Latin American Clinical Epidemiology Network Series - Paper 6: The influence of alcohol in traffic accidents and health care costs of it in Bogotá-Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: In Colombia, some studies have estimated medical costs associated to traffic accidents. It is required to assess results by city or region and determine the influence of variables such as alcohol consumption. The main objective of this study was to identify health care costs associated to traffic accidents in Bogota and determine whether alcohol consumption can increase them. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional costs study conducted in patients over 18 years treated in the emergency rooms of six different hospitals in Bogota, Colombia. RESULTS: The average total cost of medical care per patient was 628 USD, in Bogota-Colombia. The average cost per accident was estimated at 1,349 USD. On average, the total cost for health care for patients with positive blood alcohol level was 1.8 times higher than those who did not consume alcohol. The indirect costs were on average 115.3 USD per injured person. Numbers are expressed in 2011 U.S. dollars. CONCLUSION: Alcohol consumption increases the risk of traffic accidents and direct medical health costs.

Costos directos de atención médica de accidentes de tránsito en Bogotá D. C / Direct costs involved in providing medical attention associated with traffic accidents in Bogotá

Objetivo Determinar los costos de atención médica generados por la accidentalidad vial en Bogotá. Metodología Estudio observacional prospectivo con datos de pacientes mayores de edad atendidos en la central de urgencias de 6 instituciones hospitalarias. Resultados El promedio del costo totalde atención por paciente fue de $1'112.000 El costo promedio día de paciente hospitalizado fue de $1'200.000. Pacientes con atención ambulatoria tuvieron un costo promedio de $247.400. El costo promedio por accidente se calculó en $2'333.700. Los costos médicos por accidentes en el periodo de análisis en Bogotá fueron aproximadamente $2.301'028.200. Cifras en pesos de 2011. Conclusiones Los costos de la atención médica de los accidentes de tránsito constituyen una carga económica considerable.

Objective To determine the cost of medical attention associated with traffic accidents in Bogotá, Colombia. Methods Prospective observational study with data from adult patients attended to in the emergency centers of 6 hospitals. Results Average total cost per patient was $1'112.000 COP. Average daily cost of hospitalized patients was $1'200.000 COP. Average cost of ambulatory treated patients ascended to $247.400 COP. Cost per accident calculated was $2'333.700 COP. In the whole city during study period, total medical costs were around $2.301'028.200 COP. All data was expressed in 2011 Colombian pesos. Conclusion The medical cost of transit accidents is a significant economic burden.

[Direct costs involved in providing medical attention associated with traffic accidents in Bogotá]. / Costos directos de atención médica de accidentes de tránsito en Bogotá D.C.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost of medical attention associated with traffic accidents in Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: Prospective observational study with data from adult patients attended to in the emergency centers of 6 hospitals. RESULTS: Average total cost per patient was $1'112.000 COP. Average daily cost of hospitalized patients was $1'200.000 COP. Average cost of ambulatory treated patients ascended to $247.400 COP. Cost per accident calculated was $2'333.700 COP. In the whole city during study period, total medical costs were around $2.301'028.200 COP. All data was expressed in 2011 Colombian pesos. CONCLUSION: The medical cost of transit accidents is a significant economic burden.

Prevalencia del consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en pacientes no psiquiátricos que consultan un servicio de urgencias en Bogotá / Prevalence of Psychoactive Substance Use in Non-Psychiatric Patients Seen at an Emergency Department in Bogotá

Introducción: El consumo de sustancias psicoactivas (SPA) es un problema mundial de Salud pública. Los consumidores suelen utilizar los servicios de urgencias, más que los no Consumidores. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de consumo de seis sustancias psicoactivas en personas entre 18 y 65 años, que acudieron al servicio de urgencias de un hospital Universitario en Bogotá e identificar sus características demográficas. Método: Estudio De corte transversal, con muestreo estratificado por grupos de edad y sexo de pacientes Adultos que acudieron al servicio de urgencias por patologías no psiquiátricas, a quienes Se les aplicó un instrumento que indagaba datos demográficos, médicos, farmacológicos y Toxicológicos. Luego se realizó un análisis toxicológico con el Breath Scan Test, para la detección de alcohol a partir de la exhalación de aire, y el Screeners KO, para la detección en orina de cannabinoides, cocaína, benzodiacepinas, anfetaminas y opiáceos, en las últimas Seis horas. Resultados: Se realizó el análisis en 473 personas. La prevalencia de consumo De cualquier sustancia fue de 7,8%. La sustancia más detectada fue opiáceos, seguida por Alcohol, cannabis, cocaína, benzodiacepinas y anfetaminas. El reporte verbal de consumon las últimas seis horas sólo fue veraz para alcohol. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de Consumo de SPA en la población general de urgencias es alta. De acuerdo con los Resultados, ocho de cada cien personas que consultan a urgencias han consumido alguna SPA en las últimas seis horas...

Introduction: Psychoactive substance abuse is a world public health problem. Drug users tend to use emergency services more than non-users. Objective: To determine the prevalence and demographic characteristics of the use of six substances in people between the ages of 18 and 65, seen at the emergency department of a teaching hospital in Bogotá. Method: Cross sectional study with stratified sampling by age and gender groups of adult patients who were seen at the emergency department (ED). Data collected included demographic, medical, pharmacological, and toxicological information. Toxicological analysis was performed with Scan Breath Test to detect alcohol and KO Screeners to screen urine for use of cannabinoids, cocaine, enzodiazepines, amphetamines, and opiates in the last six hours. Results: Analyses were performed in 473 patients. The prevalence of any substance was 7.8%. The substance most frequently detected was opiates, followed by alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and amphetamines. Conclusions: The prevalence of psychoactive drug use in the general population of the ED is high. According to these results, 8 of out of 100 people who use emergency services have used a psychoactive Substance in the last six hours. The prevalence of self-report was very low compared with The positive results of the toxicology tests...

Prevalencia del trastorno depresivo en pacientes que consultan un servicio de urgencias en Bogotá / Prevalence of depressive disorder among emergency department patients in Bogotá

Introducción: Por su alta prevalencia, la depresión se considera un problema de salud mundial. Es importante conocer la prevalencia de este trastorno en los pacientes que acuden a servicios de urgencia en Bogotá. Objetivo: Calcular la prevalencia de síntomas depresivos en la última semana y determinar las características demográficas de personas entre los 18 y 65 años de edad que acuden por patologías no psiquiátricas al servicio de urgencias de un hospital universitario en Bogotá. Método: Estudio de corte transversal de pacientes adultos que asisten al servicio de urgencias de un hospital universitario. La información recopilada incluye datos demográficos, motivo de consulta, diagnóstico y aplicación de la escala del centro de estudios epidemiológicos para depresión (CES-D). Resultados: Se obtuvo una muestra de 470 pacientes que acudieron al servicio de urgencias con una prevalencia de síntomas depresivos en la última semana, del 27,7%. La presencia de sintomatología depresiva se vio asociada con sexo femenino, bajo nivel educativo, acudir en horario de la tarde al servicio de urgencias y diagnóstico de alguna enfermedad del sistema nervioso central. Conclusiones: Se describe por primera vez en Bogotá la prevalencia de síntomas depresivos en la población que acude a los servicios de urgencias de un hospital general. Son necesarios más estudios para dilucidar factores de riesgo asociados a este trastorno en la población que acude a servicios de urgencias...

Background: Depression is a public health problem worldwide due to its high prevalence. In emergency departments it is often underdetected and undertreated. It is important to be informed about the prevalence of this disorder in emergency departments in Bogotá. Objective: To determine the prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms in the last week among adult patients visiting the emergency department (ED) with non-psychiatric complaints, in a teaching hospital in Bogotá. Method: Cross-sectional study in adult patients who visit the ED. Data collected included socio-demographical data, chief complaint, diagnosis, and results of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results: Of the 470 patients visiting the ED, 27.7% had clinically significant depressive symptoms. The presence of depressive symptoms was associated with female sex, low education level, visits to the ED in the afternoon, and the diagnosis of a central nervous system disease. Conclusions: This study identified a high frequency of clinically significant depressive symptoms among ED patients in Bogotá. More studies are needed to determine risk factors associated to this disorder in this kind of population...