Cardiometabolic multimorbidity in Mexican adults: a cross-sectional analysis of a national survey.

Background: Cardiometabolic multimorbidity is a rising phenomenon that has been barely explored in middle-income countries such as Mexico. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence, associated factors, and patterns of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (2 and 3+ diseases) in Mexican adults (≥20 years old) by age group. Methods: A cross-sectional and secondary analysis of Mexico's National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018-2019 was conducted. Information on eight diseases and other sociodemographic and health/lifestyle characteristics was obtained through self-reporting. Descriptive analyses were performed, and multinomial logistic regression models were calculated to identify the variables associated with cardiometabolic multimorbidity. Factor analysis and latent classes were estimated to determine disease patterns. Results: The prevalence of cardiometabolic multimorbidity for the total population study was 27.6% (13.7% for people with 2 diseases and 13.9% for people with 3+ diseases). By age group, the prevalence of 2+ diseases was 12.5% in the age group of 20-39 years, 35.2% in the age group of 40-59 years, and 44.5% in the age group of 60 years and older. The variables of depressive symptomatology and having functional limitations (1+) were statistically associated with cardiometabolic multimorbidity in almost all age groups. Patterns of cardiometabolic multimorbidity varied among adults in different age groups. Understanding the behavior of cardiometabolic multimorbidity at various stages of adulthood is a resource that could be used to design and implement intervention strategies. Such strategies should correspond to the population's sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle characteristics and the specific disease patterns of each age group.

Impact of deforestation and climate on spatio-temporal spread of dengue fever in Mexico.

Dengue prevalence results from the interaction of multiple socio-environmental variables which influence its spread. This study investigates the impact of forest loss, precipitation, and temperature on dengue incidence in Mexico from 2010 to 2020 using a Bayesian hierarchical spatial model. Three temporal structures-AR1, RW1, and RW2-were compared, with RW2 showing superior performance. Findings indicate that a 1 % loss of municipal forest cover correlates with a 16.9 % increase in dengue risk. Temperature also significantly affects the vectors' ability to initiate and maintain outbreaks, highlighting the significant role of environmental factors. The research emphasizes the importance of multilevel modeling, finer temporal data resolution, and understanding deforestation causes to enhance the predictability and effectiveness of public health interventions. As dengue continues affecting global populations, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, this study contributes insights, advocating for an integrated approach to health and environmental policy to mitigate the impact of vector-borne diseases.

Health risk assessment for particulate matter: application of AirQ+ model in the northern Caribbean region of Colombia.

Air pollution is considered the world's most important environmental and public health risk. The annual exposure for particulate matter (PM) in the northern Caribbean region of Colombia between 2011 and 2019 was determined using PM records from 25 monitoring stations located within the area. The impact of exposure to particulate matter was assessed through the updated Global Burden of Disease health risk functions using the AirQ+ model for mortality attributable to acute lower respiratory disease (in children ≤ 4 years); mortality in adults aged > 18 years old attributable to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischaemic heart disease, lung cancer, and stroke; and all-cause post-neonatal infant mortality. The proportions of the prevalence of bronchitis in children and the incidence of chronic bronchitis in adults attributable to PM exposure were also estimated for the population at risk. Weather Research and Forecasting-California PUFF (WRF-CALPUFF) modeling systems were used to estimate the spatiotemporal trends and calculate mortality relative risk due to prolonged PM2.5 exposure. Proportions of mortality attributable to long-term exposure to PM2.5 were estimated to be around 11.6% of ALRI deaths in children ≤ 4 years of age, 16.1% for COPD, and 26.6% for IHD in adults. For LC and stroke, annual proportions attributable to PM exposure were estimated to be 9.1% and 18.9%, respectively. An estimated 738 deaths per year are directly attributed to particulate matter pollution. The highest number of deaths per year is recorded in the adult population over 18 years old with a mean of 401 events. The mean risk in terms of the prevalence of bronchitis attributable to air pollution in children was determined to be 109 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. The maximum RR values for mortality (up 1.95%) from long-term PM2.5 exposure were predicted to correspond to regions downwind to the industrial zone. Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11869-023-01304-5.

Effects of Environmental and Socioeconomic Inequalities on Health Outcomes: A Multi-Region Time-Series Study.

The gradual increase in temperatures and changes in relative humidity, added to the aging and socioeconomic conditions of the population, may represent problems for public health, given that future projections predict even more noticeable changes in the climate and the age pyramid, which require analyses at an appropriate spatial scale. To our knowledge, an analysis of the synergic effects of several climatic and socioeconomic conditions on hospital admissions and deaths by cardiorespiratory and mental disorders has not yet been performed in Brazil. Statistical analyses were performed using public time series (1996-2015) of daily health and meteorological data from 16 metropolitan regions (in a subtropical climate zone in South America). Health data were stratified into six groups according to gender and age ranges (40-59; 60-79; and ≥80 years old) for each region. For the regression analysis, two distributions (Poisson and binomial negative) were tested with and without zero adjustments for the complete series and percentiles. Finally, the relative risks were calculated, and the effects based on exposure-response curves were evaluated and compared among regions. The negative binomial distribution fit the data best. High temperatures and low relative humidity were the most relevant risk factors for hospitalizations for cardiovascular diseases (lag = 0), while minimum temperatures were important for respiratory diseases (lag = 2 or 3 days). Temperature extremes, both high and low, were the most important risk factors for mental illnesses at lag 0. Groups with people over 60 years old presented higher risks for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, while this was observed for the adult group (40-59 years old) in relation to mental disorders. In general, no major differences were found in the results between men and women. However, regions with higher urbanization levels presented risks, mainly for respiratory diseases, while the same was observed for cardiovascular diseases for regions with lower levels of urbanization. The Municipal Human Development Index is an important factor for the occurrence of diseases and deaths for all regions, depending on the evaluated group, representing high risks for health outcomes (the value for hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases was 1.6713 for the female adult group in the metropolitan region Palmas, and the value for hospitalization for respiratory diseases was 1.7274 for the female adult group in the metropolitan region Campo Mourão). In general, less developed regions have less access to adequate health care and better living conditions.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with equine infectious anemia in the state of Goiás, Brazil.

Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is an infectious disease affecting equine in most countries and represents a notifiable disease with compulsory euthanasia of positive animals. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of EIAV infected equines in herds of the state of Goiás (Central Brazil) and to evaluate the risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease. Blood samples were collected from 1170 equids from 332 randomly selected farms divided into three different strata according to their herd characteristics. Also, an epidemiological questionnaire was applied during the visit to the farm. Of the 332 farms evaluated, 12 (3.1%; 95% CI: 1.24 - 6.00) had at least one positive equine for EIA, and of the 1170 evaluated equines, 14 (2%; 95% CI: 0.31-3.00) were positive in agar gel immunodiffusion. Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of a vaccination pistol (p < 0.001) and the presence of water bodies inside the farm (p < 0.01) were risk factors associated with the occurrence of EIA. Thus, the present study demonstrated a low but widespread prevalence of EIAV infected animals in the herds of Goiás state and that iatrogenic and environmental risk factors were associated with the occurrence of the disease.

Changes in lactate dehydrogenase on admission throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and possible impacts on prognostic capability.

Introduction: The enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a good marker of general hyperinflammation correlated with mortality for COVID-19, and is therefore used in prognosis tools. In a current COVID-19 clinical randomized trial (CRT), the blood level of LDH was selected as an inclusion criterion. However, LDH decreased during the pandemic; hence, the impact of this decrease on the prognostic value of LDH for mortality was evaluated. Methods: Data on LDH levels in 843 patients were obtained and analyzed. Relative risk, standard error and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated for two cutoff values. Results: Relative risk lost validity and the area under the curve narrowed by trimester during the pandemic. Conclusion: The progressive decrease in LDH impacted the capacity to predict mortality in COVID-19. More studies are needed to validate this finding and its implications.

Current Medical Treatment for Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease.

Alcohol-associated liver disease is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease. It comprises a clinical-histologic spectrum of presentations, from steatosis, steatohepatitis, to different degrees of fibrosis, including cirrhosis and severe necroinflammatory disease, called alcohol-associated hepatitis. In this focused update, we aim to present specific therapeutic interventions and strategies for the management of alcohol-associated liver disease. Current evidence for management in all spectra of manifestations is derived from general chronic liver disease recommendations, but with a higher emphasis on abstinence and nutritional support. Abstinence should comprise the treatment of alcohol use disorder as well as withdrawal syndrome. Nutritional assessment should also consider the presence of sarcopenia and its clinical manifestation, frailty. The degree of compensation of the disease should be evaluated, and complications, actively sought. The most severe acute form of this disease is alcohol-associated hepatitis, which has high mortality and morbidity. Current treatment is based on corticosteroids that act by reducing immune activation and blocking cytotoxicity and inflammation pathways. Other aspects of treatment include preventing and treating hepatorenal syndrome as well as preventing infections although there is no clear evidence as to the benefit of probiotics and antibiotics in prophylaxis. Novel therapies for alcohol-associated hepatitis include metadoxine, interleukin-22 analogs, and interleukin-1-beta antagonists. Finally, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, microbiota transplantation, and gut-liver axis modulation have shown promising results. We also discuss palliative care in advanced alcohol-associated liver disease.

Análisis de la curva ROC en la evaluación de indicadores antropométricos / Analysis of the ROC curve in the evaluation ofanthropometric indicators

Evaluación del Índice Peso-Circunferencia de Cintura (IPCC) mediante Regresión Logística. Estudio descriptivo, prospectivo y transversal, muestra 1095 adultos y adultos mayores, edad entre 20 y 96 años. Métodos: variables: edad, peso, talla, Circunferencia de Cintura (CC), IMC, Índice Cintura-Talla (ICT). Resultados: IMC similar en los dos sexos; promedios de CC e ICT mayor en grupo ≥ 65 años; IPCC mayor en grupo 20-59 años; porcentaje de riesgo del IPCC(54,1%) mayor en CC (44,7%) menor en ICT (78,2%). IPCC significativamente asociado al IMC, CC e ICT (p<0,000); valor predictivo positivo 0,92 y valor predictivo negativo 0,70, indican capacidad discriminativa; Riesgo Relativo, 1,92; el estadístico de prueba Wald indica significancia estadística para los coeficientes de ecuaciones de probabilidad de riesgo; área bajo la curva ROC es 0,803 y 0,903 (P<0,000), alta sensibilidad y especificidad. Conclusión: el IPCC puede considerarse para evaluar sobrepeso y obesidad en adultos, dada su alta capacidad discriminativa(AU)

Evaluation of the Waist Weight-CircumferenceIndex (WWCI) using Logistic Regression. Descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional study shows 1095 adults andolder adults, aged between 20 and 96 years. Methods: variables: age, weight, size, Waist Circumference (WC), BMI, Waist-SizeIndex (WSI). Results: Similar BMI in both sexes; higher WCand WSI averages in a ≥ age of 65; major WWCI in group20-59 years; WWCI risk rate (54.1%) higher in WC (44.7%)WSI (78.2%). WWSI significantly associated with BMI, WCand WSI (p<0.000); positive predictive value 0.92 and negative predictive value 0.70, indicate discriminatory capacity; RelativeRisk, 1.92; Wald test statistic indicates statistical significance for the coefficients of risk probability equations; area under theROC curve is 0.803 and 0.903 (P<0.000), high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: WWCI can be considered to evaluate overweight and obesity in adults, given its high discriminatory capacity(AU)

Cardiovascular toxicity following immune checkpoint inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitors may be associated with multiple immune-related toxicities. Cardiovascular adverse effects are underreported in clinical trials. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate cardiovascular adverse effects incidence among patients with solid tumors receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors in randomized clinical trials and the relative risk of presenting these effects compared to placebo or best supportive care. The search was conducted through MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus databases from January 1st, 2010 until July 1st, 2020. Outcomes were reported following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. RESULTS: 57 randomized clinical trials including 12,118 patients were included. All grade CV AEs incidence rate was 8.32% (95% CI = 6.35%-10.53%). When only grade 3-5 CV AEs were considered, ICIs were significantly associated with increased risk than placebo or BSC (RR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.06-1.73; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis corroborates the hypothesis of increased CV risk related to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Incidence of fever and bleeding after percutaneous nephrolithotomy: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Despite relative agreement on the need for immediate peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), there is no consensus regarding antibiotic use the days leading up to PCNL. This study aimed to report the incidence of complications during and after PCNL based on a cohort study design. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 101 patients in a prospective schedule for PCNL. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In the exposed patients (positive urine culture) the antibiotic was indicated according to the antibiogram report, 7 days before surgery, and 7 days after surgery, and in the non-exposed patient's intravenous antibiotic empirically was administered 8 h and 1 h before surgery. RESULTS: The incidence of complications for both groups was 19%. The exposed group presented complications in 27%, and 16% for the non-exposed. The relative risk of complications, in general, was 1.68 (95% CI, 0.77-3.6), the attributable risk was 11.09, and the percentage of attributable risk was 40.68%. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of positive urine culture is the main risk factor for the development of post-PCNL fever. Each treatment center needs to standardize its protocols to reduce the morbidity associated with surgery and to identify the main risk factors.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio es reportar la incidencia de complicaciones durante y después de la nefrolitotomía percutánea (NLP) con base en un diseño de cohorte prospectivo. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron 101 pacientes de forma prospectiva programados para NLP. Los pacientes fueron divididos en 2 grupos. En el grupo de expuestos (cultivo de orina positivo) el antibiótico se indicó según el reporte del antibiograma, 7 días antes y 7 días después de la cirugía. En los pacientes no expuestos (cultivo de orina negativo) se administró empíricamente antibiótico intravenoso 8 h y 1 h antes de la cirugía. RESULTADOS: La incidencia de complicaciones para ambos grupos fue del 19%. El grupo de expuestos presentó ­complicaciones en 27% mientras que para los no expuestos fue de 16%. El riesgo relativo de complicaciones en general fue de 1.68 (IC 95%, 0.77-3.6), el riesgo atribuible fue de 11.09 y el porcentaje de riesgo atribuible fue de 40.68%. CONCLUSIONES: la presencia de urocultivo positivo es el principal factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de fiebre post-NLP. Es importante que cada centro de tratamiento estandarice sus protocolos para reducir la morbilidad asociada con la cirugía e identificar los principales factores de riesgo.

Utilizing prospective space-time scan statistics to discover the dynamics of coronavirus disease 2019 clusters in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT Background: The number of deaths and people infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Brazil has steadily increased in the first few months of the pandemic. Despite the underreporting of coronavirus cases by government agencies across the country, São Paulo has the highest rate among all Brazilian states. Methods: To identify the highest-risk municipalities during the initial outbreak, we utilized daily confirmed case data from official reports between February 25 and May 5, 2020, which were aggregated to the municipality level. A prospective space-time scan statistic was conducted to detect active clusters in three different time periods. Results: Our findings suggest that approximately 4.6 times more municipalities belong to a significant space-time cluster with a relative risk (RR) > 1 on May 5, 2020. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated the applicability of the space-time scan statistic for the detection of emerging clusters of COVID-19. In particular, we identified the clusters and RR of municipalities in the initial months of the pandemic, explaining the spatiotemporal patterns of COVID-19 transmission in the state of São Paulo. These results can be used to improve disease monitoring and facilitate targeted interventions.

Risk Factors Associated with Uterine Rupture and Dehiscence: A Cross-Sectional Canadian Study / Fatores de risco associados à ruptura uterina e deiscência: Um estudo transversal canadense

Abstract Objective To compare maternal and perinatal risk factors associated with complete uterine rupture and uterine dehiscence. Methods Cross-sectional study of patients with uterine rupture/dehiscence from January 1998 to December 2017 (30 years) admitted at the Labor and Delivery Unit of a tertiary teaching hospital in Canada. Results There were 174 (0.1%) cases of uterine disruption (29 ruptures and 145 cases of dehiscence) out of 169,356 deliveries. There were associations between dehiscence and multiparity (odds ratio [OR]: 3.2; p=0.02), elevated maternal body mass index (BMI; OR: 3.4; p=0.02), attempt of vaginal birth after a cesarian section (OR: 2.9; p=0.05) and 5-minute low Apgar score (OR: 5.9; p<0.001). Uterine rupture was associated with preterm deliveries (36.5 ± 4.9 versus 38.2 ± 2.9; p=0.006), postpartum hemorrhage (OR: 13.9; p<0.001), hysterectomy (OR: 23.0; p=0.002), and stillbirth (OR: 8.2; p<0.001). There were no associations between uterine rupture and maternal age, gestational age, onset of labor, spontaneous or artificial rupture of membranes, use of oxytocin, type of uterine incision, and birthweight. Conclusion This large cohort demonstrated that there are different risk factors associated with either uterine rupture or dehiscence. Uterine rupture still represents a great threat to fetal-maternal health and, differently from the common belief, uterine dehiscence can also compromise perinatal outcomes.

Resumo Objetivo Comparar os fatores de risco maternos e perinatais associados à ruptura uterina completa e deiscência uterina. Métodos Estudo transversal de pacientes com ruptura/deiscência uterina no período de janeiro de 1998 a dezembro de 2017 (30 anos) internadas na Unidade de Parto de um hospital universitário terciário no Canadá. Resultados Ocorreram 174 (0,1%) casos de transtorno uterino (29 rupturas e 145 deiscências) em 169.356 partos. Houve associações entre deiscência e multiparidade (razão de chances [RC]: 3,2; p=0,02), índice demassa corporal (IMC)materno elevado (RC: 3,4; p=0,02), tentativa de parto vaginal após cesariana (RC: 2,9; p=0,05) e baixa pontuação Apgar em 5minutos (RC: 5,9; p<0,001). A ruptura uterina foi associada a partos prematuros (36,5 ± 4,9 versus 38,2 ± 2,9; p=0,006), hemorragia pós-parto (RC: 13,9; p<0,001), histerectomia (RC: 23,0; p=0,002) e natimorto (RC: 8,2; p<0,001). Não houve associação entre ruptura uterina e idade materna, idade gestacional, início do trabalho de parto, ruptura espontânea ou artificial de membranas, uso de ocitocina, tipo de incisão uterina e peso ao nascer. Conclusão Esta grande coorte demonstrou que existem diferentes fatores de risco associados à ruptura ou à deiscência uterina. A ruptura uterina ainda representa uma grande ameaça à saúde materno-fetal e, diferentemente da crença comum, a deiscência uterina também pode comprometer os desfechos perinatais.

Risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries in military personnel: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the risk factors for musculoskeletal injuries in military personnel. METHODS: A systematic literature search was carried out in August 2019 and updated in July 2020 without language or time filters. The inclusion criteria were prospective studies that investigated the risk factors for injuries in military personnel. Only risk factors analyzed by at least ten studies were selected for the meta-analysis. For data analysis, the RevMan5.3 program was used to compare the number of participants with injuries between high- or low-risk groups. The measurement of dichotomous variables was one of the selected parameters for the analysis, as well as the Mantel-Haenszel statistical method, random-effects model, and analysis with a relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval for the included studies. RESULTS: A total of 2,629 studies were identified through databases. Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. The groups considered at risk were the oldest [RR = 1.22; (95% CI 1.06-1.41)], with overweight or obesity [RR = 1.27; (95% CI 1.08-1, 48)], with previous injuries [RR = 1.15; (95% CI 1.01-1.30)], and with the worst performance in running tests of 1,600-3,200 m [RR = 1.87; (95% CI 1.28-2.71)]. Gender, ethnicity, and smoking were not associated with injuries. However, a subgroup analysis showed that among studies with a follow-up of fewer than 12 months, women presented RR = 2.44 (95% CI 1.65-3.60) more likely to develop injuries. CONCLUSION: Age, overweight or obesity, previous injuries, and performance in the 1600-3200 m run are associated with an increased risk of injury in the military.

Mortalidad entre Jóvenes Inmigrantes Nicaragüenses en Costa Rica, 2000-2017 / Mortality of young Nicaraguan inmigrants in Costa Rica during the 2000-2017 period

Introducción: La pobreza, discriminación y el aislamiento social, son elementos que afectan a las personas inmigrantes nicaragüenses residentes en Costa Rica, condiciones que pueden afectar las tasas de mortalidad observada en esta población migrante. Objetivo: Determinar las tasas de mortalidad por enfermedades y causas externas en población joven inmigrante nicaragüense y nativos costarricenses en Costa Rica. Materiales y métodos: Con la información de defunciones entre el año 2000 y 2017 y la población del Censo 2011 se calcularon tasas de mortalidad y posteriormente el riesgo relativo (RR) de diferentes causas de mortalidad. Los resultados se compararon con un estudio que analizó este fenómeno entre 1998-2008. Resultados: El 64% de las defunciones de inmigrantes son por causas externas, versus el 57% de los locales. Con respecto a los datos de hace 10 años, hay una disminución de 2 puntos porcentuales de las defunciones por causas externas entre los inmigrantes. Los inmigrantes tienen RR mayores de mortalidad por causas externas (otros accidentes 1,85, homicidios 1,72, accidentes vehiculares 1,22 y suicidios 1,14). Se destaca una disminución de 0,27 y 0,15 del RR de los homicidios y alcoholismo. Conclusiones: Los patrones de mortalidad de los inmigrantes empiezan comportarse como el de la población costarricense.

Introduction: Poverty, discrimination, and social isolation are some elements that affect Nicaraguan immigrants residing in Costa Rica, conditions that have an impact on the mortality figures observed in this migrant population. Objective: To determine mortality rates caused by diseases and external reasons in both the young Nicaraguan immigrant population and native Costa Rican natives. Materials and methods: Data on deaths between 2000 and 2017 and the 2011 Census information of the Costa Rican population were used to calculate mortality rates and the relative risk (RR) associated with different causes of mortality. Results were compared to a study that analyzed this phenomenon between 1998-2008. Results: Compared to the deaths in the Costa Rican population (57%), 64% of deaths in immigrants are due to external causes. With respect to the data from 10 years ago, there is a 2-percentage point reduction in deaths of immigrants caused by external reasons. Immigrants show higher RRs of mortality due to external causes (other accidents 1.85, homicides 1.72, car accidents 1.22, and suicide 1.14). A reduction of 2.27 and 0.15 in the RR of homicides and alcoholism, respectively, is highlighted. Conclusions: Mortality patterns in immigrants begin to behave as those of the Costa Rican population.

Relative Risk Analysis of Liver-related Adverse Drug Reactions in Children Based on China's National Spontaneous Reporting System.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk of liver-related adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in children and adults. STUDY DESIGN: A case/non-case analysis on spontaneous reports based on the China National Adverse Drug Reactions Monitoring System database were conducted, focusing on events of liver-related ADRs in children younger than 14 years of age. Both the relative risk of liver-related ADRs in children vs entire population and the risk stratification in children were expressed as a measure of disproportionality using the reporting odds ratio (ROR). RESULTS: There were 1206 cases of pediatric liver-related ADRs identified from 2012 to 2016, accounting for 2.82% of the entire population. The greatest ROR values in children from 0 to 14 years vs the entire population were observed for analgesics (3.97, 95% CI 3.27-4.81), respiratory (2.60, 95% CI 1.04-6.43), antineoplastic (2.29, 95% CI 2.02-2.58), immunomodulatory (1.91, 95% CI 1.44-2.53), and antimicrobial agents (1.47, 95% CI 1.33-1.63). Notably, infants aged 0-1 years showed significantly greater risk (3.14, 95% CI 2.85-3.48) of liver-related ADRs than the other age groups of children. For infants, analgesics (3.21, 95% CI 2.20-4.66) and antimicrobials (3.15, 95% CI 2.50-3.97) agents were found to have the greatest adjusted RORs than other drug categories. The highest RORs were found for meropenem, amoxicillin, fluconazole, vancomycin, cefaclor, and ceftazidime in the antimicrobial agents for infants. CONCLUSIONS: Children are sensitive to liver-related ADRs caused by several specific drug categories, and infants are the most sensitive.

Detecting space-time clusters of COVID-19 in Brazil: mortality, inequality, socioeconomic vulnerability, and the relative risk of the disease in Brazilian municipalities.

The first case of COVID-19 in South America occurred in Brazil on February 25, 2020. By July 20, 2020, there were 2,118,646 confirmed cases and 80,120 confirmed deaths. To assist with the development of preventive measures and targeted interventions to combat the pandemic in Brazil, we present a geographic study to detect "active" and "emerging" space-time clusters of COVID-19. We document the relationship between relative risk of COVID-19 and mortality, inequality, socioeconomic vulnerability variables. We used the prospective space-time scan statistic to detect daily COVID-19 clusters and examine the relative risk between February 25-June 7, 2020, and February 25-July 20, 2020, in 5570 Brazilian municipalities. We apply a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to assess whether mortality rate, GINI index, and social inequality are predictors for the relative risk of each cluster. We detected 7 "active" clusters in the first time period, being one in the north, two in the northeast, two in the southeast, one in the south, and one in the capital of Brazil. In the second period, we found 9 clusters with RR > 1 located in all Brazilian regions. The results obtained through the GLM showed that there is a significant positive correlation between the predictor variables in relation to the relative risk of COVID-19. Given the presence of spatial autocorrelation in the GLM residuals, a spatial lag model was conducted that revealed that spatial effects, and both GINI index and mortality rate were strong predictors in the increase in COVID-19 relative risk in Brazil. Our research can be utilized to improve COVID-19 response and planning in all Brazilian states. The results from this study are particularly salient to public health, as they can guide targeted intervention measures, lowering the magnitude and spread of COVID-19. They can also improve resource allocation such as tests and vaccines (when available) by informing key public health officials about the highest risk areas of COVID-19.

The effect of coffee consumption on the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and liver fibrosis: A meta-analysis of 11 epidemiological studies.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a widespread chronic liver disease. It is considered a multifactorial disorder that can progress to liver fibrosis and cause a worldwide public health concern. Coffee consumption may have a protective impact on NAFLD and liver fibrosis. However, the evidence from the previous studies is inconsistent. This meta-analysis summarizes available literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprises two meta-analyses. The first meta-analysis summarizes the effect of coffee consumption on NAFLD in those who did or did not drink coffee. The second analysis compares the risk of liver fibrosis development between NAFLD patients who did or did not drink coffee. Pooled risk ratios (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) of observational studies were estimated. RESULTS: Of the total collected 321 articles, 11 met our eligibility criteria to be included in the analysis. The risk of NAFLD among those who drank coffee compared to those who did not was significantly lower with a pooled RR value of 0.77 (95% CI 0.60-0.98). Moreover, we also found a significantly reduced risk of liver fibrosis in those who drink coffee than those who did not drink in the NAFLD patients with the relative risk (RR) of 0.68 (95% CI 0.68-0.79). CONCLUSIONS: Regular coffee consumption is significantly associated with a reduced risk of NAFLD. It is also significantly associated with decreased risk of liver fibrosis development in already diagnosed NAFLD patients. Although coffee consumption may be considered an essential preventive measure for NAFLD, this subject needs further epidemiological studies.

Changes in Age and Geographic Distribution of the Risk of Chagas Disease in Chile from 1989 to 2017.

The interruption of vector-borne transmission of Chagas disease was certified in Chile in 1999. Our goal was to determine the effects of the interruption of vector transmission on the age and spatial distributions of the risk of Chagas disease. We analyzed cases of Chagas disease by age and sex between 1989 and 2017, from notified disease reports of the Ministry of Health. Bayesian risk maps were constructed using the Besag-York-Mollie model. The reported cases of Chagas disease had a mean age of 45.9 ± 17.6 years. Small changes in the age distribution were found among different periods (χ215 = 602.4, p < 0.001). These were explained mainly by numbers lower than those expected in age groups 0-39 years in the 2011-2017 period. Part of the observed reduction in the proportion of individuals in the lower strata could be explained by the aging of the Chilean population. An increase of reported cases was detected after the interruption of vector-borne transmission (F1,327 = 4.24, p < 0.04), with regional differences (F14,1308 = 4.35, p < 0.001). The regions of the north-central area that have the highest burden of Chagas tended to decrease the relative risk, while the regions of the south tended to increase and small risk areas appear in zones where there are no insect vectors. There is still no clear evidence of a reduction in the reported cases in Chile. This could be explained mainly by an improvement in the detection of cases, but it cannot be ruled out that vector transmission still exists. The changes in distribution suggest potential impact from human internal migration and blood transfusion. This study provides strong evidence supporting the idea that entomological surveillance and long-term follow-up of Chagas disease need to be maintained after certification of interruption in endemic countries.

Uterine vascular resistance and other maternal factors associated with the risk of developing hypertension during pregnancy

Gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia are important causes of perinatal morbidity. The objective of the present study was to determine the increase in relative risk for developing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy based on the evaluation of pregnant women between 20 and 25 weeks of gestation, and to correlate the findings at this period with the outcome of pregnancy. We conducted a prospective cohort study, with a convenience sample of 1417 patients evaluated at this gestational age, of which 1306 were contacted at childbirth. We detected an increased relative risk of 2.69 (95%CI: 1.86 to 3.89) associated with pulsatility index of the uterine arteries, a 2.8 increase (95%CI: 1.58 to 5.03) in relative risk attributed to maternal age above 35 years, a 1.68 increase (95%CI: 1.17 to 2.40) attributed to parity greater than or equal to 3, and a 5.35 increase (95%CI: 4.18 to 6.85) attributed to chronic hypertension and obesity, with a progressive increase in relative risk according to the degree of overweight, i.e., grades 1, 2, 3, and morbid obesity (2.58, 3.06, 5.84, and 7.28, respectively).

Detección prospectiva espacio-temporal de conglomerados de COVID-19 en Cuba

RESUMEN Introducción: Durante enfermedades infecciosas emergentes en curso como la COVID-19, la vigilancia espacio-temporal es fundamental para identificar áreas prioritarias para intervenciones específicas, diferenciar intensidad diagnóstica y asignación de recursos. Objetivo: Modelar la evolución del riesgo relativo de presentación de casos de COVID-19 e identificar conglomerados en municipios donde la enfermedad se mantuvo en el periodo posterior al descenso de la curva epidémica en Cuba. Métodos: El periodo mencionado comprendió entre el 26/05/2020 hasta el 4/09/2020. Se realizaron corridas cíclicas del modelo prospectivo espacio-temporal de Poisson, con incrementos progresivos de 14 días, mediante la aplicación SaTScan™ 9.6. Resultados: Se identificaron 15 conglomerados significativos (p ≤ 0,0001) cuya extensión involucró desde uno hasta trece municipios, con distribución en seis provincias (Pinar del Río, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, Villa Clara y Ciego de Ávila). En los conglomerados todos los municipios mostraron riesgo relativo alto, entre ellos, La Palma en la provincia de Pinar del Río y Ciego de Ávila en la provincia del mismo nombre, con los valores más altos, 119,95 y 121,04, respectivamente. Conclusión: El modelo empleado pudo identificar los conglomerados en territorios con significativa probabilidad de ocurrencia de COVID-19, así como periodos de evolución del riesgo relativo. Además, reconoce los municipios que merecen prioridad para intensificar en ellos intervenciones de contención y control sanitario y evitar la reemergencia de la enfermedad con mayor dispersión espacial.

ABSTRACT Introduction: During the occurrence of ongoing emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19, spatiotemporal surveillance is crucial to identify priority areas for specific interventions, differentiate diagnostic intensity and assign resources. Objective: To model the evolution of the relative risk of presentation of COVID-19 cases and to identify clusters in municipalities where the disease remains at the stage following the descent of the epidemic curve in Cuba. Methods: The period mentioned was from 26/05/2020 to 4/09/2020. Cyclic runs of Poisson's prospective spatiotemporal model were performed, with progressive 14-day increases, using the software SaTScan™ 9.6. Results: A total 15 significant clusters were identified (p ≤ 0.0001) extending over one to thirteen municipalities and distributed in six provinces (Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, Villa Clara and Ciego de Ávila). In the clusters, all municipalities showed a high relative risk among them, La Palma in Pinar del Rio province and Ciego de Avila in the province of the same name, with the highest values, 119.95 and 121.04, respectively. Conclusion: The model was able to identify territories with a significant likelihood of COVID-19 occurrence, as well as periods in the evolution of relative risk. It also showed that surveillance and early warning strategies may facilitate prioritization of health control and containment interventions aimed at preventing the reemergence of the disease with greater spatial coverage.