The burden of disease and economic impact of sugar-sweetened beverages' consumption in Argentina: A modeling study.

BACKGROUND: Approximately two-thirds of Argentine adults are overweight or obese, and 11% have diabetes. Over the last two decades, all population groups have increased their consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). We aimed to estimate the disease burden-deaths, events, and costs to the health system-attributed to SSB consumption in Argentina. METHODS: We used a comparative risk assessment framework to estimate the health and economic impacts that would be avoided in a scenario without sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption. We calculated the direct effects on diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and BMI, and then estimated the effects of BMI on disease incidence. Finally, we applied the population attributable factor to calculate the health and economic burden avoided in Argentina in 2020. RESULTS: Our model estimated that about 4,425 deaths, 110,000 healthy life years lost to premature death and disability, more than 520,000 cases of overweight and obesity in adults, and 774,000 in children and adolescents would be attributed to SSB Consumption in Argentina. This disease burden corresponds to 23% of type-2 diabetes cases and other significant proportions of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The overweight and obesity costs attributable to SSB totaled approximately $47 million in adults and $15 million in children and adolescents. CONCLUSION: A significant number of disease cases, deaths, and health care costs could be attributed to SSB consumption in Argentina. Implementing measures to reduce the sugar content in beverages is a pending debt for the country and could lead to measurable improvements in population health, especially among children and adolescents.

Health and economic burden of disease of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in four Latin American and Caribbean countries: a modelling study.

OBJECTIVE: Overweight and obesity are important contributors to the non-communicable disease burden. The consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, cancer and other conditions. The objective of this study was to estimate the burden of disease attributable to the consumption of SSBs and the costs to the healthcare systems in Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, and Trinidad and Tobago. DESIGN: Following a systematic review of models, a comparative risk assessment framework was developed to estimate the health and economic impact associated with the consumption of SSBs. SETTING: Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, and Trinidad and Tobago. PARTICIPANTS: Overall population. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The model estimated the effects of SSB consumption on health through two causal pathways: one mediated by body mass index (BMI) and health conditions associated with BMI and another that reflected the independent effects of SSB consumption on T2DM and cardiovascular diseases. RESULTS: The model results indicated that for all four countries, in 1 year, SSB consumption was associated with 18 000 deaths (3.2% of the total disease-related deaths), seven million disease events (3.3% of the total disease-related events), a half-million DALYs and US$2 billion in direct medical costs. This included 1.5 million cases of overweight and obesity in children/adolescents (12% of the excess weight cases) and 2.8 million cases in adults (2.8%); 2.2 million cases of type 2 diabetes (19%); 200 000 cases of heart disease (3.8%); 124 000 strokes (3.9%); 116 000 cases of musculoskeletal disease (0.2%); 102 000 cases of kidney disease (0.9%); and 45 000 episodes of asthma (0.4%). The Trinidad and Tobago population were the most affected by disease events. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate that the consumption of SSBs is associated with a significant burden of disease and death in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Implementing Strategies at the Workplace Level to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Uptake in Argentina: A Controlled Interrupted Time-series Study.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common neoplasm. The immunochemical fecal occult blood test (iFOBT) is recommended for screening. The worksite setting has great potential to deliver preventive interventions. We aimed to design and evaluate the feasibility and potential impact of a multicomponent strategy in a workplace [Internal Revenue Agency of the Province of Buenos Aires (ARBA from its acronym in Spanish "Agencia de Recaudación de Buenos Aires") in Argentina].We used a quasi-experimental research design, a controlled interrupted time-series (ITS). The study involved: (i) a preintervention period (July 2015-September 2018); and (ii) an intervention period (October 2018-February 2019). We used semi-structured interviews and focus groups to design the intervention and to ensure feasibility and implementability. We fitted segmented linear regression models to evaluate changes in the monthly rates per 10,000 tests done in ARBA employees and controlling for the proportion of tests done in non-ARBA workers. A total of 1,552 ARBA employees aged 50 or more participated. Overall, iFOBT mean uptake rates were 16 times higher in the intervened during the five-month intervention period, remaining statistically significant after adjusting by the proportion of tests done in the control group (P < 0.001). The effect was higher in women aged 50 to 59 years. Activities were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A multifaceted workplace-based intervention proved to be feasible and acceptable to increase the uptake of colorectal cancer screening in employees of Argentina. Achieving high implementation rates requires building a healthy relationship with the partner organization, adding their values and views, and establishing agreed-upon mechanisms. PREVENTION RELEVANCE: Employee-facing multifaceted worksite cancer screening interventions are a valuable means to increase knowledge and utilization of workers. The controlled ITS showed that colorectal cancer screening mean uptake rates were 16 times higher in the intervened versus the control population during the intervention period, particularly among women aged 50 to 75.

Herpes zoster epidemiology in Latin America: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The epidemiology and burden of Herpes Zoster (HZ) are largely unknown, and there are no recent reviews summarizing the available evidence from the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize the epidemiology and burden of HZ in LAC. Bibliographic databases and grey literature sources were consulted to find studies published (January 2000 -February 2020) with epidemiological endpoints: cumulative incidence and incidence density (HZ cases per 100,000 person-years), prevalence, case-fatality rates, HZ mortality, hospitalization rates, and rates of each HZ complication. Twenty-six studies were included with most studies coming from Brazil. No studies reported the incidence of HZ in the general population. In population at higher risk, the cumulative incidence ranged from 318-3,423 cases of HZ per 100,000 persons per year of follow-up. The incidence density was 6.4-36.5 cases per 1,000 person-years. Age was identified as a major risk factor towards HZ incidence which increase significantly in people >50 years of age. Hospitalization rates ranged from 3%-35.7%. The in-hospital HZ mortality rate ranged from 0%-36%. Overall, HZ mortality rates were found to be higher in females across all age groups and countries. The incidence of HZ complications (such as post-herpetic neuralgia, ophthalmic herpes zoster, and Ramsay Hunt syndrome) was higher in the immunosuppressed compared to the immunocompetent population. Acyclovir was the most frequently used therapy. Epidemiological data from Ministry of Health databases (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile y Mexico) and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation's Global Burden of Disease project reported stable rates of hospitalizations and deaths over the last 10 years. High-risk groups for HZ impose a considerable burden in LAC. They could benefit from directed healthcare initiatives, including adult immunization, to prevent HZ occurrence and its complications.

Alcohol consumption's attributable disease burden and cost-effectiveness of targeted public health interventions: a systematic review of mathematical models.

BACKGROUND: Around 6% of total deaths are related to alcohol consumption worldwide. Mathematical models are important tools to estimate disease burden and to assess the cost-effectiveness of interventions to address this burden. METHODS: We carried out a systematic review on models, searching main health literature databases up to July 2017. Pairs of reviewers independently selected, extracted data and assessed the quality of the included studies. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus. We selected those models exploring: a) disease burden (main metrics being attributable deaths, disability-adjusted life years, quality-adjusted life years) or b) economic evaluations of health interventions or policies, based on models including the aforementioned outcomes. We grouped models into broad families according to their common central methodological approach. RESULTS: Out of 4295 reports identified, 63 met our inclusion criteria and were categorized in three main model families that were described in detail: 1) State transition -i.e Markov- models, 2) Life Table-based models and 3) Attributable fraction-based models. Most studies pertained to the latter one (n = 29, 48.3%). A few miscellaneous models could not be framed into these families. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings can be useful for future researchers and decision makers planning to undertake alcohol-related disease burden or cost-effectiveness studies. We found several different families of models. Countries interested in adopting relevant public health measures may choose or adapt the one deemed most convenient, based on the availability of existing data at the local level, burden of work, and public health and economic outcomes of interest.

Interventions for the control of Aedes aegypti in Latin America and the Caribbean: systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and degree of implementation of interventions for the control of Aedes aegypti in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as reported in scientific literature. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, SOCINDEX, and LILACS, for experimental and observational studies, economic assessments and qualitative experiences carried out in LAC from 2000 to 2016. We assessed incidence and morbimortality of Aedes aegypti-related diseases and entomological indices: Breteau (containers), House, and Pupae per Person. We used GRADE methodology for assessing quality of evidence. RESULTS: Of 1826 records retrieved, 75 were included and 9 cluster randomised clinical trials could be meta-analysed. We did not identify any intervention supported by a high certainty of evidence. In consistency with qualitative evidence, health education and community engagement probably reduces the entomological indices, as do the use of insecticide-treated materials, indoor residual spraying and the management of containers. There is low certainty of evidence supporting the use of ovitraps or larvitraps, and the integrated epidemiological surveillance strategy to improve indices and reduce the incidence of dengue. The reported degree of implementation of these vector control interventions was variable and most did not extend to whole cities and were not sustained beyond 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: We found a general lack of evidence on effectiveness of vector control in the region, despite a few interventions that showed moderate to low certainty of evidence. It is important to engage and educate the community, apart from achieving the implementation of integrated actions between the health and other sectors at national and regional level.

OBJECTIF: Déterminer l'efficacité et le degré d'implémentation des interventions de lutte contre Aedes aegypti en Amérique latine et dans les Caraïbes (ALC), tels que décrits dans la littérature scientifique. MÉTHODES: Nous avons effectué des recherches dans MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, SOCINDEX et LILACS pour des études expérimentales et d'observation, des évaluations économiques et des expériences qualitatives réalisées dans la région ALC de 2000 à 2016. Nous avons évalué l'incidence et la morbimortalité des maladies liées à Aedes aegypti et les indices entomologiques: Breteau (conteneurs), Maison et Pupe par Personne. Nous avons utilisé la méthodologie GRADE pour évaluer la qualité des données. RÉSULTATS: Sur 1.826 articles retrouvés, 75 ont été inclus et 9 essais cliniques randomisés en grappes ont pu être méta-analysés. Nous n'avons identifié aucune intervention étayée par une certitude élevée. De manière cohérente avec les preuves qualitatives, l'éducation pour la santé et la participation de la communauté réduisent probablement les indices entomologiques, de même que l'utilisation de matériaux traités à l'insecticide, la pulvérisation de résidus à l'intérieur et la gestion des conteneurs. Il existe peu de certitude quant aux données soutenant l'utilisation des ovitraps ou des larvitraps et de la stratégie de surveillance épidémiologique intégrée visant à améliorer les indices et à réduire l'incidence de la dengue. Le degré d'implémentation rapporté pour ces interventions de lutte antivectorielle était variable et la plupart ne s'étendaient pas à l'entièreté des villes et ne duraient pas plus de deux ans. CONCLUSIONS: Nous avons constaté un manque général de preuves sur l'efficacité de la lutte antivectorielle dans la région, malgré quelques interventions montrant une certitude modérée à faible. Il est important d'impliquer et d'éduquer la communauté, outre la mise en œuvre d'actions intégrées entre le secteur de la santé et d'autres secteurs aux niveaux national et régional.

Community-based cardiovascular health promotion in Argentina. A systematic review.

In Argentina, cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for 30% of deaths and more than 600 000 disability-adjusted life years. However, no reviews describing local studies on interventions to address CVD risk factors have been identified. The purpose of this study is to characterize those population-based interventions and public policies implemented in Argentina to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease with an adequate evaluation of their impact on population health. We conducted a systematic review of studies that assessed interventions in health promotion and/or primary prevention conducted in adult populations of Argentina, addressing specific CVD factors, from 1999 to 2016. We searched major bibliographic databases, grey literature, ministries and secretariats of health, and academic national libraries. Key informants, non-governmental organizations, universities, hospitals and experts were also contacted. We applied specific inclusion criteria. We assessed the methodological quality of the studies and reported the effectiveness and impact of population interventions and policies, as well as process evaluations' characteristics. After removing duplicates we identified 1686 references from databases. After reviewing title and abstracts 18 studies were selected, five of them corresponded to evaluations of public policies-all addressing tobacco smoking. We presented a structured review of each experience. Most of the studies were deemed to entail moderate or high risk of bias. We summarized the findings and characteristics of these studies, including implementation strategies, process and impact evaluation. This is the first systematic review of interventions focused on primary prevention and health promotion to counter CVD and diabetes in Argentina.

Burden of Culture-Confirmed Pediatric Pneumococcal Pneumonia in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) causes almost one in five deaths in children younger than 5 years worldwide. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), pneumonia causes 14% of all deaths. Although pneumococcal disease is a vaccine-preventable disease that accounts for a significant proportion of this burden, the decision-making process to introduce pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in official schedules is still complex in LAC. Confirmed PP cases and epidemiology are the basis for broader projections. OBJECTIVE: To gather all the information available in the LAC region to assist decision makers. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of studies of consolidating and culture-confirmed pediatric PP in LAC (2000-2016) using a generic academic Internet search and search engines without language restrictions. Pairs of reviewers independently selected and assessed the studies' methodological quality. We analyzed meta-information on pneumococcal serotypes available from the SIREVA laboratory-based surveillance system. RESULTS: A total of 35 out of 750 initially identified studies were included. In the age group between 0 and 59 years, the incidence of culture-confirmed PP ranged from 10.2 to 43.0/100,000 children, with a pooled incidence of 20.4/100,000 children (95% confidence interval 0.0-123.2). Mortality ranged from 0.4 to 5.7/100,000 children, and the pooled mortality was 2.9/100,000 children (95% confidence interval 0.3-8.2). The pooled serotype distribution from surveillance data showed that serotypes 14, 1, and 6B were the most frequent serotypes in LAC, all included in licensed vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: Studies on confirmed pediatric PP were scarce in LAC in 2000 to 2016. Epidemiology indicators and health resource use are still poorly defined.

Conducting and Disseminating Epidemiological Systematic Reviews in Latin America and the Caribbean: Pitfalls and Lessons Learned.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the experience, pitfalls, and lessons learned in conducting and disseminating epidemiological systematic reviews (SRs) in Latin America and the Caribbean between 2007 and 2016. METHODS: We used a mixed-methods approach, including a descriptive cross-sectional study and a qualitative study of pitfalls and lessons learned. The following end points were analyzed: number of primary research studies included, country of origin, study design, risk of bias, citations in social media, number of researchers and experts involved, and time devoted by them to conduct SRs. Data for the qualitative study were collected through sessions with multiprofessional focus groups of the reviewers' core team held from February to March 2016. We performed a thematic analysis of the following domains: sources of information, evidence quantity and quality, statistical analysis, and dissemination of findings in both academic and social media. RESULTS: A total of 19 SRs were produced, including 1016 primary research studies. Brazil (35%) and Argentina (19%) contributed the largest number of studies. The most frequent design was cross-sectional (35%). Only 27% of the studies included in the SRs were judged as having a low risk of bias. We identified key challenges at different stages of the process. We found substantial difficulties in all domains derived from the thematic analysis and proposed potential solutions for each of them. CONCLUSIONS: There are large gaps in epidemiological evidence from primary research, particularly from population-based studies. Special approaches are needed to identify, assess, synthesize, interpret, and disseminate epidemiological evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Impact of level and patterns of alcohol drinking on coronary heart disease and stroke burden in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke are expected to increase in Latin America. Moderate and regular alcohol consumption confers cardiovascular protection, while binge drinking increases risk. We estimated the effects of alcohol use on the number of annual CHD and stroke deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in Argentina. METHODS: Alcohol use data were obtained from a nationally representative survey (EnPreCosp 2011), and etiological effect sizes from meta-analyses of epidemiological studies. Cause-specific mortality rates were from the vital registration system. RESULTS: There were 291,475 deaths in 2010 including 24,893 deaths from CHD and 15,717 from stroke. 62.7% of men and 38.7% of women reported drinking alcohol in the past year. All heavy drinkers (i.e. women who drank >20g/day and men who drank >40g/day of alcohol) met the definition of binge drinking and therefore did not benefit from cardioprotective effects. Alcohol drinking prevented 1,424 CHD deaths per year but caused 935 deaths from stroke (121 ischemic and 814 hemorrhagic), leading to 448 CVD deaths prevented (58.3% in men). Alcohol use was estimated to save 85,772 DALYs from CHD, but was responsible for 52,171 lost from stroke. CONCLUSIONS: In Argentina, the cardioprotective effect of regular and moderate alcohol drinking is slightly larger than the harmful impact of binge drinking on CVD. However, considering global deleterious effects of alcohol in public health, policies to reduce binge drinking should be enforced, especially for young people. Studies are still needed to elucidate effects on cardiovascular health.

Health economic evaluation of Human Papillomavirus vaccines in women from Venezuela by a lifetime Markov cohort model.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) and genital warts (GW) are a significant public health issue in Venezuela. Our objective was to assess the cost-effectiveness of the two available vaccines, bivalent and quadrivalent, against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Venezuelan girls in order to inform decision-makers. METHODS: A previously published Markov cohort model, informed by the best available evidence, was adapted to the Venezuelan context to evaluate the effects of vaccination on health and healthcare costs from the perspective of the healthcare payer in an 11-year-old girls cohort of 264,489. Costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were discounted at 5%. Eight scenarios were analyzed to depict the cost-effectiveness under alternative vaccine prices, exchange rates and dosing schemes. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: Compared to screening only, the bivalent and quadrivalent vaccines were cost-saving in all scenarios, avoiding 2,310 and 2,143 deaths, 4,781 and 4,431 CCs up to 18,459 GW for the quadrivalent vaccine and gaining 4,486 and 4,395 discounted QALYs respectively. For both vaccines, the main determinants of variations in the incremental costs-effectiveness ratio after running deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were transition probabilities, vaccine and cancer-treatment costs and HPV 16 and 18 distribution in CC cases. When comparing vaccines, none of them was consistently more cost-effective than the other. In sensitivity analyses, for these comparisons, the main determinants were GW incidence, the level of cross-protection and, for some scenarios, vaccines costs. CONCLUSIONS: Immunization with the bivalent or quadrivalent HPV vaccines showed to be cost-saving or cost-effective in Venezuela, falling below the threshold of one Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita (104,404 VEF) per QALY gained. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these results.

Epidemiology of chronic disease related to arsenic in Argentina: A systematic review.

Four million people in Argentina are exposed to arsenic contamination from drinking waters of several center-northern provinces. A systematic review to examine the geographical distribution of arsenic-related diseases in Argentina was conducted, searching electronic databases and gray literature up to November 2013. Key informants were also contacted. Of the 430 references identified, 47 (mostly cross-sectional and ecological designs) referred to arsenic concentration in water and its relationship with the incidence and mortality of cancer, dermatological diseases and genetic disorders. A high percentage of the water samples had arsenic concentrations above the WHO threshold value of 10µg/L, especially in the province of Buenos Aires. The median prevalence of arsenicosis was 2.6% in exposed areas. The proportion of skin cancer in patients with arsenicosis reached 88% in case-series from the Buenos Aires province. We found higher incidence rate ratios per 100µg/L increment in inorganic arsenic concentration for colorectal, lung, breast, prostate and skin cancer, for both genders. Liver and skin cancer mortality risk ratios were higher in regions with medium/high concentrations than in those with low concentrations. The relative risk of mortality by skin cancer associated to arsenic exposure in the province of Buenos Aires ranged from 2.5 to 5.2. In the north of this province, high levels of arsenic in drinking water were reported; however, removal interventions were scarcely documented. Arsenic contamination in Argentina is associated with an increased risk of serious chronic diseases, including cancer, showing the need for adequate and timely actions.