Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Primer reporte de un brote de dengue en Balsas, Amazonas, Perú, durante 2021 y 2022: First report of a Dengue outbreak in Balsas, Amazonas, Peru, during 2021 and 2022.

Introduction: The increase in dengue cases in Amazonas is a risk to public health. In 2021, Balsas reported a dengue outbreak for the first time. Methodology: The population included patients who met the case definition between December 2021 and February 2022. Identification of serotypes will be reduced by multiplex qRT-PCR. Results: 72 patients were identified, of which 53 (74%) were confirmed by serology (Ag NS1). The predominant serotype was DENV-2 (94%), and 6% was DENV-1. Patients between 19 and 45 years old presented the highest percentage of cases (59%). The most frequent symptoms were fever, headache, myalgia and arthralgia; 23% presented severe abdominal pain. Conclusion: This was the first confirmed dengue outbreak in the Balsas district, with DENV-2 being the main cause of the outbreak, highlighting the need to improve surveillance in areas without autochthonous transmission of the disease.Introducción: El aumento de casos de dengue en Amazonas es un riesgo para la salud pública. En el 2021, Balsas reportó por primera vez un brote de dengue. Metodología: La población incluyó a pacientes que cumplían con la definición de caso entre diciembre 2021 y febrero 2022. La identificación de los serotipos se determinó mediante una qRT-PCR múltiplex. Resultados: Se identificaron 72 pacientes de los cuales 53 (74%) se confirmaron por serología (Ag NS1). El serotipo prevalente fue DENV-2 (94%), y el 6% fue DENV-1. Los pacientes de 19 a 45 años presentaron el mayor porcentaje de casos (59%). Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron cefalea, mialgias, fiebre y artralgias; el 23 % presentó dolor abdominal intenso. Conclusión: Este fue el primer brote de dengue confirmado en el distrito de Balsas, siendo DENV-2 el principal causante, destacando la necesidad de mejorar la vigilancia en zonas sin transmisión autóctona de la enfermedad