Differentiating Dengue from COVID-19: Comparison of Cases in Colombia.

The differentiation between dengue and COVID-19 diagnoses is a challenge in tropical regions because of the similarity of symptoms and limited access to specific diagnostic tests for each disease. The objective of this study was to describe the initial symptoms and laboratory test values of patients who presented to the emergency department with dengue or COVID-19. A cross-sectional study was performed in a single center in Cali, Colombia. The inclusion criteria were patients with a diagnosis of dengue or COVID-19 who were older than 14 years of age. All patients experienced fever or other symptoms for fewer than 10 days. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the differences in the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) between patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and dengue, and was adjusted for sex and age group (≤ 31 and > 31 years). The sample size was calculated to test the hypothesis that the median NLR in COVID-19 patients is higher than that in dengue patients. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant for all analyses. A total of 93 patients were included: 70 with dengue and 23 with COVID-19. Dengue patients were younger than COVID-19 patients. There were significant differences between dengue and COVID-19 patients regarding platelet count (P < 0.01), neutrophil count (P < 0.01), NLR (P < 0.01), and abnormal alanine transaminase (ALT) (P = 0.03). The NLR was significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in dengue patients (P < 0.01). In conclusion, during the first week of symptoms, absolute neutrophil count, NLR, and platelet count could help guide the initial differential approach between dengue and COVID-19. These findings could be useful in geographical areas with a lack of resources.

Factors associated with failure of postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis in a high complexity health center in Cali, Colombia: case-control study / Factores asociados con la falla de la profilaxis de náusea y vómito posoperatorio en un centro de salud de alta complejidad en Cali, Colombia: estudio de casos y controles

Abstract Introduction: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) negatively impact patients undergoing surgical procedures under anesthesia. The scientific evidence on the risk factors for PONV after antiemetic prophylaxis is unsatisfactory, so there is a need to identify the factors associated with the occurrence of PONV. Objective: To identify the factors associated with failed prophylaxis for PONV in patients at Fundación Valle del Lili in 2017. Methods: Case-control study. Patients admitted to the post anesthesia care unit after having undergone surgery under general anesthesia were included. The cases were patients who, despite receiving antiemetic prophylaxis, had PONV, and those who did not develop these symptoms after prophylaxis, were considered the control group. A bivariate analysis was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, or x2, according to the type of variable. Finally, crude odds ratios were estimated and subsequently adjusted via a logistic regression. Results: A total of 80 cases and 332 controls were included. The median age for all patients was 47 years. Women represented 61.6% (n = 254). The variables associated with PONV were age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.98, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96-0.99, P = 0.013), female (OR = 3.02, 95% CI 1.66-5.47, P < 0.001) and the use of desflurane during surgery (OR = 2.82, 95% CI 1.097.30, P < 0.032). Conclusion: Female sex and the use of desflurane during surgery increase the odds of experiencing PONV, regardless of pharmacological antiemetic prophylaxis. Moreover, elderly patients show lower odds of developing this complication.

Resumen Introducción: La náusea y el vómito posoperatorios impactan negativamente en los pacientes sometidos a procedimientos quirúrgicos bajo anestesia. La evidencia científica sobre los factores de riesgo para náusea y vómito posoperatorios después de profilaxis antiemética es insatisfactoria, por lo que es necesario identificar los factores asociados con su presentación. Objetivo: Establecer los factores asociados con la profilaxis fallida de náusea y vómito posoperatorios en pacientes de la Fundación Valle del Lili en el 2017. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de casos y controles. Se incluyeron los pacientes que ingresaron a la unidad de cuidados posanestésicos luego de haber sido intervenidos quirúrgicamente bajo anestesia general. Los casos fueron los pacientes que a pesar de recibir profilaxis antiemética presentaron náusea y/o vómito posoperatorio, mientras los controles fueron aquellos que no presentaron estos síntomas después de la profilaxis. Se realizó un análisis bivariado con la U de Mann-Whitney, el test exacto de Fisher o X2, según el tipo de variable. Finalmente, se estimaron odds ratios crudos que después fueron ajustados por medio de una regresión logística. Resultados: Se incluyeron 80 casos y 332 controles. La mediana de edad para todos los pacientes fue 47 años. Las mujeres representaron el 61.6% (n = 254). Las variables asociadas con náusea y vómito posoperatorios fueron: edad (OR=0.98, IC 95% 0.96-0.99; p = 0.013), ser mujer (OR = 3.02, IC 95% 1.66-5.47; p < 0.001) y el uso de desflurano durante el procedimiento quirúrgico (OR = 2.82, IC 95% 1.09-7.30; p <0.032). Conclusiones: El sexo femenino y el uso de desflurano durante el procedimiento quirúrgico aumentan la oportunidad de tener náusea y vómito posoperatorios, a pesar de una profilaxis farmacológica antiemética. Por otra parte, en pacientes con edades mayores se observa una disminución de la oportunidad de presentar esta complicación.