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Introduction: the study of the characteristics of patients with COVID-19 makes it possible to determine risk groups in specific populations and to outline strategies by the institutions to improve the quality of care for these patients. Background: to characterize patients with COVID-19 in Pinar del Rio between March 2020 and March 2021. Methods: an observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in the province of Pinar del Rio between March 2020 and March 2021. The sample consisted of 450 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. Results: female patients predominated (56%), with a history of arterial hypertension (24,6%). A high incidence of COVID was found in individuals with between two and five chronic non-communicable diseases (40,2%). Of all patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 49% were passive smokers. Conclusions: COVID-19 occurred mainly in patients with several chronic diseases, as well as in those exposed.
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Introduction: universal neonatal hearing screening is a test that enables to identify or suspect hearing loss, performed via habilitation or rehabilitation plan. Background: determine the coverage of universal hearing screening in the epidemiological context of COVID-19 in Guantanamo province, during the period of march 2020 to march 2021. Method: a descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 5 999 newborns (as Universe) were involved in the study. Variables used were as follow: sex, newborns with or without risk factors, and otoacoustic emissions, which outcomes allowed for the evaluation of universal hearing screening coverage. The standard indicator (95%) and the time at which the first otoacoustic emissions were made were defined. The percentage of newborns detected before one month of life was established as indicator. Results: the 51.1% of the 5 999 newborns were male and 48.3% were female. The 100% of newborns (5 838) without risk factors underwent to the first examination, meanwhile, among those with risk factors (151 newborns) 0.2% (10) could not be tested. Screening of newborns without factors occurred between 1 and 3 days after birth. Screening was never performed after 30 days of birth in those who presented risk factors. Coverage was 99.8% and the reference rate was 0.2%. Conclusions: Universal Hearing Screening Program application in the context of COVID-19 pandemic in Guantanamo province shows a fulfillment in the coverage indicator.
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This conference proceedings contains 15 articles that discuss various topics in the fields of medicine, psychology, and technology. The articles focus on the adaptation and validation of psychological scales, the effects of COVID-19 on physical and psychological health, the development of biomedical applications, and the evaluation of obstetric risks during the pandemic. It also covers topics related to family influence on child development, coping strategies for infertile couples, and the antioxidant potential of natural products. The pedagogical works included in the proceedings focus on neuropsychological interventions and vulnerability to successful aging and mental health. A literature review delves into the theoretical considerations regarding the study of family, self-determination, and disability in health contexts.
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Introduction: ending 2019, the first reported cases of Covid-19 broke out in Wuhan, China. This disease may affect directly the cardiovascular system or predispose it to be infected by the SARS-CoV-2. Background: to identify the cardiometabolic predictive factors for mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 from Santiago de Cuba city in the period May 2020 throughout May 2021. Method: an analytical cohort study was carried out. It was a co-operative research that involved professionals from the Internal Medicine and Intensive Care Services at the Hospital Clinico Quirurgico "Ambrosio Grillo Portuondo", as well as professionals from the Direccion Municipal de Salud in Santiago de Cuba city. A sample of 120 patients was selected for the identification of cardiometabolic predictive factors for mortality. Data analysis was based on the performance of a multivariate model (multivariate logistic regression). Results: throughout the hospitalization period 15 diseases were reported. Female sex was predominant but statistically we can't associate to the deaths these two gender variables. However, age over 60 years, the arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and, in a high rank, the vascular involvement, were observed in a strongly association with mortality (p=0.0001). Conclusions: this research allowed the identification of cardiometabolic predictive factors for mortality in COVID-19, where age over 60 years, vascular involvement (cardiogenic shock), hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the main causal factors in the pathophysiological and statistical explanation of mortality.
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Introduction: during the COVID-19 pandemic, new safety measures were implemented in all sectors. However, the Maxillofacial Surgery specialty kept on, where emergency patients were not left unattended. Background: to characterize the maxillofacial emergencies attended at the Hospital Clinico Quirurgico Docente "Celia Sanchez Manduley" in Manzanillo, during the COVID-19 related epidemiological situation. Methods: an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was applied on 358 patients in the period between September 2020 and April 2021. The variables studied were as follow: age groups, sex, month when patients were attended, maxillofacial emergency's motive, therapeutic behavior and patients with COVID-19 related symptoms. Results: the most affected age group was 60 (22.6%), with predominance in male sex (54.2%). Most patients were attended in November and December (20.3%), the predominated maxillofacial emergencies were those associated to maxillofacial trauma (31.8%), followed by facial cellulitis (23.7%). In terms of treatment, the highest percentage of conservative treatment was associated with the medicamentation (88.3%), while wound suturing practice predominated in surgical treatment (18.2%). The symptom with the highest incidence was fever (3.4%). The 61.5% of the maxillofacial surgeons were infected with COVID-19. Conclusions: maxillofacial emergencies are more frequent in males;maxillofacial trauma and facial cellulitis predominate. The maxillofacial surgery service is vulnerable to the coronavirus infection.
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Introduction: post-COVID-19 syndrome is the set of signs and symptoms that develop during or after an infection compatible with COVID-19, that persist for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis. Background: to characterize the clinical-epidemiological behavior of the post-COVID-19 syndrome in patients at the Andres Ortiz Polyclinic. Method: a descriptive and cross-sectional observational study was carried out from October to December 2021, in a population of 51 subjects that was studied in its entirety. The analysis was descriptive. Results: patients with 50-59 years (n = 20;39.2%), female (n = 32;62.7%) predominated. The most frequently affected organ system was the respiratory (n = 19;37.2%), while the symptoms were: chronic fatigue (n = 15;29.4%), shortness of breath (n = 11;21.5%) and cough (n = 8, 15.6%). Among the patients with respiratory (n = 30), cardiovascular (n = 24) and neurological (n = 10) diseases, the most frequent were, respectively: pulmonary fibrosis (n = 17;56.7%), cardiac arrhythmias (n = 11;45.8%) and peripheral neuropathies (n = 5;50%). Conclusions: post-COVID-19 syndrome occurred mainly between the ages of 50 and 59, in female patients, with symptoms of chronic fatigue, shortness of breath and cough, as well as pulmonary fibrosis, cardiac arrhythmias and peripheral neuropathies as main comorbidities.
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Introduction: COVID-19 does not distinguish between age, race or sex. Children and young people constitute a sector of the population that does not escape this reality. Background: to design an educational intervention aimed at raising awareness and preparedness about COVID-19 in adolescents aged 15 to 18 years, admitted to Facultad de Ciencias Medicas de Guantanamo isolation center for suspected cases of SARS-CoV-2. Method: between January 2021 and March 2021, an experimental study of an educational intervention type was carried out. The population was made up of adolescents admitted in the center, all included in the aforementioned age range. A total of 97 intentionally selected adolescents were included in the study. Inquires about the level of information they had on the subject were made, before and after applying the educational intervention. Results: before the implementation of the educational intervention, 50.5% of the adolescents expressed having an insufficient level of information regarding COVID-19, and this proportion decreased to 21.6% after applying it;which meant a 57.2% reduction in adolescents with theoretical deficiencies regarding the subject. The percentage that increased their preparation was 36.9% (p <0.05), which indicated the advantage of implementing the educational intervention. Conclusions: the educational intervention aimed at adolescents suspected of SARS-Cov-2 infection makes it possible to improve knowledge regarding COVID-19.
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Pregnant women generally constitute a group at high risk of infectious diseases due to gestational immunological and physiological changes in their system. That is why the objective of this work is to analyze the implications of the physiological changes of pregnancy in SARS-CoV-2 disease. Physiological changes in pregnant women not only increase their susceptibility to the virus, but also increase the severity of the disease. Changes in the respiratory and immune systems, the role of the placenta in coagulation, and the function of endothelial cells are the physiological changes that most influence the disease. The decrease in lung capacity and the variations that occur in the immune system represent new treatment challenges for pregnant women with COVID-19 disease and therefore new areas of research limited so far.
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Introduction: at present, one of the world's problems it is the health situation. Cuba is not an exception, and the behavior of infestation due to the new outbreak of COVID-19 that is occurring at national level is a great concern. Background: to provide some didactic and pedagogical reflections as part of an adequate school environment that make possible the correct preparation of faculty to teach students in health knowledge and thus mitigating the progressive spread of COVID-19. Method: It was conducted a research at the Universidad de Guantanamo, Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de Guantanamo, and the Instituto Politecnico Agricola de Yateras, from April 2020 throughout January 2021. A total of 30 professors and 30 students (as universe) were involved in this research (10 of each institution). The main variable used was the level of preparation of faculty in school environment and health education. Results: the indicators obtained made it possible to develop the measurement instruments. A qualitative data analysis was made attending to: data reduction, layout and transformation data, as well as the obtained outcomes and conclusions verified. Conclusions: the didactic and pedagogical reflections offered are materialized in a set of guidelines with a methodological approach that guide faculty staff and help to create a positive school environment to strengthen students' health education, based on an exhaustive analysis of the components in the teaching process.
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Introduction: the value of oxygen as a prognostic maker of mortality due to COVID-19 pneumonia has not been evaluated at the Hospital General Docente "Dr. Agostinho Neto". Background: to identify the values of oxygenation markers for prognosing mortality caused by COVID-19 pneumonia at the Hospital General Docente "Dr. Agostinho Neto" de Guantanamo, Cuba, throughout period 2020-2021. Method: a cohort of 276 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia was studied. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2), the difference between the oxygen concentration in the alveoli and arterial system (DA-aO2), arterial oxygen pressure ratio (PaO2) and inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) [PaO2/FiO2] were studied. The association between variables and deceased discharge was determined using the Chi-square technique and the Odds Ratio (OR) calculation. Results: the variable with the highest positive predictive value was SpO2 (87.3%) with a value lower than 90 mmHg at admission. The highest negative predictive value was recorded for the DA-aO2 variable (95.6%), less than 20 mmHg at 48 hours after admission. Attributable risk was higher for PaO2/FiO2 ratio, less than 300 mmHg (0.59), at admission (0.52). Attributable risk percent was higher for the variable DA-aO2 20 mmHg at admission (95.8%) and at 48 hours after admission (95.3%). Conclusions: abnormal DA-aO2, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, SaO2 and SpO2, at admission and 48 hours after admission, are predictive markers of mortality in patients with COVID-19.
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Introduction: The health workers are one of the most prone to becoming infected with COVID-19, due to their exposure during their relationship with patients. Background: To determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in workers of the Pediatric Hospital of Camaguey in the period from January to December 2021. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out in a universe of 238 workers with a polymerase chain reaction-confirmed diagnosis during the aforementioned period;registered in a database. The variables studied included age group, sex, occupational category, service of origin, clinical manifestations, quarter of the year, and possible source of infection. The data were processed using the statistical program SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences), version 25.0, on a Pentium IV computer. Informed consent and the bioethical principles of confidentiality of information were taken into account in the research. Results: The female sex predominated (54.7%) at ages 50-59 years. They were mostly nursing staff (29.4%), infected during the third trimester (39.9%) in the community (59.3%), presenting symptoms such as nasal discharge (32.8%) and fever (17.6%), working in the pediatric medicine wards (28.2%). Conclusions: Despite the difficult epidemiological situation, the main source of infection was the community. There were no institutional transmission events and there were no deaths.
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Introduction: in the face of the health emergency, Cuban science undertook a series of protocols with the aim of achieving an effective treatment against COVID-19, thus giving rise to a homeopathic preparation called PrevengHo..-Vir. The trial has not yet finished and there remains a gap of doubts regarding the possible adverse reactions that the preparation could cause. Background: to characterize clinically and epidemiologically five towns' populations that consumed the homeopathic preparation and to identify the main adverse reactions reported by the patients under study. Method: an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in five towns in the municipality of Santa Clara, with the total of patients who used the preparation;with the sample being N=505. Results: a ratio of men and women of 1:1 is presented, with an average of 44.3 years of age, 63.7% have a high school degree (above 12th grade), only 4.8% used the preparation incorrectly, of which 3.2% had a low educational level. A total of 13 subjects presented reactions. Conclusions: Most of the adverse reactions are mild and do not require urgent medical attention. The homeopathic preparation PrevengHo..-Vir is safe and without risk to the lives of consumers.
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In December 2022 (from 00: 00, 1 December to 24: 00, 31 December), except COVID-19, a total of 278 907 cases of notifiable communicable diseases, including 2 384 deaths, were reported in China (except Hong Kong, Macao Special Administrative Regions and Taiwan Province, the same below). In communicable diseases in class A, no cases and no deaths were reported. In communicable diseases in class B, no cases and no deaths of severe acute respiratory syndrome, poliomyelitis, human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, diphtheria and human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus were reported. For the remaining 21 communicable diseases except COVID-19 in class B, a total of 148 573 cases were reported, a decrease of 29% compared with last month (210 178 cases) and a decrease of 46% compared with the same period in 2021 (273 361 cases). The first 5 diseases in terms of reported case number were viral hepatitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea and AIDS, accounting for 96% of the total reported cases in class B. A total of 2 384 deaths were reported, an increase of 28% (521 deaths) compared with last month (1 863 deaths) and a decrease of 14% compared with the same period in 2021 (2 763 deaths). In class C communicable diseases, a total of 130 334 cases were reported, a decrease of 33% compared with last month (195 072 cases) and a decrease of 69% compared with the same period in 2021 (420 015 cases). The first 3 diseases in terms of reported case number were influenza, other infectious diarrhea, and hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD), accounting for 96% of the total reported cases in class C. Compared with last month, except filariasis which had no incidence, the reported case number of leprosy was same, and the disease with reported case increase was echinococcosis (47 cases, 48%), the reported cases of other diseases all decreased, the first 3 diseases with reported case decreases were HFMD (22 886 cases, 45%), other infectious diarrhea (21 962 cases, 43%) and influenza (14 775 cases, 18%). Compared with the same period in 2021, except filariasis which had no incidence, the reported cases of other diseases all decreased, the first 3 diseases with reported case decreases were influenza (181 158 cases, 73%), other infectious diarrhea (53 502 cases, 65%) and HFMD (46 674 cases, 63%). No death caused by class C communicable disease was reported, same to last month and a decrease of 7 deaths compared with the same period in 2021 (7 deaths).
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This special issue includes 9 articles that discuss comparative cost of diets for low-income families in the Caribbean;improving dietary diversity in the Caribbean Community;malnutrition in all its forms in Caribbean countries using a food systems approach;sociodemographic and dietary influences on perceptions of eating habits in Jamaica;determinants of unhealthy dietary habits among a sample of survey participants in Jamaica;integrated food systems approaches for healthy diets in the Caribbean;ecological relationships in social resilience;COVID-19 and the social distribution of hunger in three Caribbean Small Island Developing States.
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Introduction: COVID-19 is caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, identified in the city of Wuhan, China at the end of 2019. The exponential increase in cases forced the World Health Organization to declare it as a pandemic. Background: to clinically and epidemiologically characterize adult patients confirmed to have COVID-19 in a Family Doctor's Office in Holgu..n. Method: a retrospective, observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in adult patients confirmed with COVID-19, in the Family Doctor's Office No. 7 of the "M..ximo G..mez B..ez" Teaching Polyclinic in the period from January to August 2021. The population and the sample were coincident, with a total of 81 patients. Results: patients in the age range of 50 to 59 years represented 23.45%;and 64.20% of the total were female. 83.95% presented symptoms of the disease and 97.53% were locally acquired. Arterial hypertension was present in 25.93%. 95.06% of the patients studied recovered from the disease. Conclusions: patients in the age range of 50 to 59 years, female, symptomatic and locally acquired COVID cases prevailed. The most frequent comorbidity was arterial hypertension. Most patients recovered.
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This section contains three papers dealing with: toxic colonialism in Ilet la Mere, French Guiana;the isolation of Mediterranean islands from COVID-19 and the recovery of their tourism economy;and the effect of colonialism and neocolonialism on the response of Barbuda and Puerto Rico to COVID-19.
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The islands of Barbuda and Puerto Rico share a history of dispossession and exploitation, occupying a peripheric position in a core-periphery world system. Yet, each island's response to COVID-19, and the subsequent effects of the pandemic, could not be more different. This paper examines how colonialism and neocolonialism affected the islands' ability to respond to COVID-19. Barbuda relied on community traditions of support and self-reliance and was able to restrict all travel to and from the island, including travelers from the diaspora and those participating in its informal economic sector. In doing so, Barbuda effectively isolated itself from infection. On the other hand, Puerto Rico, in a protracted economic crisis, was particularly vulnerable to touristic flows, diasporic movements, and a large informal sector. The Puerto Rican response was shaped by deep politicization in the mainland U.S., which complicated an evidence-based strategy to combat the emergency. These cases show that islands, particularly those located in peripheric or subaltern spaces, cannot isolate themselves from the worst effects of COVID-19 through mere geography. Pandemics are not only driven by biological events but also by the narratives of colonialism, encompassing political, economic, and cultural factors, which determine their trajectories - sometimes with devastating outcomes.
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The research is focused on studying the impact of the crisis caused by COVID-19 on family food security. Various epistemological positions of some researchers are analyzed, as well as the reality revealed in the current scenario. Economic and social inequalities are addressed in their context. The study is based on a systematic review with a critical approach based on the method of analysis and synthesis. The results reveal that the pandemic associated with COVID-19 has aggravated the current economic and social crisis, and has put family food security at risk in different contexts.
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Introduction: Postcovid syndrome is a new and unique phenomenon. Its symptoms, particularly extreme fatigue, can have knock-on effects on a person's quality of life.
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Objective: To report a clinical case of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in a patient with COVID-2019, a disease with a rare complication. Clinical case report: We report the case of an 86-year-old patient with a clinical condicion of fever of 38o C and respiratory symptoms (cough with whitish secretions, dyspnea on moderate exertion). He underwent a polymerase chain reaction test for coronavirus disease 2019, which resulted positive. On the fourth day of his hospitalization, he his clinical condition worsened, including cough and progressive dyspnea accompanied by oxygen saturation less than 91%. The presence of pneumomediastinum was revealed by high-resolution imaging studies (computed tomography angiography of the chest). Discussion: The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic has given rise to a global public health emergency, which requires health personnel to be familiar with symptoms, imaging results, and complications of this disease, such as pneumomediastinum found in this case. Conclution: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare complication that occurs in the inflammatory phase of this disease.