Comparación de desenlaces a corto plazo de gastrectomía laparoscópica mínimamente invasiva en adultos mayores con cáncer gástrico localmente avanzado / Comparison of short-term outcomes of minimally invasive laparoscopic gastrectomy in older adults with locally advanced gastric cancer

Introducción. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar los desenlaces a corto plazo de la gastrectomía laparoscópica en adultos vs. adultos mayores con cáncer gástrico localmente avanzado en una cohorte de un país occidental. Métodos. Estudio de cohorte prospectivo en pacientes sometidos a gastrectomía laparoscópica por cáncer gástrico localmente avanzado, en el Hospital Universitario Erasmo Meoz, de Cúcuta, Colombia, entre noviembre de 2014 y diciembre de 2018. Se realizó análisis descriptivo, de comparación de grupos y bivariado. Resultados. De un total de 116 pacientes, 51 pacientes (44 %) tenían 65 años o más y 63 pacientes (54 %) eran hombres. No se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa al comparar los pacientes menores de 65 años con los de 65 años o más. La mediana del tiempo operatorio fue de 240 minutos en ambos grupos (p>0,05), la mediana de los márgenes de resección macroscópica fue 6 cm vs. 5 cm (p>0,05), la mediana de los ganglios linfáticos disecados fue 25 vs. 19 (p>0,05), la mediana de ganglios linfáticos positivos fue 4 vs. 3 (p>0,05), la mediana de estancia fue de 7 días en ambos grupos (p>0,05). La tasa general de complicaciones posoperatorias no difirió significativamente entre adultos (7%) y adultos mayores (11 %) (p>0,05) y no se observaron diferencias significativas en las tasas de complicaciones menores (Clavien-Dindo grado II; 3-5 % vs. 6-12 %; p>0,05) y graves (Clavien-Dindo ≥ IIIa; 3-5 % vs. 4-8 %; p>0,05). Conclusiones. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los resultados a corto plazo entre los pacientes adultos y adultos mayores con cáncer gástrico localmente avanzado tratados con gastrectomía laparoscópica. Esta técnica es segura en ancianos.

Introduction. The objective of this study was to compare the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy in adults vs. older patients with locally advanced gastric cancer from a Western country cohort. Methods. Prospective cohort study in patients undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer at the Hospital Universitario Erasmo Meoz, de Cúcuta, Colombia, between November 2014 and December 2018. Descriptive, group comparison and bivariate analysis was performed. Results. Of a total of 116 patients, 51 patients (44%) were 65 years or older and 63 patients (54%) were men. No statistically significant difference was found when comparing patients under 65 years of age with those 65 years of age or older. The median operating time was 240 minutes in both groups (p>0.05), the median macroscopic resection margins were 6 cm vs. 5 cm (p>0.05), the median number of lymph nodes dissected was 25 vs. 19 (p>0.05), the median number of positive lymph nodes was 4 vs. 3 (p>0.05), the median stay was 7 days in both groups (p>0.05). The overall rate of postoperative complications did not differ significantly between adults (7%) and older adults (11%) (p>0.05) and no significant differences were observed in the rates of minor (Clavien-Dindo grade II; 3-5% vs. 6-12%; p>0.05) and severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ IIIa; 3-5% vs. 4-8%; p>0.05). Conclusions. No statistically differences were found in short-term outcomes between adult and older patients with locally advanced gastric cancer treated with laparoscopic gastrectomy. This technique is safe in the elderly.

Cervical cancer screening coverage in the Americas region: a synthetic analysis.

Background: The Americas region has the lowest (North America) and the second highest (Latin America and Caribbean) cervical cancer (CC) mortality worldwide. The lack of reliable data on screening coverage in the region hinders proper monitoring of the World Health Organization (WHO) CC elimination initiative. Methods: For this synthetic analysis, we searched data on CC screening coverage from official sources and national health surveys, supplemented with a formal WHO country consultation. Context data were obtained from official sources (income, health expenditure, inequality-adjusted human development index -IHDI-, universal health coverage, CC incidence/mortality). Country age-specific coverages for 2019 by screening interval were computed. Missing data were imputed through a multi-step algorithm. Beta-regression and Poisson-regression models were used to analyse associations between context variables, screening coverage, and CC mortality. Findings: We included data from 37 countries in the Americas. Data on coverage of HPV testing was scarce, and for many countries only Pap-smear coverage data was available. Overall, 78%, 34%, 60%, and 67% of women aged 25-65 years have been screened ever in their lifetime, and in the previous year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively. By sub-region, 3-year coverage ranges from 48% (South America) to 72% (North America). Twenty-four countries showed screening coverage below 70%. Income and health system type were associated with screening coverage, but coverage was not associated with CC mortality. Interpretation: In the Americas region 35.1% and 56.8% of countries report 3-year and 5-year coverage over 70%, respectively. Inequalities remain a major challenge for screening programs in the region. The elimination campaign should reinforce the transition to HPV testing and strengthen surveillance systems. Funding: Instituto de Salud Carlos III, European Regional Development Fund, Secretariat for Universities and Research of the Department of Business and Knowledge of the Government of Catalonia, and Horizon 2020.

Is it feasible to enhance quality assurance of cervical cancer screening in Latin America? A regional expert consensus.

OBJECTIVES: Cervical cancer elimination requires high-performance screening tests and high treatment rates, and thus high screening program performance is essential; however, Latin America lacks organized screening and quality assurance (QA) guidelines. We aimed to develop a core set of QA indicators suitable to the region. METHODS: We reviewed QA guidelines from countries/regions with highly organized screening programs and selected 49 indicators for screening intensity, test performance, follow-up, screening outcomes and system capacity. A regional expert consensus using the Delphi method in two rounds was implemented to identify basic indicators actionable within the regional context. The panel was integrated by recognized Latin American scientists and public health experts. They voted for the indicators blinded to each other based on feasibility and relevance. The correlation between both attributes was analyzed. RESULTS: In the first round 33 indicators reached consensus for feasibility but only 9 for relevance, without full coincidence. In the second round 9 indicators met the criteria for both (2 screening intensity, 1 test performance, 2 follow-up, 3 outcomes, 1 system capacity). A significant positive correlation was observed for test performance and outcomes indicators between the two attributes assessed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cervical cancer control requires realistic goals supported by proper programs and QA systems. We identified a set of indicators suitable to improve cervical cancer screening performance in Latin America. The assessment by an expert panel with a joint vision from science and public health practice represents a significant progress towards real and feasible QA guidelines for countries in the region.

Cervical cancer screening programs in Latin America: current recommendations for facing elimination challenges.

OBJECTIVE: To describe current cervical cancer screening program guidelines in Latin America. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We searched official recommendations for the general population and women living with HIV (WLHIV) by reviewing official sources from 19 countries; these data were supplemented with a consultation carried out by the WHO with the Ministries of Health. RESULTS: Screening policies vary significantly in regard to target populations, primary tests, and screening intervals. Sixteen countries have recently updated their recommendations; however, cytology remains the primary screening test for most countries. Eleven countries have introduced HPV tests, and eight countries have implemented screen-and-treat algorithms; only three countries have developed evidence-based guidelines. All countries but Costa Rica have specific recommendations for WLHIV. CONCLUSIONS: Although most countries have updated their screening policies, only a few are properly alig-ned with the WHO elimination strategy. Recommendations for WLHIV require better integration with cervical cancer screening programs.

Effectiveness of brief counselling in a hospital setting for smoking cessation and risky alcohol drinking reduction: randomised clinical trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic diseases are a public health problem, and 80% of them are related to modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and risky alcohol consumption. Although the intervention in smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking has proven to be effective in Primary Care, it is unknown whether it works in the same way in the hospital setting. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of brief counselling in order to modify the stage of change in smokers and at-risk drinkers treated in a high complexity hospital. METHODS: A Randomised controlled trial to be conducted, in which an evaluation is made of four brief counselling strategies for smoking cessation and risky alcohol consumption compared to usual care, selected according to the patient's stage of change. The primary result will be the proportion of patients in each of the groups (intervention and control) with identified progress in the stage of change. The reduction of consumption will be also be analysed. Protocol registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03521622). RESULTS: The results will be published in scientific journals, and its application aims to generate behavioural intervention protocols for modifiable risk factors in high complexity hospitals. The trial was presented and approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio, Bogota, Colombia (Approval 01/2018).

Efectividad de la consejería breve en el ámbito hospitalario para la cesación del tabaquismo y la disminución del consumo riesgoso de alcohol: Protocolo de un experimento clínico aleatorizado / Effectiveness of Brief Counseling in a Hospital Setting for Smoking Cessation and Risky Alcohol Drinking Reduction: Randomized Clinical Trial Protocol

Resumen Introducción: Las enfermedades crónicas son un problema de salud pública; el 80% de ellas se relacionan con factores de riesgo modificables, como una dieta poco saludable, la inactividad física, el tabaquismo y el consumo riesgoso de alcohol. La intervención en el tabaquismo y el consumo riesgoso de alcohol se ha demostrado efectiva en el cuidado primario, pero se desconoce si funciona de la misma manera en el contexto hospitalario. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la consejería breve para modificar el estadio de cambio en pacientes fumadores y bebedores en riesgo atendidos en un hospital de alta complejidad. Métodos: Experimento clínico aleatorizado, que evalúa la efectividad de 4 modalidades de consejería breve para la cesación de tabaquismo y el consumo riesgoso de alcohol en comparación con el cuidado habitual, seleccionadas según el estadio de cambio del sujeto. El resultado primario es la proporción de pacientes en cada uno de los grupos (intervención y control) en los cuales se identifica el avance en el estadio de cambio; además se analizará la reducción de consumos. Protocolo registrado en ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03521622). Resultados: Los resultados se publicarán en revistas de literatura científica y su aplicación pretende generar protocolos de intervenciones conductuales en factores de riesgo modificables en hospitales de alta complejidad. El experimento fue presentado y aprobado por el Comité de Ética e Investigación de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana y el Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio (aprobación 01/2018).

Abstrac Introduction: Chronic diseases are a public health problem, and 80% of them are related to modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, smoking, and risky alcohol consumption. Although the intervention in smoking and hazardous alcohol drinking has proven to be effective in Primary Care, it is unknown whether it works in the same way in the hospital setting. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of brief counselling in order to modify the stage of change in smokers and at-risk drinkers treated in a high complexity hospital. Methods: A Randomized controlled trial to be conducted, in which an evaluation is made of four brief counselling strategies for smoking cessation and risky alcohol consumption compared to usual care, selected according to the patient's stage of change. The primary result will be the proportion of patients in each of the groups (intervention and control) with identified progress in the stage of change. The reduction of consumption will be also be analyzed. Protocol registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03521622). Results: The results will be published in scientific journals, and its application aims to generate behavioral intervention protocols for modifiable risk factors in high complexity hospitals. The trial was presented and approved by the Ethics and Research Committee of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and Hospital Universitario de San Ignacio, Bogota, Colombia (Approval 01/2018).

Critical reflections on the Municipal Epidemiological Resilience Index used for public policy decision-making regarding the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia

On June 2, 2021, the Colombian Ministry of Health and Social Protection, through Resolution No. 777, laid down the requirements to resume all restricted economic and social activities. Similarly, said Resolution established the Municipal Epidemiological Resilience Index (IREM by its acronym in Spanish) as a tool to support decision-making regarding this economic reactivation amid the third epidemic peak of COVID-19 in the country. The purpose of this article is to perform a critical analysis of the technical aspects of the IREM and to explore the feasibility of its implementation as a support for the resumption of economic and social activities as proposed in the Resolution. The present critical analysis emphasizes on the lack of a clear definition of epidemiological resilience that is consistent with the scientific literature. Furthermore, the face and content validity of the index, as well as the construct validity of the index and of its dimensions, are called into question and, therefore, the feasibility of using it to determine said resumption.

El 2 de junio de 2021, el Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social de Colombia expidió la Resolución 777, mediante la cual se determinan las condiciones para el reinicio de todas las actividades económicas y sociales restringidas. Asimismo, en esta resolución se define el Índice de resiliencia epidemiológica municipal (IREM) como la herramienta para apoyar la toma de decisiones relacionadas con esta reactivación económica en medio del tercer pico epidémico de la COVID-19 en el país. El objetivo de este artículo es hacer un análisis crítico de los aspectos técnicos del IREM y explorar la conveniencia de su implementación como soporte del reinicio de las actividades económicas y sociales propuesto en la resolución. Dentro de este análisis crítico se destaca la falta de una clara definición de resiliencia epidemiológica que se ajuste a la literatura científica. Además, se cuestiona tanto la validez de apariencia, contenido y constructo del índice global, como la validez del constructo de sus dimensiones y, por tanto, la pertinencia de usarlo como herramienta para definir dicho reinicio.

Consumo habitual de café y riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular: una evaluación crítica de la literatura / Regular coffee drinking and cardiovascular risk: A critical review of the literature

Resumen Objetivo Analizar y sintetizar la evidencia sobre el efecto del consumo habitual de café en la aparición de enfermedad cardiovascular. Métodos Se realizó una evaluación crítica de la literatura basada en metaanálisis y revisiones sistemáticas publicadas en Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews y LILACS (enero 1966 a junio 2018). La búsqueda, selección y extracción de información fue llevada a cabo por una pareja de investigadores. La calidad de los manuscritos fue evaluada con AMSTAR. Resultados Se analizaron cuatro revisiones sistemáticas que consideraron como desenlaces enfermedad coronaria, riesgo cardiovascular e infarto del miocardio; para el primer y segundo desenlace se encontró una reducción del riesgo con consumo de 3-4 tazas/día (RR=0,90; IC95% 0,84-0,9; p de heterogeneidad=0,02 y RR=0,85; IC95% 0,80-0,90; p de heterogeneidad=0,09); para 1-2 tazas/día (RR=0,89; IC95% 0,85-0,94; p de heterogeneidad=0,83 y RR=0,89; IC95% 0,84-0,94; p de heterogeneidad=0,09) respectivamente. Para infarto agudo de miocardio se reportó un aumento del riesgo en hombres con consumo de 3-4 tazas/día (OR=1,75; IC95% 1,44-2,14; p de heterogeneidad=0,005) y de ≥ 4 tazas/día (OR=2,01; IC95% 1,7-2,36; p de heterogeneidad<0,001). Conclusiones Los consumos leves y moderados de café tienen un efecto neutro o de reducción del riesgo cardiovascular y de enfermedad coronaria; en contraste, el riesgo de infarto agudo de miocardio se incrementa con consumos mayores o iguales a 3 tazas/día en hombres. Se recomienda el consumo de hasta 3 tazas de café día y se desaconsejan consumos mayores, especialmente en hombres.

Abstract Objective To analyse and summarise the evidence on the effect of regular coffee drinking on the appearance of cardiovascular disease. Methods A critical review of the literature was carried out based on a meta-analysis and systematic reviews published in MedLine, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and LILACS (January 1966 to June 2018). The search, selection, and extraction of the information were performed by two investigators. The quality of the manuscripts was evaluated using AMSTAR. Results An analysis was made of 4 systematic reviews that considered coronary disease, cardiovascular risk, and myocardial infarction as outcomes. For the first and second outcomes, a reduction in risk was found with consuming 3-4 cups/day (RR=0.90; 95%CI; 0.84-0.9; P=.02, and RR=0.85; IC95% CI; 0.80-0.90; P=.09); for 1-2 cups/day (RR=0.89; 95%CI; 0.85-0.94; P=.83, and RR=0.89; 95%CI; 0.84-0.94; P=.09), respectively. As regards myocardial infarction, an increase in risk was reported with consuming 3-4 cups/day (OR=1.75; 95%CI; 1.44-2.14; P=.005) and ≥ 4 cups/day (OR=2.01; IC95%CI; 1.7-2.36; P<.001). Conclusion Mild and moderate consumption of coffee has a neutral effect or a reduction in cardiovascular risk and coronary disease. On the other hand, the risk of myocardial is increased with drinking more or equal to 3 cups/day in men. The drinking of up to 3 cups of coffee/day is recommended, and it is not advised to drink more, especially in men.

Poor sleep quality and associated factors in university students in Bogotá D.C., Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Poor sleep quality is a common problem in the general population, frequently associated with personal habits and comorbid conditions. University students may be a vulnerable population because of their daily routine, habits and sleep hygiene behavior. There are few related studies on this subject in Colombian undergraduates. The aim of this study is to characterize sleep quality in Colombian university undergraduates and examine possible associated factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was performed with self-administered questionnaires including demographic data, lifestyle habits, sleep hygiene habits and sleep quality measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The study group included 414 students from different schools enrolled at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia. RESULTS: Prevalence of poor sleep quality according to PSQI was 58.9%. Multivariate analysis showed an association of poor sleep quality with smoking (OR = 3.17 [1.51-6.66]) and eating in bed (OR = 2.13 [1.31-3.47]), with probable protective factors in sleeping at the same time (OR = 0.37 [0.25-0.59]) and having breakfast 5 or more days of the week (OR = 0.53 [0.31-0.91]). DISCUSSION: Poor sleep quality is frequent among undergraduates, regardless of their area of study. The identification of possible related factors may help to design targeted preventive measures, as it is promoting healthy lifestyle habits, adequate sleep hygiene practices and avoiding tobacco use.