Reduction of biologics in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The effects of dose reduction or spacing of all types of biologics in rheumatoid arthritis has not been consistently assessed in systematic reviews. We aimed to assess the effects of biologics reduction compared with dose maintenance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in low disease activity or remission. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis according to a previously registered protocol (PROSPERO registration: CRD42017069080); and searched MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library and trial registers up to July, 2020. Two researchers selected, extracted and assessed the risk of bias of controlled trials that randomized patients to reduction/spacing or dose maintenance of biologics. Low disease activity, disability and other clinically important outcomes were summarized in random effect meta-analyses. We rated the certainty of evidence according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. We included ten studies (n = 1331 patients), which assessed reduction or spacing of abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, etanercept, or tocilizumab. Risk of bias was high in over half of trials, mainly due to lack of blinding. No statistically significant difference was found in low disease activity (RR = 0.90; 95% CI 0.78-1.04; I2 = 60%, very low certainty), and other outcomes. Subgroup analysis of blinded studies led to homogeneous results, which remained heterogeneous in open-label studies. Reduction or spacing biologics did not affect disease activity and other important outcome. Changes in the doses regimen should consider patient preferences, considering the low certainty of evidence.

Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Fruit Extracts on Diet-Induced Obesity in Rodents: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a complex condition of high prevalence and cost to the public health system. Recent research has demonstrated the potential of natural products, such as polyphenol-rich fruit extracts, for use in the treatment of obesity. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the metabolic effects of polyphenol-rich fruit extracts on diet-induced obesity (DIO) in rodents. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases to identify preclinical studies that assessed polyphenol-rich fruit extracts compared to placebo on DIO in rodents in December 2018. Two researchers selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of studies. Meta-analyses of standardized mean difference (SMD) of outcomes were calculated in Stata 11, and causes of heterogeneity were assessed by meta-regression. RESULTS: We included 14 studies in the systematic review and 13 studies with 21 matched groups in the metaanalysis. Polyphenol-rich fruit extracts reduced the total body weight gain (SMD = -1.48; confidence interval: - 1.95, -1.01), energy intake (SMD = -0.42; -0.67, -0.17), visceral adipose tissue (SMD = -0.96; -1.25, -0.66), triglycerides (SMD = -1.00; -1.39, -0.62), cholesterol (SMD = -1.18, -1.66, -0.69), LDL- c (SMD = -1.15; -1.65, - 0.65), fasting glucose (SMD = -1.05; -1.65, -0.46), and fasting insulin (SMD = -1.40; -1.80, -1.00) when compared to vehicle. CONCLUSION: Polyphenol-rich fruit extract had positive effects on weight gain, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance at different doses, and fruit source in male mice.

Prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity in Amazon Region of Brazil and associated determinants: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of multimorbidity and to identify factors associated with it in the adult population from the metropolitan region of Manaus. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based study. SETTING: Interviews conducted between May and August of 2015 in eight cities that compose the metropolitan region of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 4001 adults aged ≥18 years. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Multimorbidity, measured by the occurrence of ≥2 and ≥3 chronic diseases, was the primary outcome. The associated factors were investigated by calculating the prevalence ratio (PR) obtained by Poisson regression, with robust adjustment of the variance in a hierarchical model. A factor analysis was conducted to investigate multimorbidity clusters. RESULTS: Half of the interviewees were women. The presence of a chronic disease was reported by 57.2% (95% CI 56.6% to 59.7%) of the interviewees, and the mean morbidity was 1.2 (1.1-1.2); 29.0% (95% CI 27.6% to 30.5%) reported ≥2 morbidities and 15.2% (95% CI 14.1% to 16.4%) reported ≥3 chronic conditions. Back pain was reported by one-third of the interviewees. Multimorbidity was highest in women, PR=1.66 (95% CI 1.50 to 1.83); the elderly, PR=5.68 (95% CI 4.51 to 7.15) and individuals with worse health perception, PR=3.70 (95% CI 2.73 to 5.00). Associated factors also included undergoing medical consultations, hospitalisation in the last year, suffering from dengue in the last year and seeking the same healthcare service. Factor analysis revealed a pattern of multimorbidity in women. The factor loading the most strength of association in women was heart disease. In men, an association was identified in two groups, and lung disease was the disease with the highest factorial loading. CONCLUSION: Multimorbidity was frequent in the metropolitan region of Manaus. It occurred most often in women, in the elderly and in those with worse health perception.

Generalized anxiety disorder and associated factors in adults in the Amazon, Brazil: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in adults using the seven-item GAD scale (GAD-7) and to evaluate the properties of the two-item (GAD-2) as a population screening tool. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional population-based study in the Manaus Metropolitan Region in 2015, Brazil. Adults aged 18 years or more were eligible to participate. We performed probabilistic three-phase sampling and collected sociodemographic and clinical variables. Descriptive statistics and a Poisson regression with robust variance with corrections for complex sampling were used. The accuracy of GAD-2 was assessed using GAD-7 as the gold standard. RESULTS: We included 4001 participants. The prevalence of GAD was 8.4% (95% confidence interval 7.6-9.4%) and was significantly associated with self-reported poor health status and presenting depressive symptoms (p < 0.01). GAD-2 sensitivity was 63.9%, and its specificity was 97.4%. LIMITATIONS: Because of the cross-sectional design of the study, the results are prone to reverse causality and recall bias. The surveyed people were not questioned about their medical diagnosis of anxiety, access to mental health services, or alcohol, tobacco or other drug use. The screening tools were not validated in the Brazilian or Amazon population. CONCLUSION: About eight in 100 adults living in Manaus presented GAD, and it is more prevalent among people with a poorer health status and depression. Because of its low sensitivity, GAD-2 is not useful as a screening tool.

Accuracy of self-reported hypertension in Brazilian adolescents: Analysis of the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents.

Given the high prevalence of hypertension in adolescents, it is important to investigate alternatives for estimating the magnitude of the disease. Our objective was to investigate the accuracy of self-reported hypertension. The study assessed participants of the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (ERICA). The following were calculated: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). The associations between inaccurate self-reporting and socioeconomic factors were investigated. The accuracy of self-reported hypertension had a sensitivity of 7.5% (95% CI, 6.9-8.2), a specificity of 96.6% (95% CI, 96.5-96.7), a PPV of 18.9% (95% CI, 17.4-20.5), and a NPV of 90.8% (95% CI, 90.6-91.0). The prevalence of inaccurate self-reported hypertension was smaller among girls (PR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.55-0.83) and younger boys (PR 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54-0.86) who were attending private schools. The use of self-reported hypertension was not a good strategy for investigating the hypertension in adolescents.

Prevalence of health services usage and associated factors in the Amazon region of Brazil: a population-based cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of healthcare use and associated factors in the Manaus metropolitan region and to describe the reasons for lack of access. DESIGN: Cross-sectional population-based study. SETTING: A survey conducted between May and August of 2015 in eight cities from Manaus metropolitan region, Amazonas, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 4001 adults ≥18 years of age. PRIMARY OUTCOMES MEASURES: Physician visits, dentist visits and hospitalisations in the last 12 months were the primary outcomes. Associated factors were investigated through the calculation of prevalence ratio (PR) obtained by hierarchical Poisson regression modelling. RESULTS: 4001 adults were included in the study, 53% of whom were women. The self-reported prevalence of medical visits was 77% (95% CI 75% to 77%); dentist visits, 36% (95% CI 34% to 37%) and hospital admission, 7% (95% CI 6% to 7%). Physician visits were higher in women PR=1.18 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.23), the elderly PR=1.18 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.26) and people with health insurance PR=1.14 (95% CI 1.10 to 1.19). Dentist visits declined with older age PR=0.38 (95% CI 0.30 to 0.49), lower education level PR=0.62 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.74) and lower economic class PR=0.65 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.75). Hospitalisations were found to be twice as frequent for women than for men and three times as frequent among those who reported very poor health status. Among the individuals who did not receive medical attention in the previous 2 weeks, 58% reported lack of facilities or appointment unavailable and 14% reported lack of doctors. CONCLUSION: While more than half visited the doctor in the last year, a lower proportion of people with socioeconomic inequities visited the dentist. Organisational and service policies are needed to increase equity in health services in the region.

Prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among adults living in the Amazon, Brazil: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Depression is an affective disorder and one of the main contributors to the burden of disease worldwide. Our purpose is to estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and associated factors in the population of the Manaus Metropolitan Region. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional study with a probabilistic three-phase sampling in 2015, based on a previously calculated sample size. Adults living in Manaus and seven inner cities of the metropolitan region were surveyed for depressive symptoms using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and a cutoff score of ≥ 9. We performed a Poisson regression with robust variance using a hierarchical approach to calculate the prevalence ratio (PR) of depression and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Among 4001 participants (response rate 76%), the prevalence of current depressive symptoms was 7% (95% CI: 6-8%). Depressive symptoms were more frequent in inhabitants of Manaus than in those from the countryside (PR = 6.13, 95% CI: 2.91-12.91); in women than in men (PR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.96-3.33); in indigenous than in white people (PR = 2.56, 95% CI: 1.24-5.30); and in those with hypertension (PR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.13-1.92), cardiac disease (PR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.12-2.33), and poor health status (fair: PR = 5.10, 95% CI: 2.50-10.37; bad: PR = 10.27, 95% CI: 4.92-21.44 very bad: PR = 21.14, CI 95%: 10.16-43.99). High school education (PR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32-0.95) and middle class economic status (PR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12-0.89) were protective factors. LIMITATIONS: Limitations include the lack of measurement of physical activity, religious beliefs, leisure time, and use of alcohol and other drugs since these factors can affect depression and health status. CONCLUSION: Seven out of every 100 adults from the Manaus Metropolitan Region have depressive symptoms. This rate is higher in women, individuals living in Manaus, indigenous people, people with hypertension or chronic cardiac disease, and those with a poor health status.

Health-related quality of life and self-reported long-term conditions: a population-based survey

Objective: To estimate and compare the effect of self-reported long-term health conditions and sociodemographic factors on perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: A population-based survey of adults (18 to 65 years) living in Brasilia, Brazil, was conducted in 2012. Descriptive and multivariate analyses using a Tobit model were performed with data on sociodemographic variables, self-reported conditions, and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) health states, providing utility scores (preferred health state) between 0 and 1 for HRQoL estimates. Results: The mean utility of 1,820 adults interviewed (mean age: 38.4±12.6 years) was 0.883 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.874-0.892), with 76.2% in the highest utility range (0.8 to 1.0). EQ-5D dimensions with moderate problems were pain/discomfort (33.8%) and anxiety/depression (20.5%). Serious problems were reported by only 0.3% of the sample in the mobility and self-care domain and by 3.1% in the pain/discomfort domain. Multivariate analysis revealed reduced HRQoL in individuals with depression, diabetes, and hypertension. Living in satellite towns (outside the city core), belonging to a lower economic class, or not being formally employed were also associated with decreased HRQoL. Beta coefficients for these impacts ranged from -0.033 (not formally employed) to -0.141 (depression), reflecting the strongest impact. Conclusion: Of the long-term health conditions studied, depression had the greatest impact on HRQoL. Social class, employment status, and place of residence also affected HRQoL.

Health-related quality of life and self-reported long-term conditions: a population-based survey.

OBJECTIVE:: To estimate and compare the effect of self-reported long-term health conditions and sociodemographic factors on perceived health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS:: A population-based survey of adults (18 to 65 years) living in Brasilia, Brazil, was conducted in 2012. Descriptive and multivariate analyses using a Tobit model were performed with data on sociodemographic variables, self-reported conditions, and the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) health states, providing utility scores (preferred health state) between 0 and 1 for HRQoL estimates. RESULTS:: The mean utility of 1,820 adults interviewed (mean age: 38.4±12.6 years) was 0.883 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 0.874-0.892), with 76.2% in the highest utility range (0.8 to 1.0). EQ-5D dimensions with moderate problems were pain/discomfort (33.8%) and anxiety/depression (20.5%). Serious problems were reported by only 0.3% of the sample in the mobility and self-care domain and by 3.1% in the pain/discomfort domain. Multivariate analysis revealed reduced HRQoL in individuals with depression, diabetes, and hypertension. Living in satellite towns (outside the city core), belonging to a lower economic class, or not being formally employed were also associated with decreased HRQoL. Beta coefficients for these impacts ranged from -0.033 (not formally employed) to -0.141 (depression), reflecting the strongest impact. CONCLUSION:: Of the long-term health conditions studied, depression had the greatest impact on HRQoL. Social class, employment status, and place of residence also affected HRQoL.

Prevalence of Obesity and Overweight in an Indigenous Population in Central Brazil: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of obesity and overweight and associated factors in indigenous people of the Jaguapiru village in Central Brazil. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study between January 2009 and July 2011 in the adult native population of the Jaguapiru village, Central Brazil. Sociodemographic and lifestyle data were obtained; anthropometric measures, arterial blood pressure, and blood glucose were measured. The independent variables were tested by Poisson regression, and the interactions between them were analyzed. RESULTS: 1,608 indigenous people (982 females, mean age 37.7 ± 15.1 years) were included. The prevalence of obesity was 23.2% (95% CI 20.9-25.1%). Obesity was more prevalent among 40- to 49-year-old and overweight among 50- to 59-year-old persons. Obesity was positively associated with female sex, higher income, and hypertension. Among indigenous people, interactions were found with hypertension and sedentary lifestyle - hypertension in males and sedentary lifestyle in females. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of obesity and overweight in indigenous people of the Jaguapiru village is high. Males as well as hypertensive and higher family income individuals have higher rates. Sedentary lifestyle and hypertension leverage the rates of obesity. Prevention and adequate public health policies can be critical for the control of excess weight and its comorbidities among Brazilian indigenous people.

Prevalence of Self-Reported Diabetes and Its Associated Factors: A Population-Based Study in Brazil.

Aim. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and its associated risk factors in adults from Brasilia, Brazil. Methods. The present cross-sectional population-based study consisted of interviews with individuals aged 18-65 years. Participants were selected through two-stage probability sampling by clusters and stratified by sex and age. Demographic and clinical data were collected directly with participants from February to May 2012. Self-reported diabetes prevalence was calculated at a 95% confidence interval (CI). Prevalence ratios (PR) were adjusted by Poisson regression with robust variance. Results. In all, 1,820 individuals were interviewed. Diabetes prevalence in the adult population of Brasilia was 10.1% (95% CI, 8.5%-11.6%). Variables associated with diabetes were an age between 35 and 49 years (PR = 1.83; 95% CI, 1.19-2.82) or 50 and 65 years (PR = 1.95; 95% CI, 1.17-3.23), hypertension (PR = 4.04; 95% CI, 2.66-6.13), respiratory disease (PR = 1.67; 95% CI, 1.11-2.50), cardiovascular disease (PR = 1.74; 95% CI, 1.15-2.63), and pain/discomfort (PR = 1.71; 95% CI, 1.21-2.41). Conclusion. Diabetes is a prevalent condition in adults living in Brasilia, and disease risk increases with age and comorbidities. Future health policies should focus on screening programs and prevention for the more vulnerable groups.

Prevalence of depression morbidity among Brazilian adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder, as assessed in population-based cross-sectional studies of Brazilian adults. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature. The major databases were searched up through October 2013. Two researchers selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed their methodological quality. Meta-analyses were performed using random effects. Results: Of the 2,971 records retrieved, we selected 27 studies that assessed the prevalence of depression morbidity in 464,734 individuals (66% women). Eleven different screening tools were used to assess depression morbidity. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 14% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 13-16; I2 = 99.5%), whereas the 1-year prevalence of major depressive disorder was 8% (95%CI 7-10; I2 = 86.7%), and the lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder was 17% (95%CI 14-19; I2 = 91.6%). All rates were higher in women than in men. No causes of heterogeneity could be identified. Conclusion: Depression morbidity was common among Brazilian adults, and affects more women than men. Inconsistencies across studies highlight the need for standardization of future research. Clinicians should routinely investigate for the presence of depression morbidity in this population. .

Prevalence of depression morbidity among Brazilian adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder, as assessed in population-based cross-sectional studies of Brazilian adults. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the literature. The major databases were searched up through October 2013. Two researchers selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed their methodological quality. Meta-analyses were performed using random effects. RESULTS: Of the 2,971 records retrieved, we selected 27 studies that assessed the prevalence of depression morbidity in 464,734 individuals (66% women). Eleven different screening tools were used to assess depression morbidity. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 14% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 13-16; I2 = 99.5%), whereas the 1-year prevalence of major depressive disorder was 8% (95%CI 7-10; I2 = 86.7%), and the lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder was 17% (95%CI 14-19; I2 = 91.6%). All rates were higher in women than in men. No causes of heterogeneity could be identified. CONCLUSION: Depression morbidity was common among Brazilian adults, and affects more women than men. Inconsistencies across studies highlight the need for standardization of future research. Clinicians should routinely investigate for the presence of depression morbidity in this population.

Problem-based learning in pharmaceutical education: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of problem-based learning (PBL) on the learning achievements of pharmacy students. METHODS: We searched for controlled studies that compared PBL to traditional learning in pharmacy courses (graduate and undergraduate) in the major literature databases up to January 2014. Two independent researchers selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the studies. Meta-analyses of the outcomes were performed using a random effects model. RESULTS: From 1,988 retrieved records, five were included in present review. The studies assessed students' impressions about the PBL method and compared student grades on the midterm and final examinations. PBL students performed better on midterm examinations (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46; confidence interval [IC] 95%: 1.16, 1.89) and final examinations (OR = 1.60; IC 95%: 1.06, 2.43) compared with students in the traditional learning groups. No difference was found between the groups in the subjective evaluations. CONCLUSION: pharmacy students' knowledge was improved by the PBL method. Pharmaceutical education courses should consider implementing PBL.

Medication use in adults living in Brasilia, Brazil: a cross-sectional, population-based study.

PURPOSE: To assess the prevalence of medicine use in adults of Brasilia and to elucidate the associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with adults (18 to 65 years) living in Brasilia, who were selected using a two-stage probabilistic sampling and interviewed in their home, from February to May 2012. The primary outcome was the use of medicines in the last 7 days. A Poisson regression with robust variance was employed to adjust for covariates following a hierarchical model. RESULTS: The study included 1820 individuals (11% losses), 60% of which were women, and the mean age was 37 ± 12.6 years. The prevalence of drug consumption was 35.7% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 33.5%-37.9%). Medicine consumption was significantly higher in women (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.54; 95%CI: 1.28-1.85); unemployed or retired people (PR = 1.35; 95%CI: 1.15-1.59); people with hypertension (PR = 2.33; 95%CI: 2.00-2.71), diabetes (PR = 1.46; 95%CI: 1.22-1.74), depression (PR = 1.32; 95%CI: 1.13-1.53), or other chronic diseases (PR = 1.50; 95%CI: 1.26-1.79); and study participants who had a recent medical consultation (PR = 1.49; 95%CI: 1.29-1.71). Medication use was significantly higher at older ages. The participants obtained about half of the drugs from the Brazilian public health system, but this access was significantly different according to the economic class. CONCLUSIONS: Medication use was common among adults living in Brasilia and is associated with sex, age, health conditions, and access to healthcare.

Prevalence of hypertension and associated factors in an indigenous community of central Brazil: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular risk factors among the native indigenous of Jaguapiru village in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. METHOD: A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted with adult indigenous aged 18 years or more. The subjects' blood pressure was measured twice, and the mean of the two measurements was calculated. Body weight, height, capillary blood glucose and waist circumference were measured. Pregnant women, individuals using glucocorticoids, and non-indigenous villagers and their offspring were excluded. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted on the socio-demographic and clinical independent variables. Interactions between independent variables were also tested. RESULTS: We included 1,608 native indigenous eligible to the research. The prevalence of hypertension was 29.5% (95% CI: 27-31.5), with no significant difference between the genders. For both men and women, diastolic hypertension was more common than systolic hypertension. The prevalence of hypertension was higher among obese, diabetic, and older participants, as well as those who consumed alcohol, had a lower educational level, or had a family history of hypertension. There was no association between hypertension and tobacco smoking or family income. CONCLUSION: Hypertension among the indigenous from Jaguapiru village was similar to the prevalence in the Brazilians, but may have a more negative effect in such disadvantaged population. The associated factors we found can help drawing prevention policies.

Pubertal timing in girls and depression: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Because the incidence of depression increases after puberty, it is possible that pubertal timing in girls influences the onset of depression. Our objective was to assess the effect of early and late puberty in girls on the incidence of depression. METHODS: We systematically searched relevant databases for controlled studies that assessed the impact of pubertal timing in girls on the incidence of depression or depressive symptoms. The last search was completed in August 2013. Two authors selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of the evidence. Meta-analyses of the adjusted and unadjusted results were calculated using random effects. RESULTS: Four cohort studies were included (n=8055 participants). Early puberty significantly increased the risk of new cases of depression in the unadjusted meta-analysis (RR=1.33; CI 95%: 1.02, 1.73) but not in the adjusted estimate of two of the included studies (RR=1.48; CI 95%: 0.69, 2.28). For late puberty, no significant associations were found (unadjusted RR=1.28; CI 95%: 0.87, 1.88). Two studies assessed the effect of early puberty on depressive symptoms and found positive associations. The quality of the available evidence was rated as very low. LIMITATIONS: The polled results had wide confidence intervals, and the available evidence was of very low quality. CONCLUSIONS: The available evidence supports little confidence regarding the impact of pubertal timing on the onset of depression in girls but suggests that early puberty in girls may increase the risk of depression. Further higher quality studies are needed to clarify the association between pubertal timing and the incidence of depression in girls and women.

Antídotos e medicamentos utilizados para tratar intoxicações no Brasil: necessidades, disponibilidade e oportunidades / Antidotes and medicines used to treat poisoning in Brazil: needs, availability and opportunities / Antídotos y medicamentos utilizados para tratar intoxicaciones en Brasil: necesidades, disponibilidad y oportunidades

Antídotos e determinados medicamentos são essenciais ao tratamento de algumas intoxicações e não podem sofrer falhas no abastecimento, sob o risco de prejudicar a saúde e a segurança da população. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a disponibilidade de antídotos e medicamentos recomendados para o tratamento de intoxicações no Brasil. A partir de consensos internacionais, foram selecionados 41 antídotos para análise, todos sem patente em vigência. Desses, 27 são registrados, porém 11 estão disponíveis em formas inadequadas ao tratamento de intoxicações, restando 16 medicamentos comercialmente disponíveis. Somente um terço dos medicamentos necessários para o tratamento de intoxicações está incluído na relação de medicamentos essenciais do país. Em adição, é apresentada proposta de suprimento das demandas a um dos antídotos, anticorpo antidigoxina, considerando a capacidade de produção nacional de imunobiológicos. Os resultados demonstram limitação da assistência adequada aos pacientes intoxicados no país e reforçam a necessidade urgente de políticas públicas na área.

Antidotes and certain other drugs are essential for treating some types of poisoning. Failures in their supply can jeopardize the population's health and safety. The current study aimed to assess the availability of antidotes and other drugs used in the treatment of poisonings in Brazil. International guidelines were used as the basis for selecting 41 antidotes for analysis, none of which currently protected by patents. Of these, 27 are registered in Brazil, but 11 of these are available in inadequate forms for treating poisoning, leaving 16 commercially available antidotes. Only one-third of the drugs needed for treating poisoning are included in the country's list of essential drugs. The article also presents a proposal for supplying the demand for one of the antidotes, anti-digoxin antibody, considering Brazil's domestic capacity for manufacturing immunobiologicals. The study's results show the limitations to adequate treatment for poison victims in Brazil and reinforce the urgent need to strengthen public policies in this area.

Los antídotos y determinados medicamentos son esenciales para el tratamiento de algunas intoxicaciones, y su disponibilidad no puede fallar, o la salud y la seguridad de la población se ponen en peligro. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la disponibilidad de antídotos y fármacos recomendados para el tratamiento por intoxicaciones en Brasil. Se seleccionaron para el análisis 41 antídotos de reconocido consenso internacional, todos ellos sin patentes en vigor. Veintisiete estaban registrados en Brasil, pero 11 se venden en preparados farmacéuticos, no apropiados para el tratamiento de intoxicaciones, lo que da como resultado 16 medicamentos disponibles en el mercado. Sólo se incluyen en la lista brasileña de medicamentos esenciales un tercio de los medicamentos necesarios para tratar intoxicaciones. Además, se presenta una propuesta para suplir uno de los antídotos, anticuerpo antidigoxina, considerando la capacidad de producción nacional. Los resultados muestran limitaciones en una atención adecuada a los pacientes intoxicados en Brasil y refuerzan la necesidad urgente de fortalecer las políticas públicas en este ámbito.

Hypothermia for perinatal brain hypoxia-ischemia in different resource settings: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of hypothermia on mortality of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in different economic resources settings. METHODS: We searched for randomized controlled trials on MEDLINE, Embase and other databases. Duplicate reviewers selected the studies and extracted data. We calculated meta-analyses of the relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and used meta-regression to evaluate the gross domestic product per capita influence on hypothermia efficacy. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included (n = 1889); eight were conducted in lower income countries (n = 662). Hypothermia significantly reduced mortality (RR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.65-0.92). Meta-regression revealed that hypothermia efficacy does not increase as the gross domestic product per capita rises. CONCLUSIONS: There is enough evidence to support hypothermia as the standard care for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Evidence from low-resource settings is limited, but hypothermia efficacy was not shown to be associated with better resources countries.

Safety of benzathine penicillin for preventing congenital syphilis: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of serious adverse reactions to benzathine penicillin in pregnant women for preventing congenital syphilis. METHODS: We searched for clinical trials or cohorts that assessed the incidence of serious adverse reactions to benzathine penicillin in pregnant women and the general population (indirect evidence). MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus and other databases were searched up to December 2012. The GRADE approach was used to assess quality of evidence. Absolute risks of each study were calculated along with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). We employed the DerSimonian and Laird random effects model in the meta-analyses. RESULTS: From 2,765 retrieved studies we included 13, representing 3,466,780 patients. The studies that included pregnant women were conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of benzathine penicillin: no serious adverse reactions were reported among the 1,244 pregnant women included. In the general population, among 2,028,982 patients treated, 4 died from an adverse reaction. The pooled risk of death was virtually zero. Fifty-four cases of anaphylaxis were reported (pooled absolute risk = 0.002%; 95% CI: 0%-0.003% I(2) = 12%). From that estimate, penicillin treatment would be expected to result in an incidence of 0 to 3 cases of anaphylaxis per 100,000 treated. Any adverse reactions were reported in 6,377 patients among 3,465,322 treated with penicillin (pooled absolute risk = 0.169%; 95% CI: 0.073%-0.265% I(2) = 97%). The quality of evidence was very low. CONCLUSION: Studies that assessed the risk of serious adverse events due to benzathine penicillin treatment in pregnant women were scarce, but no reports of adverse reactions were found. The incidence of severe adverse outcomes was very low in the general population. The risk of treating pregnant women with benzathine penicillin to prevent congenital syphilis appears very low and does not outweigh its benefits. Further research is needed to improve the quality of evidence.