MAGNITUDE AND SEVERITY OF COVID-19 AMONG NURSING PROFESSIONALS IN BRAZIL

Objetivo: avaliar a tendência, magnitude e severidade da COVID-19 em profissionais de enfermagem segundo os estados brasileiros e macrorregiões.Métodos: estudo ecológico de séries temporais e abordagem espacial. Foram levantados os casos e óbitos, no período de 20/03/2020 a 31/05/2020, disponibilizados pelo Observatório de Enfermagem do Conselho Federal de Enfermagem.Resultados: foram notificados 6149 casos e 138 óbitos de COVID-19 entre profissionais de enfermagem; observou-se tendência de crescimento progressivo de casos e mortes em todas as macrorregiões. Foi identificado um aglomerado de alto risco para ocorrência da doença entre profissionais no Amazonas, e um para mortalidade nos estados do Pará e Amapá.Conclusão: o estudo evidenciou tendências crescentes e áreas de risco por COVID-19, observandose perfil diferenciado entre as regiões, o que se deve às medidas adotadas nas instituições para proteção dos seus trabalhadores. Objective: to evaluate the trend, magnitude and severity of COVID-19 in Nursing professionals according to the Brazilian states and macro-regions.Methods: an ecological study of time series and with a spatial approach. Cases and deaths were surveyed from 03/20/2020 to 05/31/2020, made available by the Nursing Observatory of the Federal Nursing Council.Results: a total of 6,149 cases and 138 deaths due to COVID-19 were reported amongNursing professionals; a trend of progressive growth of cases and deaths was observed in all macro-regions. A high risk cluster for the occurrence of the disease was identified among professionals in the Amazonas, and another for mortality in the states of Pará and Amapá.Conclusion: the study showed growing trends and areas of risk by COVID-19, observing a different profile across the regions, which is due to the measures adopted in the institutions to protect their Nursing workers.Objetivo: evaluar la tendencia, magnitud y gravedad del COVID-19 en profesionales de Enfermería de acuerdo con los estados y las macro-regiones de Brasil.Métodos: estudio ecológico de series temporales y con enfoque espacial. Se relevaron los casos y los fallecimientos durante el período del 20/03/2020 al 31/05/2020, puestos a disposición por el Observatorio de Enfermería del Consejo Federal de Enfermería.Resultados: se notificaron 6149 casos y 138 fallecimientos por COVID-19 entre profesionales de Enfermería; se observó una tendencia de aumento progresivo de casos y fallecimientos en todas las macro-regiones. Se identificó una región de concentración de alto riesgo de incidencia de la enfermedad entre los profesionales en el Amazonas, así como también de mortalidad en los estados de Pará y Amapá. Conclusión: el estudio puso en evidencia tendencias de aumento y áreas de riesgo por COVID-19, observándose un perfil diferenciado entre las regiones, lo que se debe a las medidas adoptadas en las instituciones para proteger a sus trabajadores de Enfermería

Análise espacial das internações evitáveis por tuberculose em Ribeirão Preto, SP (2006-2012)

OBJECTIVE To describe the spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil, and to identify spatial and space-time clusters for the risk of occurrence of these events. METHODS This is a descriptive, ecological study that considered the hospitalizations records of the Hospital Information System of residents of Ribeirao Preto, SP, Southeastern Brazil, from 2006 to 2012. Only the cases with recorded addresses were considered for the spatial analyses, and they were also geocoded. We resorted to Kernel density estimation to identify the densest areas, local empirical Bayes rate as the method for smoothing the incidence rates of hospital admissions, and scan statistic for identifying clusters of risk. Softwares ArcGis 10.2, TerraView 4.2.2, and SaTScanTM were used in the analysis. RESULTS We identified 169 hospitalizations due to tuberculosis. Most were of men (n = 134; 79.2%), averagely aged 48 years (SD = 16.2). The predominant clinical form was the pulmonary one, which was confirmed through a microscopic examination of expectorated sputum (n = 66; 39.0%). We geocoded 159 cases (94.0%). We observed a non-random spatial distribution of avoidable hospitalizations due to tuberculosis concentrated in the northern and western regions of the municipality. Through the scan statistic, three spatial clusters for risk of hospitalizations due to tuberculosis were identified, one of them in the northern region of the municipality (relative risk [RR] = 3.4; 95%CI 2.7–4,4); the second in the central region, where there is a prison unit (RR = 28.6; 95%CI 22.4–36.6); and the last one in the southern region, and area of protection for hospitalizations (RR = 0.2; 95%CI 0.2–0.3). We did not identify any space-time clusters. CONCLUSIONS The investigation showed priority areas for the control and surveillance of tuberculosis, as well as the profile of the affected population, which shows important aspects to be considered in terms of management and organization of health care services targeting effectiveness in primary health care.OBJETIVO Descrever a distribuição espacial dos casos de internações evitáveis por tuberculose no município de Ribeirão Preto, SP, e identificar aglomerados espaciais e espaço-temporais de risco para a ocorrência desses eventos. MÉTODOS Estudo descritivo e ecológico que considerou os registros de internações no Sistema de Informação Hospitalar dos residentes de Ribeirão Preto, SP, no período de 2006 a 2012. Para as análises espaciais foram considerados somente os casos com endereços registrados, sendo os mesmos geocodificados. Recorreu-se à estatística de densidade Kernel para identificar as áreas de maior densidade, taxa bayesiana empírica local como método de suavização das taxas de incidência de internações e estatística de varredura para identificação de aglomerados de risco. Para as análises foram utilizados os softwares ArcGis 10.2, TerraView 4.2.2 e SaTScanTM. RESULTADOS Foram identificadas 169 internações por tuberculose. A maioria das internações ocorreu com pessoas do sexo masculino (n = 134; 79,2%) com idade mediana de 48 anos (DP = 16,2). A forma clínica predominante foi a pulmonar, com confirmação por exame microscópico da expectoração (n = 66; 39,0%). Foram geocodificados 159 (94,0%) casos. Observou-se distribuição espacial não aleatória de internações evitáveis por tuberculose, concentradas nas regiões norte e oeste do município. Por meio da estatística de varredura, identificaram-se três aglomerados espaciais de risco para internações por tuberculose, um na região norte do município (risco relativo [RR] = 3,4; IC95% 2,7–4,4); o segundo, na região central, onde há uma unidade prisional (RR = 28,6; IC95% 22,4–36,6); e o último, na região sul, área de proteção para as internações (RR = 0,2; IC95% 0,2–0,3). Não foram identificados aglomerados espaço-temporais. CONCLUSÕES A investigação mostrou áreas prioritárias para o controle e vigilância da tuberculose e um perfil de população atingida, evidenciando aspectos importantes a serem considerados em termos de gestão e organização dos serviços de saúde com vistas à efetividade da Atenção Primária à Saúde

Effectiveness and trend forecasting of tuberculosis diagnosis after the introduction of GeneXpert in a city in south-eastern Brazil

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid molecular test for the detection of tuberculosis (TB) and to predict the rates of disease in a municipality of Brazil where TB is endemic. Methods: An ecological study was carried out in Ribeirão Preto-SP on a population of TB cases notified between 2006 and 2017. Monthly TB incidence rates and the average monthly percentage change (AMPC) were calculated. In order to identify changes in the series, the breakpoint technique was performed; the rates were modelled and predictions of the incidence of TB until 2025 were made. Results: AMPC showed a fall of 0.69% per month in TB and human immunodeficiency virus (TB-HIV) co-infection, a fall of 0.01% per month in general and lung TB and a fall of 0.33% per month in extrapulmonary TB. With the breakpoint technique, general and pulmonary TB changed in structure in late 2007, and extrapulmonary TB and TB-HIV co-infection changed in structure after 2014, which is considered the cut-off point. The IMA(3) models were adjusted for general and pulmonary TB and TB-HIV co-infection, and the AR(5) models for extrapulmonary TB, and predictions were performed. Conclusions: The rapid molecular test for TB is the method currently recommended by the WHO for the diagnosis of the disease and its main advantage is to provide faster, more accurate results and to already check for drug resistance. It is necessary that professionals encourage the use of this technology in order to optimize the diagnosis so that the treatment begins as quickly as possible and in an effective way. Only by uniting professionals from all areas with health policies aimed at early case identification and rapid treatment initiation it is possible to break the chain of TB transmission so that its rates decrease and the goals proposed by the WHO are achieved

Tuberculosis forecasting and temporal trends by sex and age in a high endemic city in Northeastern Brazil: Where were we before the Covid-19 pandemic?

The aim of this study was to describe the temporal trend of tuberculosis cases according to sex and age group and evidence the level of disease before the Covid-19 pandemic in a TB high endemic cit

Fatores relacionados, tendência temporal e associação espacial do abandono de tratamento para tuberculose em Ribeirão Preto-SP

Objetivou-se identificar fatores relacionados, classificar a tendência temporal e identificar áreas com associação espacial do abandono de tratamento para tuberculose em Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo. Estudo ecológico; população composta pelos casos notificados entre 2006 a 2017. Realizou-se o teste qui-quadrado para identificar fatores relacionados. Para a tendência temporal, utilizou-se o método de Prais-Winsten para classificar a tendência temporal do evento e calculada sua porcentagem de variação anual. Para verificar associação espacial, utilizaram-se as técnicas G e Gi*. Foram notificados 146 casos de abandono do tratamento da doença no período; como fatores de risco foi identificado pessoas sem escolaridade, retratamentos pós-abandono e falência prévia; como proteção casos novos identificados pela busca ativa, não ter coinfecção Tuberculose-HIV e não fazer uso de álcool ou drogas. A taxa de abandono apresenta tendência crescente (APC=1,6%; IC95% 0.02–3.48). O estudo evidencia o aumento do abandono de tratamento, contrariando as políticas direcionadas pelo End TB Strategy. Descritores: Tuberculose; Cooperação e Adesão ao Tratamento; Saúde Pública; Análise Espacial

challenges and strategies for adherence to treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

Funding Information: The study was supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [Grant 2018/14337–0], the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) [Grant 130160/2020–2] and Research Productivity Grant from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) [Grant 304483/2018–4 - PQ modality (Level 1C)]. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a serious phenomenon on a global scale that can worsen with the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to understand the perceptions of health professionals about MDR-TB, their strategies to ensure adherence to treatment and their challenges in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in a priority municipality for disease control. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study and recruited 14 health providers (four doctors, three nurses, three nursing technicians, three nursing assistants and a social worker) working in a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Remote semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants. For data analysis, the thematic content analysis technique was applied according to the study’s theoretical framework. Results: The study revealed the causes of MDR-TB are associated with poverty, vulnerability, and social risk. A pre-judgement from the providers was observed, namely, all patients do not adhere due their resistance and association with drug abuse or alcoholism. The study also observed difficulty among health providers in helping patients reconstruct and reframe their life projects under a care perspective, which would strengthen adherence. Other issues that weakened adherence were the cuts in social protection and the benefits really necessary to the patients and a challenge for the providers manage that. The participants revealed that their actions were impacted by the pandemic and insecurity and fear manifested by patients after acquiring COVID-19. For alleviating this, medical appointments by telephone, delivery of medicine in the homes of patients and visits by health professionals once per week were provided. Conclusion: The study advances knowledge by highlighting the challenges faced by the health system with the adherence of patients with MDR-TB in a context aggravated by the pandemic. An improvement in DOT is really necessary to help the patients reframe their lives without prejudices, face their fears and insecurity, recover their self-esteem and motivate in concluding their treatment.publishersversionpublishe

Temporal trends in areas at risk for concomitant tuberculosis in a hyperendemic municipality in the Amazon region of Brazil.

This ecological study was performed in the municipality of Manaus, in northern Brazil. The population comprised cases with concomitant pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB, registered on the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2018. For risk cluster detection, spatial and spatiotemporal scanning statistical techniques were used. The Spatial Variation in Temporal Trends (SVTT) approach was used to detect and infer clusters for significantly different time trends

Survival time among patients who were diagnosed with tuberculosis, the precocious deaths and associated factors in southern Brazil

Background: A diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) does not mean that the disease will be treated successfully, since death may occur even among those who are known to the health services. Here, we aimed to analyze patient survival time from the diagnosis of TB to death, precocious deaths, and associated factors in southern Brazil. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study with patients who were diagnosed with TB and who died due to the disease between 2008 and 2015 in southern Brazil. The starting point for measuring survival time was the patient’s diagnosis date. Techniques for survival analysis were employed, including the Kaplan-Meier test and Cox’s regression. A mixed-effect model was applied for identifying the associated factors to precocious deaths. Hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. We defined p value <0.05 as statistically significant for all statistics applied. Results: One hundred forty-six patients were included in the survival analysis, observing a median survival time of 23.5 days. We observed that alcoholism (HR=1.55, 95% CI=1.04-2.30) and being male (HR=6.49, 95% CI=1.03-2.68) were associated with death. The chance of precocious death within 60 days was 10.48 times greater than the chance of early death within 30 days. Conclusion: Most of the deaths occurred within 2 months after the diagnosis, during the intensive phase of the treatment. The use of alcohol and gender were associated with death, revealing inequality between men and women. This study advanced knowledge regarding the vulnerability associated with mortality. These findings must be addressed to fill a gap in the care cascades for active TB and ensure equity in health.publishersversionpublishe

Conocimiento y percepción de las familias sobre tuberculosis en pacientes bajo tratamiento directamente observado en un servicio de salud de Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brasil

Pesquisa epidemiológica descritiva que objetivou descrever o perfil demográfico das famílias de pacientes em Tratamento Diretamente Observado em um serviço de saúde de Ribeirão Preto-SP, analisar o contexto em que estavam inseridas, no que refere ao grau de parentesco e aspectos clínico-epidemiológicos do familiar portador da tuberculose, e avaliar o conhecimento e a percepção dessas famílias em relação à tuberculose. Os dados foram coletados em julho de 2010, utilizando-se um questionário semiestruturado com 16 familiares, sendo analisados por meio da estatística descritiva. O perfil demográfico dos familiares corrobora com a associação da tuberculose às condições de pobreza e má distribuição de renda. Verificou-se um número substancial de comunicantes no domicílio, sendo a tuberculose pulmonar a forma clínica predominante. O conhecimento das famílias foi satisfatório, entretanto, alguns sujeitos associam a transmissão da doença, ao uso compartilhado de utensílios domésticos. Os resultados apontam fragilidades relacionadas à gestão do cuidado às famílias