Population-based weight loss and gain do not explain trends in asthma mortality in Cuba: a prospective study from 1964 to 2014

Background The increase in prevalence of obesity is a possible risk factor for asthma in developed countries. As the people of Cuba experienced an acute population-based decrease in weight in the 1990s, we tested the hypothesis that national weight loss and subsequent weight gain was associated a reciprocal changes in asthma mortality. Methods Data were obtained on mortality rates from asthma and COPD in Cuba from 1964 to 2014, along with data on prevalence of obesity for this period. Joinpoint analysis was used to identify inflexion points in the data. Results Although the prevalence of obesity from 1990 to 1995 decreased from 14% to 7%, over the same time period the rate of asthma mortality increased from 4.5 deaths per 100,000 population to 5.4 deaths per 100,000 population. In 2010, the obesity prevalence subsequently increased to 15% in 2010, while the asthma mortality rate dropped to 2.3 deaths per 100,000 population. The optimal model for fit of asthma mortality over time gave an increasing linear association from 1964 to 1995 (95% confidence interval for inflexion point: 1993 to 1997), followed by a decrease in asthma mortality rates from 1995 to 1999 (95% confidence interval for inflexion point: 1997 to 2002). Conclusions These national data do not support the hypothesis that population-based changes in weight are associated with asthma mortality. Other possible explanations for the large decreases in asthma mortality rates include changes in pollution or better delivery of medical care over the same time period

The prevalence, clinical status and genotype of cystic fibrosis patients living in Cuba using national registry data

Background: We aimed to establish a national cystic fibrosis (CF) registry for Cuba, a developing country.Methods: Regional centres that deliver care for all CF patients provided information for a national database.Findings: The prevalence of CF in Cuba is 26.3 cases per 1,000,000 population. The median age at diagnosis is 2 years, and the median age of the total population was 15 years. Of those aged 16 years or older, the prevalence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection was 46%, the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus infection was 36%, and 80% of individuals were receiving oral azithromycin. The commonest gene mutation was F508del which was observed in 50% of patients.Interpretation: These data demonstrate that it is possible to establish a national CF registry in a developing country such as Cuba. This provides baseline data to permit evaluation of health care delivery enable the spread of good clinical practice nationally

Caracterización de las reacciones adversas por alimentos en un servicio hospitalario de alergia

Introducción: Las reacciones adversas por alimentos están aumentando en todo el mundo, y constituyen un problema de salud que afecta la calidad de vida de aquellos que las padecen. Objetivo: Caracterizar las reacciones adversas por alimentos en pacientes atendidos en el servicio de Alergia, para diseñar estrategias de intervención que permitan su prevención y un adecuado tratamiento. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal que incluyó 116 pacientes adultos atendidos en el servicio de Alergia del Hospital Universitario "General Calixto García", durante el periodo comprendido entre marzo 2017 y febrero 2019. A los pacientes se les realizó historia clínica e interrogó mediante cuestionario elaborado para el estudio, luego que dieran su consentimiento por escrito. Resultados: La rinitis alérgica fue el antecedente que prevaleció en los pacientes (47 %) y el asma en los familiares (41 %). Las manifestaciones cutáneas fueron las más frecuentes (79 %), seguidas de las digestivas (50 %). Los alimentos más implicados fueron los mariscos (42 %) y el pescado (40 %). La mayoría de las reacciones se presentaron en el propio hogar del paciente (86 %) y en menos de una hora (71 %). La combinación de antihistamínicos y esteroides (57 %) fue la más utilizada como medicamentos en dicho tratamiento. Conclusiones: Las reacciones por alimentos predominaron en el sexo femenino y se asociaron a enfermedad alérgica, en casi la mitad de los casos. Los mariscos y pescados fueron los principales alimentos causales. Se requiere investigar sobre los factores de riesgo y la prevalencia de reacciones adversas a los alimentos en la población cubana

Epilepsy mortality trends in Cuba compared with England and Wales: 1987–2010

There are limited epilepsy mortality data from developing countries and Latin America in particular. We examined national epilepsy mortality data from Cuba and contrasted them with comparable data from England and Wales. National epilepsy mortality data for Cuba between the years 1987 and 2010 were obtained from the Medical Records and Health Statistics Bureau of the Cuban Public Health Ministry (www.sld.cu/sitios/dne/) with the corresponding mortality data from England and Wales obtained from the UK Office of National Statistics (ONS, www.ons.gov.uk). Indirect standardization with calculation of a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) was used to compare trends. The overall trend was of a slight decrease in mortality rates over the 23 years in Cuba, with higher mortality rates primarily occurring in young people. Annual age-adjusted rates were consistently lower in Cuba than those seen in England and Wales, with the SMR ranging from 0.35 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.30 to 0.48) in 2007 to 1.00 (95% CI: 0.85 to 1.15) in 1994. Cuban epilepsy mortality rates are consistently lower than those of England and Wales. Reasons for this disparity in mortality rates are not immediately apparent but are likely to be multifactorial

The association between dengue immunoglobulin G titres with previous clinical dengue infection and white cell counts in Cuban children: A population-based study.

BackgroundThe prevalence of dengue infection is increasing globally. There are few prospective population-based surveillance studies of the immunological and inflammatory consequences of exposure to dengue virus in young children.ObjectiveTo study the association between serologically confirmed prior medical diagnosis of dengue infection and blood measures of systemic inflammation with dengue virus immunoglobulin G levels.MethodsA population-based study of healthy three-year old children living in Havana, Cuba.Results865 individuals provided a blood sample. Fourteen (1.6%) had a prior medical diagnosis of dengue infection, and 851 individuals had no prior medical diagnosis. There was no difference in the serum immunoglobulin G titres between these groups (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.49). Total white cell count, blood neutrophil and eosinophil counts were linearly associated with a dengue immunoglobulin G value above the median value.ConclusionsThere was no difference between the dengue immunoglobulin G titres in young children who had previously had clinically proven dengue infection compared to those who had no diagnosis of prior infection. This may be a consequence of a relatively high prevalence of sub-clinical infection. A higher dengue immunoglobulin G level was positively associated with a range of inflammatory biomarkers, although these data cannot demonstrate a causal association