Temporal Trends in Self-Expandable Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in South America: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate temporal trends in clinical presentation and short-term outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with self-expandable prostheses in South America through a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational data. METHODS: We comprehensively searched for articles published in peer-reviewed medical journals and for abstracts presented in medical conferences of the region from September 1, 2008, to June 29, 2020. We included single-center studies on self-expandable TAVR populations with ≥ 10 patients from South America. RESULTS: A total of 28 cohorts from 6 countries pooling 1780 patients were included in a random-effects meta-analysis. Pooled estimates of age changed during time (period 2011-2015, 81.6 years; 95% confidence interval [CI] 80.7-82.4; period 2016-2018, 80.6 years; 95% CI 79.8-81.3; period 2019: 78.5 years; 95% CI 77.0-80.0; P = .0003); no other temporal trends in patient characteristics were ascertained. Temporal trends in short-term mortality pooled estimates were in-hospital mortality (11.8% [95% CI 8.2-16.7] for the period 2011-2015, 6.6% [95% CI 4.5-9.6] for the period 2016-2018, and 4.4% [95% CI 1.9-9.8] for the period 2019 [P = .007]) and 30-day mortality (12.8% [95% CI 7.7-20.4], 9.7% [95% CI 7.0-13.3], and 5.7% [95% CI 2.8-11.3], respectively [P =.044]). These associations between reporting year of the study and lower mortality remained after adjusting by age and surgical risk (multivariate meta-regression). CONCLUSIONS: In studies reported between 2011 and 2019 in South America, we demonstrated a clear time trend toward reduction of short-term mortality after self-expandable TAVR, independently of age and surgical risk of populations. These findings are relevant to the local reassessment of cost-effectiveness of TAVR.

Characteristics of Patients Co-infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 and Dengue Virus, Buenos Aires, Argentina, March-June 2020.

An epidemic of dengue virus and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) co-infections occurred in Argentina during 2020. We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes in a cohort of patients hospitalized because of co-infection. We retrospectively identified 13 patients from different hospitals in Buenos Aires who had confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus and obtained clinical and laboratory data from clinical records. All patients had febrile disease when hospitalized. Headache was a common symptom. A total of 8 patients had respiratory symptoms, 5 had pneumonia, and 3 had rash. Nearly all patients had lymphopenia when hospitalized. No patients were admitted to an intensive care unit or died during follow up. Co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 and dengue virus can occur in patients living in areas in which both viruses are epidemic. The outcome of these patients did not seem to be worse than those having either SARS-CoV-2 or dengue infection alone.

Clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in South America: A centre-level systematic review and meta-analysis of observational data.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate in-hospital and 30-day outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in South America through a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational data. METHODS: We comprehensively searched for papers published in peer-reviewed medical journals and for abstracts presented in medical conferences of the region from 1 September 2008, through 29 June 2020, using predefined criteria. We included single-centre studies on TAVR populations with ≥10 patients from South America reporting any in-hospital or 30-day clinical outcome. RESULTS: Fifty-five cohorts from seven countries, pooling 3001 patients, were included in a random-effects meta-analysis. Self-expandable prostheses were the most frequently implanted. Pooled estimate of procedure success by VARC2 criteria was 90.0% (95%CI 81.8%-94.7%; I2 75.0%). The pooled estimate rates of the outcomes were as follow: post-procedure moderate or severe aortic regurgitation, 9.7% (95%CI 6.0%-15.4%; I2 65.4%), in-hospital cardiac tamponade, 4.0% (95%CI 2.5%-6.6%; I2 0%), in-hospital stroke, 4.1% (95%CI 2.9%-5.7%; I2 0%), in-hospital major vascular complication, 7.8% (95%CI 5.2%-11.5%; I2 22.3%), in-hospital permanent pacemaker implantation, 19.4% (95%CI 15.9%-23.4%; I2 53.8%), in-hospital mortality, 8.0% (95%CI 6.7%-9.6%; I2 0%), and 30-day mortality, 9.7% (95%CI 7.9%-11.8%; I2 26.4%). CONCLUSION: As compared with published international registries, the overall results of TAVR in South America seemed underrated. Significant heterogeneity was observed in procedural success, pacemaker requirement, and post-procedure moderate or severe aortic regurgitation. This study provides a real-life framework for the analysis of the performance of this technology in the region, intended to be a starting point for quality improvement.

Clinical Management Strategies in Mild COVID-19 cases in Latin-America: A Decision Model / Estrategias de manejo clínico de casos leves de COVID-19 en América Latina: Modelo de decisión

COVID-19 pandemic is challenging Latin American health systems, which could benefit from information to make appropriate decisions in contexts of constrained health resources.Objective: to evaluate, in adult patients with suspected mild clinical forms of COVID-19, the clinical effectiveness (life expectancy) and resource consumption (days of hospitalization) of different management strategies.Methods: stochastic decision tree comparing the conventional strategy recommended by WHO - PAHO (diagnostic test for COVID-19 and hospitalization of patients testing positive) versus two alternative strategies (immediate addition of a prognostic test with hospitalization according to its result, or follow-up with hospitalization only in case of clinical deterioration).Results: the alternative management strategies showed expected clinical utility similar to the conventional strategy in 80 years-old base cases, and slightly lower in 60 years- and 40 years-old base cases, with lower consumption of hospitalization days. In sensitivity analysis, alternative strategies comparatively improved their expected clinical utility given a lower sensitivity of the diagnostic test or a higher ability of the follow-up to detect clinical worsening.Conclusions: in cases of suspected COVID-19 without pneumonic infiltrate or signs of severity, alternative strategies can be considered to avoid hospitalization for the majority of patients, especially if efficient follow-up modalities can be implemented. This information is valuable for health decision-makers, to carefully weight clinical and epidemiological elements and design locally feasible strategies.

La pandemia COVID-19 desafía los sistemas de salud de Latinoamérica, que podrían beneficiarse de información para tomar decisiones apropiadas, en contextos de escasez de recursos sanitarios.Objetivo: evaluar, en pacientes adultos con sospecha de formas clínicas leves de COVID-19, la efectividad clínica (expectativa de vida) y el consumo de recursos (días de hospitalización) de distintas estrategias de manejo. Métodos: árbol de decisión estocástico, comparando la estrategia convencional recomendada por OMS - OPS (prueba diagnóstica para COVID-19 y hospitalización ante resultado positivo) versus dos estrategias alternativas (agregado inmediato de una prueba pronóstica con hospitalización según ese resultado, y seguimiento con hospitalización sólo ante empeoramiento clínico). Resultados: las estrategias de manejo alternativas mostraron utilidad clínica esperada similar a la estrategia convencional en casos base de 80 años de edad, y ligeramente inferior en casos base de 60 años y 40 años de edad, con menor consumo de días de hospitalización. En el análisis de sensibilidad, las estrategias alternativas mejoraron comparativamente su utilidad clínica esperada si la sensibilidad de la prueba diagnóstica fuera menor o la capacidad del seguimiento para detectar empeoramiento clínico fuera mayor. Conclusiones: ante casos sospechosos de COVID-19 sin infiltrado neumónico ni signos de gravedad, pueden considerarse estrategias que eviten la hospitalización de la mayoría de los pacientes, en especial si pueden implementarse modalidades de seguimiento eficientes. Esta información es valiosa para los decisores en salud, para analizar ponderadamente elementos clínicos y epidemiológicos y diseñar estrategias factibles localmente.

Predictores de fuerza de presión palmar en hemodiálisis en un centro único en Argentina / Predictors of handgrip strength in hemodialysis patients at a single center in Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN: Existe una alta incidencia de fracturas en pacientes con enfermedad crónica terminal. Esto se debe en parte a la enfermedad óseo mineral del enfermo renal crónico y en parte a la alta prevalencia de debilidad muscular en esta población. OBJETIVO: Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar cuáles son los determinantes de fuerza muscular medida por fuerza de prensión palmar (FPP) en nuestra población de pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio de corte transversal en adultos de un centro de hemodiálisis. Se registró la FPP y el índice de masa magra (IMM). Se registraron los valores de albumina, magnesio y otros parámetros serológicos. Utilizamos un análisis de regresión lineal múltiple para evaluar los predictores de FPP. RESULTADOS: Analizamos 139 pacientes (hombres: mujeres = 88:51, edad 60.7 ± 16), 18 fueron excluidos. La media de albúmina: 3.8 +/- 0.47 mg/dl, la mediana de tiempo en hemodiálisis: 37 meses (15-83), 25% (n= 35) fueron definidos como sarcopénicos y 21.5% (n= 30) tenían antecedentes de diabetes. En el análisis univariado el magnesio presentó correlación positiva con la FPP (ß 0.19 p 0.02). En el análisis multivariado todas las siguientes continuaron siendo correlativas con la FPP y estadísticamente significativas (R2 0.61 p <0.001): albumina (ß:.4.36 p 0.02), IMM (ß: 1.44 p <0.001), edad (ß -0.10 p 0.04), sexo (ß 6.21 p 0.007), diabetes (ß -5,08 p 0.005). CONCLUSIÓN: Edad, diabetes, albúmina, sexo e IMM están independientemente asociados con la FPP en pacientes en hemodiálisis. Los niveles séricos de magnesio presentaron asociación en el análisis univariado

INTRODUCTION: There is a great incidence of fractures in patients suffering from end-stage chronic disease. This is partly caused by chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder and partly by the high prevalence of muscle weakness in these patients. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to identify the determining factors of muscle strength measured by means of handgrip strength (HGS) in chronic hemodialysis patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients in a hemodialysis center. Handgrip strength (HGS) and lean mass index (LMI) were measured, as well as albumin and magnesium values and other serological parameters. Multiple linear regression was used to assess HGS predictors. RESULTS: We analyzed 139 patients (88 men and 51 women; age: 60.7 ± 16); 18 subjects were excluded. Mean albumin values: 3.8 +/- 0.47 mg/dL; median hemodialysis time: 37 months (15-83). From the total number of patients, 25% (n=35) were found to be sarcopenic and 21.5% (n=30) had a history of diabetes. The univariate analysis showed a positive correlation between magnesium and HGS (ß 0.19 p 0.02). According to the multivariate analysis, all the following showed a correlation with HGS and were statistically significant: (R2 0.61 p <0.001): albumin (ß:.4.36 p 0.02); LMI (ß: 1.44 p <0.001); age (ß -0.10 p 0.04); sex (ß 6.21 p 0.007); diabetes (ß -5,08 p 0.005). CONCLUSION: Age, diabetes, albumin values, sex and LMI are independently associated with HGS in hemodialysis patients. Serum magnesium levels showed an association in the univariate analysis

Prevalencia de automedicación de antiinflamatorios y analgésicos en la práctica ambulatoria / Pravalence of self-medication of anti-inflamatory and analgesic in ambulatory practice

La automedicación con AINEs y analgésicos es una práctica extendida tanto en países desarrollados como en desarrollo. Existen pocas intervenciones educacionales para disminuir esta práctica común y riesgosa. El objetivo primario del presente estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de automedicación en pacientes que son atendidos en instituciones públicas o privadas de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Para ello se reclutaron 1486 pacientes ambulatorios y se determinó la prevalencia y factores asociados. Resultados: La prevalencia de automedicación en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires fue del 34,6% siendo mayor en las mujeres, ancianos y pacientes atendidos en el ámbito público.

Self-medication is extensively practised in both developed andunderdeveloped countries. There are few educational interventionsto diminish this common and risky practice. The primary objectiveof this trial was to determine the prevalence of self-medicationin patients of public and private institutions of Buenos Aires City.For that reason, 1486 outpatients were recruited to evaluate theprevalence and associated factors. Results: The prevalence of selfmedicationin Buenos Aires city was 34.6%. It was more importantin females, and in public institutions.