Real world data study of prevalence and direct costs related to dengue management in Brazil's private healthcare from 2015 to 2020

ABSTRACT Background: The burden of dengue in Brazil is poorly documented and is based on data from the public health care setting. This study estimated the prevalence and costs of dengue management in the private health care system in Brazil from 2015 to 2020 using a large claims database from Orizon. Methods: We selected claims with dengue ICD codes (ICD-10 A90 or A91) from January 2015 to December 2020. Prevalence was estimated based on the population enrolled in health insurance plans in the given year. Costs were adjusted for the inflation up to December 2021 and evaluated by measures of central tendency and dispersion. Results: A total of 63,882 unique beneficiaries were included, with a total of 64,186 dengue cases. The year with the highest prevalence was 2015 (1.6% of patients who used health plans), and there was also an increase in cases in 2016 and 2019. The median cost per hospitalization in 2015 was US$486.17, and in 2020, it reached US$696.72. The median cost of a case seen at an emergency room ranged from US$ 97.78 in 2015 to US$ 118.16 in 2017. Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of dengue in this population of private health-insured patients followed the epidemiological trends of the general population in Brazil, with the highest rates in 2015, 2016, and 2019. The cost of dengue management has increased in the private health care setting over the years.

A cross-sectional study assessing the pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis in subjects aged 1-24 years in the city of Embu das Artes, São Paulo, Brazil

ABSTRACT Meningococcal carriage is a prerequisite for invasive infection. This cross-sectional study assessed the pharyngeal carriage prevalence in healthy subjects aged 1-24 years in Embu das Artes city, São Paulo, Brazil. Pharyngeal swabs were examined for the presence of Neisseria meningitidis. The isolates were tested for different serogroups using agglutination and polymerase chain reaction. A logistic regression model assessed any independent association between Neisseria meningitidis carriage and various risk factors. A total of 87/967 subjects (9%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 7.3-11.0) tested positive for N. meningitidis: 6.2% (95% CI: 3.8-9.4) in 1-4 years, 8.5% (95% CI: 5.1-13.0) in 5-9 years, 12.5% (95% CI: 7.8-18.6) in 10-14 years, 12.6% (95% CI: 7.4-19.7) in 15-19 years and 9% (95% CI: 4.9-14.9) in 20-24 years age groups. Highest carriage prevalence was observed in adolescents 10-19 years old. Serogroup C was predominant (18.4%) followed by serogroup B (12.6%). The 15-19 years age group showed a significant association between number of household members and carriers of N. meningitidis. This cross-sectional study is the first in Brazil to evaluate meningococcal carriage prevalence and associated factors in a wide age range.

Operational research principles for a routine service process for monitoring the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treatment cascade: data from a cohort in Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Bottlenecks still exist during human immunodeficiency virus care that may delay the achievement of better outcomes. METHODS: We established a monitoring system to trace patients throughout the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome care process in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, to identify potential bottlenecks. RESULTS: Among 250 patients, 17.6% abandoned follow-up. Our monitoring system tracked 86.4% of patients through the medication logistics control system and 2.3% through the mortality information system. Two percent of patients were not located by our monitoring system. CONCLUSIONS: A pathway care process contributes to a better understanding of the barriers to the treatment cascade.

Risk-based assessment does not distinguish between recent and chronic HIV-1 infection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This study investigated the risk factors associated with recent and chronic HIV infections among individual attending a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) site in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In a cross-sectional study, recent HIV infections were detected by the sensitive/less-sensitive test, using Serologic Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversion (STARHS) strategy, and compared to chronic HIV infection and HIV negative individuals. Seroincidence was estimated and risk factors associated with recent and chronic infections were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Among the 7,379 individuals tested between June 2006 and April 2007, the overall prevalence and incidence of HIV infection were 7.5 percent; and 1.39/100 PY, respectively. In multivariate analysis, having a HIV positive steady partner was a risk factor for recent and for chronic HIV infection for MSM, heterosexual male and women. No differences in risk factors for recent and chronic infections were found between MSM and heterosexual males. Among women, chronic infected individuals were more likely than HIV negatives to be older. Recently HIV infected women were more likely than HIV negatives to be less educated; and more likely than HIV negatives and chronically infected to report having more partners. Routinely used risk-based assessment in testing centers in Brazil lack sensitivity to distinguish between recent and chronic infections, particularly among MSM and heterosexual males. Steady relationships and serosorting may be playing a key role in maintaining the HIV epidemics in Brazil.

Investigação de surto de doença febril hemorrágica nos municípios de Japeri e Queimados, Rio de Janeiro, 2000 / Outbreak investigation of hemorragic febrile disease in Japeri and Queimados, Rio de Janeiro, 2000

Entre junho e setembro de 2000, 9 pessoas de uma área pobre da zona norte do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, desenvolveram uma doença febril hemorrágica e morreram. Foi conduzida uma busca ativa para determinar a extensão do surto e um estudo de caso-controle para identificar a etiologia e os fatores de risco para aquisição da doença. Um paciente-caso foi definido como residente da área afetada apresentando febre, cefaléia e um ou mais dos seguintes sintomas - mialgia, artralgia, diarréia, manifestações hemorrágicas ou icterícia - durante o período de junho a setembro de 2000, tendo procurado serviço médico. Quarenta e três pessoas enquadraram-se na definição de caso e foram comparados com 86 controles, pareados por área de residência e faixa etária. Vinte e três (53,3%) eram do sexo masculino e a idade mediana foi de 19 anos. Na análise univariada, contato com esgoto (mOR=2,5; p=0,02); contato com ratos (mOR=3,0; p=0,006), contato com rio (mOR=3,3; p=.009), e mortandade de animais no peridomicílio (mOR=2,7; p=0,04), foram significantemente associados ao desenvolvimento de doença. Na análise multivariada, contato com ratos (OR=5,1; p=0,03) e contato com rio (OR=4,9; 95%; p=0,04) permaneceram como fatores de risco independentemente associados ao desenvolvimento de doença. A imunohistoquímica de uma amostra de tecido de um caso fatal foi positiva para leptospirose. Exames adicionais para outros potenciais agentes estão pendentes. Com base nas evidências epidemiológicas fornecidas pela investigação, recomendamos a implementação de desratização na área afetada e educação em saúde aos residentes, para que evitassem contato com o rio local. Após a implementação das medidas de controle nenhum caso novo foi notificado. Esta investigação ressalta a importância de se instituir recomendações de saúde pública com base em resultados de investigações epidemiológicas quando exames laboratoriais não estão prontamente disponíveis.

In June-September 2000, nine persons from a poor area north of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, developed a febrile hemorrhagic illness and died. We conducted case finding to determine the outbreak size, and a case-control study to identify disease etiology and risk factors. A case-patient was defined as a resident of the affected area who sought medical care during June-September 6, 2000, presenting with fever, headache, and one or more of the following symptoms: myalgia, arthralgia, diarrhea, hemorrhagic manifestations, or jaundice. Forty-three persons met the case definition and were compared with eighty-six controls matched by area of residence and age group. Twenty-three (53.3%) were males with a median age of 19 years. In univariate analysis, contact with sewage (matched Odds Ratio [mOR]=2.5; p=0.02), contact with rats (mOR=3.0; p=0.006), contact with local creek (mOR=3.3; p=0.009), and mortality of household animals (mOR=2.7; p=0.04), were associated with development of the disease. In multivariate analysis, contact with rats (mOR=4.7; p= 0.03), and contact with local creek (mOR=4.8; 95%; p= 0.04) remained as independent risk factors. Immunohistochemical evaluation of tissue samples from one fatal case was positive for leptospirosis. Further laboratory testing for potential etiologies is pending. Based on the epidemiologic evidence provided by our investigation we recommended implementation of rodent extermination in the affected area, and education of residents to avoid contact with the local creek. Following implementation of these control measures, further cases were not reported. This investigation highlights the value of implementing public health recommendations based on results from epidemiologic investigations when laboratory testing is not immediately available.