The road to recovery: an interrupted time series analysis of policy intervention to restore essential health services in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Recovery of health services disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic represents a significant challenge in low- and middle-income countries. In April 2021, the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), which provides health care to 68.5 million people, launched the National Strategy for Health Services Recovery (Recovery policy). The study objective was to evaluate whether the Recovery policy addressed COVID-related declines in maternal, child health, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) services. Methods: We analysed the data of 35 IMSS delegations from January 2019 to November 2021 on contraceptive visits, antenatal care consultations, deliveries, caesarean sections, sick children's consultations, child vaccination, breast and cervical cancer screening, diabetes and hypertension consultations, and control. We focused on the period before (April 2020 - March 2021) and during (April 2021 - November 2021) the Recovery policy and used an interrupted time series design and Poisson Generalized Estimating Equation models to estimate the association of this policy with service use and outcomes and change in their trends. Results: Despite the third wave of the pandemic in 2021, service utilization increased in the Recovery period, reaching (at minimum) 49% of pre-pandemic levels for sick children's consultations and (at maximum) 106% of pre-pandemic levels for breast cancer screenings. Evidence for the Recovery policy role was mixed: the policy was associated with increased facility deliveries (IRR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.11-1.19) with a growing trend over time (IRR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.03-1.05); antenatal care and child health services saw strong level effects but decrease over time. Additionally, the Recovery policy was associated with diabetes and hypertension control. Services recovery varied across delegations. Conclusions: Health service utilization and NCDs control demonstrated important gains in 2021, but evidence suggests the policy had inconsistent effects across services and decreasing impact over time. Further efforts to strengthen essential health services and ensure consistent recovery across delegations are warranted.

Interinstitutional clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Mexico has the highest 30-day mortality due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which constitutes one of the main causes of mortality in the country: 28 % versus 7.5 % on average for the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development member countries. OBJECTIVE: To establish critical pathways and essential interinstitutional pharmacological strategies for the care of patients with AMI in Mexico, regardless of their socioeconomic status. METHOD: A group of experts in AMI diagnosis and treatment, representatives of the main public health institutions in Mexico, as well as the Mexican cardiology societies, the Mexican Red Cross and representatives of the Spanish Society of Cardiology, were brought together in order to optimize strategies based on the best existing evidence. RESULTS: An interinstitutional clinical practice guideline was designed for early diagnosis and timely treatment of AMI with ST-segment elevation, following the clinical horizon of the disease, with the proposal of algorithms that improve the prognosis of patients who attend the emergency services due to an AMI. CONCLUSION: With these clinical practice guidelines, the group of experts proposes to universalize AMI diagnosis and treatment, regardless of patient socioeconomic status. INTRODUCCIÓN: México tiene la mortalidad más alta a 30 días por infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM), el cual constituye una de las principales causas de mortalidad en el país: 28 % versus 7.5 % del promedio de los países de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos. OBJETIVO: Establecer las rutas críticas y las estrategias farmacológicas esenciales interinstitucionales para la atención de los pacientes con IAM en México, independientemente de su condición socioeconómica. MÉTODO: Se reunió a un grupo de expertos en diagnóstico y tratamiento de IAM, representantes de las principales instituciones públicas de salud de México, así como las sociedades cardiológicas mexicanas, Cruz Roja Mexicana y representantes de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología con la finalidad de optimizar las estrategias con base en la mejor evidencia existente. RESULTADOS: Se diseñó una guía de práctica clínica interinstitucional para el diagnóstico temprano y tratamiento oportuno del IAM con elevación del segmento ST, siguiendo el horizonte clínico de la enfermedad, con la propuesta de algoritmos que mejoren el pronóstico de los pacientes que acuden por IAM a los servicios de urgencias. CONCLUSIÓN: Con la presente guía práctica, el grupo de expertos propone universalizar el diagnóstico y tratamiento en el IAM, independientemente de la condición socioeconómica del paciente.

Excerpts from the documents of Mexican positions and recommendations in cardiovascular diseases and COVID-19.

The recommendations in which the Mexican Society of Cardiology (SMC) in conjunction with the National Association of Cardiologists of Mexico (ANCAM) as well as different Mexican medical associations linked to cardiology are presented, after a comprehensive and consensual review and analysis of the topics related to cardiovascular diseases in the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific positions are analyzed and responsible recommendations on general measures are given to patients, with personal care, healthy eating, regular physical activity, actions in case of cardio-respiratory arrest, protection of the patient and health personnel as well as precise indications in the use of non-invasive cardiovascular imaging, prescription of medications, care in specific topics such as systemic arterial hypertension, heart failure, arrhythmias and acute coronary syndromes, in addition to emphasizing electrophysiology, interventionism, cardiac surgery and in cardiac rehabilitation. The main interest is to provide the medical community with a general orientation on what to do in daily practice and patients with cardiovascular diseases in the setting of this unprecedented epidemiological crisis of COVID-19.

Se presentan las recomendaciones en las cuales la Sociedad Mexicana de Cardiología (SMC) en conjunto con la Asociación Nacional de Cardiólogos de México (ANCAM), así como diferentes asociaciones médicas mexicanas vinculadas con la cardiología, después de una revisión y análisis exhaustivo y consensuado sobre los tópicos relacionados con las enfermedades cardiovasculares en la pandemia de COVID-19, se analizan posturas científicas y se dan recomendaciones responsables sobre medidas generales a los pacientes, con cuidados personales, alimentación saludable, actividad física regular, acciones en caso de paro cardiorrespiratorio, la protección del paciente y del personal de salud así como las indicaciones precisas en el uso de la imagen cardiovascular no invasiva, la prescripción de medicamentos, cuidados en tópicos específicos como en la hipertensión arterial sistémica, insuficiencia cardiaca, arritmias y síndromes coronarios agudos, además de hacer énfasis en los procedimientos de electrofisiología, intervencionismo, cirugía cardiaca y en la rehabilitación cardiaca. El interés principal es brindar a la comunidad médica una orientación general sobre el quehacer en la práctica cotidiana y pacientes con enfermedades cardiovasculares en el escenario esta crisis epidemiológica sin precedentes de COVID-19.