Characteristics and quality of systematic reviews led by Peruvian authors: A scoping review.

Background: Systematic reviews (SRs) worldwide suffer from methodological deficiencies, potentially biasing intervention decisions, and Peruvian SRs are no exception. Evaluating SRs led by Peruvian researchers is a crucial step to enhance quality and transparency in decision-making and to identify topics where SRs are either scarce or prioritized for research. Objective: To describe the characteristics and assess the methodological quality of SRs with Peruvian first authors. Methods: We conducted a scoping review within the Scopus database on January 5, 2023. We aimed to identify published SRs of interventions in which the first author had a Peruvian affiliation, published between 2013 and 2022. We evaluated the methodological quality of these SRs using the AMSTAR 2 tool. We assessed the factors associated with the AMSTAR 2 score using adjusted mean differences (aMD), including their 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI). Results: We identified 95 eligible SRs, with a clear upward trend. SRs were primarily published in Q1 (43.2 %) and Q2 (23.2 %) journals, predominantly affiliated with institutions in Lima (90.5 %). Areas like infectious diseases (20.0 %) and dentistry (18.9 %) were most frequent. AMSTAR 2 assessments highlighted deficiencies, with few SRs reporting prior protocols (37.9 %), comprehensive search strategies (23.2 %), explanations for excluded studies (20.0 %), adequate descriptions of included studies (38.3 %), or funding sources (19.1 %). Notably, SRs in Q4 journals (aMD: -19.7, 95 % CI: -33.8 to -5.5) and those on surgical interventions (aMD: -22.6, 95 % CI: -34.7 to -10.4) had lower AMSTAR 2 scores. Conclusions: Although Peruvian-led SRs are increasingly being published, critical deficiencies are common, especially in reporting protocols, search strategies, study descriptions, and funding sources. Addressing these gaps is pivotal for enhancing the credibility and utility of these SRs in informing decision-making.

Factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants for the prevention of COVID-19 in peruvian population: a cross-sectional study. / Factores asociados con el consumo de plantas medicinales para la prevención de COVID-19 en población peruana: un estudio transversal.

OBJECTIVES.: Motivation for the study. No study conclusively recommends the use of medicinal plants to treat COVID-19 symptoms, and their indiscriminate use may present health risks. Main findings. Sixty percent of participants consumed medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19. This was particularly true for those living in the Peruvian highlands and individuals with family members diagnosed or deceased from COVID-19, who perceive a higher risk of infection and use medications or chlorine dioxide as preventive measures. Implications. Communication strategies emphasizing validated preventive practices and educating about the risks of consuming medicinal plants should be tailored to the predominant characteristics of the consumer. Determine the factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants as a preventive measure against COVID-19 in the Peruvian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS.: A population over 18 years of age, living in Peru and without a history of COVID-19 disease, was evaluated. The factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants were evaluated using a Poisson regression model with robust variances. RESULTS.: Of the 3231 participants included, 84.6% were young adults (18-29 years old), 62.7% were women, and 59.7% consumed a medicinal plant to prevent COVID-19 infection. The factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 infection were residing in the Peruvian highlands, having had a family member diagnosed with COVID-19, having had a family member die from COVID-19, considering their family to be at increased risk of infection, having used medications or chlorine dioxide to prevent COVID-19, having medical information as the main source of information about COVID-19, thinking that medicinal plants are effective in preventing COVID-19 disease, or not being informed about their effectiveness. CONCLUSION.: Sixty percent of the participants reported having consumed a medicinal plant to prevent COVID-19. Authorities must apply communication strategies about the implications of consuming medicinal plants, prioritizing population groups with higher consumption patterns.

OBJETIVOS: Motivación para realizar el estudio. Ningún estudio recomienda de manera concluyente el uso de plantas medicinales para tratar los síntomas de la COVID-19, y su uso indiscriminado puede presentar riesgos para la salud. Principales hallazgos. El 60% de los participantes utilizó plantas medicinales para la prevención de la COVID-19. Especialmente aquellos de la sierra peruana y personas con familiares diagnosticados o fallecidos por COVID-19, que perciben mayores riesgos de contagio y utilizan medicamentos o dióxido de cloro como medidas preventivas. Implicancias. Las estrategias de comunicación esenciales para las prácticas preventivas validadas y la educación sobre los riesgos del consumo de plantas medicinales deben adaptarse a las características predominantes del consumidor. Determinar los factores asociados al consumo de plantas medicinales como prevención de la COVID-19 en la población peruana. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS.: Se evaluó población mayor de 18 años, residentes en Perú y sin antecedentes de enfermedad por COVID-19. Los factores asociados al consumo de plantas medicinales se evaluaron mediante un modelo de regresión de Poisson con varianzas robustas. RESULTADOS.: De 3231 participantes incluidos, el 84,6% eran jóvenes (18-29 años), el 62,7% eran mujeres y el 59,7% consumía alguna planta medicinal para prevenir la COVID-19. Los factores asociados al consumo de plantas medicinales para prevenir el contagio de COVID-19 fueron residir en la sierra peruana, haber tenido un familiar diagnosticado con COVID-19, haber tenido un familiar fallecido por COVID-19, considerar que su familia se encuentra en mayor riesgo de infección, haber usado medicamentos o dióxido de cloro para prevenir la COVID-19, tener información médica como principal fuente de información sobre la COVID-19, pensar que las plantas medicinales son efectivas para prevenir la enfermedad COVID-19 o no estar informado sobre su eficacia. CONCLUSIÓN: . El 60% de los participantes reportó haber consumido alguna planta medicinal para prevenir la COVID-19. Es importante que las autoridades apliquen estrategias de comunicación sobre lo que implica el consumo de plantas medicinales, priorizando los grupos poblacionales que tienen mayores patrones de consumo.

Prevalence and incidence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes of Latin America and the Caribbean: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aimed to assess the prevalence and incidence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetes of Latin America and the Caribbean. METHODS: We searched Web of Science (WoS)/Core Collection, WoS/MEDLINE, WoS/Scielo, Scopus, PubMed/Medline and Embase databases until January 16, 2023. We meta-analyzed prevalences according to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). RESULTS: Forty-three prevalence studies (47 585 participants) and one incidence study (436 participants) were included. The overall prevalence of retinopathy in patients with T1DM was 40.6% (95% CI: 34.7 to 46.6; I2: 92.1%) and in T2DM was 37.3% (95% CI: 31.0 to 43.8; I2: 97.7), but the evidence is very uncertain (very low certainty of evidence). In meta-regression, we found that age (T1DM) and time in diabetes (T2DM) were factors associated with the prevalence. On the other hand, one study found a cumulative incidence of diabetic retinopathy of 39.6% at 9 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Two out of five patients with T1DM or T2DM may present diabetic retinopathy in Latin America and the Caribbean, but the evidence is very uncertain. This is a major public health problem, and policies and strategies for early detection and opportunely treatment should be proposed.

Percutaneous coronary intervention versus optimal medical therapy for stable coronary artery disease: An umbrella review.

Background: Invasive management of stable coronary artery disease is still a controversial topic. The purpose of this umbrella review was to synthesize systematic reviews (SRs) that evaluate the benefits and harms of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus optimal medical therapy (OMT) in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL from 2018 to August 7, 2022. We included SRs with meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the question of interest. We assessed the methodological quality of the SRs with the AMSTAR-2 tool. We summarized the results of the outcomes for each SR. We calculated the degree of overlap of the RCTs included in the SRs using the corrected covered area (CCA). Results: We found 10 SRs with meta-analyses. The SRs included 3 to 15 RCTs. The degree of overlap among the SRs was very high (CCA > 15%). No SR evaluated the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE system and 9 out of 10 had critically low methodological quality. The SRs reported heterogeneous results for the outcomes of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, revascularization, and angina. On the other hand, for the outcomes of cardiovascular mortality and stroke, all SRs agreed that there were no differences between PCI and OMT alone. Conclusions: We found 10 SRs on the use of PCI compared to OMT alone for patients with stable coronary artery disease. However, none had high methodological quality, none evaluated the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach, and the results were inconsistent for several outcomes. This variability in evidence may result in divergent clinical decisions for the management of stable coronary artery disease among healthcare professionals. It is necessary to perform a high-quality SR using the GRADE approach to clarify the balance of benefits and harms of PCI.

Cerebrospinal fluid shunting for the management of cryptococcal meningitis: a scoping review.

Objective: This scoping review aimed to describe studies that evaluate the management of cryptococcal meningitis (CM) using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts, types of shunts used, and clinically relevant patient outcomes. Methods: We searched in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science/Core collection, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and clinicaltrials.gov on 1 April 2022. We included two-arm and one-arm cohort studies that evaluated clinically relevant patient outcomes. Case reports were used to describe the type of CSF shunts used and the rationale behind its selection. The selection and extraction processes were independently performed by two authors. Results: This study included 20 cohort studies and 26 case reports. Only seven cohort studies compared two groups. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt was the most commonly used type of shunt (82.1%). The main indications for placing a shunt were persistently high opening pressure (57.1%) and persisting neurological symptoms or deterioration (54.3%). Cohort studies suggest that patients with shunt showed improvement in some outcomes such as neurological symptoms and hospital stay length. The most common shunt complications were post-operative fever (1-35.6%) and shunt obstruction (7-16%). Conclusion: CSF shunts may improve some clinically relevant outcomes in patients with CM, but the evidence is very uncertain.

Prevalence of computer vision syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: This review aimed to estimate the prevalence of computer vision syndrome (CVS) in the general population and subgroups. METHODS: A search was conducted in the following the databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science until February 13, 2023. We included studies that assessed the prevalence of CVS in any population. The Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool was used to evaluate the methodological quality. A meta-analysis of the prevalence of CVS was done using a random-effects model, assessing the sources of heterogeneity using subgroup and meta-regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 103 cross-sectional studies with 66 577 participants were included. The prevalence of CVS was 69.0% (95% CI: 62.3 to 75.3; I2: 99.7%), ranging from 12.1 to 97.3% across studies. Point prevalence was higher in women than in men (71.4 vs. 61.8%), university students (76.1%), Africa (71.2%), Asia (69.9%), contact lens wearers (73.1% vs. 63.8%) in studies conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic (72.8%), and in those that did not use the CVS-Q questionnaire (75.4%). In meta-regression, using the CVS-Q scale was associated with a lower prevalence of CVS. CONCLUSION: Seven out of ten people suffer from CVS. Preventive strategies and interventions are needed to decrease the prevalence of this condition which can affect productivity and quality of life. Future studies should standardize a definition of CVS.

Factores asociados con el consumo de plantas medicinales para la prevención de COVID-19 en población peruana: un estudio transversal / Factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants for the prevention of COVID-19 in peruvian population: a cross-sectional study

RESUMEN Objetivos . Determinar los factores asociados al consumo de plantas medicinales como prevención de la COVID-19 en la población peruana. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluó población mayor de 18 años, residentes en Perú y sin antecedentes de enfermedad por COVID-19. Los factores asociados al consumo de plantas medicinales se evaluaron mediante un modelo de regresión de Poisson con varianzas robustas. Resultados. De 3231 participantes incluidos, el 84,6% eran jóvenes (18-29 años), el 62,7% eran mujeres y el 59,7% consumía alguna planta medicinal para prevenir la COVID-19. Los factores asociados al consumo de plantas medicinales para prevenir el contagio de COVID-19 fueron residir en la sierra peruana, haber tenido un familiar diagnosticado con COVID-19, haber tenido un familiar fallecido por COVID-19, considerar que su familia se encuentra en mayor riesgo de infección, haber usado medicamentos o dióxido de cloro para prevenir la COVID-19, tener información médica como principal fuente de información sobre la COVID-19, pensar que las plantas medicinales son efectivas para prevenir la enfermedad COVID-19 o no estar informado sobre su eficacia. Conclusión . El 60% de los participantes reportó haber consumido alguna planta medicinal para prevenir la COVID-19. Es importante que las autoridades apliquen estrategias de comunicación sobre lo que implica el consumo de plantas medicinales, priorizando los grupos poblacionales que tienen mayores patrones de consumo.

ABSTRACT Objectives. Determine the factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants as a preventive measure against COVID-19 in the Peruvian population. Materials and methods. A population over 18 years of age, living in Peru and without a history of COVID-19 disease, was evaluated. The factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants were evaluated using a Poisson regression model with robust variances. Results. Of the 3231 participants included, 84.6% were young adults (18-29 years old), 62.7% were women, and 59.7% consumed a medicinal plant to prevent COVID-19 infection. The factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 infection were residing in the Peruvian highlands, having had a family member diagnosed with COVID-19, having had a family member die from COVID-19, considering their family to be at increased risk of infection, having used medications or chlorine dioxide to prevent COVID-19, having medical information as the main source of information about COVID-19, thinking that medicinal plants are effective in preventing COVID-19 disease, or not being informed about their effectiveness. Conclusion. Sixty percent of the participants reported having consumed a medicinal plant to prevent COVID-19. Authorities must apply communication strategies about the implications of consuming medicinal plants, prioritizing population groups with higher consumption patterns.

Association between weight status and migraine in the paediatric population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: An association between weight status and migraine has been previously reported; however, this relationship has only been studied in adults, not in the paediatric population. Objective: To evaluate the association between weight status and migraine in the paediatric population. Methods: We searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, Ovid Medline, and Embase using a cut-off date of May 2023. We included observational studies that evaluated the association between weight status (underweight, overweight, obese, and excess weight) and migraine in the paediatric population (children and adolescents). Normal weight was the comparator. The outcome was migraine (all types, episodic and chronic). We performed meta-analyses using a random-effects model to estimate the pooled effects for each outcome. Sensitivity analysis was performed based on study design and risk of bias (using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale). Certainty of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. Results: Eight studies (6 cross-sectional, 1 case-control and 1 cohort) covering 16,556 patients were included. The overall certainty of evidence was very low for the association between overweight, obesity, and excess weight with migraine. In the sensitivity analysis, meta-analyses of studies with a low risk of bias found that the overweight population probably had an increased odds of migraine (OR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.14 to 2.53; I2 = 32.3%, p = 0.224) and that excess weight may increase the odds of migraine (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.06 to 2.35; I2 = 83.7%, p = 0.002). Additionally, cohort and case-control studies found that obesity probably increases the odds of migraine. No studies analysed the association between underweight and migraine. Conclusion: The associations between overweight, obesity, excess weight and migraine were uncertain, but studies with better methodological quality reported increased odds. Future longitudinal studies with proper confounding control are needed to disentangle their causal relationship. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, identifier CRD42021271533.

Prevalence of hypertension in adults living at altitude in Latin America and the Caribbean: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the prevalence of hypertension in populations living at altitude in Latin America and the Caribbean. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search from January 1, 2000 to January 10, 2023 in Web of Science (WoS)/Core Collection, WoS/Medline, WoS/Scielo, Scopus, PubMed and Embase databases. We included studies that assessed the prevalence of hypertension in altitude populations (>1500 m.a.s.l.) and these were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model. To assess the sources of heterogeneity, we performed subgroup and meta-regression analyses. RESULTS: Thirty cross-sectional studies (117 406 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Studies used different cut-off points. The prevalence of hypertension in the studies that considered the cut-off point of ≥ 140/90 mmHg in the general population was 19.1%, ≥ 130/85 mmHg was 13.1%, and ≥ 130/80 mmHg was 43.4%. There was a tendency for the prevalence of hypertension to be higher in men. In meta-regression analyses, no association was found between altitude, mean age, year of publication, risk of bias and prevalence of hypertension. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension in the altitude population of Latin America and the Caribbean is lower than that reported in populations living at sea level and lower than other altitude populations such as Tibetans. PROSPERO: CRD42021275229.

Effects of antituberculosis treatment on pregnancy outcomes in infertile women with genital tuberculosis: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of antituberculosis therapy on pregnancy outcomes in infertile women with genital tuberculosis. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: We searched in PubMed/MEDLINE, CENTRAL and EMBASE up to 15 January 2023. Additionally, we manually search the reference lists of included studies. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCT), non-RCTs (non-RCT) and cohort studies that evaluated the effects of antituberculosis treatment on pregnancy outcomes in infertile women with genital tuberculosis compared with not receiving antituberculosis treatment or receiving the treatment for a shorter period. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers extracted data. We used Cochrane Risk of Bias 1.0 and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies tools for risk of bias assessment and meta-analysis was not performed. We used Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations approach to assess the certainty of the evidence. RESULTS: Two RCTs and one non-RCT were included. The antituberculosis regimens were based on isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for 6-12 months. In women without structural damage, very low certainty of evidence from one RCT showed that the antituberculosis treatment may have little to no effect on pregnancy, full-term pregnancy, abortion or intrauterine death and ectopic pregnancy, but the evidence is very uncertain. In women with structural damage, very low certainty of evidence from one non-RCT showed that the antituberculosis treatment may reduce the pregnancy rate (297 fewer per 1000, 95% CI -416 to -101), but the evidence is very uncertain. In addition, very low certainty of evidence from one RCT compared a 9-month vs 6-month antituberculosis treatment regimen showed similar effects between the schemes, but the evidence is very uncertain. Two RCTs reported that no adverse events of antituberculosis treatment were noted or were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: The effect of antituberculosis treatment on pregnancy outcomes in infertile women with genital tuberculosis is very uncertain. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022273145.

Perceptions and Intention to Get Vaccinated against Mpox among the LGBTIQ+ Community during the 2022 Outbreak: A Cross-Sectional Study in Peru.

Vaccination against mpox can control the outbreak by targeting high-risk groups such as the LGBTIQ+ community. The aim of the study was to evaluate the perceptions and intentions to get vaccinated against mpox among the LGBTIQ+ community in Peru. We conducted a cross-sectional study from 1 November 2022 to 17 January 2023 in Peru. We included individuals over 18 years old, belonging to the LGBTIQ+ community, and residing in the departments of Lima and Callao. To evaluate the factors associated with the intention to be vaccinated, we used Poisson regression with robust variance to create a multivariate model. The study comprised 373 individuals who self-identified as members of the LGBTIQ+ community. The participants had a mean age of 31 years (SD ± 9), with 85.0% males and 75.3% reporting to be homosexual men. The majority (88.5%) expressed their intention to receive the vaccine against mpox. Believing that the vaccine is safe was associated with a higher intention to be vaccinated (aPR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.50; p = 0.028). Our study population showed a high level of mpox vaccination intent. Educational campaigns reinforcing the concept of vaccine safety should be conducted to increase the intention and possibly the vaccination rate in the LGBTIQ+ community.

Association between self-reported evidence-based medicine competencies and prescribing of drugs without scientific evidence against mild COVID-19 among recently graduated physicians in Peru.

Objective: To evaluate the association between self-rated evidence-based medicine (EBM) competencies and the prescription of drugs without scientific evidence against mild COVID-19 (present with any of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 but who do not have shortness of breath, dyspnea, or abnormal chest imaging) among recently graduated physicians in Peru. Methods: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study where we evaluated a non-probability sample of recently graduated physicians during June and July 2021 (end of second wave of COVID-19 in Peru). Self-rated EBM competencies were assessed by four domains (formulation of a clinical question, search, analysis, and application) using a Likert scale with scores from zero to four ("Very inadequate" = 0, to "Very Adequate" = 4), it was considered as "Adequate" if the score was three or four. In addition, the variable "General competence on EBM" was rated as "Adequate" if in all domains evaluated it presented an adequate self-rating. For the outcome, drug prescription, we considered the use of ivermectin, azithromycin, other antibiotics, hydroxychloroquine, dexamethasone, and anticoagulants (drugs with no efficacy demonstrated for patients with mild COVID-19). To assess the association, we used Poisson regression models with robust variances and obtaining crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: Of a total of 239 physicians included 70.7% prescribed at least one drug without scientific evidence. A total of 51.1% reported adequate ratings in all evaluated domains of EBM. Self-rating the "Clinical Question Formulation" competency as adequate was associated with a lower frequency of prescribing medications for mild COVID-19 (aPR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.91-0.95). While self-rating as adequate the competency of "Identify possible implications of investigations" was associated with an increase in the prescription of such drugs (aPR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.09-1.20). Additionally, self-rating all domains as adequate were associated with less prescription (aPR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.90-0.96). Conclusion: Seven out of ten recently graduated physicians prescribed some type of medication without scientific evidence to treat patients with mild COVID-19. Having adequate self-perceived EBM competencies was associated with a lower frequency of prescribing medications without scientific evidence to manage patients with mild COVID-19.

Undergraduate courses of evidence-based medicine in Peruvian medical schools: Characteristics and addressed topics.

Background: Medical schools are increasingly including evidence-based medicine (EBM) courses in their curricula. However, little is known about the characteristics of these courses in Peru. Therefore, the present study aimed to describe the characteristics and topics addressed by undergraduate courses on EBM in Peruvian medical schools, and to compare the content of these courses with predefined EBM competencies. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study. We obtained the syllabi of undergraduate EBM courses from all medical schools for the latest year available. We extracted their characteristics and categorized the topics they included according to the five steps necessary to apply EBM, divided into 22 competencies. Results: In 2021, Peru had 47 universities with active undergraduate medical schools, of which 9 (19.1%) had EBM courses. These courses were not mandatory in three of the universities, and were typically offered between the 2nd and 5th year of the degree program. When analysing the topics covered in the syllabi, we found that they addressed 7 to 13 of the 22 core competencies evaluated. The least addressed topics belonged to steps 4 (apply) and 5 (evaluate) of the EBM process. Conclusion: We found that few Peruvian universities offer EBM courses, and that these courses have heterogeneous characteristics, with syllabi that do not include all essential topics for applying the five steps of EBM.

Prevalence of Nomophobia in University Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of nomophobia in university students. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted of the following databases: Web of Science/ Core Collection, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Ovid/ MEDLINE until March 2021. Cross-sectional studies reporting the prevalence of nomophobia in undergraduate or postgraduate university students that assessed nomophobia with the 20-item Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) tool were included. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were performed in duplicate. A meta-analysis of proportions was performed using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using sensitivity analysis according to the risk of bias, and subgrouping by country, sex, and major. RESULTS: We included 28 cross-sectional studies with a total of 11,300 participants from eight countries, of which 23 were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of mild nomophobia was 24% (95% confidence interval [CI], 20%-28%; I2 = 95.3%), that of moderate nomophobia was 56% (95% CI, 53%-60%; I2 = 91.2%), and that of severe nomophobia was 17% (95% CI, 15%-20%; I2 = 91.7%). Regarding countries, Indonesia had the highest prevalence of severe nomophobia (71%) and Germany had the lowest (3%). The prevalence was similar according to sex and major. CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of moderate and severe nomophobia in university students. Interventions are needed to prevent and treat this problem in educational institutions.

Association between Copeptin and Metabolic Syndrome: A Systematic Review.

Background: Copeptin, a reliable marker for vasopressin release, has been associated with cardiometabolic diseases including metabolic syndrome (MetS). This systematic review aims to evaluate the association between copeptin and MetS. Methods: We searched in Pubmed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases until March 2021 and included observational studies (cohort studies, cross-sectional, and case-control) reporting the risk or prevalence of having MetS in patients with elevated copeptin levels compared to patients without elevated copeptin levels. The risk of bias was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis was not performed because of the heterogeneity of the copeptin cut-off values. Results: A total of 7 studies (5 cross-sectional, 1 case-control, and 1 cohort) were included comprising 11,699 participants. Most of them were performed in the adult general population. Two cross-sectional and one case-control studies found a positive significant association between higher levels of copeptin and MetS. While three cross-sectional and one cohort studies found no association. The case-control study had several methodological limitations, most cross-sectional studies were methodologically adequate and the cohort study had no methodological issues. Conclusions: The association between copeptin and MetS is inconsistent. However, the arginine-vasopressin system impairment contributes to metabolic disorders, expressing plasma copeptin changes. Thus, more longitudinal studies are required to corroborate the association of copeptin and MetS.

A cross-sectional study to assess the level of satisfaction with virtual education in Peruvian medical students.

Objectives: Education has totally changed in the context of the pandemic. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the factors associated with the level of satisfaction with virtual education in Peruvian medical students during COVID-19. Methods: Analytical and cross-sectional study, based on an online survey of students nationwide. We use previously validated instruments to measure the level of satisfaction and stress (EPP-10-c) of students with virtual education. For the associated factors, adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated using Poisson regression. Results: Of the 1,878 students surveyed, the median age was 21 years, 57.8% (1,086) were women, 34.8% (654) had a high level of satisfaction with virtual education and 10.7% (202) presented high levels of stress. The factors associated with a low level of satisfaction were attending the fifth year of study, the partial and non-virtual adaptation of the university to virtual education, and a high level of stress. On the other hand, the factors associated with a high level of satisfaction were the education platform used and the study method used. Conclusion: Seven out of 10 students presented a low level of satisfaction with virtual education, 1 out of 10 presented a high level of stress. The factors associated with the low level of satisfaction were attending the fifth year of study, the non-virtual and partial adaptation of the university to virtual education, and the high level of stress.

Immune responses in COVID-19 and tuberculosis coinfection: A scoping review.

Background and aim: Patients with COVID-19 and tuberculosis coinfection are at an increased risk of severe disease and death. We therefore sought to evaluate the current evidence which assessed the immune response in COVID-19 and tuberculosis coinfection. Methods: We searched Pubmed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify articles published between 2020 and 2021. We included observational studies evaluating the immune response in patients with tuberculosis and COVID-19 compared to patients with COVID-19 alone. Results: Four cross-sectional studies (372 participants) were identified. In patients with asymptomatic COVID-19 and latent tuberculosis (LTBI), increased cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and humoral responses were found. In addition, patients with symptomatic COVID-19 and LTBI had higher leukocytes counts and less inflammation. Regarding patients with COVID-19 and active tuberculosis (aTB), they exhibited decreased total lymphocyte counts, CD4 T cells specific against SARS-CoV-2 and responsiveness to SARS-CoV-2 antigens compared to patients with only COVID-19. Conclusion: Although the evidence is limited, an apparent positive immunomodulation is observed in patients with COVID-19 and LTBI. On the other hand, patients with COVID-19 and aTB present a dysregulated immune response. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and expand knowledge.

Metabolic Syndrome and Risk of Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This systematic review aimed to evaluate metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for the development of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). We searched in four databases: (1) PubMed, (2) Web of Science, (3) Scopus, and (4) Embase until March 2021. We included cohort studies that evaluated the risk of PAD in patients with and without metabolic syndrome. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias analysis were performed independently by 2 authors. We used a random-effects model to conduct a meta-analysis of effect measures [hazard ratio (HR), risk ratio (RR), and odds ratio (OR)]. Individual analyses were performed according to the diagnostic criterion used for metabolic syndrome. We included 7 cohort studies with a total of 43 824 participants. Most of the studies were performed in the general adult population. The metabolic syndrome and PAD diagnostic criteria used in the individual studies were heterogeneous. Almost all studies using RR found an association between metabolic syndrome and the development of PAD (RR: 1.31; confidence interval 95%: 1.03-1.59; I2: 15.6%). On the other hand, almost all the studies that used HR found no association between the two variables. All studies had a low risk of bias. In conclusion, available evidence on the association between metabolic syndrome and the risk of developing PAD is inconsistent. However, given the high prevalence of risk factors that patients with metabolic syndrome have, testing to rule out PAD could be recommended. Future studies should analyze each component of the metabolic syndrome separately and according to the severity of PAD.

[Parents' perceptions and intention to vaccinate their children under 12 years of age against COVID-19: a cross-sectional study in Peru]. / Percepciones e intención de los padres de vacunar a sus hijos bajo 12 años de edad contra la COVID-19: estudio transversal en Perú.

BACKGROUND: Despite the proven efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, pediatric vaccination coverage remains low in many countries. There are still doubts and fears in parents about vaccination in their children under 12 years of age. AIM: To evaluate the perceptions and intention of parents to vaccinate their children under 12 years of age. METHODS: Analytical cross-sectional study based on an online survey that evaluated the parents' perceptions regarding the risk of COVID-19 infection, the need for a vaccine, and the vaccine adverse events in their children under 12 years. We assessed the factors associated with the intention to vaccinate through crude (cPR) and adjusted prevalence rates (aPR), with confidence interval of 95% (CI 95%). RESULTS: 83.5% of respondents had the intention to vaccinate their children under 12 years of age. In the multivariate analysis, the factors associated with a decrease in the intention to vaccinate were to believe that the vaccine was not necessary (aPR 0.65; 95% CI 0.44 - 0.94), that it would not protect (aPR: 0.14; 95% CI 0.03 - 0.63), it would not be safe (aPR: 0.80; 95% CI 0.70 - 0.92) and it would cause long-term side effects (aPR: 0.92; 95% CI 0.85 - 1.00). On the other hand, living on the highlands or jungle was associated with an increase in the intention. CONCLUSION: In Peru, 16.5% of parents would not vaccinate their children under 12 years of age, because they perceived that the vaccine was not necessary and would not protect against COVID-19. In addition, they expressed concerns about the development of possible adverse events.

Prevalence and incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and its epidemiology in Latin America and the Caribbean is not well described. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of COPD in Latin America and the Caribbean. METHODS: We searched systematically in Web of Science (WoS)/Core Collection, WoS/MEDLINE, WoS/Scielo, Scopus, PubMed, and Embase from 2010 to 2021. Studies assessing the prevalence and incidence of COPD according to the GOLD classification were included. The overall prevalence of COPD was calculated as a function of the general population using a random-effects model. RESULTS: 20 studies (19 cross-sectional and 1 cohort) met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of COPD in the general population older than 35 years was 8.9%. The prevalence in men was 13.7% and in women 6.7%. The prevalence in smokers and ex-smokers was 24.3%. The incidence in the general population of COPD according to one study was 3.4% at 9 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: COPD is prevalent in Latin America, especially in men and in smokers and ex-smokers. Further prevalence and incidence studies in the general population are needed, as well as health policies and strategies to address the disease.