A telemedicine strategy to reduce waiting lists and time to specialist care: A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The demand for specialty care is rising worldwide. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, more than 150,000 people were waiting for specialist consultations in 2013. A telemedicine programme (RegulaSUS) developed referral protocols, audited waitlisted cases, authorised/prioritised referrals by risk and discuss deferred cases primary-care physician. This study assesses the effectiveness of RegulaSUS. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis with contemporaneous controls was performed from June 2014 to June 2016. Six medical specialties included in RegulaSUS (50,185 patients) were compared to 50,124 control patients waitlisted according to the usual routine (scheduled for specialty consultation at the next available date). The groups were matched (1:1) by semester and year of waitlisting and by the specialty demand-to-supply ratio. Primary outcomes were referral-to-consultation time and number of waitlisted patients. RESULTS: The mean referral-to-consultation time was 584.8 days in the intervention group and 607.0 days in controls (p<0.001). For specialties regulated by RegulaSUS, the mean referral-to-consultation time was 237.6 days for higher-risk patients. At the end of the observation, 26,708 control patients had been unlisted compared to 31,050 patients in the intervention group (reduction of 53.5% vs. 61.9%, respectively; p<0.001). The number of cancelled referrals was lower in the control group (n=14,403; 28.7%) than in the intervention group (n=16,387; 32.7%; p<0.001). DISCUSSION: Telemedicine support for primary care effectively decreased the time to specialty consultation, reduced the number of waitlisted patients and allowed sicker patients to reach a specialist faster.

Prevalence and trends of mental disorders requiring inpatient care in the city of Porto Alegre: a citywide study including all inpatient admissions due to mental disorders in the public system from 2013-2017 / Prevalência e tendências temporais de transtornos mentais necessitando de tratamento de internação na cidade de Porto Alegre: um estudo de toda a cidade incluindo todas as internações por motivo de saúde mental no sistema público de 2013-2017

Abstract Objectives To investigate the 5-year prevalence of patients admitted to public inpatient care units due to a mental disorder, stratifying them by age group and diagnosis, and to assess trends of admissions over this time period in Porto Alegre. Methods All admissions to the public mental health care system regulated by the city-owned electronic system Administração Geral dos Hospitais (AGHOS) were included in the analysis. The total population size was obtained by estimations of Fundação de Economia e Estatística (FEE). General information about 5-year prevalence of inpatient admissions, time-series trends e prevalence by age groups and diagnosis were presented. Results There were 32,608 admissions over the 5-year period analyzed. The overall prevalence of patients was 1.62% among the total population, 0.01% among children, 1.12% among adolescents, 2.28% among adults and 0.93% among the elderly. The most common diagnosis was drug-related, followed by mood, alcohol-related and psychotic disorders. There was a linear trend showing an increase in the number of admissions from 2013 to the midst of 2014, which dropped in 2015. Conclusions Admissions due to mental disorders are relatively common, mainly among adults and related to drug use and mood disorders. Time trends varied slightly over the 5 years. Prevalence rates in real-world settings might be useful for policymakers interested in planning the public mental health system in large Brazilian cities.

Resumo Objetivos Investigar a prevalência de 5 anos de pacientes internados no sistema público de saúde por motivo de saúde mental, estratificando-os por grupo etário e diagnóstico, e avaliar tendências temporais nas admissões nesse período em Porto Alegre. Métodos Todas as admissões no sistema público de saúde mental reguladas pelo sistema eletrônico da cidade, denominado Administração Geral dos Hospitais (AGHOS), foram incluídos na análise. A população total foi obtida a partir de estimativas da Fundação de Economia e Estatística (FEE). Informações gerais sobre a prevalência de 5 anos de admissões, tendências das séries temporais e prevalência por grupo etário e por diagnóstico foram apresentadas. Resultados Ocorreram 32.608 admissões no período de 5 anos analisado. A prevalência global de pacientes foi de 1,62% na população total, 0,01% em crianças, 1,12% em adolescentes, 2,28% em adultos e 0,93% em idosos. Os diagnósticos mais comuns foram relacionados ao uso de drogas, seguidos de transtornos de humor, relacionados ao álcool e transtornos psicóticos. Houve uma tendência linear mostrando um aumento no número de admissões de 2013 a meados de 2014, que caíram em 2015. Conclusões Admissões por transtornos mentais são relativamente comuns, principalmente entre adultos e relacionados ao uso de drogas e transtornos de humor. Tendências lineares variaram levemente nos últimos 5 anos. Estimativas de prevalência no mundo real podem ser úteis para formuladores de políticas interessados em planejar o sistema público de saúde mental em grandes cidades brasileiras.

Telemedicine in the driver's seat: new role for primary care access in Brazil and Canada: The Besrour Papers: a series on the state of family medicine in Canada and Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To contrast how Brazil's and Canada's different jurisdictional and judicial realities have led to different types of telemedicine and how further scale and improvement can be achieved. COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE: A subgroup of the Besrour Centre of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and Canadian telemedicine experts developed connections with colleagues in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and collaborated to undertake a between-country comparison of their respective telemedicine programs. METHODS: Following a literature review, the authors collectively reflected on their experiences in an attempt to explore the past and current state of telemedicine in Canada and Brazil. REPORT: Both Brazil and Canada share expansive geographies, creating substantial barriers to health for rural patients. Telemedicine is an important part of a universal health system. Both countries have achieved telemedicine programs that have scaled up across large regions and are showing important effects on health care costs and outcomes. However, each system is unique in design and implementation and faces unique challenges for further scale and improvement. Addressing regional differences, the normalization of telemedicine, and potential alignment of telemedicine and artificial intelligence technologies for health care are seen as promising approaches to scaling up and improving telemedicine in both countries.

Prevalence and trends of mental disorders requiring inpatient care in the city of Porto Alegre: a citywide study including all inpatient admissions due to mental disorders in the public system from 2013-2017.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the 5-year prevalence of patients admitted to public inpatient care units due to a mental disorder, stratifying them by age group and diagnosis, and to assess trends of admissions over this time period in Porto Alegre. METHODS: All admissions to the public mental health care system regulated by the city-owned electronic system Administração Geral dos Hospitais (AGHOS) were included in the analysis. The total population size was obtained by estimations of Fundação de Economia e Estatística (FEE). General information about 5-year prevalence of inpatient admissions, time-series trends e prevalence by age groups and diagnosis were presented. RESULTS: There were 32,608 admissions over the 5-year period analyzed. The overall prevalence of patients was 1.62% among the total population, 0.01% among children, 1.12% among adolescents, 2.28% among adults and 0.93% among the elderly. The most common diagnosis was drug-related, followed by mood, alcohol-related and psychotic disorders. There was a linear trend showing an increase in the number of admissions from 2013 to the midst of 2014, which dropped in 2015. CONCLUSIONS: Admissions due to mental disorders are relatively common, mainly among adults and related to drug use and mood disorders. Time trends varied slightly over the 5 years. Prevalence rates in real-world settings might be useful for policymakers interested in planning the public mental health system in large Brazilian cities.

Medidas antropométricas preditivas de pressão arterial elevada entre adolescentes / Anthropometric measurements predictive of high blood pressure in adolescents

Objetivo: Avaliar a capacidade preditiva da circunferência da cintura e do índice de massa corporal para identificar adolescentes com pressão arterial elevada. Métodos: estudo transversal com 1014 adolescentes (10 a 16 anos) do município de Portão, localizado no Rio Grande do Sul. O índice de massa corporal foi classificado de acordo com o referencial da Organização Mundial de Saúde e segundo Conde & Monteiro, e a circunferência da cintura foi classificada de acordo com o proposto por Taylor et al e Katzmarzyk et al. A pressão foi aferida por meio de aparelho digital. Resultados: A prevalência da pressão arterial elevada foi de 13,4%. As medidas antropométricas apresentaram correlação significativa com a pressão arterial. O critério brasileiro para o índice de massa corporal apresentou maior sensibilidade para identificar adolescentes com a pressão arterial elevada quando comparado ao referencial da Organização Mundial de Saúde (66,2% vs 58,8%). A circunferência da cintura , de acordo com Katzmarzyk et al apresentou maior sensibilidade quando comparada ao proposto por taylor et al. e à medida do índice de massa corporal...O índice de masas corporal e a circunferência da cintura podem ser utilizados como medidas simples e de baixo custo para avaliar risco de pressão arterial elevada entre adolescentes. O critério brasileiro para classificação do índice de massa corporal e o critério de circunferência de cintura de Katzmarzyk et al se mostraram bons instrumentos de triagem para identificar pressão arterial elevada entre os adolescentes

Objective: To assess whether waist circumference and body mass index can identify adolescents with high blood pressure. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with adolescents from the city of Portão, Rio Grande do Sul. Body mass index was calculated, and the children were classified according to the World Health Organization’s growth charts and to Conde & Monteiro’s classification system. Waist circumference was classified as recommended by Taylor et al. and Katzmarzyk et al. Blood pressure was measured by a digital monitor.Results: The prevalence of high blood pressure was 13.4%. Anthropometric measurements were significantly correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The sensitivity of the Brazilian body mass index classification in identifying adolescents with high blood pressure was higher than that of the World Health Organization’s growth charts(66.2% vs 58.8%). Katzmarzyk’s et al. classification of waist circumference was more sensitive than Taylor’s et al. and body mass index classification. The area under the curve was similar for body mass index and waist circumference, ranging from 0.70 to0.89 for adolescents up to 14 years of age and from 0.57 to 0.77 for adolescents older than 14 years.Conclusion: Body mass index and waist circumference are simple and inexpensive measuremens that can be used for identifying adolescents at high risk of high blood pressure. The Brazilian body mass index classification and Katzmarzyk’s et al. waist circumference classification identified adolescents with high blood pressure well.

Variabilidade fenotípica na síndrome do cromossomo supernumerário der22t11 22 síndrome de Emanuel / Phenotypical variability in supernumerary chromosome der22t11 22 syndrome Emanuel syndrome

OBJETIVO: Relatar dois pacientes com a síndrome de Emanuel (SE) ou cromossomo supernumerário der(22)t(11;22), secundária a translocações balanceadas familiares, apresentando fenótipos distintos. DESCRIÇÃO DE CASO: O primeiro paciente é uma menina branca de cinco anos de idade, apresentando hipotonia, atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor, movimentos estereotipados, microcefalia, ptose palpebral, orelhas proeminentes, fossetas e apêndices pré-auriculares, e imperfuração anal. As avaliações adicionais identificaram hipoplasia cerebral e estenose da válvula pulmonar. Possuía história também de laringotraqueomalácia e fenda palatina. O segundo paciente é um menino branco de seis meses de idade com hipotonia, movimentos coreoatetóticos, déficit de crescimento, microcefalia, microssomia hemifacial, fenda palatina, microtia, apêndices pré-auriculares e polegares proximalmente implantados. A ecocardiografia demonstrou estenose da válvula pulmonar, comunicação interatrial e interventricular, persistência do canal arterial e da veia cava superior esquerda. A radiografia de tórax identificou uma costela cervical. O cariótipo por bandas GTG mostrou a presença, em ambos os pacientes, de um cromossomo adicional der(22)t(11;22), secundário a uma translocação balanceada materna no primeiro caso e paterna no segundo caso. COMENTÁRIOS: Apesar de a primeira paciente apresentar achados frequentes da SE, o caso adicional representa a segunda descrição da literatura com um fenótipo de espectro óculo-aurículo-vertebral (EOAV). Assim, ambos salientam a variabilidade clínica observada na SE e a importância da avaliação cariotípica em indivíduos com fenótipo de EOAV.

OBEJECTIVE: To report two patients with Emanuel syndrome (ES) or supernumerary chromosome der(22)t(11;22), secondary to familial balanced translocations, presenting distinct phenotypes. CASES DESCRIPTION: The first patient was a five-year-old white girl presenting hypotonia, neuropsychomotor delay, stereotypic movements, microcephaly, ptosis, prominent ears, preauricular pits with skin tag, and imperforate anus. Additional evaluations identified cerebral hypoplasia and pulmonar valvar stenosis. She also had laryngotracheomalacia and cleft palate. The second patient was a six months white boy with hypotonia, choreoatetotic movements, growth retardation, microcephaly, hemifacial microsomia, cleft palate, microtia, preauricular skin tags and thumbs proximally placed. Echocardiography disclosed pulmonary valvar stenosis, interatrial and ventricular septal defects, patent ductus arteriosus and persistence of left upper vein cava. Radiography study of thorax identified a cervical rib. GTG-Banding karyotype showed, in both patients, a supernumerary chromosome der(22)t(11;22) secondary in the first case to a maternal balanced translocation and in the second one to a paternal translocation. COMMENTS: The first patient presented frequent features of ES, but the second one is the second description in the literature of a phenotype of oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS). Thus, both patients highlight the clinical variability observed in ES and the importance of the karyotype analysis in patients with OAVS phenotype.

Fibular dimelia and mirror polydactyly of the foot in a girl presenting additional features of the VACTERL association.

CONTEXT: The association between fibular dimelia and mirror polydactyly of the foot is considered to be a very rare lower-limb abnormality. On the other hand, VACTERL is an acronym for a nonrandom association of congenital anomalies for which the etiology is still poorly understood. CASE REPORT: The patient was a seven-month-old white girl whose mother had used misoprostol in the second month of pregnancy to induce abortion. On clinical evaluation, she was small for her age and presented hypotonia, anteverted nares, long philtrum and carp-like mouth. Her left hand had a reduction defect, with absence of the extremities of the second, third and fifth fingers and camptodactyly of the fourth finger. The ipsilateral lower limb presented significant shortening, especially rhizomelic shortening. Her left foot had a mirror configuration with seven toes and no identifiable hallux. The pelvis was hypoplastic. Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula and imperforate anus were detected during the neonatal period. Abdominal ultrasound identified agenesis of the right kidney and left pyelocaliceal duplication. Radiographic evaluation on the left side showed iliac and femoral hypoplasia, absence of the tibia with a duplicated fibula and seven metatarsals and toes with no identifiable hallux on the foot. Echocardiography demonstrated an atrial septal defect. Based on the literature, we believe that the spectrum of malformations presented by our patient may be related to the vascular disruptive effect of the misoprostol. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that this association might simply be a coincidence.

Fibular dimelia and mirror polydactyly of the foot in a girl presenting additional features of the VACTERL association / Dimelia fibular e polidactilia em espelho do pé em uma menina apresentando achados adicionais de associação VACTERL

CONTEXT: The association between fibular dimelia and mirror polydactyly of the foot is considered to be a very rare lower-limb abnormality. On the other hand, VACTERL is an acronym for a nonrandom association of congenital anomalies for which the etiology is still poorly understood. CASE REPORT: The patient was a seven-month-old white girl whose mother had used misoprostol in the second month of pregnancy to induce abortion. On clinical evaluation, she was small for her age and presented hypotonia, anteverted nares, long philtrum and carp-like mouth. Her left hand had a reduction defect, with absence of the extremities of the second, third and fifth fingers and camptodactyly of the fourth finger. The ipsilateral lower limb presented significant shortening, especially rhizomelic shortening. Her left foot had a mirror configuration with seven toes and no identifiable hallux. The pelvis was hypoplastic. Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula and imperforate anus were detected during the neonatal period. Abdominal ultrasound identified agenesis of the right kidney and left pyelocaliceal duplication. Radiographic evaluation on the left side showed iliac and femoral hypoplasia, absence of the tibia with a duplicated fibula and seven metatarsals and toes with no identifiable hallux on the foot. Echocardiography demonstrated an atrial septal defect. Based on the literature, we believe that the spectrum of malformations presented by our patient may be related to the vascular disruptive effect of the misoprostol. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that this association might simply be a coincidence.

CONTEXTO: A associação entre dimelia fibular e polidactilia em espelho do pé é considerada uma anormalidade de membro inferior bastante rara. Por outro lado, VACTERL é um acrônimo para uma associação não aleatória de anomalias congênitas cuja etiologia ainda é pouco compreendida. RELATO DO CASO: A paciente era uma menina branca de sete meses de idade, cuja mãe utilizou misoprostol no segundo mês de gravidez para indução de aborto. Na avaliação clínica, ela era pequena para a idade e apresentava hipotonia, narinas antevertidas, filtro longo e boca em carpa. A mão esquerda apresentava um defeito de redução com ausência das extremidades do segundo, terceiro e quinto dedos e camptodactilia do quarto. O membro inferior ipsilateral apresentava um importante encurtamento, especialmente rizomélico. O pé possuía uma configuração em espelho com sete dedos e nenhum hálux identificável. A pelve era hipoplásica. Atresia de esôfago com fístula traqueoesofágica e imperfuração anal foram detectadas durante o período neonatal. O ultrassom abdominal identificou agenesia do rim direito e duplicidade pielocalicial à esquerda. A avaliação radiográfica mostrou, no lado esquerdo, hipoplasia do osso ilíaco e do fêmur, ausência da tíbia com duplicação da fíbula, e presença de sete metatarsos e dedos, sem um hálux identificável, no pé. A ecocardiografia identificou um defeito do septo atrial. Acreditamos, com base na literatura, que o espectro de anormalidades apresentado por nossa paciente possa estar relacionado com o efeito disruptivo vascular do misoprostol. Entretanto, não podemos excluir a possibilidade de que essa associação possa ter sido simplesmente uma coincidência.

[Chromosomal abnormalities in couples with history of recurrent abortion]. / Anormalidades cromossômicas em casais com história de aborto recorrente.

PURPOSE: To asses the prevalence and clinical characteristics of couples with history of recurrent spontaneous abortion and chromosome abnormality, attended at the present service. METHODS: All the couples referred to our service due to history of recurrent spontaneous abortion, from January 1975 to June 2008, were evaluated. Only the ones whose chromosome karyotype analysis by GTG bands has been successfully made were included in the study. Clinical data on their age, as well as on the number of abortions, stillbirth, multiple malformations, livebirth per couple, and the result of the karyotype exam were collected. Fisher's exact test (p<0.05) has been used to compare the incidence of chromosome alterations found in our study, with data in the literature. RESULTS: There were 108 couples in the sample. Their ages varied from 21 to 58 years old among the men (average of 31.4 years old), and from 19 to 43 among the women (average of 29.9 years old). In ten couples, one of the mates (9.3%) presented chromosome alterations, which corresponded respectively to three cases (30%) of reciprocal translocation [two of t(5;6) and one of t(2;13)], two (20%) of Robertsonian translocation [two of der(13;14) and one of der(13;15)], five(50%) of mosaicism (mos) [two cases of mos 45,X/46,XX, one of mos 46,XX/47,XXX, one of mos 46,XY/47,XXY and one of mos 46,XY/47,XYY] and one (10%) of chromosome inversion [inv(10)]. In one of the couples, the female presented two concomitant alterations: t(2;13) and der(13;14). Chromosome abnormalities were found in 5% of the couples with a history of two abortions, in 10.3% with three abortions, and in 14.3% with four or more abortions. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of chromosome abnormalities seen in our study (9.3%) was similar to most of the studies carried out in the last 20 years, varying from 4.8 to 10.8%. Nevertheless the high percentage of patients with mosaicism in our sample, has called our attention. It is believed that this fact may be associated to the high number of metaphases ordinarily analyzed in the present service.

Anormalidades cromossômicas em casais com história de aborto recorrente / Chromosomal abnormalities in couples with history of recurrent abortion

OBJETIVO: verificar a prevalência e as características clínicas de casais com história de abortos de repetição e anormalidade cromossômica atendidos em nosso serviço. MÉTODOS: foram avaliados retrospectivamente todos os casais encaminhados de janeiro de 1975 a junho de 2008 por história de abortos de repetição. Foram incluídos no estudo somente aqueles casais, em que a análise cromossômica feita com o cariótipo por bandas GTG foi realizada com sucesso. Foram coletados dados clínicos referentes às suas idades, bem como o número de abortamentos, natimortos, crianças polimalformadas, nativivos por casal e resultado do exame de cariótipo. Para comparação da frequência das alterações cromossômicas encontradas em nosso estudo com as da literatura, bem como entre os diferentes subgrupos de nossa amostra, foi utilizado o teste exato de Fisher (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: a amostra foi composta de 108 casais. As idades variaram de 21 a 58 anos entre os homens (média de 31,4 anos) e de 19 a 43 anos entre as mulheres (média de 29,9 anos). O número de abortos oscilou de dois a nove (média de 3,2). Alterações cromossômicas foram observadas em um dos parceiros em dez casais (9,3%) e corresponderam, respectivamente, a três casos (30%) de translocação recíproca [dois de t(5;6) e um de t(2;13)], dois (20%) de translocação Robertsoniana [um de der(13;14) e um de der(13;15)], cinco (50%) de mosaicismo (mos) [dois casos de mos 45,X/46,XX, um de mos 46,XX/47,XXX, um de mos 46,XY/47,XXY e um de mos 46,XY/47,XYY] e um (10%) de inversão cromossômica [inv(10)]. Em um dos casais, a parceira apresentava duas alterações concomitantes: t(2;13) e der(13;14). Anormalidades cromossômicas foram verificadas em 5% dos casais com história de dois abortamentos, em 10,3% com três abortos e 14,3% com quatro ou mais abortos...

PURPOSE: to asses the prevalence and clinical characteristics of couples with history of recurrent spontaneous abortion and chromosome abnormality, attended at the present service. METHODS: all the couples referred to our service due to history of recurrent spontaneous abortion, from January 1975 to June 2008, were evaluated. Only the ones whose chromosome karyotype analysis by GTG bands has been successfully made were included in the study. Clinical data on their age, as well as on the number of abortions, stillbirth, multiple malformations, livebirth per couple, and the result of the karyotype exam were collected. Fisher’s exact test (p<0.05) has been used to compare the incidence of chromosome alterations found in our study, with data in the literature. RESULTS: there were 108 couples in the sample. Their ages varied from 21 to 58 years old among the men (average of 31.4 years old), and from 19 to 43 among the women (average of 29.9 years old). In ten couples, one of the mates (9.3%) presented chromosome alterations, which corresponded respectively to three cases (30%) of reciprocal translocation [two of t(5;6) and one of t(2;13)], two (20%) of Robertsonian translocation [two of der(13;14) and one of der(13;15)], five(50%) of mosaicism (mos) [two cases of mos 45,X/46,XX, one of mos 46,XX/47,XXX, one of mos 46,XY/47,XXY and one of mos 46,XY/47,XYY] and one (10%) of chromosome inversion [inv(10)]. In one of the couples, the female presented two concomitant alterations: t(2;13) and der(13;14). Chromosome abnormalities were found in 5% of the couples with a history of two abortions, in 10.3% with three abortions, and in 14.3% with four or more abortions. CONCLUSIONS: the incidence of chromosome abnormalities seen in our study (9.3%) was similar to most of the studies carried out in the last 20 years, varying from 4.8 to 10.8%...