Electronic Decision-Making Tool for Smoking Cessation (Pare de Fumar Conosco) Versus Standard of Care: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Pare de Fumar Conosco software compared with the standard of care adopted in Brazil for the treatment of smoking cessation. METHODS: In the cohort of smokers with multiple chronic conditions, we developed an decision tree model for the benefit measures of smoking cessation. We adopted the perspectives of the Brazilian Unified Health System and the service provider. Resources and costs were measured by primary and secondary sources and effectiveness by a randomized clinical trial. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated, followed by deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses and deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. No willingness to pay threshold was adopted. RESULTS: The software had a lower cost and greater effectiveness than its comparator. The ICER was dominant in all of the benefits examined (-R$2 585 178.29 to -R$325 001.20). The cost of the standard of care followed by that of the electronic tool affected the ICER of the benefit measures. In all probabilistic analyses, the software was superior to the standard of care (53.6%-82.5%). CONCLUSION: The Pare de Fumar Conosco software is a technology that results in cost savings in treating smoking cessation.

Dark chocolate (70% cocoa) reduces craving in smokers with severe cardiovascular comorbidities without interference in anthropometric measures / Chocolate amargo (70% cacau) reduz fissura em tabagistas com comorbidades cardiovasculares graves sem interferir nas medidas antropométricas

ABSTRACT Objective: Analyze craving in smokers with cardiovascular comorbidities submitted to a nutritional approach. Methods: Two groups were randomized and submitted to clinical intervention (n = 32): Group 1 (G1, n = 15): ingested 40 g of chocolate containing 70% cocoa/day and behavioral intervention for smoking cessation for one month; Group 2 (G2, n = 17): control group, only behavioral intervention. Questionnaire of Smoking Urges-Brief (QSU-Brief) - Brazil version measured total craving and its factors. Anthropometric measurements verified the nutritional interference of the procedure and the serum assessment verified the interference of inflammatory processes related to smoking. The study was registered on the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC): RBR-83jr3. Results: After one month, compared to the initial evaluation, the G1 reduced the craving evaluated by the QSU-Brief and its Factors 1 and 2. Total QSU-Brief: 44.27 ± 15.82 x 27.00 ± 18.03 (p = 0.008); Factor 1: 21.90 ± 7.70 x 12.90 ± 8.87 (p = 0.006); Factor 2: 11.90 ± 6.30 x 7.00 ± 6.63 (0.007). G2 showed a reduction in total QSU-Brief and Factor 1, but not in Factor 2. QSU-Brief total 28.17 ± 17.24 x 19.52 ± 9.50 (p = 0.049); Factor 1: 14.47 ± 8.74 x 9.23 ± 6.11 (p = 0.046). Serum levels of cortisol, leptin, serotonin, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and insulin did not show differences (p > 0.05). No anthropometric differences were found. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that daily consumption of chocolate for one month (70%) reduced craving in smokers at the beginning of treatment. Chocolate potentiated the well-known effect of behavioral counseling on Factor 1 (pleasurable drug effects) and also interfered with factor 2 (unpleasant withdrawal effects).

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar o craving em fumantes com comorbidades cardiovasculares submetidos a uma abordagem nutricional. Métodos: Intervenção clínica (n = 32) com dois grupos randomizados: Grupo 1 (G1, n = 15): recebendo 40 g de chocolate contendo 70% de cacau/dia e intervenção comportamental para cessação do tabagismo por um mês; Grupo 2 (G2, n = 17): grupo controle, recebendo apenas intervenção comportamental pelo mesmo período. O Questionnaire of Smoking Urges-Brief (QSU-Brief) - versão Brasil foi utilizado para avaliar o craving. As medidas antropométricas verificaram a interferência nutricional do procedimento e a avaliação sérica, a interferência de processos inflamatórios relacionados ao tabagismo. O estudo foi registrado no Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (ReBEC), RBR-83jr3. Resultados: Um mês depois, comparado à avaliação inicial, o G1 reduziu o craving total e seus fatores (1 e 2). QSU-Brief total: 44,27 ± 15,82 x 27,00 ± 18,03 (p = 0,008); Fator 1: 21,90 ± 7,70 x 12,90 ± 8,87 (p = 0,006); Fator 2: 11,90 ± 6,30 x 7,00 ± 6,63 (0,007). G2: redução no QSU-Brief total e Fator 1, mas não no Fator 2. QSU-Brief total 28,17 ± 17,24 x 19,52 ± 9,50 (p = 0,049); Fator 1: 14,47 ± 8,74 x 9,23 ± 6,11 (p = 0,046). Níveis séricos de cortisol, leptina, serotonina, proteína C-reativa (PCR) e insulina não apresentaram diferenças (p > 0,05). Não foram encontradas diferenças antropométricas significativas. Conclusão: Os resultados demonstram que o consumo diário de chocolate por um mês (70%) reduziu o craving em fumantes no início do tratamento. O chocolate potencializou o conhecido efeito do aconselhamento comportamental sobre o Fator 1 (efeitos prazerosos da droga) e também interferiu no fator 2 (efeitos desagradáveis da abstinência).

Smoking Cessation Mobile Interventions in Latin America: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review published articles reporting the use of smoking cessation mobile health (mHealth) interventions in Latin America. METHODS: Five different databases were searched from database inception to 2020. Criteria: (1) the research was a smoking cessation randomized controlled trial (RCT), quasi-experimental research, or single-arm study; (2) the intervention used at least one type of mHealth intervention; (3) the research was conducted in Latin American; and (4) the research reported the cessation rate. RESULTS: Of the seven selected studies, four were conducted in Brazil, two in Mexico, and one in Peru. Only one study was an adequately powered RCT. Interventions relied on text messages (n = 3), web-based tools (n = 2), and telephone calls (n = 3). Some studies (n = 4) provided pharmacotherapy support. Smoking cessation outcomes included self-reported (n = 5) and biochemically verified (n = 2) abstinence. Follow-ups were conducted at Month 6 (n = 2), Week 12 (n = 4), and Day 30 (n = 1). Cessation rates varied from 9.4% at Week 12 to 55.5% at Day 30. CONCLUSION: Despite the promising cessation rates of mHealth interventions in Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, there is a need to rigorously evaluate these interventions in different Latin American countries with RCTs that are long-term, adequately powered, and use biochemical verification of cessation.

Chronic kidney disease increases cardiovascular unfavourable outcomes in outpatients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Chronic heart failure (CHF) has a high morbidity and mortality. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has consistently been found to be an independent risk factor for unfavorable cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. Early intervention on CKD reduces the progression of CHF, hospitalizations and mortality, yet there are very few studies about CKD as a risk factor in the early stages of CHF. The aims of our study were to assess the prevalence and the prognostic importance of CKD in patients with systolic CHF stages B and C. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study, dealing with prognostic markers for CV endpoints in patients with systolic CHF (ejection fraction

Manuseio da doença renal crônica em pacientes com hipertensão e diabetes / Management of chronic kidney disease in patients with hypertension and diabetes

Introdução: A doença renal crônica (DRC) é um problema de saúde pública mundial com aumento progressivo da sua incidência e prevalência, evolução desfavorável e alto custo. Infelizmente, a DRC é subdiagnosticada e subtratada, o que limita a implementação de intervenções precoces que possam prevenir ou retardar a sua evolução clínica. Objetivo: Avaliar se as recomendações para cuidados ótimos da DRC estão sendo implementadas em pacientes hipertensos e diabéticos com filtração glomerular (FG) < 60mL/min/1,73m2. Métodos: De um total de 2.746 prontuários do ambulatório de hipertensão e diabetes do SUS de Juiz de Fora, 146 foram avaliados por preencherem os seguintes critérios de inclusão: mulheres e homens que compareceram para controle clínico nos últimos 3 meses. A FG foi estimada a partir da creatinina sérica pela fórmula simplificada do estudo MDRD e os pacientes estagiados segundo a proposta da K/DOQI da National Kidney Foundation. Os seguintes parâmetros foram avaliados: controle pressórico e glicêmico (nos diabéticos), tratamento com drogas que bloqueiam o sistema renina-angiotensina e registro de hemoglobina, cálcio, fósforo, albumina, bicarbonato e proteinúria. Resultados: A idade média dos pacientes foi de 59,5 ± 16,3 anos e o tempo de acompanhamento foi de 81,6 ± 65,4 meses. Em 49,3 dos pacientes, o diagnóstico foi de hipertensão e diabetes; em 34,2, de hipertensão e, em 16,4, de diabetes. Baseado na FG, observou-se que 32,1 dos pacientes encontrava-se no estágio 3 da DRC; 40,4, no estágio 4 e 27,3, no estágio 5. Apenas 50 (34,4) pacientes apresentavam controle pressórico adequado e 72 fazia uso de inibidor da enzima conversora de angiotensina. Entre os diabéticos, 67 apresentava glicemia > 110mg/dL. A proteinúria e a hemoglobina foram registradas em apenas 24 e 28 dos prontuários, respectivamente. Não foram encontrados registros de dosagem de cálcio, fósforo, albumina e bicarbonato sanguíneo. Conclusão: Os dados evidenciam que uma parcela importante de pacientes hipertensos e diabéticos com DRC não está recebendoos cuidados clínicos recomendados, bem como mostram a necessidade de melhorias imediatas na qualidade do tratamento ofertado