Risk Factors For The Ill-defined Causes Of Death In The Brazilian States: A Multilevel Analysis

This study describes the spatial-temporal changes of the proportion of ill-defined causes of death in Brazil (1998-2012) and investigates which demographic and socioeconomic factors affect this proportion. We collected information of the proportion of ill-defined causes of death by age (15-59 years), sex, period, locality, and socioeconomic data. We used a multilevel Poisson model to investigate which factors affect the risk of ill-defined causes of death. Unlike states located in the South and Midwest, we detected clusters with high proportional levels of these deaths in states in the North and Northeast regions. A greater proportion occurred in 1998-2002 (0.09), in the North and Northeast (0.14 and 0.12, respectively), in older age groups (0.09), and in places with poor socioeconomic conditions. The adjusted analysis showed differences in proportion according to the region, age, period, schooling, social inequality, and income. The results indicate that the lower the age group and the better the socioeconomic situation, the lower the risk to register the cause of death as ill-defined. Although over the past years, the quality of Brazil’s mortality data has gradually increased, investments towards improving mortality registries cannot be discontinued

Clinical Impact of the Line Probe Assay and Xpert® MTB/RIF Assay in the Presumptive Diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Brazil: A Pragmatic Clinical Trial

Background: Rapid molecular methods such as the line probe assay (LPA) and Xpert® MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) have been recommended by the World Health Organization for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) diagnosis. We conducted an interventional trial in DR-TB reference centers in Brazil to evaluate the impact of the use of LPA and Xpert. Methods: Patients with DR-TB were eligible if their drug susceptibility testing results were available to the treating physician at the time of consultation. The standard reference MGITTM 960 was compared with Xpert (arm 1) and LPA (arm 2). Effectiveness was considered as the start of the appropriate TB regimen that matched drug susceptibility testing (DST) and the proportions of culture conversion and favorable treatment outcomes after 6 months. Results: A higher rate of empirical treatment was observed with MGIT alone than with the Xpert assay (97.0% vs. 45.0%) and LPA (98.2% vs. 67.5%). Patients started appropriate TB treatment more quickly than those in the MGIT group (median 15.0 vs. 40.5 days; p<0.01) in arm 1. Compared to the MGIT group, culture conversion after 6 months was higher for Xpert in arm 1 (90.9% vs. 79.3%, p=0.39) and LPA in arm 2 (80.0% vs. 83.0%, p=0.81). Conclusions: In the Xpert arm, there was a significant reduction in days to the start of appropriate anti-TB treatment and a trend towards greater culture conversion in the sixth month

Rastreamento de problemas de idosos na atenção primária e proposta de roteiro de triagem com uma abordagem multidimensional

Resumo: O objetivo foi examinar as caraterísticas psicométricas de testes de triagem para idosos e propor um roteiro para a atenção primária. Etapas: (1) confiabilidade interaferidores para testes de desempenho e perguntas de autoavaliação para 8 funções; (2) sensibilidade e especificidade de questões para depressão e apoio social; (3) encontro de especialistas para seleção das atividades instrumentais da vida diária (AIVD); (4) elaboração do roteiro. A triagem durou 16 minutos. A confiabilidade interaferidores para os testes de desempenho foi excelente, mas pobre para perguntas. Depressão e apoio social apresentaram sensibilidade e especificidade satisfatórias (0,74/0,77 e 0,77/0,96). Quatro AIVD foram selecionadas por mais de 55% dos especialistas. Após os resultados, elaborou-se um roteiro que priorizou o uso de testes de desempenho, mantendo questões para humor, apoio social e AIVD. O estudo sugere maior reprodutibilidade de testes de performance em relação a perguntas. Para humor e apoio social, as questões podem constituir uma primeira etapa de triagem. O roteiro proposto possibilita o rápido rastreamento de problemas

Clinical Impact of the Line Probe Assay and Xpert® MTB/RIF Assay in the Presumptive Diagnosis of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Brazil: A Pragmatic Clinical Trial.

BackgroundRapid molecular methods such as the line probe assay (LPA) and Xpert® MTB/RIF assay (Xpert) have been recommended by the World Health Organization for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) diagnosis. We conducted an interventional trial in DR-TB reference centers in Brazil to evaluate the impact of the use of LPA and Xpert.MethodsPatients with DR-TB were eligible if their drug susceptibility testing results were available to the treating physician at the time of consultation. The standard reference MGITTM 960 was compared with Xpert (arm 1) and LPA (arm 2). Effectiveness was considered as the start of the appropriate TB regimen that matched drug susceptibility testing (DST) and the proportions of culture conversion and favorable treatment outcomes after 6 months.ResultsA higher rate of empirical treatment was observed with MGIT alone than with the Xpert assay (97.0% vs. 45.0%) and LPA (98.2% vs. 67.5%). Patients started appropriate TB treatment more quickly than those in the MGIT group (median 15.0 vs. 40.5 days; p&lt;0.01) in arm 1. Compared to the MGIT group, culture conversion after 6 months was higher for Xpert in arm 1 (90.9% vs. 79.3%, p=0.39) and LPA in arm 2 (80.0% vs. 83.0%, p=0.81).ConclusionsIn the Xpert arm, there was a significant reduction in days to the start of appropriate anti-TB treatment and a trend towards greater culture conversion in the sixth month