Sex-Specific Obesity and Cardiometabolic Disease Risks in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Meta-Analysis Involving 3 916 276 Individuals.

CONTEXT: There is limited knowledge about the disparities between the sexes in obesity prevalence and associated cardiovascular complications in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVE: We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess sex-specific disparities in the prevalence of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases in LMICs, the burden in women, and variations by region, country's income status, setting, and time. METHODS: We searched major databases from inception to March 2023. Two independent reviewers selected the studies, assessed their quality, and extracted data. We used DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models to obtain pooled estimates of odds ratios and 95% CI for the association between sex and obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, and multilevel random-effects logistic regression models to estimate the prevalence of relevant outcomes (PROSPERO CRD42019132609). RESULTS: We included 345 studies (3 916 276 individuals). The odds of obesity were 2.72-fold higher in women than men (OR 2.72; 95% CI, 2.54-2.91). The sex-specific disparities varied by region, with the greatest disparities in Sub-Saharan Africa (OR 3.91; 95% CI, 3.49-4.39). Among women in LMICs, 23% (95% CI, 21%-25%) had obesity, 27% (95% CI, 24%-29%) had hypertension, and 7% (95% CI, 6%-9%) had type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in women varied by region, country's income, and setting, with the highest prevalence in the Middle East and North Africa, upper-middle-income countries and urban settings. The odds of hypertension (OR 2.41; 95% CI, 1.89-3.08) and type 2 diabetes (OR 2.65; 95% CI, 1.76-3.98) were doubled in women with vs without obesity. CONCLUSION: There is an urgent need for a women-centred and region-stratified approach to tackle obesity awareness, treatment, and prevention in women in LMICs.

Plasma CoQ10 Status in Patients with Propionic Acidaemia and Possible Benefit of Treatment with Ubiquinol.

Propionic acidaemia (PA) is an innate error of metabolism involving a deficiency in the enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase. Better control of acute decompensation episodes together with better treatment and monitoring have improved the prognosis of patients with this problem. However, long-term complications can arise in those in whom good metabolic control is achieved, the result of mitochondrial dysfunction caused by deficient anaplerosis, increased oxidative stress, and reduced antioxidative capacity. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a nutritional supplement that has a notable antioxidative effect and has been shown to improve mitochondrial function. The present prospective, interventional study examines the plasma concentration of CoQ10 in patients with PA, their tolerance of such supplementation with ubiquinol, and its benefits. Seven patients with PA (aged 2.5 to 20 years, 4 males) received supplements of CoQ10 in the form of ubiquinol (10 mg/kg/day for 6 months). A total of 6/7 patients showed reduced plasma CoQ10 concentrations that normalized after supplementation with ubiquinol (p-value < 0.001), which was well tolerated. Urinary citrate levels markedly increased during the study (p-value: 0.001), together with elevation of citrate/methlycitrate ratio (p-value: 0.03). No other significant changes were seen in plasma or urine biomarkers of PA. PA patients showed a deficiency of plasma CoQ10, which supplementation with ubiquinol corrected. The urinary excretion of Krebs cycle intermediate citrate and the citrate/methylcitrate ratio significantly increased compared to the baseline, suggesting improvement in anaplerosis. This treatment was well tolerated and should be further investigated as a means of preventing the chronic complications associated with likely multifactorial mitochondrial dysfunction in PA.

An Easy-to-Implement Risk Score for Targeted Hepatitis C Virus Testing in the General Population.

Despite the effectiveness of available treatments, hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains a major public health problem, mainly due to the high percentage of undiagnosed individuals. We aim to create an easy-to-implement risk score to facilitate targeted HCV testing in the general population. This is a substudy derived from a prospective study in primary care in Madrid (Spain). Participants completed a 21-question risk assessment questionnaire, followed by HCV testing for those with at least one positive response and those >50 years of age, even if they did not answer positively. We used the population >50 years of age to fit a logistic regression model to create a score predicting the risk of a positive test result. We then performed a sensitivity analysis by applying the score obtained to the population <50 years of age, to assess its diagnostic accuracy. Data collected from 2,302 participants were included in the analysis. The prevalence of HCV infection was 1.3%. Five items were selected, showing a C-statistic of 0.896, i.e., male sex, Eastern European origin, use of intravenous drugs, self-perceived risk of acquired HCV infection, and past hepatitis or unexplained liver disease. The sensitivity was 98%, and the negative likelihood ratio was 0.05 for participants with scores of 0 (49.8% in our sample), ruling out HCV infection with high probability. We obtained similar estimates in the population <50 years of age. This tool achieved high diagnostic accuracy to target HCV testing. This could help optimize resources when universal screening is not feasible. IMPORTANCE Despite the highly effective treatments currently available, HCV remains one of the major public health problems related to an infectious agent, mainly because a high percentage of individuals remain undiagnosed. Universal screening has been proposed as a way to end this epidemic; however, it is not feasible in all settings due to different implementation barriers. With this work, we aim to collaborate in improving the diagnosis of HCV infection by creating a simple 5-item score that rules out HCV infection with a very high probability. Almost one-half of the participants in our sample did not present any affirmative answers to these questions, and their probability of being infected was close to 0%. This tool could be a useful strategy and could be considered a cost-effective alternative to optimize resources when universal screening is not feasible.

Interorgan amino acid interchange in propionic acidemia: the missing key to understanding its physiopathology.

BACKGROUND: Propionic acidemia is an inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency in the mitochondrial enzyme propionyl-CoA carboxylase that converts the propionyl CoA to methyl malonyl CoA. This leads to profound changes in distinct metabolic pathways, including the urea cycle, with consequences in ammonia detoxification. The implication of the tricarboxylic acid cycle is less well known, but its repercussions could explain both some of the acute and long-term symptoms of this disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present observational study investigates the amino acid profiles of patients with propionic acidemia being monitored at the Hospital Ramón y Cajal (Madrid, Spain), between January 2015 and September 2017, comparing periods of metabolic stability with those of decompensation with ketosis and/or hyperammonemia. RESULTS: The concentrations of 19 amino acids were determined in 188 samples provided by 10 patients. We identified 40 metabolic decompensation episodes (22 only with ketosis and 18 with hyperammonemia). Plasma glutamine and alanine levels were reduced during these metabolic crises, probably indicating deficiency of anaplerosis (p < 0.001 for both alanine and glutamine). Hypocitrulllinemia and hypoprolinemia were also detected during hyperammonemia (p < 0.001 and 0.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The amino acid profile detected during decompensation episodes suggests deficient anaplerosis from propionyl-CoA and its precursors, with implications in other metabolic pathways like synthesis of urea cycle amino acids and ammonia detoxification.

Severe anemia in patients with Propionic acidemia is associated with branched-chain amino acid imbalance.

BACKGROUND: Propionic acidemia (PA), an inborn error of metabolism, is caused by a deficiency in propionyl-CoA carboxylase. Patients have to follow a diet restricted in the propiogenic amino acids isoleucine (Ile), valine (Val), methionine (Met) and threonine (Thr); proper adherence can prevent and treat acute decompensation and increase life expectancy. However, chronic complications occur in several organs even though metabolic control may be largely maintained. Bone marrow aplasia and anemia are among the more common. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, data for patients with PA being monitored at the Hospital Ramón y Cajal (Madrid, Spain) (n = 10) in the past 10 years were examined to statistically detect relationships between persistent severe anemia outside of metabolic decompensation episodes and dietary practices such as natural protein intake and medical food consumption (special mixture of precursor-free amino acids) along with plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). High ferritin levels were deemed to indicate that a patient had received repeated transfusions for persistent anemia since data on hemoglobin levels at the moment of transfusion were not always passed on by the attending centers. RESULTS: Three patients had severe, persistent anemia that required repeated blood transfusions. Higher medical food consumption and plasma Leu levels were associated with iron overload. Notably, natural protein intake and plasma Val were negatively correlated with ferritin levels. We also observed an inverse relationship between plasma Val/Leu and Ile/Leu ratios and ferritin. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that severe anemia in patients with PA might be associated with low natural protein intake and BCAA imbalance.

Long-term follow-up with filter paper samples in patients with propionic acidemia.

BACKGROUND: Propionic acidemia (PA) is an inherited disorder caused by deficiency of propionyl CoA carboxylase. Most patients with this disorder are diagnosed during the neonatal period because of severe metabolic acidosis and hyperammonemia. Patients are required to undergo blood and urine analysis at least 3 to 4 times per year, depending on age and metabolic control. METHODS: We designed a prospective study in which we investigated the results from blood and urinary samples collected monthly in filter paper from 10 PA patients followed in a single metabolic reference center from January 2015 to September 2017. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of filter paper samples in the follow-up of the PA patients. RESULTS: During the follow-up period, 163 dried blood spot (DBS) and 119 urine dried spot samples were analyzed and compared with 160 plasma and 103 liquid urine specimens; 64 specimens of plasma were analyzed for odd-numbered long-chain fatty acids (OLCFAs). A total of 40 metabolic crises, 18 of them with hyperammonemia were documented. We observed a strong correlation between the filter paper and the urine/plasma samples for the main PA parameters both in stable metabolic conditions as well as in acute decompensations. Also, there was a strong correlation between OLCFAs measured in plasma and quantification of odd number acylcarnitines in DBS. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that filter paper blood and urinary samples can be used for the follow-up of the patients with PA, correctly reflecting their metabolic situation.

[IPSS storage score as a predictive tool of quality of life improvement to apply in therapeutic interventions.] / El IPSS de llenado como herramienta predictiva de la mejoría en la calidad de vida aplicable en intervenciones terapéuticas.

OBJECTIVES: The questionnaire International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is well known and used in clinical practice as diagnostic tool and allows for obtaining a total score regarding the severity of the urinary symptoms. The objective of this analysis is to determine if the IPSS storage score (sum of the punctuation of the questions 2, 4 and 7) could be a predictive variable of the impact on quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of an epidemiological, multicenter, cross-sectional study inmale patients, ≥18 years old with ≥6 micturitions and≥1 urgency and/or ≥2 nocturia and/or ≥1 daily incontinence episodes recruited by 291 urologists across Spain. Socio demographic variables, symptoms reported by patients (IPSS) and clinical variables were collected. The impact of voiding symptoms (IPSS-V) and storage symptoms (IPSS-S) on the quality of life, measured using the Overactive Bladder questionnaire Short Form(OABq-SF HRQoL), was evaluated using multivariate regression models (linear and logistic). RESULTS: 958 patients, whose mean score (standard deviation) of the OABq-SF HRQoL was 57.9 (18.3),were included in the study. 55.6% received drug treatment for urinary symptoms. 616 patients (64.4%) reported a puntuation >3 in the item 8 of the IPSS. The adjusted analysis showed a significant reduction in the qualityof life of -1.1 (p<0.001) and -3.3 (p<0.001) points associated with the worsening of the symptoms of voiding and storage respectively. This worsening was also associated with a minor risk of satisfaction (OR=1.14;p<0.001 and 1.36; p<0.001) for the voiding and storage symptoms respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with mixed LUTS both components show a negative effect on the quality of life, with a greater impact of the storage symptoms.

OBJETIVOS:  El cuestionario Escala Internacionalde Síntomas Prostáticos (IPSS) es ampliamente utilizado en clínica como herramienta diagnóstica y permite obtener una puntuación total aportando información sobre la severidad de los síntomas urinarios. El objetivo de este análisis es determinar si la puntuación del IPSS de llenado (suma de la puntuación de las preguntas 2, 4 y 7) puede ser una variable predictora del impacto en la calidad de vida.MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Análisis post-hoc de un estudio epidemiológico, multicéntrico, transversal en pacientes varones, ≥18 años, ≥6 micciones, ≥1 episodios de urgencia y/o ≥2 nicturias y/o ≥1 episodio de incontinencia diarios, reclutados por 291 urólogosen España. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas, síntomas reportados por pacientes (IPSS) y variables clínicas.Se ha evaluado el impacto de la sintomatología de vaciado (IPSS-V) y llenado (IPSS-S) en la calidad de vida, medida con la Versión Corta del Cuestionario de Vejiga Hiperactiva (OABq-SF HRQoL), y a través del ítem 8 del cuestionario IPSS (IPSS-8), mediante modelos de regresión multivariante lineal y logística. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 958 pacientes con una puntuación media (desviación estandar) de la escala OABq-SF HRQoL de 57,9 (18,3). 55,6% recibieron tratamiento médico para síntomas urinarios. 616 pacientes (64,4%) tuvieron una puntuación >3 en IPSS-8. El análisis ajustado mostró una reducción significativa en calidad de vida de -1,1 (p<0,01) y -3,3 (p<0,001) puntos asociada al empeoramiento de síntomas de vaciado y llenado, respectivamente. Este empeoramiento se asoció a menor satisfacción (OR=1,14; p<0,001 y 1,36; p<0,001) para síntomas de vaciado y llenado, prespectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: En pacientes con STUI mixtos, ambos componentes muestran un efecto negativo sobre la calidad de vida, siendo superior el impacto de los síntomas de llenado.

El IPSS de llenado como herramienta predictiva de la mejoría en la calidad de vida aplicable en intervenciones terapéuticas / IPSS storage score as a predictive tool of quality of life improvement to apply in therapeutic interventions

OBJETIVOS: El cuestionario Escala Internacionalde Síntomas Prostáticos (IPSS) es ampliamente utilizado en clínica como herramienta diagnóstica y permite obtener una puntuación total aportando información sobre la severidad de los síntomas urinarios. El objetivo de este análisis es determinar si la puntuación del IPSS de llenado (suma de la puntuación de las preguntas 2, 4 y 7) puede ser una variable predictora del impacto en la calidad de vida. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Análisis post-hoc de un estudio epidemiológico, multicéntrico, transversal en pacientes varones, ≥ 18 años, ≥ 6 micciones, ≥ 1 episodios de urgencia y/o ≥ 2 nicturias y/o ≥ 1 episodio de incontinencia diarios, reclutados por 291 urólogosen España. Se recogieron variables sociodemográficas, síntomas reportados por pacientes (IPSS) y variables clínicas. Se ha evaluado el impacto de la sintomatología de vaciado (IPSS-V) y llenado (IPSS-S) en la calidad de vida, medida con la Versión Corta del Cuestionario de Vejiga Hiperactiva (OABq-SF HRQoL), y a través del ítem 8 del cuestionario IPSS (IPSS-8), mediante modelos de regresión multivariante lineal y logística. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 958 pacientes con una puntuación media (desviación estandar) de la escala OABq-SF HRQoL de 57,9 (18,3). 55,6% recibieron tratamiento médico para síntomas urinarios. 616 pacientes (64,4%) tuvieron una puntuación > 3 en IPSS-8. El análisis ajustado mostró una reducción significativa en calidad de vida de -1,1 (p < 0,01) y -3,3 (p < 0,001) puntos asociada al empeoramiento de síntomas de vaciado y llenado, respectivamente. Este empeoramiento se asoció a menor satisfacción (OR = 1,14; p < 0,001 y 1,36; p < 0,001) para síntomas de vaciado y llenado, prespectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: En pacientes con STUI mixtos, ambos componentes muestran un efecto negativo sobre la calidad de vida, siendo superior el impacto de los síntomas de llenado

OBJECTIVES: The questionnaire International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is well known and used in clinical practice as diagnostic tool and allows for obtaining a total score regarding the severity of the urinary symptoms. The objective of this analysis is to determine if the IPSS storage score (sum of the punctuation of the questions 2, 4 and 7) could be a predictive variable of the impact on quality of life. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Post-hoc analysis of an epidemiological, multicenter, cross-sectional study inmale patients, ≥ 18 years old with ≥ 6 micturitions and ≥ 1 urgency and/or ≥ 2 nocturia and/or ≥ 1 daily incontinence episodes recruited by 291 urologists across Spain. Socio demographic variables, symptoms reported by patients (IPSS) and clinical variables were collected. The impact of voiding symptoms (IPSS-V) and storage symptoms (IPSS-S) on the quality of life, measured using the Overactive Bladder questionnaire Short Form(OABq-SF HRQoL), was evaluated using multivariate regression models (linear and logistic). RESULTS: 958 patients, whose mean score (standard deviation) of the OABq-SF HRQoL was 57.9 (18.3),were included in the study. 55.6% received drug treatment for urinary symptoms. 616 patients (64.4%) reported a puntuation > 3 in the item 8 of the IPSS. The adjusted analysis showed a significant reduction in the qualityof life of -1.1 (p < 0.001) and -3.3 (p < 0.001) points associated with the worsening of the symptoms of voiding and storage respectively. This worsening was also associated with a minor risk of satisfaction (OR = 1.14; p < 0.001 and 1.36; p < 0.001) for the voiding and storage symptoms respectively. CONCLUSION: In patients with mixed LUTS both components show a negative effect on the quality of life, with a greater impact of the storage symptoms

Telemonitoring and home hospitalization in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: study TELEPOC.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major consumer of healthcare resources, with most costs related to disease exacerbations. Telemonitoring of patients with COPD may help to reduce the number of exacerbations and/or the related costs. On the other hand, home hospitalization is a cost-saving alternative to inpatient hospitalization associated with increased comfort for patients. The results are reported regarding using telemonitoring and home hospitalization for the management of patients with COPD. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients monitored their health parameters at home for six months. A nurse remotely revised the collected parameters and followed the patients as programmed. A home care unit was dispatched to the patients' home if an alarm signal was detected. The outcomes were compared to historical data from the same patients. RESULTS: The number of COPD exacerbations during the study period did not reduce but the number of hospital admissions decreased by 60% and the number of emergency room visits by 38%. On average, costs related to utilization of healthcare resources were reduced by €1,860.80 per patient per year. CONCLUSIONS: Telemonitoring of patients with COPD combined with home hospitalization may allow for a reduction in healthcare costs, although its usefulness in preventing exacerbations is still unclear.

Detección y evaluación del papel de la sarcopenia en ancianos con cáncer tratados con quimioterapia. Proyecto ONCOSARCO / Detection and evaluation of the role of sarcopenia in elderly patients with cancer treated with chemotherapy. ONCOSARCO project

Objetivos. Objetivos principales: elaborar un modelo predictor de toxicidad a la quimioterapia en ancianos oncológicos, a partir de variables relacionadas con la sarcopenia; identificar cuál de estos parámetros, sarcopenia o fragilidad, es el mejor predictor de toxicidad de la quimioterapia en ancianos. Material y métodos. Estudio prospectivo observacional, con pacientes ≥70 años tratados con quimioterapia en la Unidad de Cáncer en el Anciano de la Sección de Oncología Médica del Hospital Virgen de la Luz de Cuenca. Antes del inicio de la quimioterapia, a cada paciente se le determinará la fuerza muscular (handgrip, fuerza cilíndrica manual, fuerza de presión pulgar, flexión de cadera, extensión de rodilla), la masa muscular (índice de masa muscular esquelética) y la función física (velocidad 5 metros y test 5-Sit to stand). A lo largo de los 4 meses de tratamiento con quimioterapia, se recogerá la aparición de toxicidad severa. Se evaluará, mediante un primer análisis de regresión logística multinomial, cuál de ellos, sarcopenia (definición del European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People o fragilidad (criterios propuestos por Fried et al.), es el mejor predictor de toxicidad de la quimioterapia. Mediante un segundo análisis de regresión se pretende crear el primer modelo de predicción de toxicidad a la quimioterapia en el anciano oncológico, basado en la definición de sarcopenia. Conclusiones. Se espera que del análisis definitivo de este proyecto puedan encontrarse factores predictores de toxicidad a quimioterapia en ancianos oncológicos (AU)

Objectives. To develop a predictive model of toxicity to chemotherapy in elderly patients with cancer, using the variables associated with sarcopenia, and to identify which of these parameters, sarcopenia or frailty, is the best predictor of toxicity to chemotherapy in the elderly. Material and methods. A prospective observational study with patients ≥70 years treated with chemotherapy in the Cancer Unit for the Elderly, in the Medical Oncology Section of the Hospital Virgen de la Luz de Cuenca. The following tests will be performed by each patient before chemotherapy: muscle strength (handgrip, cylindrical handgrip, pinch gauge, hip flexion, knee extension), muscle mass (skeletal muscle mass index), and physical function (gait speed and 5STS test). The occurrence of severe toxicity will be recorded over a period of 4 months of chemotherapy treatment. It will be evaluated, using logistic regression analysis, whether sarcopenia (defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People) or frailty (defined by the phenotype of frailty) is the best predictor of chemotherapy toxicity. Using a multinomial logistic regression analysis, we will try to create the first model to predict toxicity to chemotherapy in elderly patients with diagnosis of cancer, based on the definition of sarcopenia. Conclusions. It is expected that the final analysis of this project will be useful to detect predictive factors of toxicity to chemotherapy in elderly patients with cancer (AU)

[Detection and evaluation of the role of sarcopenia in elderly patients with cancer treated with chemotherapy. ONCOSARCO project]. / Detección y evaluación del papel de la sarcopenia en ancianos con cáncer tratados con quimioterapia. Proyecto ONCOSARCO.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a predictive model of toxicity to chemotherapy in elderly patients with cancer, using the variables associated with sarcopenia, and to identify which of these parameters, sarcopenia or frailty, is the best predictor of toxicity to chemotherapy in the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective observational study with patients ≥70 years treated with chemotherapy in the Cancer Unit for the Elderly, in the Medical Oncology Section of the Hospital Virgen de la Luz de Cuenca. The following tests will be performed by each patient before chemotherapy: muscle strength (handgrip, cylindrical handgrip, pinch gauge, hip flexion, knee extension), muscle mass (skeletal muscle mass index), and physical function (gait speed and 5STS test). The occurrence of severe toxicity will be recorded over a period of 4 months of chemotherapy treatment. It will be evaluated, using logistic regression analysis, whether sarcopenia (defined by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People) or frailty (defined by the phenotype of frailty) is the best predictor of chemotherapy toxicity. Using a multinomial logistic regression analysis, we will try to create the first model to predict toxicity to chemotherapy in elderly patients with diagnosis of cancer, based on the definition of sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: It is expected that the final analysis of this project will be useful to detect predictive factors of toxicity to chemotherapy in elderly patients with cancer.