Prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in pregnant women living in Cartagena, Colombia

According to the World Health Organization, anemia affects more than 40% of pregnant women worldwide. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia, and has been shown to have a direct impact on health and quality of life of both mother and child.Ferritin, and iron binding protein, can be used to assess the body’s stored iron and support diagnosis. This study assessed the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency amongst pregnant women in the ESE Clinica Maternidad Rafael Calvo, a reference maternity unit in the department of Bolivar, Colombia

Molecular testing dynamics is reactive to COVID-19 incidence: Observations from the colombian experience

There was a positive correlation between molecular tests conducted and COVID-19 incidence and death rate (r = 0.79, p < 0.01 and r = 0.64, p < 0.01, respectively). The cointegration (ADF) test revealed a statistically significant and closely time-dependent stochastic structure between daily COVID-19 cases and number of molecular tests (ADF, -3.50; p < 0.01)

Inverse relationship between anemia in the third trimester of pregnancy and low birth weight in a reference maternity unit of a carribean region of Colombia

Anemia is common amongst women in developing countries. Although a relationship has been established between gestational anemia and negative perinatal outcomes, it remains a controversial debate as opposite associations have been found. This study assessed the relationship between gestational anemia in the third trimester and low birth weight (LBW) in the ESE Clinica Maternidad Rafael Calvo, a reference maternity unit in the department of Bolivar, Colombia

Health care resource utilization in patients with spondyloarthritis: A single setting analysis in Colombia

The aim of this study was to estimate the health care resource utilization in patients with spondylitis from a rheumatology care center located in Bogotá, D.C. Colombi

TV: uma caixa de sonhos e surpresas

Maísa Zakzuk, TV Cultura's director for programs for young people tells us how she decided to become a television professional and how it was she made it to TV Cultura. Creator and director of the X-Tudo program, she comments on her experience with kids, talks about the care that is given to the program's production and about her commitment to quality educational and cultural content. She emphasizes the importance of teamwork and presents her next program: Ilha Rá-tim-bum.Maísa Zakzuk, diretora de programas infanto-juvenis da TV Cultura, São Paulo, relata, em seu depoimento, como decidiu ser uma profissional de televisão e como chegou à TV cultura. Idealizadora e diretora do X-Tudo, trata de sua experiência como o público infantil, o cuidado com a produção do programa e seu compromisso com um conteúdo educativo-cultural de qualidade. Salienta a importância do trabalho em equipe e anuncia seu próximo programa: Ilha Rá-tim-bum

Medical resource use in patients with psoriatic arthritis in a comprehensive rheumatological center in Colombia

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder, impairs the quality of life of patients. The aim of this study was to describe the medical resource use in patients with PsA in a comprehensive rheumatological center in Colombia. We retrospectively analyzed patients diagnosed with PsA who were attended in a center of excellence for rheumatic diseases located in Bogotá, D.C. Colombia, from January to December 2019. A database of medical records was analyzed to identify the use of medical resources classified by specialized physician visits, medications and ambulatory services (e.g., diagnostic, laboratory or image procedures, physical therapy). We reported absolute and relative frequencies among diagnostic groups. This study had no risk for patients. Ninety-six patients with PsA were studied, 57% were women. The mean age was 58.08 (±12.3 years), 90.63% of diagnostic was arthropathic psoriasis, other diagnostics were rheumatoid arthritis without rheumatoid factor, unspecified site (2.08%) and psoriasis, unspecified (2.08%) (ICD-10 code L405, M060, L409, respectively). In terms of treatments, most of the patients used a conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), methotrexate was the most frequent (represented the 14% of prescription and 78% of patients). On the other hand, 56.25% of patients receive treatment with biological DMARDs (10% of prescription). Among these biologicals, adalimumab (17.71%) and secukinumab (16.67%) were the most used. Regarding other health services, the visit to the specialist and the RX were the most common (83.33% of patients). Chest RX and column RX (17.71% each) had the highest frequency. This is one of the first approaches to the estimation of use of medical resources of PsA in Colombia. Frequency of DMARS use was associated to the severity and medical control of patients

Direct medical costs of severe asthma in two colombian reference centers

Objectives: Severe asthma, although infrequent, generates an important clinical and economic burden in both patients and healthcare system. We aimed to describe demographic and clinical characteristics, exacerbations, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and annual direct medical costs in a severe asthma patient cohort in Colombia. Methods: Cost ofillness study from payer perspective. Patients with clinicianconfirmed severe asthma diagnosis (GINA criteria) from two specialized reference centers between January 2014 and August 2018 were included. The last year within this period under GINA step 4/5 therapy was observed for each patient. Clinical information was extracted from medical records, and HRU from hospital invoices and public price lists. Results: 147 patients were included, 59% female. Mean (6SD) age and time with asthma diagnosis was 46615 and 21617 years, respectively. Most frequent comorbidities were allergic rhinitis (70%), conjunctivitis (27%) and hypertension (19%). Most common sensitization cause was house dust mite (61%). Median baseline blood eosinophil count was 260 cells/ml (range 10-4,040), mean total IgE serum level was 69761,893 IU/ml. The mean annual frequency of HRU was 5.064.0 for laboratory tests, 4.161.2 for medical visits, 1.061.5 for emergency visits, 0.360.7 for hospitalizations, and 0.160.3 for ICU. Omalizumab was prescribed in 42.2% of patients, with a mean among users of 30.2620.3 vials per year. Mean annual direct cost for outpatient care was 4,743.666,331.1 USD (range 256.7-31,286.1) (1 USD=2,956.4 COP); medications were responsible for 98% of costs. Data from 55 hospitalizations was obtained, 4 in ICU. Mean stay and cost per episode were 6.564.9 days and 1,010.561,379.9 USD in general ward, and 14.164.1 days and 3768.963748.2 USD in ICU. Conclusions: Severe asthma is a costly disease for the Colombian health system. Most of the direct outpatient medical costs in this cohort were caused by pharmacological therapy, particularly omalizumab. Funding: GSK (PRJ2813

Health care costs and resource utilization for different asthma severity stages in Colombia: a claims data analysis

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions worldwide. Asthma-related economic burden has been reported in Latin America, but knowledge about its economic impact to the Colombian health care system and the influence of disease severity is lacking. This study estimated direct medical costs and health care resource utilization (HCRU) in patients with asthma according to severity in Colombia. Methods: This study identified all-age patients who had at least one medical event linked to an asthma diagnosis (CIE-10: J45-J46) between 2004 and 2014. Patients were selected if they had a continuous enrollment and uninterrupted insurance coverage between January 1–2015 and December 31–2015 and were categorized into 4 different severity levels using a modified algorithm based on Leidy criteria. Healthcare utilization and costs were estimated in a 1-year period after the identification period. A Generalized Linear Model (GLM) with gamma distribution and log link was used to analyze costs adjusting for patient demographics. Results: A total of 20,410 patients were included: 69.5% had mild intermittent, 18.0% mild persistent, 6.9% moderate persistent and 5.5% severe persistent asthma; with mean costs (SD) of $67 (134),$482 (1506), $1061 (1983),$2235 (3426) respectively (p < 0.001). The mean total direct cost was estimated at $331 (1278) per patient. Medication and hospitalization had the higher proportion in total costs (46% and 31% respectively). General physician visits was the most used service (57.2%) and short-acting β-2 agonists the most used medication (24%). Conclusions: Health services utilization and direct costs of asthma were highly related to disease severity. Nationwide health policies aimed at the effective control of asthma are necessary and would play an important role in reducing the associated economic impact

Validación del Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) en padres y/o cuidadores de pacientes pediátricos oncológicos de Cartagena

El objetivo de estudio fue conocer el comportamiento psicométrico del Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) para la evaluación del estrés de padres y/o cuidadores de niños con enfermedad oncológica. El PIP evalúa frecuencia de estresores (PIP-F) relacionados con el cuidado de un hijo enfermo y el esfuerzo para enfrentar éstos (PIP-E). En una muestra de 104 padres y/o cuidadores se evaluaron las características psicométricas de la prueba, realizando un Análisis Factorial de las subescalas PIP-F y PIP-E mostrando que las reducciones de los factores no eran igual para las dos subescalas. En un segundo análisis factorial con las dimensiones del cuestionario (comunicación, cuidados médicos, distrés emocional y rol familiar) se obtuvo resultado similar al primer análisis. Se evaluó validez de constructo con el Alfa de Cronbach con los siguientes resultados: a)Comunicación .655 en PIP-F y .780 para PIP-E, b) Cuidados médicos .699 y .736 para cada subescala, c) Distrés Emocional.771 para PIP-F y .812 para PIP-E, y d) Rol familiar .602 y .651 respectivamente. Se evaluó la confiabilidad por subescala, obteniendo un alfa de .869 y .915 para cada una. El análisis de confiabilidad de Guttman arrojó para PIP-F .804 y para PIP-E .749. Estos puntajes se consideran aceptables y aunque el estudio presenta limitaciones en cuanto a la cantidad de la muestra y a la reducción de ítems con Análisis Factorial, se tiene a disposición un cuestionario adecuado para su uso en investigación e intervención pues ha demostrado su validez de constructo a través del alfa de CronbachEl objetivo de estudio fue conocer el comportamiento psicométrico del Pediatric Inventory for Parents (PIP) para la evaluación del estrés de padres y/o cuidadores de niños con enfermedad oncológica. El PIP evalúa frecuencia de estresores (PIP-F) relacionados con el cuidado de un hijo enfermo y el esfuerzo para enfrentar éstos (PIP-E). En una muestra de 104 padres y/o cuidadores se evaluaron las características psicométricas de la prueba, realizando un Análisis Factorial de las subescalas PIP-F y PIP-E mostrando que las reducciones de los factores no eran igual para las dos subescalas. En un segundo análisis factorial con las dimensiones del cuestionario (comunicación, cuidados médicos, distrés emocional y rol familiar) se obtuvo resultado similar al primer análisis. Se evaluó validez de constructo con el Alfa de Cronbach con los siguientes resultados: a)Comunicación .655 en PIP-F y .780 para PIP-E, b) Cuidados médicos .699 y .736 para cada subescala, c) Distrés Emocional.771 para PIP-F y .812 para PIP-E, y d) Rol familiar .602 y .651 respectivamente. Se evaluó la confiabilidad por subescala, obteniendo un alfa de .869 y .915 para cada una. El análisis de confiabilidad de Guttman arrojó para PIP-F .804 y para PIP-E .749. Estos puntajes se consideran aceptables y aunque el estudio presenta limitaciones en cuanto a la cantidad de la muestra y a la reducción de ítems con Análisis Factorial, se tiene a disposición un cuestionario adecuado para su uso en investigación e intervención pues ha demostrado su validez de constructo a través del alfa de CronbachIncluye bibliografía, anexo