Fatores associados com os tipos de heparina usados no tratamento da angina instável em um hospital brasileiro / Factors Associated with the Types of Heparin used in the Treatment of Unstable Angina at a Brazilian Hospital

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) and low-molecularweight heparins (LMWHs) are widely used in curative and preventive treatments of thromboembolic disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate factors associated with the choice of these types of heparin to treat patients with unstable angina under real conditions of hospital use. A cross-sectional study was performed in a private general hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, from January 1st to December 31th, 2001. Data were collected from the hospital electronic database. Inpatients with angina who received enoxaparin or UFH were included in the survey. Data for 555 patients were recorded, including 401 treated with enoxaparin and 154 with UFH. Univariate analysis showed that male and elderly people predominated in both groups, with no statistical difference in the proportions (p>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed 4 factors associated with the use of enoxaparin: cardiac revascularization surgery (OR=0.434), arrhythmias (OR=9.343), risk factors for coronary artery disease (OR=1.333) and private health insurance (OR=0.297). Thus, clinical and organizational factors were associated with the type of heparin used by patients with unstable angina at this hospital. Further drug utilization studies are necessary to expand and improve the data available on the use of heparins in the hospital setting.

A heparina não-fracionada (HNF) e heparinas de baixo peso molecular (HBPM) são amplamente utilizadas em tratamentos curativos e preventivos de tromboembolismo. O objetivo do estudo foi investigar os fatores associados com a escolha desses tipos de heparinas para tratar pacientes com angina instável sob as condições reais de uso hospitalar. Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado em hospital geral privado, na cidade de Belo Horizonte,MG Brasil, no período de Janeiro a Dezembro de 2001. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se o banco de dados informatizado do referido hospital. Pacientes internados com angina que receberam enoxaparina ou HNF foram incluídos no estudo. Registrou-se dados de 555 pacientes, incluindo 401 tratados com enoxaparina e 154 com HNF. Na análise univariada, observouse que o gênero masculino e pacientes idosos foram predominantes em ambos os grupos, sem diferença estatística entre as proporções (p>0,05). A análise multivariada revelou quatro fatores associados ao uso de enoxaparina: cirurgia de revascularização cardíaca (OR=0,434), arritmias (OR=9,343), fatores de risco para doença coronariana (OR=1,333) e atendimento por plano de saúde (OR=0,297). Assim, fatores clínicos e organizacionais estão associados com o tipo de heparina usado por pacientes com angina instável, neste hospital. A realização de mais estudos de utilização de medicamentos é necessária para aprimorar o conhecimento sobre o uso de heparinas, em hospitais.

Utilização prévia de antiinflamatórios não-esteróides por pacientes encaminhados para endoscopia em um hospital universitário brasileiro / Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by patients before undergoing to endoscopy in a Brazilian university hospital

O estudo teve como objetivo descrever o padrão de uso de antiinflamatórios não-esteróides (AINE) por pacientes encaminhados para endoscopia digestiva alta no Hospital das Clínicas/UFMG, Belo Horizonte/MG. Trata-se de um estudo transversal de uma amostra de 533 pacientes com idade igual ou superior a 17 anos, com endoscopia previamente marcada. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário padronizado. As variáveis estudadas foram relativas aos antiinflamatórios não-esteróidese ao seu modo de uso. Cerca de 34% dos entrevistados relatou uso de AINE no período de um mês anterior à endoscopia. Os AINE mais utilizados foram o ácido acetilsalicílico e o diclofenaco e o uso caracterizou-se, principalmente, pela forma esporádica e por período inferior a sete dias. Entre os AINE que foram utilizados por período prolongado, foram mais frequentes o uso em dose diária elevada e o uso de mais de uma especialidade. Evidenciou-se um cenário de utilização inadequada destes medicamentos entre os pacientes estudados, caracterizado pelo uso de especialidades desaconselhadas, uso de AINE em indicações inadequadas, uso de associações medicamentos as questionáveis e uso desnecessário de especialidades dispendiosas em detrimento daquelas seguras e mais acessíveis. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de estudos adicionais, a fim de maior aprofundamento no conhecimento dessa questão no Brasil.

The objective of this study was to describe the pattern of use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among patients referred for upper endoscopy at the Teaching Hospital of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. This cross-sectional survey included 533 patients, aged 17 or older, whose endoscopies had been previously scheduled. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect the data, which related to the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs taken and the way in which they were used. Almost 34% of the interviewed subjects reported having taken NSAIDs during the month prior to the endoscopy. The NSAIDs used most were acetylsalicylic acid and diclofenac and their pattern of use was characterized, in the main, by sporadic use over a period of less than seven days. Among the NSAIDs taken for long periods of time (> 30 dias), a commonly observed pattern was high daily doses and more than one kind of drug. The general picture that emerged was of inappropriate use of these medicines among the studied patients, typically the use of non-recommended types of drug, inappropriate use of NSAIDs for certain conditions, use of questionable drug combinations and the unnecessary use of expensive drugs despite the availability of safer and cheaper alternatives. The results point to the need to carry out more research, to improve our understanding of this question in Brazil.

High incidence of adverse reactions to initial antiretroviral therapy in Brazil

A concurrent prospective study was conducted from 2001 to 2003 to assess factors associated with adverse reactions among individuals initiating antiretroviral therapy at two public referral HIV/AIDS centers in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Adverse reactions were obtained from medical charts reviewed up to 12 months after the first antiretroviral prescription. Cox proportional hazard model was used to perform univariate and multivariate analyses. Relative hazards (RH) were estimated with 95 percent confidence intervals (CI). Among 397 charts reviewed, 377 (95.0 percent) had precise information on adverse reactions and initial antiretroviral treatment. Most patients received triple combination regimens including nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors. At least one adverse reaction was recorded on 34.5 percent (N = 130) of the medical charts (0.17 adverse reactions/100 person-day), while nausea (14.5 percent) and vomiting (13.1 percent) were the most common ones. Variables independently associated with adverse reactions were: regimens with nevirapine (RH = 1.78; 95 percent CI = 1.07-2.96), indinavir or indinavir/ritonavir combinations (RH = 2.05; 95 percent CI = 1.15-3.64), female patients (RH = 1.93; 95 percent CI = 1.31-2.83), 5 or more outpatient visits (RH = 1.94; 95 percent CI = 1.25-3.01), non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (RH = 2.38; 95 percent CI = 1.62-3.51), and a CD4+ count of 200 to 500 cells/mm³ (RH = 2.66; 95 percent CI = 1.19-5.90). An independent and negative association was also found for alcohol use (RH = 0.55; 95 percent CI = 0.33-0.90). Adverse reactions were substantial among participants initiating antiretroviral therapy. Specially elaborated protocols in HIV/AIDS referral centers may improve the diagnosis, management and prevention of adverse reactions, thus contributing to improving adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected patients.