Real-world effectiveness of WHO recommended first-line antiretroviral therapies: a cohort study from a middle-income country.

We estimate the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among individuals receiving HIV care in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Adults (18y+) initiating ART between Jan/2008 and Dec/2018 (follow-up through Dec/2020) were included. First-line ART (two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus one antiretroviral from another class) was categorized into four categories: non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor/NNRTI-based, protease inhibitor/PI-based, integrase strand transfer inhibitor/INSTI-based, and single-tablet regimen (STR, Tenofovir 300mg + Lamivudine 300mg + Efavirenz 600mg). Effectiveness (viral load ≤50 copies/µL) was evaluated at 6(3-9) and 12(9-15) months from ART initiation. Bayesian logistic regression models were used to quantify the association between exposure and outcomes while accounting for missing data. Overall, 1863(57%), 652(19.9%), 412(12.6%), and 342(10.5%) individuals used, respectively, NNRTI-based, PI-based, INSTI-based regimens, and STR. Compared to NNRTIs, the odds of viral suppression with INSTI-based regimens was 76% higher (adjusted OR:1.76, 95%CI:1.23-2.51) at six months but no higher at 12 months. Older age, higher education, CD4 count ≥500 cells/mm3 and viral load <100,000 copies/µL at ART initiation increased the odds of viral suppression. Viral suppression at six months was the strongest predictor of viral suppression at 12 months. These results highlight population groups that could benefit from close monitoring during the first year of ART.

Lifetime night work exposure and the risk of type 2 diabetes: results from the longitudinal study of adult health (ELSA-Brasil).

The aim of this research project was to test the effects of lifetime night work exposure on type 2 diabetes (T2DM) risk. The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) is a prospective cohort study of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The participants (N = 15105) were recruited (2008-2010) at five public universities and one research institute in six cities in Brazil. Participants from the first wave (2008-2010) were followed up for a mean of 3.8 years. Current analyses comprise 4671 women and 3965 men. Hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using Cox regression models. Crude T2DM incidence rates were 2.26 and 1.44 per 100 person-years, respectively, for women and men who reported ≥ 10 years' working nights. In women, ≥ 10 years of night work was associated with a higher risk of T2DM (HR 1.46 [95% CI: 1.03; 2.08]), after adjusting for age, education, work hours, and BMI. The additional adjustment for physical activity attenuated the association (HR 1.36 [95% CI: 0.94; 1.96]). In men, the results were not statistically significant (HR = 0.65 [95% CI: 0.40; 1.07]). The findings indicate the effects of lifetime night work on T2DM incidence seem to be greater among women than men.

Sex differences in the association between self-reported sleep duration, insomnia symptoms and cardiometabolic risk factors: cross-sectional findings from Brazilian longitudinal study of adult health.

BACKGROUND: The U-shaped associations between sleep durations and cardiometabolic risk factors (glycated hemoglobin levels, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension and cholesterol levels) are still inconclusive. Moreover, as sleep is comprised of quantitative and qualitative aspects, exploring both insomnia symptoms and sleep duration are relevant when evaluating the potential effects of sleep problems on health. The aim was to evaluate sex-specific associations between sleep problems and cardiometabolic risk factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from wave two of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), including 7491 women and 6232 men. Questionnaires were administered to provide information about socioeconomic conditions, lifestyle, and sleep characteristics. A 12-h fasting blood sample was drawn to measure serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and glycated hemoglobin. Blood pressure, weight and height were also measured using standard equipment. Generalized additive models were used to evaluate the curve shape of the relationship between self-reported sleep duration and the outcomes. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the magnitude of the associations of self-reported sleep duration, insomnia symptoms, and short sleep plus insomnia symptoms with cardiometabolic risk factors. RESULTS: For women, self-reported sleep duration and insomnia symptoms (either separately or linked to short sleep duration) were associated with obesity, hypertension and glycated hemoglobin after adjusting for the confounders. The magnitudes of the associations between self-reported short sleep duration plus insomnia symptoms and the outcomes were slightly increased, considering sleep duration or insomnia symptoms separately. For men, both long sleep duration and insomnia symptoms were associated with hypertriglyceridemia after adjusted for the confounders. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest possible sex-specific patterns, since obesity, hypertension and high glycated hemoglobin were associated with self-reported sleep duration and insomnia symptoms in women, but not in men, and reinforce the importance of considering quantitative and qualitative aspects of sleep for the prevention and management of the outcomes.

Influence of internal migration on body mass index: Results of the ELSA-Brasil study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between internal migration and body mass index (BMI) in the adult population with data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil) and to determine whether the association differs by the urban hierarchical levels (or influence regions) of Brazilian municipalities. METHODS: Baseline data from 13 084 participants aged 35 to 74 (2008-2010) in the ELSA-Brasil were analyzed. A migrant was defined as an individual whose municipality of residence at the beginning of schooling (origin) was different from the municipality of residence at the study baseline (destination). The origin and destination municipalities were classified by urban hierarchical levels, or influence regions, and migration was categorized as nonmigrant, stable migrant, downward migrant, or upward migrant. RESULTS: Of the ELSA-Brasil participants, 51% were migrants. Using gamma regression models, it was observed that for women and men, upward migration was associated with lower mean BMI after adjusting for age, mother's education level, participant's education level, and income. Downward migration, on the other hand, was associated with the highest mean BMI, but this result was statistically significant only for women. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the role of environmental factors on nutritional status, noting that the effects on BMI may be positive or negative, depending on the trajectory of displacements between origin and destination.

Differential reporting of discriminatory experiences in Brazil and the United States.

There has been little cross-national comparison of perceived discrimination, and few studies have considered how intersectional identities shape perception of discriminatory treatment in different societies. Using data from the ELSA-Brasil, a study of Brazilian civil servants, and the Americans' Changing Lives Study, a nationally-representative sample of U.S. adults, we compare reports of lifetime discrimination among race-by-gender groups in each society. We also consider whether educational attainment explains any group differences, or if differences across groups vary by level of education. Results reveal higher lifetime discrimination experiences among Black respondents in both countries, especially Black men, than among Whites, and lower reports among White women than White men. Brown men and women also reported higher levels than White men in Brazil. For all race-by-gender groups in both countries, except Brazilian White men, reports of discrimination were higher among the more educated, though adjusting for educational differences across groups did not explain group differences. In Brazil, we found the greatest racial disparities among the college educated, while U.S. Black men were more likely to report discrimination than White men at all levels of education. Results reveal broad similarities across countries, despite important differences in their histories, and an intersectional approach contributed to identification of these similarities and some differences in discrimination experiences. These findings have implications for social and public health surveillance and intervention to address the harmful consequences of discrimination.

Differential reporting of discriminatory experiences in Brazil and the United States / Relatos diferenciados de experiências com discriminação no Brasil e Estados Unidos / Relatos diferenciados de experiencias con discriminación en Brasil y Estados Unidos

Abstract: There has been little cross-national comparison of perceived discrimination, and few studies have considered how intersectional identities shape perception of discriminatory treatment in different societies. Using data from the ELSA-Brasil, a study of Brazilian civil servants, and the Americans’ Changing Lives Study, a nationally-representative sample of U.S. adults, we compare reports of lifetime discrimination among race-by-gender groups in each society. We also consider whether educational attainment explains any group differences, or if differences across groups vary by level of education. Results reveal higher lifetime discrimination experiences among Black respondents in both countries, especially Black men, than among Whites, and lower reports among White women than White men. Brown men and women also reported higher levels than White men in Brazil. For all race-by-gender groups in both countries, except Brazilian White men, reports of discrimination were higher among the more educated, though adjusting for educational differences across groups did not explain group differences. In Brazil, we found the greatest racial disparities among the college educated, while U.S. Black men were more likely to report discrimination than White men at all levels of education. Results reveal broad similarities across countries, despite important differences in their histories, and an intersectional approach contributed to identification of these similarities and some differences in discrimination experiences. These findings have implications for social and public health surveillance and intervention to address the harmful consequences of discrimination.

Resumo: Há poucos estudos comparativos entre países sobre a experiência com a discriminação percebida, e poucos examinaram a maneira pela qual as identidades interseccionais configuram a percepção do tratamento discriminatório nas diferentes sociedades. Com base em dados do ELSA-Brasil (um estudo de funcionários públicos brasileiros) e do Americans’ Changing Lives Study (em uma amostra nacional representativa de adultos americanos), os autores comparam os relatos de grupos diferentes em relação à discriminação sofrida ao longo da vida, de acordo com raça e gênero, em cada sociedade. O estudo também investiga se o grau de escolaridade explica as diferenças entre grupos, ou se as diferenças dentro do mesmo grupo variam de acordo com a escolaridade. Os resultados mostram uma percepção maior de discriminação entre indivíduos negros em ambos os países, principalmente homens negros, comparado com brancos, além de menos relatos de discriminação sofrida por mulheres brancas comparado com homens brancos. No Brasil, mulheres e homens pardos relataram maiores níveis de discriminação em comparação com homens brancos. Com exceção de homens brancos, para todos os grupos analisados por raça e gênero, os relatos de discriminação foram mais frequentes entre os mais escolarizados, embora o ajuste por diferenças de escolaridade dentro dos grupos não explicasse as diferenças entre grupos. No Brasil, encontramos as maiores disparidades raciais entre indivíduos com nível superior, enquanto nos Estados Unidos, os homens negros relatavam mais discriminação do que os homens brancos, independentemente de grau de escolaridade. Os resultados revelam semelhanças gerais entre os dois países, apesar de importantes diferenças históricas. A abordagem interseccional contribuiu para a identificação dessas semelhanças e de algumas diferenças nas experiências com a discriminação. Os achados do estudo têm implicações importantes para a vigilância social e sanitária, assim como, para intervenções voltadas ao enfrentamento das consequências danosas da discriminação.

Resumen: Existen pocos estudios comparativos entre países sobre la experiencia con la discriminación percibida, y pocos examinaron la manera mediante la cual las identidades interseccionales configuran la percepción del tratamiento discriminatorio en las diferentes sociedades. En base a los datos del ELSA-Brasil (un estudio de funcionarios públicos brasileños) y del Americans’ Changing Lives Study (en una muestra nacional representativa de adultos americanos), los autores comparan los relatos de grupos diferentes, en relación a la discriminación sufrida a lo largo de la vida, de acuerdo con raza y género, en cada sociedad. El estudio también investiga si el grado de escolaridad explica las diferencias entre grupos, o si las diferencias dentro del mismo grupo varían de acuerdo con la escolaridad. Los resultados muestran una percepción mayor de discriminación entre individuos negros en ambos países, principalmente hombres negros, comparado con los blancos, además de menos relatos de discriminación sufrida por mujeres blancas, comparado con hombres blancos. En Brasil, mujeres y hombres mestizos relataron mayores niveles de discriminación, en comparación con los hombres blancos. Con excepción de hombres blancos, para todos los grupos analizados por raza y género, los relatos de discriminación fueron más frecuentes entre los más escolarizados, aunque el ajuste por diferencias de escolaridad dentro de los grupos no explicase las diferencias entre grupos. En Brasil, encontramos las mayores disparidades raciales entre individuos con nivel superior, mientras en los Estados Unidos, los hombres negros relataban más discriminación que los hombres blancos, independientemente del grado de escolaridad. Los resultados revelan semejanzas generales entre los dos países, a pesar de importantes diferencias históricas. El abordaje interseccional contribuyó a la identificación de esas semejanzas y de algunas diferencias en las experiencias con la discriminación. Los hallazgos del estudio tienen implicaciones importantes para la vigilancia social y sanitaria, así como, para intervenciones dirigidas a hacer frente a las consecuencias perniciosas de la discriminación.

Surveillance of dengue vectors using spatio-temporal Bayesian modeling.

BACKGROUND: At present, dengue control focuses on reducing the density of the primary vector for the disease, Aedes aegypti, which is the only vulnerable link in the chain of transmission. The use of new approaches for dengue entomological surveillance is extremely important, since present methods are inefficient. With this in mind, the present study seeks to analyze the spatio-temporal dynamics of A. aegypti infestation with oviposition traps, using efficient computational methods. These methods will allow for the implementation of the proposed model and methodology into surveillance and monitoring systems. METHODS: The study area includes a region in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro, characterized by high population density, precarious domicile construction, and a general lack of infrastructure around it. Two hundred and forty traps were distributed in eight different sentinel areas, in order to continually monitor immature Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Collections were done weekly between November 2010 and August 2012. The relationship between egg number and climate and environmental variables was considered and evaluated through Bayesian zero-inflated spatio-temporal models. Parametric inference was performed using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) method. RESULTS: Infestation indexes indicated that ovipositing occurred during the entirety of the study period. The distance between each trap and the nearest boundary of the study area, minimum temperature and accumulated rainfall were all significantly related to the number of eggs present in the traps. Adjusting for the interaction between temperature and rainfall led to a more informative surveillance model, as such thresholds offer empirical information about the favorable climatic conditions for vector reproduction. Data were characterized by moderate time (0.29 - 0.43) and spatial (21.23 - 34.19 m) dependencies. The models also identified spatial patterns consistent with human population density in all sentinel areas. The results suggest the need for weekly surveillance in the study area, using traps allocated between 18 and 24 m, in order to understand the dengue vector dynamics. CONCLUSIONS: Aedes aegypti, due to it short generation time and strong response to climate triggers, tend to show an eruptive dynamics that is difficult to predict and understand through just temporal or spatial models. The proposed methodology allowed for the rapid and efficient implementation of spatio-temporal models that considered zero-inflation and the interaction between climate variables and patterns in oviposition, in such a way that the final model parameters contribute to the identification of priority areas for entomological surveillance.

Modeling the non-stationary climate dependent temporal dynamics of Aedes aegypti.

BACKGROUND: Temperature and humidity strongly affect the physiology, longevity, fecundity and dispersal behavior of Aedes aegypti, vector of dengue fever. Contrastingly, the statistical associations measured between time series of mosquito abundance and meteorological variables are often weak and contradictory. Here, we investigated the significance of these relationships at different time scales. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A time series of the adult mosquito abundance from a medium-sized city in Brazil, lasting 109 weeks was analyzed. Meteorological variables included temperature, precipitation, wind velocity and humidity. As analytical tools, generalized linear models (GLM) with time lags and interaction terms were used to identify average effects while the wavelet analysis was complementarily used to identify transient associations. The fitted GLM showed that mosquito abundance is significantly affected by the interaction between lagged temperature and humidity, and also by the mosquito abundance a week earlier. Extreme meteorological variables were the best predictors, and the mosquito population tended to increase at values above [Formula: see text] and 54% humidity. The wavelet analysis identified non-stationary local effects of these meteorological variables on abundance throughout the study period, with peaks in the spring-summer period. The wavelet detected weak but significant effects for precipitation and wind velocity. CONCLUSION: Our results support the presence of transient relationships between meteorological variables and mosquito abundance. Such transient association may be explained by the ability of Ae. aegypti to buffer part of its response to climate, for example, by choosing sites with proper microclimate. We also observed enough coupling between the abundance and meteorological variables to develop a model with good predictive power. Extreme values of meteorological variables with time lags, interaction terms and previous mosquito abundance are strong predictors and should be considered when understanding the climate effect on mosquito abundance and population growth.