school classes at public schools. A probabilistic sample with complex design was used. OHRQoL was assessed by the Brazilian version of Child-OIDP. Oral exams were conducted, and the presence of dental biofilm, gingival bleeding, DMFT, fluorosis, enamel defects, dental trauma, and malocclusion were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 571 school children participated with a mean age of 12.0 years and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) from 11.9 to 12.1. A total of 88.7% of the school children presented the impact of oral problems in at least one of the eight daily performances. The activities that had most impacts were eating (81.3%), cleaning mouth (40.5%), and smiling (32.2%). The mean Child-OIDP index was 7.1 with 95% CI from 6.2 to 8.1. The highest scores were in relation to eating (mean = 25.0; 95% CI from 22.4 to 27.6), cleaning mouth (mean = 12.0; 95% CI from 9.1 to 14.9), and smiling (mean = 10.0; 95% CI from 7.5 to 12.5). In the logistic regression model, the Child-OIDP was associated with dental caries experience and with the perception of sensitive teeth, perception of gingival bleeding, and perception of inadequate position of the teeth. In the multinomial regression, we found that the odds of having higher levels of Child-OIDP were positively associated with dental caries experience. Self-reported dental caries, mobile milk teeth, tooth position, bleeding gums, and bad breath were associated with worst OHRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded that there is an association between dental caries experience and the Child-OIDP index. This association indicates the impact of this condition on the quality of life of school children. Moreover, the Child-OIDP index is explained more by self-reported oral problems than by clinical normative measures.