Non-communicable diseases, sociodemographic vulnerability and the risk of mortality in hospitalised children and adolescents with COVID-19 in Brazil: a cross-sectional observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse how previous comorbidities, ethnicity, regionality and socioeconomic development are associated with COVID-19 mortality in hospitalised children and adolescents. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study using publicly available data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health. SETTING: Nationwide. PARTICIPANTS: 5857 patients younger than 20 years old, all of them hospitalised with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, from 1 January 2020 to 7 December 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: We used multilevel mixed-effects generalised linear models to study in-hospital mortality, stratifying the analysis by age, region of the country, presence of non-communicable diseases, ethnicity and socioeconomic development. RESULTS: Individually, most of the included comorbidities were risk factors for mortality. Notably, asthma was a protective factor (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.67). Having more than one comorbidity increased almost tenfold the odds of death (OR 9.67, 95% CI 6.89 to 13.57). Compared with white children, Indigenous, Pardo (mixed) and East Asian had significantly higher odds of mortality (OR 5.83, 95% CI 2.43 to 14.02; OR 1.93, 95% CI 1.48 to 2.51; OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.02 to 8.71, respectively). We also found a regional influence (higher mortality in the North-OR 3.4, 95% CI 2.48 to 4.65) and a socioeconomic association (lower mortality among children from more socioeconomically developed municipalities-OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.38) CONCLUSIONS: Besides the association with comorbidities, we found ethnic, regional and socioeconomic factors shaping the mortality of children hospitalised with COVID-19 in Brazil. Our findings identify risk groups among children that should be prioritised for public health measures, such as vaccination.

Nutritional status, diet quality and inflammatory markers in adolescents

To evaluate diet quality and relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI), diet quality and inflammatory markers in adolescents of public schools in São Luís-MA. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 adolescents aged 17 and 18 years. The nutritional status was evaluated through the BMI. The quality of the diet was evaluated through the Revised Diet Quality Index (IQD-R). The inflammatory markers used were C-Reactive Ultrasensitive Protein (hs-CRP), IL-6 (Interleukin-6) and TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor α). Multivariate analysis was performed using a decision tree using the CART (Classification and Regression Trees) algorithm to evaluate the relationship between BMI, diet quality and inflammatory markers. Results: The mean age was 17.3±0.5 years, predominance of females (56.5%) and eutrophic (69.3%). The mean IQD-R score was 55.3±12.7. Adolescents in the lowest tertile of IQD-R (T1) had a higher mean BMI (22.1±4.3 kg/m2 vs 21.5 ± 3.7kg/m2). Higher levels of IL-6 were observed in those located on the IQD-R T1 (1,345 mg/L vs 1,205 mg/L). In the same group (T1), adolescents who had higher IL-6 levels also had a higher mean BMI (23.6±5.1kg/m2 vs 20.8±3.0kg/m2). The adolescents in the largest tertiles of IQD-R (T2 and T3) and who had higher concentrations of IL-6 and CR-us had also a higher mean BMI (23.8±4.9kg/m2). Conclusions: The diet quality of adolescents studied needs modifications. BMI averages varied with diet quality and levels of IL-6 and hs-CRP(AU)

Avaliar a qualidade da dieta e a relação entre Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC), qualidade da dieta e marcadores inflamatórios em adolescentes de escolas públicas de São Luís-MA. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 384 adolescentes de 17 e 18 anos. O estado nutricional foi avaliado por meio do IMC. A qualidade da dieta foi avaliada por meio do Índice de Qualidade da Dieta Revisado (IQD-R). Os marcadores inflamatórios utilizados foram Proteína C Reativa Ultrassensível (PCR-us), IL-6 (Interleucina-6) e TNF-α (Fator de Necrose Tumoral α). A análise multivariada foi realizada usando uma árvore de decisão usando o algoritmo CART (Classification and Regression Trees) para avaliar a relação entre IMC, qualidade da dieta e marcadores inflamatórios. Resultados: A média de idade foi de 17,3 ± 0,5 anos, predomínio do sexo feminino (56,5%) e eutrófico (69,3%). A pontuação média do IQD-R foi de 55,3 ± 12,7. Os adolescentes no tercil inferior do IQD-R (T1) tiveram uma média de IMC mais alta (22,1 ± 4,3kg/m2 vs 21,5 ± 3,7kg/m2). Níveis mais elevados de IL-6 foram observados naqueles localizados no IQD-R T1 (1.345 mg/L vs 1.205 mg/L). No mesmo grupo (T1), os adolescentes que apresentaram níveis mais elevados de IL-6 também apresentaram média de IMC mais elevada (23,6 ± 5,1kg/m2 vs 20,8 ± 3,0kg/m2). Os adolescentes nos maiores tercis de IQD-R (T2 e T3) e que apresentaram maiores concentrações de IL-6 e CR-us também apresentaram maior IMC médio (23,8 ± 4,9kg/m2). Conclusões: A qualidade da dieta dos adolescentes estudados necessita de modificações. As médias do IMC variaram com a qualidade da dieta e os níveis de IL-6 e PCR-us(AU)

Estudio de la prevalencia de mordida cruzada en los pacientes preortodóncicos en são luís / Study of the prevalence of crossbite in patients preortodóncicos in Sao Luis

El objetivo de esta investigación fue describir la mordida cruzada analizando su prevalencia y aspectos relativos a sus modalidades, el genero, la edad, el factor etiológico, la raza y la clasificación de Angle. La muestra fue constituida de 623 pacientes pre - ortodóncicos de consultorios odontológicos e instituciones de enseñanza de odontología de São Luís, estado de Maranhão - Brasil, en el grupo etario de 8 a 15 años. Fue realizado un análisis descriptivo de los datos los cuales fueron sometidos a la prueba del Chi- cuadrado. Los resultados encontrados mostraron que: a) la prevalencia de mordida cruzada fue de 29,05%, la mordida cruzada anterior la más frecuente, con 12,05%; b) no hubo asociación significativa de la mordida cruzada con el raza, género, edad y local de tratamiento; c) portadores de maloclusión clase III fueron los más afectados observándose asociación significativa de la mordida cruzada con esa variable; d) el apiñamiento fue el factor etiológico más registrado. Se concluyó que la prevalencia de mordida cruzada fue elevada y la procura de tratamiento parece estar más relacionada con la cuestión estética

The purpose of this research is to study crossbites, analyzing their prevalence and aspects relative to modality, gender, age, etiologic factor, race, and Angle Classification. The sample consisted of 623 preorthodontic patients from private dental offices and dental educational institutions of São Luís, the state of Maranhão, Brazil, between the ages of 8- and 15- years-old. A descriptive analysis was carried out and the data were submitted to the chi-square test. The results showed that: a) the prevalence of crossbite was 29.05%, being anterior crossbite the most frequent type, with 12.05%; b) there was no significant association of crosssbite with race, gender, age and place of treatment; c) Class III malocclusion patients were the most affected with crossbites, demonstrating association between these variables. It was concluded that the prevalence of crossbite was elevated and the demand seems to be more related to esthetic concerns

[Profile of public dental care for children and adolescents in São Luís, Maranhão State]. / Perfil da assistência odontológica pública para a infância e adolescência em São Luís (MA).

This profile of public dental care for children/adolescents in São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil, is based on a survey conducted through interviews, designed to identify these services and help upgrade Health Services available in this city. It describes the pediatric dental care available and the age groups attended, the qualifications of the practitioners involved, the types of treatment for primary and permanent teeth and oral health education programs run at the Municipal Healthcare Units with dental facilities, analyzed through visits and structured interviews. The findings show that dental care was available for children/adolescents (mainly between 6 and 12 years old) at 91.1% of the Healthcare Units offering daily and universal care (65.75%), as well as at those whose services are limited to certain specialties and/or specific days (34.15%). All the public Healthcare Units offered surgical treatment for permanent teeth. Fillings are used more for permanent teeth than primary teeth. Among the public Healthcare Units, 25 (55.5%) did not offer or run oral health programs. At most (75.5%) of the Units visited, dental treatment for children and adolescents is limited to basic care and directed mainly to permanent teeth. The traditional welfare model of providing care as freely demanded remains in place.