Exploring the associations between serious psychological distress and the quantity or frequency of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use among pregnant women in the United States.

Serious Psychological Distress (SPD) and prenatal exposure to substances are associated with adverse outcomes for pregnant individuals and their developing offspring. This study aims to examine the relationship between SPD and quantity, or frequency of substance use among pregnant women in the United States (US). Descriptive and negative binomial regression analyses of the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were conducted among 3373 pregnant women (18 to 44 years old) to examine the association between SPD and (1) average number of cigarettes smoked in the past 30 days, (2) number of days of binge drinking in the past 30 days, and (3) number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days. About 6% of the study population experienced SPD in the past 30 days. Compared to pregnant women who did not report SPD, pregnant women experiencing SPD showed greater rates in the number of cigarettes smoked during the past 30 days (IRR = 2.1, 95%CI = 1.1, 4.5), the number of days of binge drinking in the past 30 days (IRR = 5.1, 95%CI = 1.7, 15.4), and the number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days (IRR = 2.9, 95%CI = 1.3, 6.5). Our results extend findings from prior research by documenting an association between SPD and the quantity and frequency of substance use among pregnant women in the US. Individual and structural interventions addressing SPD and/or substance might help reduce the impact of these comorbid conditions on expectant parents and their offspring.

Nifurtimox versus benznidazole or placebo for asymptomatic Trypanosoma cruzi infection (Equivalence of Usual Interventions for Trypanosomiasis - EQUITY): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Either benznidazole (BZN) or nifurtimox (NFX) is recommended as equivalent to treat Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Nonetheless, supportive data from randomised trials is limited to individuals treated with BZN in southern cone countries of Latin America. METHODS: The goal of this randomised, concealed, blind, parallel-group trial is to inform the trypanocidal efficacy and safety of NFX and its equivalence to BZN among individuals with T. cruzi positive serology (TC+). Eligible individuals are TC+, 20-65 years old, with no apparent symptoms/signs or uncontrolled risk factors for cardiomyopathy and at negligible risk of re-infection. Consenting individuals (adherent to a 10-day placebo run-in phase) receive a 120-day BID blinded treatment with NFX, BZN or matching placebo (2:2:1 ratio). The four active medication arms include (1) a randomly allocated sequence of 60-day, conventional-dose (60CD) regimes (BZN 300 mg/day or NFX 480 mg/day, ratio 1:1), followed or preceded by a 60-day placebo treatment, or (2) 120-day half-dose (120HD) regimes (BZN 150 mg/day or NFX 240 mg/day, ratio 1:1). The primary efficacy outcome is the proportion of participants testing positive at least once for up to three polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays (1 + PCR) 12-18 months after randomisation. A composite safety outcome includes moderate to severe adverse reactions, consistent blood marker abnormalities or treatment abandons. The trial outside Colombia (expected to recruit at least 60% of participants) is pragmatic; it may be open-label and not include all treatment groups, but it must adhere to the randomisation and data administration system and guarantee a blinded efficacy outcome evaluation. Our main comparisons include NFX groups with placebo (for superiority), NFX versus BZN groups and 60CD versus 120HD groups (for non-inferiority) and testing for the agent-dose and group-region interactions. Assuming a 1 + PCR ≥ 75% in the placebo group, up to 25% among BZN-treated and an absolute difference of up to ≥ 25% with NFX to claim its trypanocidal effect, 60-80 participants per group (at least 300 from Colombia) are needed to test our hypotheses (80-90% power; one-sided alpha level 1%). DISCUSSION: The EQUITY trial will inform the trypanocidal effect and equivalence of nitroderivative agents NFX and BZN, particularly outside southern cone countries. Its results may challenge current recommendations and inform choices for these agents. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02369978 . Registered on 24 February 2015.

Echocardiographic changes and treatment goal rates after a 6-month combined treatment with amlodipine and losartan: a validation study in Andean countries (METAL study).

BACKGROUND: The extent to which treatment with amlodipine/losartan may help patients and their doctors from Andean countries to reach their treatment goals remains unknown. METHODS: We conducted a quasi-experimental, validation study in which patients with primary, uncomplicated hypertension received open-label, fixed combination therapy with amlodipine/losartan 5/50 mg or 5/100 mg according to their baseline blood pressure (BP). The primary outcome was echocardiographic reduction of left ventricular mass (LMV) after 6 months of treatment. Secondary outcomes were changes in BP, uricemia and albuminuria from baseline. We defined patients with adequately controlled hypertension as those with decreases in at least three out of these four variables. RESULTS: From 109 eligible patients with hypertension, 99 started the protocol (70 under the low-dose combination). Echocardiography indices had mutual correlation and contributed independently to the primary outcome (Cronbach's α index = 0.66). Intention-to-treat analysis showed that 60 patients [60.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 50.3-70.3] had reduced LVM. Echocardiographic changes were not associated with dose levels. Favorable changes in BP, uricemia and microabuminuria were seen in 77, 64 and 76 patients respectively. After 6 months there were 64 (95% CI 54-74%) patients with adequately controlled hypertension. CONCLUSION: Every two of three patients of this sample of Andean countries reached adequate control after 6 months of combined antihypertensive treatment with amlodipine/losartan.

Factores de riesgo relacionados con la mortalidad por enfermedad cerebrovascular, Armenia, Colombia, 2008 / Risk factors associated with cerebrovascular disease mortality, Armenia, Colombia, 2008

Introducción: la enfermedad cerebrovascular (ECV) se encuentra entre las primeras causas de morbilidad y mortalidad en adultos en todo el mundo. Comparte con la enfermedad cardiovascular factores de riesgo modificables y no modificables; constituye una prioridad de salud pública hacer todos los esfuerzos necesarios para la prevención primaria mediante la promoción de estilos de vida saludables y la aplicación de tratamientos adecuados tanto farmacológicos como no farmacológicos. Objetivo: determinar la frecuencia y la tasa de mortalidad de los accidentes cerebrovasculares (ACV) y su relación con factores de riesgo. Métodos: se realizó un estudio de tipo corte transversal. Se revisaron 318 historias clínicas de pacientes con diagnóstico de ECV admitidos a una institución de tercer nivel en la ciudad de Armenia (Quindío, Colombia) entre 2005 y 2007. Se analizó la frecuencia de los factores de riesgo y se los relacionó con la tasa de mortalidad y los tipos de ECV. Resultados: la edad promedio fue 72 años; la tasa de mortalidad, 29,9%. Presentaron ECV isquémica 61,9% y hemorrágica 38,1%, con tasas de mortalidad de 21,3% y 43,8%, respectivamente. Los factores de riesgo más frecuentes fueron: hipertensión arterial (74,5%), tabaquismo (23,3%), ACV o cardiopatía isquémica previos (15,4%) y diabetes (15,1%). Se encontraron asociados a la mortalidad los siguientes factores: ingreso a unidad de cuidados intensivos (OR 5,8), presión arterial diastólica mayor de 100 mm Hg (OR 3,1) y ECV hemorrágica (OR 2,9). Conclusiones: los accidentes cerebrovasculares hemorrágicos son menos frecuentes que los isquémicos pero ocasionan mayor mortalidad; es necesario promover los estilos de vida saludables y poner en práctica programas de prevención secundaria para el adecuado control de factores de riesgo como la hipertensión arterial.

Introduction: Worldwide, cerebrovascular disease is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in adults. It shares both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors with cardiovascular disease; primary prevention of its occurrence through the promotion of healthy life styles and the application of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments constitutes a public health priority. Objective: To determine the frequency of cerebrovascular disease and its mortality rate and to define its relation with some risk factors. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out. Three hundred and eighteen clinical histories of patients with a cerebrovascular disease diagnosis, admitted to a tertiary level hospital between 2005 and 2007, in Armenia (Colombia) were included in the study. Frequency of risk factors and their relationship with mortality rate and the types of cerebrovascular disease were analyzed. Results: Average age was 72 years, and mortality rate, 29.9%. Ischemic cerebrovascular disease constituted 61.9% of the cases, while hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease caused 38.1%; the respective mortality rates were 21.3% and 43.8%. The most frequent risk factors were hypertension (74.5%), the habit of smoking (23.3%), previous ischemic cardiopathy or cerebrovascular disease (15.4%) and diabetes (15.1%). The following factors were associated with mortality: admission to intensive care unit (OR 5.8), diastolic arterial blood pressure higher than 100 (OR 3.1) and hemorrhagic cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.9). Conclusions: Hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accidents occur less frequently than the ischemic ones but they are associated with higher mortality rates. Secondary prevention programs are necessary for adequate control of risk factors such as high blood pressure. Besides, healthier life styles should be promoted.