Prevalence and risk factors associated with hepatitis C among Brazilian male patients with haemophilia: A long-term follow-up.

People with haemophilia represent a population with a high prevalence of HCV infection due to the use of blood components and plasma-derived clotting factor concentrates before the introduction of viral-inactivating procedures (in the 1980s) and screening for HCV (in the 1990s). About 80% of HCV-infected patients have chronic HCV infection, and at least 20% develop end-stage liver disease. The aim of the study was to assess current anti-HCV positivity in a large cohort of Brazilian haemophilia patients and to determine associated factors with HCV exposure. The study retrospectively analysed medical records of all male haemophilia patients attended the main public referral blood centre in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, from January 1985 to January 2015. Sociodemographic, epidemiological and serological characteristics were collected of all participants tested for anti-HCV. Among 724 patients enrolled in the study, anti-HCV was positive in 259 resulting in a seroprevalence of 35.8% (95% CI: 32.3%-39.3%). Factors independently associated with previous exposure to HCV were as follows: age older than 30 years, moderate to severe haemophilia, detection of inhibitor at least once in lifetime and previous exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or HIV infection. Otherwise, exclusive previous use of inactivated clotting factors resulted in a significant decrease in the chance of positivity for anti-HCV. At the end of cohort period, patients with positive anti-HCV had a 3-fold higher risk of death. This study showed that hepatitis C infection remains a critical problem for Brazilian haemophilia patients and reinforced the need to unify efforts to eradicate it.

Monitoring respiratory virus infection in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2011-2013. / Monitoramento de vírus respiratórios na região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, 2011 a 2013.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the circulation of respiratory viruses in people living in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and hospitalized in Belo Horizonte from 2011 to 2013. METHODS: this is a descriptive study of 5,158 patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; a comparison was made between the characteristics of confirmed cases and those of discarded cases or cases without swab samples. RESULTS: Influenza A virus accounted for half the isolated viruses, especially subtype A(H1N1)pdm09 among patients aged 20-59 years old, and subtype A(H3N2) in those aged 60 or over; the most frequently identified respiratory virus among children under five years old was respiratory syncytial virus (65.6%), followed by influenza A virus (21.2%); influenza virus circulated in all seasons of the year and its periods of greatest incidence were interspersed with those of higher Respiratory Syncytial Virus activity. CONCLUSION: monitoring respiratory viruses contributes to knowledge about periods of virus circulation and the adoption of specific control measures.

Monitoramento de vírus respiratórios na região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, 2011 a 2013 / Monitoreo de vírus respiratórios en la región metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, 2011-2013 / Monitoring respiratory virus infection in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2011-2013

OBJETIVO: analisar a circulação dos vírus respiratórios em residentes na região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Brasil, hospitalizados em Belo Horizonte, de 2011 a 2013. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo de 5.158 indivíduos com síndrome respiratória aguda grave; foram comparadas as características dos casos confirmados com casos descartados ou sem coleta de swab. RESULTADOS: metade dos vírus isolados foi da influenza A, especialmente os subtipos A(H1N1)pdm09 em pessoas de 20-59 anos e A(H3N2) naquelas com 60 anos ou mais; crianças menores de cinco anos tiveram identificado, com maior frequência, o vírus sincicial respiratório (65,6%), seguido pelo vírus da influenza A (21,2%); o vírus da influenza circulou em todas as estações do ano, e seus períodos de maior incidência intercalaram-se com os de maior atividade do vírus sincicial respiratório. CONCLUSÃO: o monitoramento dos vírus respiratórios contribui para o conhecimento dos períodos de circulação viral e a adoção de medidas de controle específicas.

OBJETIVOS: analizar la circulación de virus respiratorios en residentes de la región metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Brasil, hospitalizados entre 2011 y 2013. MÉTODOS: estudio descriptivo de 5.158 individuos con infección respiratoria aguda grave; fueron comparadas las características de los casos confirmados con los descartados o sin colecta de swab. RESULTADOS: la mitad de los virus aislados fueron influenza A, especialmente subtipos A(H1N1)pdm09 en personas entre 20-59 años, y A(H3N2) en personas de 60 años o más; los niños menores de cinco años presentaron, con mayor frecuencia, el virus sincicial respiratorio (65,6%), seguido por influenza tipo A (21,2%); el virus de la Influenza circuló en todas las estaciones y los periodos de mayor incidencia se intercalaron con los de mayor actividad del virus sincicial. CONCLUSIÓN: el monitoriamente del virus respiratorio contribuyo para el conocimiento de los periodos de circulación viral y la adopción de medidas de control específicas.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the circulation of respiratory viruses in people living in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and hospitalized in Belo Horizonte from 2011 to 2013. METHODS: this is a descriptive study of 5,158 patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome; a comparison was made between the characteristics of confirmed cases and those of discarded cases or cases without swab samples. RESULTS: Influenza A virus accounted for half the isolated viruses, especially subtype A(H1N1)pdm09 among patients aged 20-59 years old, and subtype A(H3N2) in those aged 60 or over; the most frequently identified respiratory virus among children under five years old was respiratory syncytial virus (65.6%), followed by influenza A virus (21.2%); influenza virus circulated in all seasons of the year and its periods of greatest incidence were interspersed with those of higher Respiratory Syncytial Virus activity. CONCLUSION: monitoring respiratory viruses contributes to knowledge about periods of virus circulation and the adoption of specific control measures.

Correlates of hepatitis B among patients with mental illness in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess correlates of hepatitis B among adults with mental illness under care in Brazil. METHOD: Cross-sectional national multicenter study of 2206 patients with mental illnesses randomly selected from 26 public mental health services. Sociodemographic and behavioral data were obtained from face-to-face interviews and psychiatric diagnoses from medical charts. Serology testing was conducted, and prevalence rate ratios were estimated by log-binomial regression. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence rates of current hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (HBsAg+) and previous HBV exposure (anti-HBc+) were 2.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5%-2.7%] and 17.1% (95% CI: 16.0%-19.0%), respectively. Correlates of HBsAg+ included male gender, younger age (18-29 years), unstable place of residence, intellectual disability, main psychiatric diagnosis of dementia, presence of other medical comorbitidy, use of alcohol/drugs during sex, more than one sexual partner and use of cocaine. Correlates of anti-HBc+ included male gender, older age (≥30 years), black skin color, lower education, unstable place of residence, currently hospitalized, intellectual disability, history of any sexually transmitted disease or syphilis, poor HIV knowledge, history of imprisonment and sexual violence. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis B is an important comorbidity among psychiatric patients in Brazil. Screening for HBV, effective prevention and intervention strategies, including universal HBV immunization, should be routine practices in these mental health services.