Exceso ponderal y variables socioeconómicas en trabajadores del sector salud en la ciudad de Caracas

The development of obesity and overweight is influenced by several factors. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between the frequency of overweight and obesity and various socioeconomic variables among healthcare workers from Caracas, Venezuela. A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted using a nonrandom sample of 337 workers seenat a localhealth center for preventive care. The mean age of the workers was 34.6 years, their mean weight was 69.11 Kg, their mean height was 1.6 m, and their mean body mass index (BMI) was 26.66 Kg/m2. Among them, 36% had a normal BMI, 40.06% were overweight and 23.44% were obese. No significant difference in BMI was found between men and women. The group of 35 to 40-year-olds had the highest mean BMI (28.88 Kg/m2). The highest mean BMI was found among those who worked the night shift (27.84 Kg/m2), and the lowest mean BMI among those who worked the weekend shift (24.14 Kg/m2). The highest frequency of overweight was found among those who worked the morning shift (53,41%), and the highest frequency of obesity among those working the night shift (32.81%). Unskilled workers had a mean BMI of 31.36 kg/m2, and those who worked in the most senior positions had a mean BMI of 26.73 kg/m2. Overall, excess weight affected two-thirds of the study sample. There is a relationship between socioeconomic factors and frequency of excess weight in the study population.El desarrollo de obesidad y sobrepeso están influenciados por diversos factores. Se evalúa la relación entre exceso ponderal y algunas variables socio-económicas en trabajadores del sector salud. Se realizó un estudio diagnóstico, retrospectivo con una muestra no probabilística de 337 trabajadores de un centro de salud quienes fueron atendidos en una consulta de medicina preventiva. El promedio de edad fue 34,6 años, peso promedio 69,11 Kilogramos (Kg), estatura promedio 1,6 metros (m), Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) promedio 26,66 Kg/m2. Treinta y seis por ciento de los trabajadores presentaban un IMC normal, 40,06% sobrepeso y 23,44% obesidad. No se encontraron diferencias significativas de peso entre géneros. El IMC promedio más alto lo tuvo el grupo entre 35-40 años (28,88 Kg/m2). El IMC promedio más alto lo tuvieron los trabajadores del horario nocturno (27,84 Kg/m2) y el más bajo los de fines de semana (24,14 Kg/m2). La mayor frecuencia de sobrepeso la presentaron los trabajadores matutinos (53,41%), y de obesidad los del nocturno (32,81%). El grupo de obreros no especializados tuvo el IMC promedio más alto (31,36 kg/m2); el grupo de gerentes tuvo un IMC promedio menor (26,73 Kg/m2). El exceso de peso afecta dos terceras partes de la muestra estudiada. Existe relación entre algunos factores socio-económicos y la frecuencia de exceso ponderal en el grupo estudiado

Risk for Severe Illness and Death among Pediatric Patients with Down Syndrome Hospitalized for COVID-19, Brazil

Down syndrome is the most common human chromosomal disorder. Whether Down syndrome is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes in pediatric patients remains unclear, especially in low-to-middle income countries. We gathered data on patients <18 years of age with SARS-CoV-2 infection from a national registry in Brazil to assess the risk for severe outcomes among patients with Down syndrome. We included data from 14,684 hospitalized patients, 261 of whom had Down syndrome. After adjustments for sociodemographic and medical factors, patients with Down syndrome had 1.8 times higher odds of dying from COVID-19 (odds ratio 1.82, 95% CI 1.22–2.68) and 27% longer recovery times (hazard ratio 0.73, 95% CI 0.61–0.86) than patients without Down syndrome. We found Down syndrome was associated with increased risk for severe illness and death among COVID-19 patients. Guidelines for managing COVID-19 among pediatric patients with Down syndrome could improve outcomes for this population