Combination of Tele-Cardiology Tools for Cardiovascular Risk Stratification in Primary Care: Data from the PROVAR+ Study. / Combinação de Ferramentas de Telecardiologia para Estratificação de Risco Cardiovascular na Atenção Primária: Dados do Estudo PROVAR.

BACKGROUND: Tele-cardiology tools are valuable strategies to improve risk stratification. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of tele-electrocardiography (ECG) to predict abnormalities in screening echocardiography (echo) in primary care (PC). METHODS: In 17 months, 6 health providers at 16 PC units were trained on simplified handheld echo protocols. Tele-ECGs were recorded for final diagnosis by a cardiologist. Consented patients with major ECG abnormalities by the Minnesota code, and a 1:5 sample of normal individuals underwent clinical questionnaire and screening echo interpreted remotely. Major heart disease was defined as moderate/severe valve disease, ventricular dysfunction/hypertrophy, pericardial effusion, or wall-motion abnormalities. Association between major ECG and echo abnormalities was assessed by logistic regression as follows: 1) unadjusted model; 2) model 1 adjusted for age/sex; 3) model 2 plus risk factors (hypertension/diabetes); 4) model 3 plus history of cardiovascular disease (Chagas/rheumatic heart disease/ischemic heart disease/stroke/heart failure). P-values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: A total 1,411 patients underwent echo; 1,149 (81%) had major ECG abnormalities. Median age was 67 (IQR 60 to 74) years, and 51.4% were male. Major ECG abnormalities were associated with a 2.4-fold chance of major heart disease on echo in bivariate analysis (OR = 2.42 [95% CI 1.76 to 3.39]), and remained significant after adjustments in models (p < 0.001) 2 (OR = 2.57 [95% CI 1.84 to 3.65]), model 3 (OR = 2.52 [95% CI 1.80 to3.58]), and model 4 (OR = 2.23 [95%CI 1.59 to 3.19]). Age, male sex, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease were also independent predictors of major heart disease on echo. CONCLUSIONS: Tele-ECG abnormalities increased the likelihood of major heart disease on screening echo, even after adjustments for demographic and clinical variables.

FUNDAMENTO: As ferramentas de telecardiologia são estratégias valiosas para melhorar a estratificação de risco. OBJETIVO: Objetivamos avaliar a acurácia da tele-eletrocardiografia (ECG) para predizer anormalidades no ecocardiograma de rastreamento na atenção primária. MÉTODOS: Em 17 meses, 6 profissionais de saúde em 16 unidades de atenção primária foram treinados em protocolos simplificados de ecocardiografia portátil. Tele-ECGs foram registrados para diagnóstico final por um cardiologista. Pacientes consentidos com anormalidades maiores no ECG pelo código de Minnesota e uma amostra 1:5 de indivíduos normais foram submetidos a um questionário clínico e ecocardiograma de rastreamento interpretado remotamente. A doença cardíaca grave foi definida como doença valvular moderada/grave, disfunção/hipertrofia ventricular, derrame pericárdico ou anormalidade da motilidade. A associação entre alterações maiores do ECG e anormalidades ecocardiográficas foi avaliada por regressão logística da seguinte forma: 1) modelo não ajustado; 2) modelo 1 ajustado por idade/sexo; 3) modelo 2 mais fatores de risco (hipertensão/diabetes); 4) modelo 3 mais história de doença cardiovascular (Chagas/cardiopatia reumática/cardiopatia isquêmica/AVC/insuficiência cardíaca). Foram considerados significativos valores de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: No total, 1.411 pacientes realizaram ecocardiograma, sendo 1.149 (81%) com anormalidades maiores no ECG. A idade mediana foi de 67 anos (intervalo interquartil de 60 a 74) e 51,4% eram do sexo masculino. As anormalidades maiores no ECG se associaram a uma chance 2,4 vezes maior de doença cardíaca grave no ecocardiograma de rastreamento na análise bivariada (OR = 2,42 [IC 95% 1,76 a 3,39]) e permaneceram significativas (p < 0,001) após ajustes no modelo 2 (OR = 2,57 [IC 95% 1,84 a 3,65]), modelo 3 (OR = 2,52 [IC 95% 1,80 a 3,58]) e modelo 4 (OR = 2,23 [IC 95% 1,59 a 3,19]). Idade, sexo masculino, insuficiência cardíaca e doença cardíaca isquêmica também foram preditores independentes de doença cardíaca grave no ecocardiograma. CONCLUSÕES: As anormalidades do tele-ECG aumentaram a probabilidade de doença cardíaca grave no ecocardiograma de rastreamento, mesmo após ajustes para variáveis demográficas e clínicas.

Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Chagas Disease: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal manifestations among individuals with positive serology for Chagas disease (ChD) and to describe the clinical gastrointestinal manifestations of the disease. A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted based on the criteria and recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. The PubMed, Scopus, Virtual Health Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases were used to search for evidence. Two reviewers independently selected eligible articles and extracted data. RStudio® software was used for the meta-analysis. For subgroup analysis, the studies were divided according to the origin of the individuals included: 1) individuals from health units were included in the health care service prevalence analysis, and 2) individuals from the general population were included in the population prevalence analysis. A total of 2,570 articles were identified, but after removal of duplicates and application of inclusion criteria, 24 articles were included and 21 were part of the meta-analysis. Most of the studies were conducted in Brazil. Radiological diagnosis was the most frequent method used to identify the gastrointestinal clinical form. The combined effect of meta-analysis studies showed a prevalence of gastrointestinal manifestations in individuals with ChD of 12% (95% CI, 8.0-17.0%). In subgroup analysis, the prevalence for studies involving health care services was 16% (95% CI, 11.0-23.0%), while the prevalence for population-based studies was 9% (95% CI, 5.0-15.0%). Megaesophagus and megacolon were the main forms of ChD presentation in the gastrointestinal form. The prevalence of gastrointestinal manifestations of ChD was 12%. Knowing the prevalence of ChD in its gastrointestinal form is an important step in planning health actions for these patients.

Assessment of the quality of life and mental health of healthcare students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and the presence of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress among students in the healthcare field, in comparison to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A comparative cross-sectional research was conducted at a Brazilian public university. QOL was assessed using the WHOQOL-bref scale, while symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were evaluated using the DASS-21 scale. Descriptive and inferential analyses were employed to compare the two time periods. RESULTS: A total of 355 students participated in this study. During the pandemic, there were significant increases in severe depression symptoms (15.1% versus 24.8%), moderate anxiety (18.3% versus 29.4%), and moderate stress (40.9% versus 53.8%) observed among the participants. Additionally, a significant reduction in QOL was noted, particularly in the domain of social relationships (65.2 versus 59.6, p-value 0.029). CONCLUSION: The study highlights a deterioration in both the quality of life and the mental health of healthcare students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en estudiantes del área de la salud e impacto en la calidad de vida / Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in health students and impact on quality of life / Sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse em estudantes da saúde e impacto na qualidade de vida

Objetivo: evaluar la asociación entre la calidad de vida y la presencia de síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en estudiantes universitarios del área de la salud. Método: estudio transversal que incluyó a 321 estudiantes de carreras del área de la salud. La calidad de vida se midió mediante la escala de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, versión abreviada, en los dominios físico, psicológico, relaciones sociales y ambiente, y los síntomas se evaluaron por la escala de depresión, ansiedad y estrés. Se realizó un análisis multivariante por medio de regresión lineal robusta para evaluar la asociación entre la calidad de vida y los síntomas presentados. Resultados: se observó una asociación negativa entre la calidad de vida y los síntomas de depresión en todos los dominios, mientras que los síntomas de ansiedad tuvieron una asociación negativa en el dominio ambiente, y los síntomas de estrés tuvieron una asociación negativa en el dominio psicológico. La gravedad de los síntomas se asoció desfavorablemente con la calidad de vida, es decir, cuanto mayor la gravedad de los síntomas, menores las puntuaciones medias en todos los dominios. Conclusión: los síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés fueron prevalentes e impactaron negativamente en la calidad de vida de los estudiantes, especialmente en presencia de síntomas depresivos. Las puntuaciones disminuidas se asociaron significativamente con la gravedad de los síntomas.

Objective: to evaluate the association between quality of life and presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in college students in the health area. Method: cross-sectional study that included 321 students from undergraduate courses in the health area. Quality of life was measured using the World Health Organization scale, abbreviated version, in the physical, psychological, social relations and environment domains, and symptoms were assessed by the depression, anxiety and stress scale. Multivariate analysis was performed using robust linear regression to evaluate the association between quality of life and symptoms. Results: a negative association was observed between the quality of life and depression symptoms in all domains, while anxiety symptoms showed a negative association in the environment domain, and stress symptoms had a negative association in the psychological domain. Symptom severity was unfavorably associated with quality of life, that is, the greater the symptom severity, the lower the mean scores in all domains. Conclusion: symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were prevalent and had a negative impact on students' quality of life, especially in the presence of depressive symptoms. The decrease in scores was significantly associated with the severity of symptoms.

Objetivo: avaliar a associação entre qualidade de vida e presença de sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse em estudantes universitários da área da saúde. Método: estudo transversal que incluiu 321 estudantes de cursos de graduação da área da saúde. A qualidade de vida foi mensurada por meio da escala da Organização Mundial da Saúde, versão abreviada, nos domínios físico, psicológico, relações sociais e meio ambiente, e os sintomas avaliados pela escala de depressão, ansiedade e estresse. Foi realizada análise multivariada utilizando regressão linear robusta para avaliar a associação entre qualidade de vida e sintomas apresentados. Resultados: observou- se associação negativa entre qualidade de vida e sintomas de depressão em todos os domínios, enquanto os sintomas de ansiedade apresentaram associação negativa no domínio meio ambiente, e os sintomas de estresse tiveram associação negativa no domínio psicológico. A gravidade dos sintomas associou-se de forma desfavorável com a qualidade de vida, ou seja, quanto maior a gravidade dos sintomas, menor a média dos escores em todos os domínios. Conclusão: sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse mostraram-se prevalentes e com impacto negativo na qualidade de vida dos estudantes, principalmente na presença de sintomas depressivos. A diminuição dos escores foi significativamente associada à gravidade dos sintomas.

Chagas disease and perceived quality of life: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease (ChD) is a neglected tropical disease that is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and can negatively impact quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess and compare QoL between individuals with and without ChD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed within a concurrent cohort study (REDS). The participants were derived from two blood donation centers: São Paulo capital and Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants with ChD were identified in blood donations by serological diagnosis between 2008 and 2010, and those without ChD were donors with negative serology identified during the same period. QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between the groups, and mean, standard deviation, and beta regression were used to compare QoL. RESULTS: In total, 611 individuals participated in the study (328 with ChD and 283 without ChD). Participants with ChD had lower QoL in the physical (p=0.02) and psychological (p<0.01) domains than did individuals without CD. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with ChD had worse QoL perceptions. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of ChD on individuals' QoL, while also highlighting potential opportunities for improving the care and treatment of those affected.

Screening for Chagas disease from the electrocardiogram using a deep neural network.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, it is estimated that over 6 million people are infected with Chagas disease (ChD). It is a neglected disease that can lead to severe heart conditions in its chronic phase. While early treatment can avoid complications, the early-stage detection rate is low. We explore the use of deep neural networks to detect ChD from electrocardiograms (ECGs) to aid in the early detection of the disease. METHODS: We employ a convolutional neural network model that uses 12-lead ECG data to compute the probability of a ChD diagnosis. Our model is developed using two datasets which jointly comprise over two million entries from Brazilian patients: The SaMi-Trop study focusing on ChD patients, enriched with data from the CODE study from the general population. The model's performance is evaluated on two external datasets: the REDS-II, a study focused on ChD with 631 patients, and the ELSA-Brasil study, with 13,739 civil servant patients. FINDINGS: Evaluating our model, we obtain an AUC-ROC of 0.80 (CI 95% 0.79-0.82) for the validation set (samples from CODE and SaMi-Trop), and in external validation datasets: 0.68 (CI 95% 0.63-0.71) for REDS-II and 0.59 (CI 95% 0.56-0.63) for ELSA-Brasil. In the latter, we report a sensitivity of 0.52 (CI 95% 0.47-0.57) and 0.36 (CI 95% 0.30-0.42) and a specificity of 0.77 (CI 95% 0.72-0.81) and 0.76 (CI 95% 0.75-0.77), respectively. Additionally, when considering only patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy as positive, the model achieved an AUC-ROC of 0.82 (CI 95% 0.77-0.86) for REDS-II and 0.77 (CI 95% 0.68-0.85) for ELSA-Brasil. INTERPRETATION: The neural network detects chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) from ECG-with weaker performance for early-stage cases. Future work should focus on curating large higher-quality datasets. The CODE dataset, our largest development dataset includes self-reported and therefore less reliable labels, limiting performance for non-CCC patients. Our findings can improve ChD detection and treatment, particularly in high-prevalence areas.

Anxiety and depression symptoms in university students from public institutions of higher education in Brazil during the covid-19 pandemic: a multicenter study

This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study carried out with students regularly enrolled in undergraduate courses at eight Brazilian IFES. Data collection was conducted between October 2021 and February 2022 using an online self-completed questionnaire, which addressed sociodemographic and academic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and health conditions. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Variables were analyzed descriptively using frequency distribution and Pearson's chi-square test. To estimate the prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression, the proportion and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used. The level of adopted statistical significance was 5%.

Evaluation of the properties of WHODAS-12 measurements in individuals with Chagas disease in Brazil.

Numerous tests employed to predict cardiac and functional status are expensive and not widely accessible for a considerable number of patients, particularly those diagnosed with Chagas disease (CD) residing in remote and endemic regions. To date, there is no knowledge of studies that have validated instruments that address functionality in an expanded way, including the biopsychosocial factors in patients with CD. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), in its 12-item shortened version (WHODAS-12) when applied to patients with CD. This is a cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort that follows individuals with CD (SaMi-Trop). Data collection took place between October 2019 and March 2020. In the interviews, sociodemographic information, life habits, clinical information, and indicators of disability measured by WHODAS-12 were collected. Descriptive analysis, internal consistency and construct validity of the instrument were performed. A total of 628 patients with CD were interviewed, most were women (69.5%), their mean age was of 57 years, and most declared an average self-perception of health (43.4%). The 12 items of WHODAS-12 were distributed into three factors, which together account for 61% of the variance. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index was 0.90, indicating adequacy of the sample for factor analysis. The internal consistency of the global scale showed alpha = 0.87. The percentage of incapacity was 16.05%, indicating mild incapacity for the evaluated patients. WHODAS-12 is a valid and reliable measure to assess the disability of the Brazilian population with CD.

Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in health students and impact on quality of life. / Síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en estudiantes del área de la salud e impacto en la calidad de vida.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the association between quality of life and presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress in college students in the health area. METHOD: cross-sectional study that included 321 students from undergraduate courses in the health area. Quality of life was measured using the World Health Organization scale, abbreviated version, in the physical, psychological, social relations and environment domains, and symptoms were assessed by the depression, anxiety and stress scale. Multivariate analysis was performed using robust linear regression to evaluate the association between quality of life and symptoms. RESULTS: a negative association was observed between the quality of life and depression symptoms in all domains, while anxiety symptoms showed a negative association in the environment domain, and stress symptoms had a negative association in the psychological domain. Symptom severity was unfavorably associated with quality of life, that is, the greater the symptom severity, the lower the mean scores in all domains. CONCLUSION: symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were prevalent and had a negative impact on students' quality of life, especially in the presence of depressive symptoms. The decrease in scores was significantly associated with the severity of symptoms.

The Challenges of Implementing a Text Message Intervention to Promote Behavioral Change in Primary Care Patients With Hypertension and Diabetes

Abstract Background Controlling blood pressure and glycemic levels is a challenge that requires innovative solutions. Objective To assess the feasibility of implementing a text message intervention among low-income primary care patients, as well as to assess self-reported behavioral change. Methods A set of 200 text messages was developed on healthy eating, physical activity, adherence, and motivation. Participants from Vale do Mucuri, MG, Brazil diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension or undergoing screening for those diseases, received 5 to 8 messages per week for 6 months. They answered a questionnaire to report their satisfaction and behavioral changes. Results Of the 136 patients, 117 (86.0%) answered the questionnaire. Most reported that the messages were very useful (86.3%), easy to understand (90.6%), and were very helpful for behavioral change (65.0%); 84.6% reported that they had started eating healthier. The most frequent reported lifestyle changes were: improved diet quality (85.5%), reduced portions (65.8%), and weight loss (56.4%). The majority of patients shared the messages (60.7%) with family or other acquaintances, considered the number of messages to be adequate (89.7%) and would recommend the program to others (95.7%). Conclusion An intervention based on text messages to promote behavioral change in patients with hypertension or diabetes in primary care is feasible in low-resource settings. Future studies are needed to assess the program's long-term effects on clinical outcomes.

Chagas disease and perceived quality of life: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Background: Chagas disease (ChD) is a neglected tropical disease that is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and can negatively impact quality of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess and compare QoL between individuals with and without ChD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed within a concurrent cohort study (REDS). The participants were derived from two blood donation centers: São Paulo capital and Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Participants with ChD were identified in blood donations by serological diagnosis between 2008 and 2010, and those without ChD were donors with negative serology identified during the same period. QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to compare sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between the groups, and mean, standard deviation, and beta regression were used to compare QoL. Results: In total, 611 individuals participated in the study (328 with ChD and 283 without ChD). Participants with ChD had lower QoL in the physical (p=0.02) and psychological (p<0.01) domains than did individuals without CD. Conclusions: Individuals with ChD had worse QoL perceptions. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of ChD on individuals' QoL, while also highlighting potential opportunities for improving the care and treatment of those affected.

Assessment of the quality of life and mental health of healthcare students during the COVID-19 pandemic / Evaluación de la calidad de vida y la salud mental de estudiantes de salud durante la pandemia de COVID-19 / Avaliação da qualidade de vida e saúde mental de estudantes da saúde durante a pandemia de COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and the presence of symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and stress among students in the healthcare field, in comparison to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional research was conducted at a Brazilian public university. QOL was assessed using the WHOQOL-bref scale, while symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were evaluated using the DASS-21 scale. Descriptive and inferential analyses were employed to compare the two time periods. Results: A total of 355 students participated in this study. During the pandemic, there were significant increases in severe depression symptoms (15.1% versus 24.8%), moderate anxiety (18.3% versus 29.4%), and moderate stress (40.9% versus 53.8%) observed among the participants. Additionally, a significant reduction in QOL was noted, particularly in the domain of social relationships (65.2 versus 59.6, p-value 0.029). Conclusion: The study highlights a deterioration in both the quality of life and the mental health of healthcare students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida (CV) y la presencia de síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en estudiantes del área de la salud, en comparación con el período previo a la pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: Investigación transversal comparativa realizada en una universidad pública brasileña. La CV se evaluó utilizando la escala WHOQOL-bref, mientras que los síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y estrés se evaluaron utilizando la escala DASS-21. Se emplearon análisis descriptivos e inferenciales para comparar los dos períodos. Resultados: Un total de 355 estudiantes participaron en este estudio. Durante la pandemia, se observaron aumentos significativos en los síntomas de depresión grave (15,1% versus 24,8%), ansiedad moderada (18,3% versus 29,4%) y estrés moderado (40,9% versus 53,8%) entre los participantes. Además, hubo una reducción significativa en la CV, especialmente en el ámbito de las relaciones sociales (65,2 versus 59,6, valor de p 0,029). Conclusión: Se evidenció un deterioro en tanto la calidad de vida como la salud mental de los estudiantes de salud durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida (QV) e a presença de sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse em estudantes da área da saúde, em comparação ao período anterior à pandemia de COVID-19. Métodos: Pesquisa transversal comparativa em uma universidade pública brasileira. A QV foi avaliada por meio da escala WHOQOL-bref, enquanto os sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse foram avaliados usando a escala DASS-21. Foram empregadas análises descritivas e inferenciais para comparar os dois períodos. Resultados: Um total de 355 estudantes participaram deste estudo. Durante a pandemia, foram observados aumentos significantes nos sintomas de depressão grave (15,1% versus 24,8%), ansiedade moderada (18,3% versus 29,4%) e estresse moderado (40,9% versus 53,8%) entre os participantes. Além disso, houve uma redução significativa na QV, especialmente no domínio das relações sociais (65,2 versus 59,6, p-valor 0,029). Conclusão: Evidenciou-se piora da QV e da saúde mental dos estudantes da saúde durante a pandemia de COVID-19.

Evaluation of the properties of WHODAS-12 measurements in individuals with Chagas disease in Brazil

ABSTRACT Numerous tests employed to predict cardiac and functional status are expensive and not widely accessible for a considerable number of patients, particularly those diagnosed with Chagas disease (CD) residing in remote and endemic regions. To date, there is no knowledge of studies that have validated instruments that address functionality in an expanded way, including the biopsychosocial factors in patients with CD. This study aims to evaluate the psychometric properties of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), in its 12-item shortened version (WHODAS-12) when applied to patients with CD. This is a cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort that follows individuals with CD (SaMi-Trop). Data collection took place between October 2019 and March 2020. In the interviews, sociodemographic information, life habits, clinical information, and indicators of disability measured by WHODAS-12 were collected. Descriptive analysis, internal consistency and construct validity of the instrument were performed. A total of 628 patients with CD were interviewed, most were women (69.5%), their mean age was of 57 years, and most declared an average self-perception of health (43.4%). The 12 items of WHODAS-12 were distributed into three factors, which together account for 61% of the variance. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index was 0.90, indicating adequacy of the sample for factor analysis. The internal consistency of the global scale showed alpha = 0.87. The percentage of incapacity was 16.05%, indicating mild incapacity for the evaluated patients. WHODAS-12 is a valid and reliable measure to assess the disability of the Brazilian population with CD.

Genome-wide association study for Chagas Cardiomyopathy identify a new risk locus on chromosome 18 associated with an immune-related protein and transcriptional signature.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCC) usually develops between 10 and 20 years after the first parasitic infection and is one of the leading causes of end-stage heart failure in Latin America. Despite the great inter-individual variability in CCC susceptibility (only 30% of infected individuals ever present CCC), there are no known predictors for disease development in those chronically infected. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We describe a new susceptibility locus for CCC through a GWAS analysis in the SaMi-Trop cohort, a population-based study conducted in a Chagas endemic region from Brazil. This locus was also associated with CCC in the REDS II Study. The newly identified locus (rs34238187, OR 0.73, p-value 2.03 x 10-9) spans a haplotype of approximately 30Kb on chromosome 18 (chr18: 5028302-5057621) and is also associated with 80 different traits, most of them blood protein traits significantly enriched for immune-related biological pathways. Hi-C data show that the newly associated locus is able to interact with chromatin sites as far as 10Mb on chromosome 18 in a number of different cell types and tissues. Finally, we were able to confirm, at the tissue transcriptional level, the immune-associated blood protein signature using a multi-tissue differential gene expression and enrichment analysis. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We suggest that the newly identified locus impacts CCC risk among T cruzi infected individuals through the modulation of a downstream transcriptional and protein signature associated with host-parasite immune response. Functional characterization of the novel risk locus is warranted.

Synchronous Teleconsultation and Monitoring Service Targeting COVID-19: Leveraging Insights for Postpandemic Health Care.

BACKGROUND: Although a great number of teleconsultation services have been developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, studies assessing usability and health care provider satisfaction are still incipient. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the development, implementation, and expansion of a synchronous teleconsultation service targeting patients with symptoms of COVID-19 in Brazil, as well as to assess its usability and health care professionals' satisfaction. METHODS: This mixed methods study was developed in 5 phases: (1) the identification of components, technical and functional requirements, and system architecture; (2) system and user interface development and validation; (3) pilot-testing in the city of Divinópolis; (4) expansion in the cities of Divinópolis, Teófilo Otoni, and Belo Horizonte for Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais faculty and students; and (5) usability and satisfaction assessment, using Likert-scale and open-ended questions. RESULTS: During pilot development, problems contacting users were solved by introducing standardized SMS text messages, which were sent to users to obtain their feedback and keep track of them. Until April 2022, the expanded system served 31,966 patients in 146,158 teleconsultations. Teleconsultations were initiated through chatbot in 27.7% (40,486/146,158) of cases. Teleconsultation efficiency per city was 93.7% (13,317/14,212) in Teófilo Otoni, 92.4% (11,747/12,713) in Divinópolis, and 98.8% (4981/5041) in Belo Horizonte (university campus), thus avoiding in-person assistance for a great majority of patients. In total, 50 (83%) out of 60 health care professionals assessed the system's usability as satisfactory, despite a few system instability problems. CONCLUSIONS: The system provided updated information about COVID-19 and enabled remote care for thousands of patients, which evidenced the critical role of telemedicine in expanding emergency services capacity during the pandemic. The dynamic nature of the current pandemic required fast planning, implementation, development, and updates in the system. Usability and satisfaction assessment was key to identifying areas for improvement. The experience reported here is expected to inform telemedicine strategies to be implemented in a postpandemic scenario.

Failure to use health services by people with Chagas disease: Multilevel analysis of endemic area in Brazil.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of non-use of health services in the last year by people with Chagas disease (CD) in an endemic area in Brazil and the contextual and individual factors associated with this non-use. This is a multilevel study that considered contextual and individual data. Contextual data were collected from official publicly accessible databases of the Brazilian government, at the municipal level. The individual data came from the first follow-up of a Brazilian cohort that assessed patients with CD in 21 municipalities in endemic area for the disease. The sample consisted of 1,160 individuals with CD. The dependent variable "use of health services in the last year" was categorized as yes vs. no. The analysis was performed using Poisson regression with robust variance. The prevalence of non-use of health services in the last year was 23.5% (IC95%: 21.1-25.9). The contextual factor "larger population" (PR: 1.6; 95% CI = 1.2-2.0) and individual factors related to the lower severity of the disease as a functional class without limitations (PR: 1.6; 95% CI = 1.2-2.1) and unaltered N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide levels (PR: 2.2; 95% CI = 1.3-3.6) increased the prevalence of non-use of the health service in the last year by people with CD. The results of this study showed that individual determinants are not isolated protagonists of the non-use of health services in the last year by people with CD, which reinforces the need for public policies that consider the contextual determinants of the use of health services by populations affected by the disease.

Hospitalizations due to gastrointestinal Chagas disease: National registry.

OBJECTIVES: Analyze the hospitalizations of patients admitted for Chagas disease with gastro-intestinal involvement (CD-GI) in the Brazilian Unified Health System, describe the epidemiological profile, mortality and costs. METHODS: This is an observational study that uses secondary data from the National Hospital Information System (SIH-SUS) for the years 2017-2019. CD-GI admissions were defined by specific ICD-10 codes that identify the main diagnosis. RESULTS: From 2017 to 2019, there were 4,407 hospitalizations for CD-GI in Brazil, considering only public hospitals and those associated with the SUS. This corresponds to an average of 1,470 hospitalizations per year, or 0.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, with significant regional variation. Hospitalizations increased with age and were slightly higher in men. More than 60% were emergencies and in 50% the procedure performed was surgical. The most used code was the one for megaesophagus followed by megacolon. In-hospital mortality was 5.8% and 17.2% went to intensive care units. The median cost was USD$ 553.15 per hospitalization, and an overall cost of USD$ 812,579.98 per year to the SUS budget. CONCLUSION: The numbers, rates and costs presented here are possibly underestimated but they give us an idea of the overall profile of hospitalizations due to CD-GI, which are not rare and are related to significant in-hospital mortality. CD-GI is a neglected manifestation of a neglected disease.

Contextual influence on poor self-rated health in patients with Chagas disease: multilevel study.

Chagas disease (CD) is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the thirteen most neglected tropical diseases in the world. Self-perceived health is considered a better predictor of mortality than objective measures of health status, and the context in which one lives influences this predictor. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and individual and contextual factors associated with poor self-rated health among CD patients from an endemic region in Brazil. It is a multilevel cross-sectional study. The individual data come from a cross-section of a cohort study named SaMi-Trop. Contextual data was collected from publicly accessible institutional information systems and platforms. The dependent variable was self-perceived health. The analysis was performed using multilevel binary logistic regression. The study included 1,513 patients with CD, where 335 (22.1%) had Poor self-rated health. This study revealed the influence of the organization/offer of the Brazilian public health service and of individual characteristics on the self-perceived health of patients with CD.

Implementation of a text messaging intervention to patients on warfarin therapy in Brazilian primary care units: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin remains the most affordable oral anticoagulant in many countries. However, it may have serious side effects, and the success of the therapy depends on the patient's understanding of the medication and their adherence to treatment. The use of short messages services (SMS) is a strategy that can be used to educate patients, but there are no studies evaluating this intervention in patients taking warfarin. Therefore, we aimed to develop, implement, and assess the feasibility of an intervention using SMS to primary care patients taking warfarin in a medium-sized Brazilian city. METHODS: A bank of 79 SMS was drafted and validated by an expert panel. During 6 months, three times a week, patients received messages about anticoagulation with warfarin. At baseline and after 3 months, we assessed their knowledge and adherence with validated instruments. At the end of the follow-up, participants answered a satisfaction questionnaire. Subsequently, a scale-up phase was conducted, with another round of the intervention including 82 participants (29 from the first phase and 53 newly recruited). Seven months after the end of the scale-up, we asked the patients for their insights about the long-term effects of this program. All patients signed informed consent. The study was approved by the Research and Ethics committee of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. RESULTS: In the pilot, 33 (89.2%) patients completed the follow-up. Among the participants who answered the satisfaction questionnaire (n = 29), 86.2% considered that the intervention motivated a healthy lifestyle and improved their understanding of warfarin therapy. All patients were willing to continue receiving the messages. Adherence measured by the Measure of Adherence to Treatment (MAT) test was high in the pre-intervention assessment and remained high (96.7% vs. 93.3%; p = 1.0000). The proportion of patients who achieved > 75% correct answers on the Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge (OAK) test increased from 6.5% to 25.6, p = 0.0703. In the scale-up, 23 patients answered the long-term assessment questionnaire. The main long-term knowledge reported was dietary information. Nine patients received the messages but did not remember their content. CONCLUSION: The intervention was well-accepted and had a positive impact on patient's knowledge about oral anticoagulation therapy. The scale-up assessment reinforced the need to constantly monitor digital interventions.

Contextual influence on poor self-rated health in patients with Chagas disease: multilevel study / Influência contextual na pior autopercepção em saúde de portadores de Doença de Chagas: estudo multinível

Abstract Chagas disease (CD) is recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the thirteen most neglected tropical diseases in the world. Self-perceived health is considered a better predictor of mortality than objective measures of health status, and the context in which one lives influences this predictor. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and individual and contextual factors associated with poor self-rated health among CD patients from an endemic region in Brazil. It is a multilevel cross-sectional study. The individual data come from a cross-section of a cohort study named SaMi-Trop. Contextual data was collected from publicly accessible institutional information systems and platforms. The dependent variable was self-perceived health. The analysis was performed using multilevel binary logistic regression. The study included 1,513 patients with CD, where 335 (22.1%) had Poor self-rated health. This study revealed the influence of the organization/offer of the Brazilian public health service and of individual characteristics on the self-perceived health of patients with CD.

Resumo A Doença de Chagas (DC) é reconhecida pela Organização Mundial da Saúde como uma das treze doenças tropicais mais negligenciadas do mundo. A autopercepção de saúde é considerada um melhor preditor de mortalidade do que medidas objetivas do estado de saúde, e o contexto em que se vive influencia esse preditor. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência e os fatores individuais e contextuais associados à pior autopercepção em saúde de pacientes com DC de uma região endêmica do Brasil. É um estudo transversal multinível. Os dados individuais vêm de um corte transversal de um estudo de coorte denominado SaMi-Trop. Os dados contextuais foram coletados a partir de plataformas e sistemas de informações institucionais acessíveis ao público. A variável dependente foi a autopercepção de saúde. A análise foi realizada por meio de regressão logística binária multinível. Participaram do estudo 1.513 pacientes com DC, sendo 335 (22,1%) com pior autopercepção de saúde. Este estudo revelou a influência da organização/oferta do serviço público de saúde brasileiro e de características individuais na autopercepção de saúde de pacientes com DC.