Validation and reproducibility of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Written Atopic Eczema Questionnaire for telephone survey in children aged 6-7 years

Abstract Background The prevalence of atopic eczema is unknown in many countries. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) is an epidemiological landmark in the study of allergic diseases. Objective To validate and assess the reproducibility of the ISAAC Written Atopic Eczema Questionnaire (WAEQ) for children aged between 6 and 7 years by telephone contact. Methods Observational study through interviews with guardians of children aged 6 to 7 years using the ISAAC atopic eczema module questionnaire in three different phases separated by 2 weeks: telephone interviews in the first and third contacts and in-person interviews under supervision in the second contact. Reproducibility was estimated using the Kappa index and validation using the sensitivity and specificity coefficients. Results Data from 88 children (32 from the atopic eczema group) were analyzed. Reproducibility showed almost perfect agreement for the questions "Recurrent pruritic lesions" and "Lesions in typical locations" (Kappa between 0.81-0.82), while a substantial agreement was observed for all other indicators (Kappa variation between 0.66 and 0.78). The validation showed high specificity (≥ 80.4%) and sensitivity (≥ 87.5%) for all questions, except those related to chronicity and medical diagnosis (34.4% and 40.6%, respectively). Study limitations Non-random selection, no sample size calculation, participants from a tertiary hospital and study period coincident with the Coronavirus pandemic. Conclusions Our results showed that the ISAAC atopic eczema module questionnaire by telephone interviews has good reproducibility and high agreement with the clinical diagnosis of atopic eczema. It may be an appropriate alternative tool in epidemiological studies of childhood atopic eczema, especially in periods of social isolation.

Influence of comorbidities on CD4+/CD8+ proportion in HIV-positive patients in Blumenau, State of Santa Catarina: a retrospective study

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The objective was to identify comorbidities related to HIV-positive patients in Blumenau, State of Santa Catarina. METHODS: A retrospective, descriptive observational design study which analyzed data from 424 patients assisted by the sexually transmitted disease/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (STD/AIDS) Specialized Care Service (SCS). RESULTS: Of 424 medical records analyzed, 388 patients presented CD4+/CD8+ ratios lower than 1. The most prevalent comorbidities were smoking, depression, alcoholism, and herpes zoster infection, in males and females. CONCLUSIONS: The most relevant comorbidity in both genders was herpes zoster, an important marker of immunity in patients. The lowest mean was observed among patients with neurotoxoplasmosis.

Indicação da prova tuberculínica e infecção latente da tuberculose em HIV-positivos, Município de Blumenau, Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil, 2004-2009 / Tuberculin skin test prescription and tuberculosis latent infection treatment in HIV-positive, Municipality of Blumenau, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2004-2009

OBJETIVO: determinar a indicação à prova tuberculínica (PT) e tratamento para infecção latente da tuberculose (ILTB) pelo Serviço de Atendimento Especializado em DST/aids (SAE-DST/aids) do município de Blumenau, estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. MÉTODO: estudo transversal, em prontuários de pacientes HIV-positivos ingressantes entre 2004 e 2009; análises estatísticas foram estabelecidas pelos testes exato de Fisher, t de Student e qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: dos 693 pacientes, 56,6 por cento tinham aids e 96,23 por cento tinham indicação para PT, embora somente 16,29 por cento realizaram-na; a prescrição da PT foi de 23,46 por cento mas apenas 1,31 por cento realizou tratamento; fatores clínicos, como comorbidades relacionadas ao HIV, tiveram associação estatística com a prescrição da PT em 19,58 por cento dos não prescritos e 14,01 por cento dos prescritos (p<0,01); houve diferença estatística na frequência de indicação pelos médicos do serviço avaliado. CONCLUSÃO: os dados evidenciam que as recomendações para prescrição da PT em pacientes HIV-positivos e o tratamento da ILTB não estão sendo cumpridas pelo SAE/DST/aids de Blumenau-SC.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the indication of Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) and Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) treatment by the Specialized HIV/AIDS Healthcare Services (SHS-STD/AIDS) in Blumenau, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. METHODS: cross-sectional study with records of HIV-positive patients admitted between 2004 and 2009; statistical analysis were established using Fisher exact, t Student and chi-squared tests. RESULTS: among 693 patients, 56.6 per cent had aids and 96.23 per cent had indication to TST, although only 16.29 per cent performed it; TST prescription was 23.46 per cent but only 1.31 perc ent did the treatment; clinical featuressuch as HIV-related comorbidities were statistically associated with TST prescription in 19.58 per cent non-prescribed and 14.01 per cent prescribed (p<0.01); there was statistical difference in the proportion of indication among the physicians of the assessed service. CONCLUSION: data indicates that the recommendations to TST prescription in patients HIV-positiveand LTBI treatment are not being accomplished by the SHS-STD/AIDS of Blumenau-SC.