Spatial Heterogeneity in Fatal Overdose Rate Trends in Mexican Cities: 2005-2021.

Objectives. To describe national and city-level fatal drug overdose trends between 2005 and 2021 in Mexico. Methods. We calculated fatal overdose rates at the city level in 3-year periods from 2005 to 2021 and annually at the national level for people aged 15 to 64 years in Mexico. We calculated rate differences and rate ratios for each city between periods. Results. The national fatal overdose rate was 0.53 overdose deaths per 100 000 population and was almost twice as high in urban than in nonurban areas. The national fatal overdose rate was stable over the period 2005 to 2014 and increased monotonically to a peak in 2021. Fatal overdose rates varied across cities. Cities with the 8 highest fatal overdose rates in the period were all in states along the US-Mexico border. Conclusions. Fatal overdoses have doubled over the past 15 years in Mexico. Overdose rates are particularly high and increasing in cities close to the US-Mexico border. Public Health Implications. There is a need for enhanced overdose surveillance data and coordinated harm reduction strategies, particularly in the northern border region of Mexico. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print May 9, 2024:e1-e9. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307650).

Associated factors to non-medical and medical use of psychoactive medication among Mexican adolescents and adults in a national household survey.

BACKGROUND: Non-medical use of psychoactive medication is a public health problem. Studies in other contexts indicate that individual sociodemographic characteristics are associated with non-medical use, but these associations have not been assessed in the Mexican context. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence non-medical and medical use of psychoactive medication among Mexican adolescents and adults' medication users and to estimate the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and non-medical use of psychoactive medication, using data from a nationally representative sample. METHODS: Secondary analysis of data collected from the National Survey of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption (ENCODAT) 2016 to 2017. The analytical sample included people aged 12 to 65 years. The sample was stratified into two age categories: adolescents (12-17 years) and adults (18-65 years). Sub-analyses were performed to describe prevalence of use and non-medical use of psychoactive medication at the state-level. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression models were used to estimate associations between sociodemographic characteristics and medical, non-medical, and non-use of psychoactive medication in adolescents and adults. RESULTS: Among Mexican medication users in 2016, the national prevalence of non-medical use of psychoactive drugs was 19.6%; 22.2% among adolescents and 19.4% among adults. States adjacent to the US-Mexico border reported the highest levels of non-medical use of psychoactive medication. Illicit drug consumption was associated with non-medical use. Sociodemographic characteristics associated with non-medical use varied between adolescents and adults. CONCLUSIONS: There is a high proportion of non-medical use of psychoactive drugs among Mexican medication users, especially among young people. Understanding factors associated with the misuse of psychoactive medications in Mexico can inform policy for prevention and treatment.

Intersectionality and depression symptoms in Mexican adults aged ≥50, MHAS 2001 and 2012.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze, from the perspective of intersectionality, the association of social inequality dimensions (occupation, poverty, and educational level) and socio-demographic and health characteristics with the proportion of depressive symptoms among males and females aged 50 years and older who participated in the 2001 and 2012 waves of the Mexican Health and Aging Study (MHAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive analysis and logistic regression models stratified by sex were performed, including interaction terms between poverty, educational level, and employment conditions on the presence of depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The proportion of females with depressive symptoms was significantly higher than that of males in both waves. A high proportion of older females in poverty, with five years or less of education and manual occupational activities, reported depressive symptoms in the MHAS-2001. The interactions evaluated between occupation, poverty, and educational level were not statistically significant under adjusted models; however, disability and comorbidities were associated with depressive symptoms in both sexes. CONCLUSION: A higher proportion of females have depressive symptoms under conditions of inequality; however, the effect of the intersection between employment and socio-demographic characteristics on depressive symptoms was not observed under adjusted models.

The Columbia-suicide severity rating scale: validity and psychometric properties of an online Spanish-language version in a Mexican population sample.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and psychometric properties in a Mexican sample of a Spanish-language online version of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS). Data were collected between May and October 2021 from 3,645 participants aged 18 years and over, who agreed to complete the questionnaire. Reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and psychometric properties were calculated using a two-parameter model. The results showed a reasonable level of reliability with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.814, and evidence of unidimensionality, and construct validity for suicide risk at three risk levels: low, medium, and high. Analysis of the items suggests that they are consistent with the proposed theoretical model. Our results also demonstrate that the parameters are stable and able to efficiently discriminate individuals at high risk of suicide. We propose the use of this version of the C-SSRS in the Spanish-speaking population, since it is a multifactorial assessment of suicide risk and the inclusion of other clinical and risk factor assessments for a more comprehensive evaluation.

The economic costs of insomnia comorbid with depression and anxiety disorders: an observational study at a sleep clinic in Mexico.

Significant advances documenting the costs associated with insomnia have been achieved. However, those related to insomnia associated with mood disorders remain understudied, even though insomnia is more severe in the presence of comorbid conditions such as depression and anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine the direct and indirect costs of insomnia associated with depression and anxiety disorders (DAD) from the perspective of the patient in a private healthcare system. This was an observational study of chronic insomnia associated with DAD at a private Sleep Disorders Clinic in Mexico City between 2019 and 2020. Patients were followed for up to one year. Healthcare resource utilization data were collected through clinical records. Direct and indirect costs associated with insomnia treatment were estimated through micro-costing. The estimated economic burden was projected to 5 years adjusting for inflation and discounting future costs. A deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed. The median cost of the first year of insomnia treatment associated with DAD was US$3537.57 per patient. The work productivity loss represented the highest economic burden (63.84%) followed by direct medical costs (28.32%), and the direct non-medical costs (7.85%). The estimated annual economic burden for patients treated in the private healthcare system in Mexico was US$293 million. The costs of insomnia associated with DAD at a private clinic in México were found to be high. The burden of the costs faced by these patients is substantial relative to the median income of the population. The economic costs at an individual and societal levels are substantial. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41105-022-00412-6.

Refining the estimation of amphetamine consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology.

Consumption of amphetamine and methamphetamine, two common illicit drugs, has been monitored by wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) in many countries over the past decade. There is potential for the estimated amount of amphetamine used to be skewed at locations where methamphetamine is also consumed, because amphetamine is also excreted to wastewater following methamphetamine consumption. The present study aims to review the available data in the literature to identify an average ratio of amphetamine/methamphetamine (AMP/METH) that is excreted to wastewater after methamphetamine consumption. This ratio could then be used to refine the estimation of amphetamine consumption in catchments where there is both amphetamine and methamphetamine use. Using data from more than 6000 wastewater samples from Australia where methamphetamine is the dominant illicit amphetamine-type substance on the market, we were able to subtract the contribution of legal sources of amphetamine contribution and obtain the median AMP/METH ratio in wastewater of 0.09. Using this value, the amphetamine derived from methamphetamine consumption can be calculated and subtracted from the total amphetamine mass loads in wastewater samples. Without considering the contribution of amphetamine from methamphetamine use, selected European catchments with comparable consumption of amphetamine and methamphetamine showed up to 83% overestimation of amphetamine use. For catchments with AMP/METH ratio greater than 1.00, the impact of amphetamine from methamphetamine would be negligible; for catchments with AMP/METH ratio in the range of 0.04-0.19, it will be difficult to accurately estimate amphetamine consumption.

Impact of environmental and individual factors on COVID-19 mortality in children and adolescents in Mexico: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: During the Covid-19 pandemic, children and adolescents faced poverty, potentially dying from preventable causes, or missing out essential vaccines. The aim of this study was to assess potential environmental and individual factors associated to COVID-19 mortality in children and adolescents in Mexico. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analysed the official data of 131,001 children under 10 years of age and adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age with COVID-19 disease, in Mexico. Participants were diagnosticated between March 2020 and June 13, 2021. The environmental variables such as malnutrition, vaccination coverage and social lag index were evaluated at the state level. Multilevel models were fitted to evaluate the association between environmental and individual factors and COVID-19 mortality. FINDINGS: A total of 773 (0.6%) children and adolescents died due to COVID-19. Younger age (OR = 0.878, 95%CI: 0.869-0.888), diabetes (OR = 3.898, 95%CI: 2.596-5.851), immunosuppression (OR = 5.410, 95%CI: 4.088-7.158), obesity (OR = 1.876, 95%CI: 1.397-2.521), hypertension (OR = 1.906, 95%CI: 1.239-2.932), cardiovascular disease (OR = 2.288, 95%CI: 1.482-3.531), and chronic kidney disease (OR = 13.250, 95%CI: 9.066-19.350) were associated with mortality. COVID-19 mortality was directly associated with social lag index and malnutrition (ORvery high = 2.939, 95%CI: 1.111-7.775, and OR = 1.390, 95%CI: 1.073-1.802, respectively), and inversely associated with population density (OR = 0.374, 95%CI: 0.204-0.688). Finally, children and adolescents living in areas with a higher percentage of people with incomplete education (OR = 1.045, 95%CI: 1.011-1.081), of children of school age of 6-14 years who do not attend school (OR = 1.266, 95%CI: 1.032-1.554), and of illiterate population aged 15 and over (OR = 1.086, 95%CI: 0.999-1.179) were associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 mortality. INTERPRETATION: Malnutrition, social lag index and population density are key factors to understand COVID-19 mortality in children and adolescents. Also, age and pre-existing comorbidities were also associated with worse COVID-19 prognosis. FUNDING: No funding was secured for this study.

Influence of Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use in Mexican Municipalities on Early Childhood Development.

Children's early development is influenced by characteristics of the child, family, and environment, including exposure to substance abuse. The aim was to examine the association of early childhood development (ECD) with the prevalence of psychoactive substance use in Mexican municipalities. We obtained ECD data from the 2015 Survey of Boys, Girls, and Women (ENIM, for its Spanish acronym), measured with the ECD Index. The prevalence of psychoactive substance use was estimated at the municipal level, using the 2016 National Survey of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Use (ENCODAT, for its Spanish acronym). Multilevel logistic models were fitted to evaluate the association between drug use and inadequacies in ECD overall and in four specific ECD domains: socio-emotional, literacy-numeric, learning, and physical. Inadequate ECD was directly associated with illegal drug use (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.17). For the specific ECD domains, inadequate socio-emotional development was directly associated with illegal drug use (OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.15). These findings suggest that exposure to illegal drug use may influence ECD, and especially can lead to socio-emotional problems, although this cannot be considered the unanimous determinant of the problems presented. The implementation of evidence-based interventions to prevent drug abuse is necessary.

Effects of air pollution and climatology on COVID-19 mortality in Spain.

The health, economic, and social impact of COVID-19 has been significant across the world. Our objective was to evaluate the association between air pollution (through NO2 and PM2.5 levels) and COVID-19 mortality in Spanish provinces from February 3, 2020, to July 14, 2020, adjusting for climatic parameters. An observational and ecological study was conducted with information extracted from Datadista repository (Datadista, 2020). Air pollutants (NO2 and PM2.5 levels) were analyzed as potential determinants of COVID-19 mortality. Multilevel Poisson regression models were used to analyze the risk of mortality after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Models were adjusted by four climatic variables (hours of solar radiation, precipitation, daily temperature and wind speed) and population size. The mean levels of PM2.5 and NO2 across all provinces and time in Spain were 8.7 µg/m3 (SD 9.7) and 8.7 µg/m3 (SD 6.2), respectively. High levels of PM2.5 (IRR = 1.016, 95% CI: 1.007-1.026), NO2 (IRR = 1.066, 95% CI: 1.058-1.075) and precipitation (IRRNO2 = 0.989, 95% CI: 0.981-0.997) were positively associated with COVID-19 mortality, whereas temperature (IRRPM2.5 = 0.988, 95% CI: 0.976-1.000; and IRRNO2 = 0.771, 95% CI: 0.761-0.782, respectively) and wind speed (IRRNO2 = 1.095, 95% CI: 1.061-1.131) were negatively associated with COVID-19 mortality. Air pollution can be a key factor to understand the mortality rate for COVID-19 in Spain. Furthermore, climatic variables could be influencing COVID-19 progression. Thus, air pollution and climatology ought to be taken into consideration in order to control the pandemic. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11869-021-01062-2.

[Factors associated with the use of Emergency Services by the Spanish population in 2017.] / Factores asociados a la utilización de los servicios de Urgencias por la población española en 2017.

OBJECTIVE: In modern health systems, emergency services (ES) constitute one of the cornerstones of health care, and they have an essential role in the conception of current health services. The objective of this work was to analyze the effect of sociodemographic characteristics and clinical factors in the use of ES. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with data from the National Health Survey of Spain (2017) in which 23,089 adults (15 years or more) participated. Three population profiles were defined to analyze visits to ES (young people between 15 and 24 years of age; people aged 75 or over and with multiple pathologies; the general population). Descriptive analyses were performed by population profile, and logistic regression models by population profile and type of service (public hospital, public non-hospital emergency center, and private health center) were applied to evaluate the association between the use of ES and the independent variables. RESULTS: The percentage of use of ES was higher in the elderly population with multiple pathologies (41.1%) compared to young people (35.7%) and the general population (28.4%). Young people between 15 and 24 years of age used ES more in private centers, and the associated factors were female sex (OR=2.862; 95% CI=1.139-7.191), the use of diagnostic tests (OR=9.401; 95% CI=3.183-27.760), belonging to the lowest social classes (OR=0.207; 95% CI=0.073-0.585) and residing in municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants and capitals (OR=5.985; 95% CI=1.143-31.330). The elderly population with multiple pathologies presented a worse state of health than the other two population groups and with a higher demand for ES in public hospitals. In addition, in the elderly population group, the factors associated with the use of ES in public hospitals were having been hospitalized (OR=2.229; 95% CI=1.333-3.730), belonging to the lowest social classes (social class III: OR=2.794; 95% CI=1.154-6.768/social class IV-V- VI: OR=3.767; 95% CI=2.236-6.344), residing in municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants and capitals (OR=1.679; 95% CI=1.042-2.704) and having had at least one visit to the PC doctor (OR=0.603; 95% CI=0.396-0.918). Finally, in the general population the variables associated with increased use of ES in public hospitals were age (OR=1.009; 95% CI=1.001-1.016), the highest number of visits to the PC doctor (OR=1.550; 95% CI=1.180-2.170), the use of diagnostic tests (OR=1.480; 95% CI=1.236-1.773) and belonging to the lowest social classes (social class IV-V-VI: OR=1.581; 95% CI=1.229-2.033). CONCLUSIONS: The characteristics associated with the use of ES, both public and private, as well as hospital and extra-hospital, differ according to socioeconomic characteristics and clinical factors. The results of this study suggest redirecting interventions to improve care outcomes, as well as achieving a more rational use of ES.

OBJETIVO: En los sistemas sanitarios modernos, los Servicios de Urgencias (SU) constituyen una de las piedras angulares de la atención sanitaria y tienen una importancia esencial en la concepción de los servicios sanitarios actuales. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar el efecto de las características sociodemográficas y los factores clínicos en la utilización de los SU en España. METODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal con los datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud de España (2017), en el que participaron 23.089 personas adultas (15 años o más). Se definieron tres perfiles poblacionales para analizar las visitas a los SU (jóvenes entre 15 y 24 años; personas con 75 años o más y con pluripatología; población general). Se realizaron análisis descriptivos por perfil poblacional, y se aplicaron modelos de regresión logística por perfil poblacional y tipo de servicio (hospital público, centro público de Urgencias no hospitalario y centro sanitario privado) para evaluar la asociación entre la utilización de los SU y distintas variables clínicas y sociodemográficas. RESULTADOS: El porcentaje de utilización de los SU fue mayor en población anciana con pluripatología (41,1%) en comparación con los jóvenes (35,7%) y la población en general (28,4%). Las personas jóvenes utilizaron más los SU en centros privados, y los factores asociados fueron el sexo femenino (OR=2,862; IC 95%=1,139-7,191), la realización de pruebas diagnósticas (OR=9,401; IC 95%=3,183-27,760), pertenecer a una clase social menos favorecida (OR=0,207; IC 95%=0,073-0,585) y residir en municipios de más de 50.000 habitantes y capitales (OR=5,985; IC 95%=1,143-31,330). La población anciana con pluripatología presentó un peor estado de salud que los otros dos grupos poblacionales y con mayor demanda de los SU en hospitales públicos. Además, en el grupo de población anciana, los factores asociados a la utilización de los SU en hospitales públicos fueron haber sido hospitalizado (OR=2,229; IC 95%=1,333-3,730), pertenecer a una clase social menos favorecida (clase social III: OR=2,794; IC 95%=1,154-6,768/clase social IV-V-VI: OR=3,767; IC 95%=2,236-6,344), residir en municipios de más de 50.000 habitantes y capitales (OR=1,679; IC 95%=1,042-2,704) y tener sólo una consulta al médico de Atención Primaria (AP) (OR=0,603; IC 95%=0,396-0,918). Finalmente, en la población general se observó que las variables asociadas con mayor utilización de los SU en hospitales públicos fueron la edad (OR=1,009; IC 95%=1,001-1,016), un mayor número de consultas al médico de Atención Primaria (OR=1,550; IC 95%=1,180-2,170), la realización de pruebas diagnósticas (OR=1,480; IC 95%=1,236-1,773) y pertenecer a la clase social menos favorecida (clase social IV-V-VI: OR=1,581; IC 95%=1,229-2,033). CONCLUSIONES: Las características asociadas con la utilización de los SU, tanto públicos como privados, así como hospitalarios y extrahospitalarios, difieren según las características socioeconómicas y los factores clínicos. Los resultados de este estudio sugieren reconducir las intervenciones para mejorar los resultados de la atención, así como conseguir un uso más racional de los SU.

Revisión rápida: monitoreo de la presencia e infectividad del virus SARS-CoV-2 y otros coronavirus en aguas residuales / Quick review: monitoring the presence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in wastewater

Resumen: Objetivo: Describir la evidencia sobre la presencia e infectividad de SARS-CoV-2 y otros coronavirus en aguas residuales y su potencial uso como herramienta de vigilancia epidemiológica. Material y métodos: Búsqueda de publicaciones en PubMed y medRxiv desde enero 2003 hasta el 8 de junio de 2020 de acuerdo con la guía de revisiones rápidas de Cochrane. Resultados: Se incluyeron 29 publicaciones. El ARN de SARS-CoV-2 no infectivo se encontró en agua residual hospitalaria, agua residual cruda, tratada y lodos de plantas de tratamiento. Los niveles cuantitativos de ARN viral en agua residual presentan relación con el número de casos de Covid-19. SARS-CoV-1 y otros coronavirus permanecieron infectivos en agua residual cruda hasta por dos días. Conclusiones: Hasta esta revisión no existe evidencia sobre la presencia de virus infectivos de SARS-CoV-2 en agua residual cruda o tratada. La cuantificación de ARN de SARS-CoV-2 en agua residual es útil para la vigilancia epidemiológica.

Abstract: Objective: To describe the current evidence on the presence and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in wastewater; and its potential use as an epidemiological surveillance tool. Materials and methods: A search was performed in PubMed and medRxiv databases from January 2003 to June 8, 2020 according to the Cochrane Rapid Review Guide. Results: Twenty-nine publications were included. Non-infective RNA of SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in hospital sewage; raw and treated wastewater, and primary sludges from sewage treatment plants. Quantitative levels of viral RNA in wastewater are related with the number of Covid-19 cases. SARS-CoV-1 and other coronaviruses remained infective in wastewater up to two days. Conclusions: Currently, there is no evidence of the presence of infective SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and its inactivation through treatment/disinfection has been proven. Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater can be a useful epidemiological surveillance tool.

Opioids, stimulants, and depressant drugs in fifteen Mexican Cities: A wastewater-based epidemiological study.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring drug use in México is a challenge due to emerging drugs and rapid changes in consumption patterns. The temporal and geographical patterns of cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, MDMA, cannabis, heroin, ketamine, and fentanyl were examined in Mexican cities using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). METHODS: 105 daily composite wastewater samples were collected from sewage treatment plants in fifteen Mexican cities. We quantified drug residues using liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry, and estimated drug use by back-calculation of drug loads. RESULTS: We identified ten drug target residues in at least one sample across cities. Drugs with the highest median levels were cannabis, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The median range of cannabis for one week was between 147 and 20,364 mg/day/1000inhab across cities, whereas methamphetamine ranged between 5 and 3,628 mg/day/1000inhab. Cocaine was found in levels between 2 and 370 mg/day/1000inhab. The highest levels of methamphetamine and amphetamine were observed in the US border cities of Tijuana and San Luis Río Colorado. The presence of heroin, MDMA, ketamine, and fentanyl was stronger during weekends, while cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamine were found throughout the week. CONCLUSION: This study provides the first report of fentanyl, norfentanyl, and ketamine in wastewater in Mexico. The results indicate an increased presence of drugs on known drug traffic routes, demonstrating that WBE can help identify areas of high drug use and assist governments in developing policies to reduce drug use and harm in the communities.

Satisfaction With Healthcare Services Among Patients With Diabetes, Hypertension, and/or Dyslipidemia in Mexico: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the factors associated with satisfaction with healthcare services provided to patients with diabetes, hypertension, and/or dyslipidemia in the Mexican population. METHODS: In a cross-sectional, retrospective study, we used data from the 2016 Half-Way National Health and Nutrition Survey in Mexico (ENSANUT MC 2016). This contained self-reported information about patient satisfaction and use of healthcare services by 2529 adults. An ordinal regression model was performed to identify predictors of overall patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Good or very good satisfaction was reported by 85.2% of the respondents. Patient satisfaction was positively associated with the quality of medical care (very good, odds ratio [OR] = 29.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 9.04-97.62; good, OR = 13.24, 95% CI 5.07-34.57; and regular, OR = 6.56, 95% CI 2.49-17.30) and having been attended by a medical specialist (OR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.01-5.83). Patient satisfaction was negatively associated with a worse perception of health status (OR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.02-0.25), no change in health status (OR = 0.377, 95% CI 0.15-0.98), time in the waiting room (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.99-1.01), and poor conditions of the health center (OR = 0.09, 95% CI 0.04-0.18). CONCLUSION: There are several elements of organization, structure, and delivery of healthcare that are associated with patient satisfaction, although our findings need to be confirmed using longitudinal designs. Governments could use these findings to strengthen actions for improving patient satisfaction.

Revisión rápida: monitoreo de la presencia e infectividad del virus SARS-CoV-2 y otros coronavirus en aguas residuales.

Objetivo. Describir la evidencia sobre la presencia e infectividad de SARS-CoV-2 y otros coronavirus en aguas residuales y su potencial uso como herramienta de vigilancia epidemiológica. Material y métodos. Búsqueda de publicaciones en PubMed y medRxiv desde enero 2003 hasta el 8 de junio de 2020 de acuerdo con la guía de revisiones rápidas de Cochrane. Resultados. Se incluyeron 29 publicaciones. El ARN de SARS-CoV-2 no infectivo se encontró en agua residual hospitalaria, agua residual cruda, tratada y lodos de plantas de tratamiento. Los niveles cuantitativos de ARN viral en agua residual presentan relación con el número de casos de Covid-19. SARS-CoV-1 y otros coronavirus permanecieron infectivos en agua residual cruda hasta por dos días. Conclusiones. Hasta esta revisión no existe evidencia sobre la presencia de virus infectivos de SARS-CoV-2 en agua residual cruda o tratada. La cuantificación de ARN de SARS-CoV-2 en agua residual es útil para la vigilancia epidemiológica.

Medición de drogas ilícitas en aguas residuales: estudio piloto en México / Assessing illicit drugs in wastewater: a pilot study in Mexico

Resumen: Objetivo: Monitorear el consumo de drogas a través de la medición de sus metabolitos en aguas residuales. Material y métodos: Se obtuvieron muestras de 31 plantas de tratamiento de agua residual y de 95 sitios con poblaciones específicas (38 escuelas, 42 unidades de tratamiento de adicciones y 15 centros de readaptación social). Usando cromatografía líquida de ultra-alta resolución, se midieron nueve metabolitos de seis drogas. Resultados: Ocho de nueve metabolitos de drogas fueron identificados en aguas residuales. Los metabolitos de marihuana (THC-COOH), cocaína (benzoilecgonina) y metanfetamina fueron identificados en escuelas, centros de readaptación social y de tratamiento de adicciones. En Nuevo Laredo, Culiacán y Torreón se encontraron los consumos per cápita más elevados de cocaína, marihuana, anfetamina y metanfetamina. Conclusiones: El monitoreo del uso de drogas a través de aguas residuales es factible en México y podría constituir un sistema de vigilancia para identificar cambios de su consumo en el tiempo.

Abstract: Objective: Monitor drug use through wastewater metabolite measurement. Materials and methods: Wastewater samples were obtained from 31 wastewater treatment plants and 95 sites with specific populations (38 schools, 42 units of addiction treatment and 15 penitentiaries). Using ultra high liquid chromatography, we measured nine metabolites from six drugs. Results: Eight out of nine drug metabolites were identified in the samples. Marijuana (THC-COOH), cocaine (benzoylecgonine) and methamphetamine were identified in schools, centers of addiction treatment and penitentiaries. Nuevo Laredo, Culiacan and Torreon had the highest consumption of cocaine, marijuana, amphetamine and methamphetamine. Conclusions: Monitoring drug use through wastewater is feasible in Mexico and could constitute a surveillance system to identify changes in the time.

[Assessing illicit drugs in wastewater: a pilot study in Mexico]. / Medición de drogas ilícitas en aguas residuales: estudio piloto en México.

OBJECTIVE: Monitor drug use through wastewater metabolite measurement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wastewater samples were obtained from 31 wastewater treatment plants and 95 sites with specific populations (38 schools, 42 units of addiction treatment and 15 penitentiaries). Using ultra high liquid chromatography, we measured nine metabolites from six drugs. RESULTS: Eight out of nine drug metabolites were identified in the samples. Marijuana (THC-COOH), cocaine (benzoylecgonine) and methamphetamine were identified in schools, centers of addiction treatment and penitentiaries. Nuevo Laredo, Culiacan and Torreon had the highest consumption of cocaine, marijuana, amphetamine and methamphetamine. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring drug use through wastewater is feasible in Mexico and could constitute a surveillance system to identify changes in the time.

OBJECTIVE: Monitorear el consumo de drogas a través de la medición de sus metabolitos en aguas residuales. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Se obtuvieron muestras de 31 plantas de tratamiento de agua residual y de 95 sitios con poblaciones específicas (38 escuelas, 42 unidades de tratamiento de adicciones y 15 centros de readaptación social). Usando cromatografía líquida de ultra-alta resolución, se midieron nueve metabolitos de seis drogas. RESULTS: Ocho de nueve metabolitos de drogas fueron identificados en aguas residuales. Los metabolitos de marihuana (THC-COOH), cocaína (benzoilecgonina) y metanfetamina fueron identificados en escuelas, centros de readaptación social y de tratamiento de adicciones. En Nuevo Laredo, Culiacán y Torreón se encontraron los consumos per cápita más elevados de cocaína, marihuana, anfetamina y metanfetamina. CONCLUSIONS: El monitoreo del uso de drogas a través de aguas residuales es factible en México y podría constituir un sistema de vigilancia para identificar cambios de su consumo en el tiempo.

Survival After Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke: A 4-Year Follow-Up at a Mexican Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Overall, 75.2% of deaths from stroke occur in low- and middle-income countries. Mexico is a middle-income country with little information about the prognosis of early and late postischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the factors associated with post-stroke survival in the Mexican population. METHODS: Observational study of consecutive stroke cases involving a first-ever hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke, with patients who received care at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery, in Mexico City, between 2009 and 2012. Patients were followed for up to 4 years after the index event. Exploratory analysis of survival was carried out with Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests. Factors associated with survival time were determined using Cox models. RESULTS: A total of 300 out of 544 (55.15%) patients had a hemorrhagic stroke, 135 of 544 (24.82%) patients died during the entire follow-up period, and 56 of 544 (10.29%) died in the first 30 days post-stroke (early mortality). Early mortality after stroke was associated with age ≥ 65 years (Adjusted Hazard Ratio - AHR = 2.07, P = .02) and ≥ 2 in-hospital medical complications (AHR = 46.13, P < .01). Late mortality was associated with age ≥ 65 years (AHR = 3.43, P < .01), ≥2 in-hospital medical complications (AHR = 2.55, P < .01), high comorbidity (AHR = 5.43, P < .01), and recurrence (AHR = 1.90, P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke who presented in-hospital medical complications, high comorbidity, and were over 65 years old had higher rates of early and late mortality.

Evaluation of the Stroke-Specific Quality-of-Life (SSQOL) Scale in Mexico: A Preliminary Approach.

OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of stroke survivors with incomplete recovery in society has been estimated at 460/100,000 people, and one third of them require help in at least one daily activity. Two thirds of all deaths related to stroke in the world occur in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of the present work was to assess the reliability and validity of the previously translated Spanish Stroke-Specific Quality-of-Life (SSQOL) version 2.0 scales in Mexican stroke survivors. METHODS: An observational and cross-sectional pilot study was conducted. Thirty-one patients who suffered stroke up to 1 year prior to the present study were included. Patients were interviewed twice in a 7-day period; other indexes and scales were applied. The reliability was assessed by using Cronbach's alpha (internal consistency) and test-retest by using Spearman's rho scores; the acceptability was evaluated by the floor and ceiling effects. RESULTS: Ceiling and floor effects were observed for fewer than 20% of the patients. The overall internal consistency of the questionnaire was greater than 0.7 (Cronbach's α), with only two domains (family roles and personality) having lower internal consistency values. The results displayed high test-retest reliability: all domains had Spearman's rho scores of over 0.8. The questionnaire has adequate construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary results showed that the psychometric properties (acceptability and reliability) of the Spanish SSQOL questionnaire are good, encouraging, and comparable to those of other similar studies. This study is the first approach to validate the Spanish version of the SSQOL questionnaire in Mexican stroke survivors.