Risk Factors, Presentation, and Outcome in Acute Stroke according to Social Position Indicators in Patients Hospitalised in a Referral Centre in Bogotá 2011-2019.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of stroke is time-dependent and it challenges patients' social and demographic context for timely consultation and effective access to reperfusion therapies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to relate indicators of social position to cardiovascular risk factors, time of arrival, access to reperfusion therapy, and mortality in the setting of acute stroke. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients with a diagnosis of ischaemic stroke in a referral hospital in Bogotá was performed. A simple random sample with a 5% margin of error and 95% confidence interval was selected. Patients were characterised according to educational level, place of origin, marital status, occupation, duration of symptoms before consultation, cardiovascular risk factors, access to reperfusion therapy, and mortality during hospitalisation. RESULTS: 558 patients were included with a slight predominance of women. Diagnosis of diabetes was more common in women and smoking in men (n = 68, 28.4% vs. n = 51, 15.9%; p = 0.0004). Rural origin was associated with higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidaemia (hypertension n = 45, 73.8% vs. n = 282, 57.4%; p = 0.007; diabetes n = 20, 33.3% vs. 109, 19.5%; p = 0.02; dyslipidaemia n = 19, 32.7% vs. n = 93, 18.9%; p = 0.02). Mortality was higher in rural patients (n = 8, 14.2% vs. n = 30, 6.1%; p = 0.03). Lower schooling was associated with higher frequency of hypertension and dyslipidaemia (hypertension n = 152, 76.0% vs. n = 94, 46.3%; p ≤ 0.0001; dyslipidaemia n = 56, 28% vs. n = 35, 17.0%; p = 0.009) as well as with late consultation (n = 30, 15% vs. n = 59, 28.7%; p = 0.0011) and lower probability of accessing reperfusion therapy (n = 12, 6% vs. n = 45, 22%; p ≤ 0.0001). Formal employment was associated with a visit to the emergency department in less than 3 h (n = 50, 25.2% vs. n = 58, 18%, p = 0.04 and a higher probability of accessing reperfusion therapy (n = 35, 17.6% vs. n = 33, 10.2%; p = 0.01). Finally, living in a household with a stratum higher than 3 was associated with a consultation before 3 h (n = 77, 25.5% vs. n = 39, 15.6%; p = 0.004) and a higher probability of reperfusion therapy (n = 57, 18.9% vs. n = 13, 5.2%; p ≤ 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Indicators of socio-economic status are related to mortality, consultation time, and access to reperfusion therapy. Mortality and reperfusion therapy are inequitably distributed and, therefore, more attention needs to be directed to the cause of these disparities in order to reduce the access gap in the context of acute stroke in Bogotá.

Cost-utility analysis of genomic profiling in early breast cancer in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: In Colombia, the best strategy to establish indication for adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer (EBC) remains unknown. This study aimed to identify the cost-utility of Oncotype DX™ (ODX) or Mammaprint™ (MMP) tests to establish the necessity of adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: This study used an adapted decision-analytic model to compare cost and outcomes of care between ODX or MMP tests and routine care without ODX or MMP tests (adjuvant chemotherapy for all patients) over a 5-year time horizon from the perspective of the Colombian National Health System (NHS; payer). Inputs were obtained from national unit cost tariffs, published literature, and clinical trial database. The study population comprised women with hormone-receptor-positive (HR +), HER2-negative, lymph-node-negative (LN0) EBC with high-risk clinical criteria for recurrence. The outcome measures were discounted incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR; 2021 United States dollar per quality-adjusted life-year [QALY] gained) and net monetary benefit (NMB). Probabilistic (PSA) and deterministic sensitivity analysis (DSA) were performed. RESULTS: ODX increases QALYs by 0.05 and MMP by 0.03 with savings of $2374 and $554 compared with the standard strategy, respectively, and were cost-saving in cost-utility plane. NMB for ODX was $2203 and for MMP was $416. Both tests dominate the standard strategy. Sensitivity analysis revealed that with a threshold of 1 gross domestic product per capita, ODX will be cost-effective in 95.5% of the cases compared with 70.2% cases involving MMP.DSA showed that the variable with significant influence was the monthly cost of adjuvant chemotherapy. PSA revealed that ODX was a consistently superior strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Genomic profiling using ODX or MMP tests to define the need of adjuvant chemotherapy treatment in patients with HR + and HER2 -EBC is a cost-effective strategy that allows Colombian NHS to maintain budget.

Effect of an Albumin Infusion Treatment Protocol on Delayed Cerebral Ischemia and Relevant Outcomes in Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: An institutional management protocol for patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) based on initial cardiac assessment, permissiveness of negative fluid balances, and use of a continuous albumin infusion as the main fluid therapy for the first 5 days of the intensive care unit (ICU) stay was implemented at our hospital in 2014. It aimed at achieving and maintaining euvolemia and hemodynamic stability to prevent ischemic events and complications in the ICU by reducing periods of hypovolemia or hemodynamic instability. This study aimed at assessing the effect of the implemented management protocol on the incidence of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), mortality, and other relevant outcomes in patients with SAH during ICU stay. METHODS: We conducted a quasi-experimental study with historical controls based on electronic medical records of adults with SAH admitted to the ICU at a tertiary care university hospital in Cali, Colombia. The patients treated between 2011 and 2014 were the control group, and those treated between 2014 and 2018 were the intervention group. We collected baseline clinical characteristics, cointerventions, occurrence of DCI, vital status after 6 months, neurological status after 6 months, hydroelectrolytic imbalances, and other SAH complication. Multivariable and sensitivity analyses that controlled for confounding and considered the presence of competing risks were used to adequately estimate the effects of the management protocol. The study was approved by our institutional ethics review board before study start. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-nine patients were included for analysis. The management protocol was associated with a reduced incidence of DCI (hazard ratio 0.52 [95% confidence interval 0.33-0.83] from multivariable subdistribution hazards model) and hyponatremia (relative risk 0.55 [95% confidence interval 0.37-0.80]). The management protocol was not associated with higher hospital or long-term mortality, nor with a higher occurrence of other unfavorable outcomes (pulmonary edema, rebleeding, hydrocephalus, hypernatremia, pneumonia). The intervention group also had lower daily and cumulative administered fluids compared with historic controls (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: A management protocol based on hemodynamically oriented fluid therapy in combination with a continuous albumin infusion as the main fluid during the first 5 days of the ICU stay appears beneficial for patients with SAH because it was associated with reduced incidence of DCI and hyponatremia. Proposed mechanisms include improved hemodynamic stability that allows euvolemia and reduces the risk of ischemia, among others.

Nonsurgical periodontal treatment in type II diabetics in a middle-income country: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the nonsurgical periodontal treatment (NSPT) compared with supragingival therapy in type II diabetics with periodontitis. METHODS: A decision tree analysis was used to estimate the costs and health outcomes of two periodontal therapies in a hypothetical cohort of type II diabetics with periodontitis. The analysis was developed from the perspective of a third-party payer at 1 year and 5 years. Probabilities were derived from two systematic reviews. The costs and resource use were validated by a Delphi expert panel. All costs were expressed in USD, using the 25 May 2021 Colombian pesos market exchange rate (USD 1 = COP 3,350). RESULTS: NSPT was a dominant alternative compared with subsidized supragingival therapy in type II diabetics with periodontitis, generating savings of USD 87 and 400, during the first year or up to 5 years, respectively, and improving dental survival from 32 to 69 percent. CONCLUSIONS: NSPT can generate savings by reducing the complications derived from uncontrolled periodontitis and tooth loss.

Aproximación a la distribución de los costos directos de la diabetes tipo 2 en Colombia.

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Corruption and its relation to prevalence and death due to noncommunicable diseases and risk factors: a global perspective.

Objective: To describe the relation between corruption indicators and statistics on noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors by continent. Methods: An ecological study was conducted to examine the relation of the GINI coefficient, the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA), and the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) with noncommunicable diseases, using the Spearman's rank correlation test. Results: There is a moderate and positive correlation between Corruption Perception Index and cause of death due to noncommunicable diseases and risk factors for these diseases (r = 0.532), prevalence of schizophrenia (r = 0.526), bipolar disorder (r = 0.520), and eating disorders (r = 0.677). There is a moderate negative association between the GINI index and cause of death due to noncommunicable diseases (r = -0.571) and smoking prevalence (r = -0.502), and between the Corruption Perception Index and mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, or chronic respiratory diseases between the exact ages of 30 and 70 years (r = -0.577) and malnutrition prevalence (r = -0.602). Conclusions: This study indicates a correlation between corruption and noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors. This suggests that the high prevalence of noncommunicable diseases and risk factors could be related with political practices that negatively impact the population. Further research should study the weight of these associations, to take action on the way corruption is impacting on the health of societies.

Impacto de la vacunación contra hepatitis B en la prevalencia de infección por virus B y Delta en la cuenca amazónica colombiana.

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Efficacy and safety of dabrafenib-trametinib in the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600 mutation: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

The current systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of dabrafenib plus trametinib (dabrafenib-trametinib) with those of other therapeutic alternatives in the treatment of patients with BRAF V600 mutation unresectable or metastatic melanoma. The search was carried out on four databases up to July-2018. Two separate network meta-analyses (NMA) were performed using the frequentist method (random effects): one with an exclusive population with BRAF V600 mutation (NMA-pBRAFV600) and another with a mixed population (with or without the mutation: NMA-pMixed). An evidence profile was included using the GRADE method for NMA. The validity of the final estimator in the NMA-pMixed was assessed via sensitivity analysis. Five clinical trials were included in the NMA-pBRAFV600. In the NMA-pBRAFV600 population, dabrafenib-trametinib had a favorable effect on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared with dabrafenib, vemurafenib, and dacarbazine, and on partial response rate (PRR) and overall response rate (ORR) compared with dacarbazine and vemurafenib. In the NMA-pMixed population, dabrafenib-trametinib had a positive effect on OS vs ipilimumab 3 mg/kg and on PFS and PRR vs ipilimumab (3 and 10 mg/kg), nivolumab, and pembrolizumab. However, dabrafenib-trametinib, and vemurafenib-cobimetinib were comparable in terms of clinical efficacy. In addition, dabrafenib-trametinib was associated with less grades 3 and 4 adverse events.

Efficacy and safety of dabrafenib-trametinib in the treatment of unresectable advanced/metastatic melanoma with BRAF-V600 mutation: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

The current systematic review aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of dabrafenib-trametinib with those of other therapeutic alternatives in the treatment of patients with unresectable advanced/metastatic melanoma with BRAF-V600 mutation. The search was carried out on four databases up to July 2018. Two separate network meta-analyses (NMA) were performed using the frequentist method (random effects): one with an exclusive population with BRAF-V600 mutation (NMA-pBRAFV600) and another with mixed population (with or without the mutation: NMA-pMixed). An evidence profile was included using the GRADE method for NMA. The validity of the final estimator in the NMA-pMixed was assessed via a sensitivity analysis. Nine clinical trials were included in the NMA-pBRAFV600. Dabrafenib-trametinib was found to have a favorable effect on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared with dabrafenib, vemurafenib, and dacarbazine and on partial response rate (PRR) and overall response rate compared with dacarbazine and vemurafenib. In the NMA-pMixed, dabrafenib-trametinib was found to have a positive effect on OS versus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg and on PFS and PRR versus ipilimumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab. However, dabrafenib-trametinib and vemurafenib-cobimetinib significantly differed in terms of efficacy. In addition, dabrafenib-trametinib has a favorable effect on Grades 3 and 4 adverse events.

Prevalence and demographic characteristics of Behcet disease in Colombia: data from the national health registry 2012-2016.

To estimate prevalence and describe the main demographic characteristics of Behcet disease in Colombia. Cross-sectional study, based on official Ministry of Health registry data. 523 cases of Behcet disease (ICD-10 code: M352) were reported between 2012 and 2016, for a prevalence in people over 18 years old of 1.10 per 100,000 inhabitants, of which 68% are women, with a female-to-male ratio of 2.2:1, with greater prevalence within the 45-49 age group. This is the first study that shows demographic and epidemiological information on Behcet disease in Colombia. Prevalence seems to be low when compared with other similar studies in the region.

Real-World Evidence in Healthcare Decision Making: Global Trends and Case Studies From Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Real-world evidence (RWE) is increasingly used to inform health technology assessments for resource allocation, which are valuable tools for emerging economies such as in America. Nevertheless, the characteristics and uses in South America are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To identify sources, characteristics, and uses of RWE in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Chile, and evaluate the context-specific challenges. The implications for future regulation and responsible management of RWE in the region are also considered. METHODS: A systematic literature review, database mapping, and targeted gray literature search were conducted to identify the sources and characteristics of RWE. Findings were validated by key opinion leaders attending workshops in 4 South American countries. RESULTS: A database mapping exercise revealed 407 unique databases. Geographic scope, database type, population, and outcomes captured were reported. Characteristics of national health information systems show efforts to collect interoperable data from service providers, insurers, and government agencies, but that initiatives are hampered by fragmentation, lack of stewardship, and resources. In South America, RWE is mainly used for pharmacovigilance and as pure academic research, but less so for health technology assessment decision making or pricing negotiations and not at all to inform early access schemes. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of real-world data in the case study countries vary and RWE is not consistently used in healthcare decision making. Authors recommend that future studies monitor the impact of digitalization and the potential effects of access to RWE on the quality of patient care.

Prevalence of polymyalgia rheumatica in Colombia: data from the national health registry 2012-2016.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) affects elderly patients and is characterized by pain and stiffness of the shoulder girdle, pelvic girdle and cervical region, which can be associated with the presence of giant cell arteritis. Data on the epidemiology of this disease in Latin America are scarce. In Colombia, the Ministry of Health introduced SISPRO, a tool to collect nation-wide information from the health system. The information collected from SISPRO is available for scientific analysis. Using SISPRO data for the years 2012-2016, an analysis was made on the prevalence and characteristics of patients diagnosed with PMR. This is a descriptive epidemiological study using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems as search terms related to PMR, based on SISPRO data. Criteria for diagnosis are not explicitly addressed in each individual case. National records report 19,901 individuals diagnosed with PMR and estimated prevalence of 2 cases per 1000 inhabitants over 50 years old (based on a total population of 47,663,162), being more frequent in women (86% of cases), with a female/male ratio of 6.2:1. This is the first study that describes the demographic characteristics of PMR in Colombia. Our results are consistent with the age-related increase in prevalence and gender ratio. Likewise, there are differences between regions, which may be related to ancestry and environmental factors, which require further studies.

Use of extracted anterior teeth as provisional restorations and surgical guide for immediate multiple implant placement: A clinical case report.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to describe the use of natural anterior teeth as a surgical guide to implant placement and provisional restoration for a young patient with root resorption of upper central incisors and left-lateral incisor. CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS: Achieving soft tissue esthetics is quite a challenge in implant dentistry. Here, a case of immediate implant placement using the natural teeth of the patient as an immediate provisional restoration, which achieves satisfactory results in terms of soft tissue architecture. CONCLUSIONS: Post-extraction implant placement in combination with immediate loading of dental implants has been evolving into an appropriate procedure for the treatment of partially edentulous anterior maxilla. Different techniques that include use of the own teeth as provisional implant supported restoration helps to maintain architecture of gingival contour, specially papilla. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Natural architecture of anterior soft tissue is a big challenge in implant dentistry. Use of natural teeth as a surgical guide and provisional restorations might be helpful to obtain an optimal outcome.

Colombian experience in the treatment of hepatitis C with direct-acting antiviral agents.

There are few published real-world studies on hepatitis C in Latin America. This paper describes a cohort of Colombian subjects treated with direct-acting antiviral agents. A total of 195 patients from 5 hepatology centers in 4 Colombian cities were retrospectively studied. For each patient, serum biomarkers were obtained, and Child-Pugh, MELD, cirrhosis and fibrosis stage were calculated. Additionally, viral load was quantified at initiation, end of treatment and at 12 weeks of completion. Adverse effects were recorded. Patients with liver transplant were compared with non-transplanted patients in terms of serum biomarkers. The patients had received 9 different regimes. The most prevalent viral genotype was 1b (81.5%). Overall, 186 patients (95.4%) attained sustained virologic response. When comparing transplanted vs. non-transplanted patients, those in the non-transplanted group were more likely to have cirrhosis (52.6% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.0004). Pre-treatment viral load was higher in the transplant group (1 743 575 IQR = 1 038 062-4 252 719 vs. 345 769 IQR = 125 806-842 239; p < 0.0001) as well as ALT and AST levels (82.5 IQR 43.5-115.5 vs. 37.0 IQR = 24.7-73.3; p = 0.0009 and 70 IQR = 41-140 vs. 37 IQR = 24-68; p = 0.004 respectively). Adverse events were reported by 28.7% of the patients; asthenia (5.6%) was the most prevalent. Our results are comparable with those from other countries in terms of therapy and biomarkers. However, our cohort reported less adverse events. Further research is needed in the region.

Economic impact of dengue fever in Latin America and the Caribbean: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the economic impact of dengue in Latin America and the Caribbean using a systematic review that includes studies not previously considered by other reviews. METHODS: Cochrane methodology was used to conduct a systematic review of the cost of dengue in Latin America. PubMed Central, EMBASE, and the Biblioteca Virtual en Salud-which includes scientific, peer-reviewed journals not indexed by other databases-were searched from inception through August 2016. All articles that reported cost of illness data for countries in Latin America were included. Included studies underwent a methodological appraisal using a seven-question instrument designed for cost of illness studies. Extracted data were direct and indirect costs for outpatient and hospitalized cases and total cost of the disease. Values were adjusted to 2015 US dollars using the consumer price index. RESULTS: From a total of 848 initial references, 17 studies were included, mainly from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Puerto Rico; costs were available for 39 countries. The methodological appraisal showed that 70% of the studies met more than 70% of the evaluated items. The main economic impact of dengue was due to productivity costs. Average annual cost was more than US$ 3 billion. Direct costs represented over 70% of the total share for hospitalized cases. For outpatients, direct medical costs were low, but social costs were significant since indirect costs may account for up to 80% of the total cost. CONCLUSIONS: Dengue fever has a significant economic impact in Latin America. It is essential to develop new public health interventions, such as dengue vaccination, to decrease the propagation of the disease and its total cost.

[Death from external causes in infants in Colombia 2005-2013]. / Muertes de causa externa en menores de cinco años en Colombia 2005-2013.

Latin America has shown a significant reduction in infant mortality in recent years. The objective of this study was to analyze official data for children under five years of age in Colombia, emphasizing external causes of death, which have been less studied. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Descriptive cross-sectional design using secondary information from death records reported by the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) and information dynamic tables of vital statistics, taken from the official information system of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (SISPRO), between 2005 and 2013 were reviewed. The information was organized in tables for descriptive analysis of variables such as age, sex, and specific cause of death, by departments. RESULTS: In this period 106,339 children under 5 years died; 85,897 of them (81%) in the first year of life. The number of deaths decreased from 14.266 in 2005, to 9.499 in 2013. The main external cause of death was drowning, responsible for 1749 deaths, followed by traffic accidents, 1.282. Homicides were responsible for 692 deaths. In all the causes of death analyzed there was a decline over the decade. DISCUSSION: Colombia is accomplishing the fourth millennium goal, “reduce the mortality of children under 5 years.” Progress has been made in deaths from external causes, but there is still some way to go.

Burden of epilepsy in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Epilepsy lays an important burden on healthcare systems and society in general. Disability adjusted life years (DALYs) have been developed to compare the burden of this disease both between conditions and between geographical boundaries. With improving data on disease incidence and prevalence in Colombia, we can refine our DALYs-based estimates. METHODS: Using different strategies, including the official healthcare provision database and death certificates, as well as extrapolation from published neuroepidemiologic studies, we estimated the incidence and prevalence by age groups, disease duration and attributable mortality. With this information we calculated DALYs for the year 2012. RESULTS: Overall, it was found that epilepsy was responsible for 0.88% of all deaths in Colombia. A total of 5.25 DALYs per 1,000 person-years are lost due to epilepsy in Colombia, 75% of which (3.91 DALYs) are due to premature mortality, with a higher burden in men (6.12 DALYs) than in women (4.41 DALYs). CONCLUSIONS: We reported new estimations on epilepsy incidence and prevalence by age groups in Colombia and conclude that DALYs lost due to epilepsy in Colombia are almost double the previous figure, mostly because of the underestimation of attributable mortality. With this figure, epilepsy ranks 12th instead of 19th in the list of the most important causes of DALYs lost.