Vulnerabilidade socioeconômica e microcefalia relacionada ao Zika vírus no Brasil / Socioeconomic vulnerability and microcephaly related to Zika virus in Brazil

Resumo Objetivo: Realizar uma análise descritiva dos gastos privados diretos domiciliares em saúde e da vulnerabilidade socioeconômica associados à condição de microcefalia, uma das manifestações mais evidentes da síndrome congênita do Zika vírus (SCZ). O surto de microcefalia e outros distúrbios neurológicos em crianças menores de um ano de idade foi associado à infecção pelo vírus Zika, durante a epidemia ocorrida no período de 2015-2016 no Brasil. Método: Noventa e seis entrevistas foram realizadas em dois centros especializados de atendimento às crianças acometidas por microcefalia nas cidades do Rio de Janeiro e Fortaleza. O questionário estruturado abrangeu características sociodemográficas, gastos com desembolso direto associados com a doença e estratégias adotadas pelas famílias para lidarem com os desafios financeiros impostos pela anomalia congênita. Resultados: Os domicílios eram majoritariamente chefiados por não-brancos e pertenciam às classes C e D-E. Os gastos com medicamentos contabilizaram 78% dos gastos médicos, enquanto as despesas com transporte representaram 46% do gasto privado não-médico. A maioria dos domicílios enfrentaram endividamento e redução do consumo doméstico, inclusive de alimentos, a fim de fazer face às despesas incorridas pela doença. Conclusão: A microcefalia parece reforçar a vulnerabilidade socioeconômica das famílias, reforçando o círculo vicioso característico da abordagem conceitual da armadilha saúde-pobreza.

Abstract Objective: To carry out a descriptive analysis of direct private household health expenditures and socioeconomic vulnerability associated with the condition of Microcephaly, one of the most evidence manifestations of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). The outbreak of microcephaly and other neurological disorders in children under one year of age was linked to Zika virus infection during the 2015-2016 epidemic in Brazil. Method: Ninety-six interviews were carried out in two specialized care centers for children with microcephaly in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Fortaleza, Brazil. The structured questionnaire covered sociodemographic characteristics, out-of-pocket expenditures associated with the disease, and strategies adopted by families to deal with the financial challenges imposed by the congenital anomaly. Results: The households were mostly headed by non-whites and belonged to classes C and D-E. Expenditures on medicines accounted for 78% of medical expenses, while transportation represented 46% of private non-medical expenses. Most households faced debt and reduced domestic consumption, including food, to meet the expenses incurred by the disease. Conclusion: Microcephaly appears to reinforce the socioeconomic vulnerability of families, reinforcing the vicious circle characteristic of the health-poverty trap conceptual approach.

Preferences for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among sexual and gender minorities: a discrete choice experiment in Brazil.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) are disproportionally affected by HIV infection in Latin America. This study aims to assess pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) preferences among sexual and gender minorities (SGM) and identify attributes and levels that are related to PrEP uptake and adherence, both crucial for PrEP success. Methods: We conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) among SGM from all Brazilian regions (September-December/2020). The survey was administered face-to-face (five Brazilian capitals) and online (entire country). We used a D-efficient zero-prior blocked experimental design to select 60 paired-profile DCE choice tasks. Findings: The total sample size was 3924 (90.5% MSM; 7.2% TGW and 2.3% non-binary or gender diverse persons). In random-effects logit models, highest levels of protection and "no side effects" were the most important attribute levels. For "presentation", injectable and implant were preferred over oral. Participants were willing to accept a 4.1% protection reduction to receive injectable PrEP or a 4.2% reduction if PrEP were taken monthly. The largest class in the latent class models was defined predominantly by the preference for the highest HIV protection level (p < 0.005). Respondents in this class also preferred no side effects, injectable and implant presentations. Interpretation: Higher HIV protection, no side effects, and presentation, whether injectable or implant, were the most important attributes in PrEP preferences. Protection against HIV was the most important attribute. PrEP programs should make available technologies such as long-acting presentations that could reunite the most desired attributes, thus maximizing acceptability and user-appropriateness. Funding: Unitaid.

Development of an Index to Assess COVID-19 Hospital Care Installed Capacity in the 450 Brazilian Health Regions.

OBJECTIVE: The article seeks to assess the Brazilian health system ability to respond to the challenges imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic by measuring the capacity of Brazilian hospitals to care for COVID-19 cases in the 450 Health Regions of the country during the year 2020. Hospital capacity refers to the availability of hospital beds, equipment, and human resources. METHODS: We used longitudinal data from the National Register of Health Facilities (CNES) regarding the availability of resources necessary to care for patients with COVID-19 in inpatient facilities (public or private) from January to December 2020. Among the assessed resources are health professionals (certified nursing assistants, nurses, physical therapists, and doctors), hospital beds (clinical, intermediate care, and intensive care units), and medical equipment (computed tomography scanners, defibrillators, electrocardiograph monitors, ventilators, and resuscitators). In addition to conducting a descriptive analysis of absolute and relative data (per 10,000 users), a synthetic indicator named Installed Capacity Index (ICI) was calculated using the multivariate principal component analysis technique to assess hospital capacity. The indicator was further stratified into value ranges to understand its evolution. RESULTS: There was an increase in all selected indicators between January and December 2020. It was possible to observe differences between the Northeast and North regions and the other regions of the country; most Health Regions presented low ICI. The ICI increased between the beginning and the end of 2020, but this evolution differed among Health Regions. The average increase in the ICI was more evident in the groups that already had considerably high baseline capacity in January 2020. CONCLUSIONS: It was possible to identify inequalities in the hospital capacity to care for patients affected by COVID -19 in the Health Regions of Brazil, with a concentration of low index values in the Northeast and North of the country. As the indicator increased throughout the year 2020, inequalities were also observed. The information here provided may be used by health authorities, providers, and managers in planning and adjusting for future COVID-19 care and in dimensioning the adequate supply of hospital beds, health-care professionals, and devices in Health Regions to reduce associated morbidity and mortality. We recommend that the ICI continue to be calculated in the coming months of the pandemic to monitor the capacity in the country's Health Regions.

Out-of-pocket expenditures associated with congenital zika syndrome in Brazil: an analysis of household health spending / Gastos out-of-pocket associados à síndrome congênita do vírus Zika no Brasil: uma análise dos gastos domiciliares em saúde

Objective: The study aims to estimate catastrophic health expenditures associated with the diagnosis and follow-up treatment of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) in children affected during the 2015-2016 epidemic in Brazil. Catastrophic health expenditures are defined as health spending that exceeds a predefined proportion of the household's total expenditures, exposing family members to financial vulnerability. Methods: Ninety-six interviews were held in the cities of Fortaleza and Rio de Janeiro in a convenience sample, using a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and private household expenditures associated with the syndrome, which also allowed estimating catastrophic expenditures resulting from care for CZS. Results: Most of the mothers interviewed in the study were brown, under 34 years of age, unemployed, and reported a monthly family income of two minimum wages or less. Spending on medicines accounted for 77.6% of the medical expenditures, while transportation and food were the main components of nonmedical expenditures, accounting for 79% of this total. The affected households were largely low-income and suffered catastrophic expenditures due to the disease. Considering the family income metric, in 41.7% of the households, expenses with the child's disease exceeded 10% of the household income. Conclusion: Public policies should consider the financial and healthcare needs of these families to ensure adequate support for individuals affected by CZS.

Objetivo: O estudo tem como objetivo estimar os gastos catastróficos em saúde associados ao diagnóstico e acompanhamento do tratamento da síndrome congênita do Zika (SCZ) em crianças afetadas durante a epidemia de 2015-2016 no Brasil. Gastos catastróficos em saúde são definidos como gastos com saúde que excedem uma proporção predefinida dos gastos totais do domicílio, expondo os membros da família à vulnerabilidade financeira. Métodos: Foram realizadas 96 entrevistas nas cidades de Fortaleza e Rio de Janeiro numa amostra de conveniência, por meio de questionário sobre características sociodemográficas e gastos privados domiciliares associados à síndrome, o que também permitiu estimar gastos catastróficos decorrentes do cuidado à SCZ. Resultados: A maioria das mães entrevistadas no estudo era parda, com menos de 34 anos, desempregada e com renda familiar mensal igual ou inferior a dois salários mínimos. Os gastos com medicamentos representaram 77,6% dos gastos médicos, enquanto transporte e alimentação foram os principais componentes dos gastos não médicos, respondendo por 79% desse total. Os domicílios afetados eram, em grande parte, de baixa renda e sofreram gastos catastróficos devido à doença. Considerando a métrica de renda familiar, em 41,7% dos domicílios, os gastos com a doença da criança ultrapassaram 10% da renda familiar. Conclusão: As políticas públicas devem considerar as necessidades financeiras e de saúde dessas famílias para garantir o suporte adequado aos indivíduos acometidos pela SCZ.

Efeito colateral da pandemia de Covid-19 no Brasil sobre o número de procedimentos diagnósticos e de tratamento da sífilis / Side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil on the number of diagnostic and treatment procedures for syphilis / Efecto secundario de la pandemia de Covid-19 en Brasil sobre el número de procedimientos de diagnóstico y tratamiento de la sífilis

A sífilis, uma infecção vertical e sexualmente transmissível, curável e prevenível, é um problema de saúde pública no Brasil. Métodos diagnósticos e tratamentos são importantes no controle da doença. A pandemia de Covid-19 causou atrasos em diagnósticos e no tratamento na atenção primária em várias doenças e em diversos países, pois interrompeu padrões usuais de atendimento à saúde. O objetivo do estudo é identificar se houve menor número de procedimentos diagnósticos e de tratamento realizados para sífilis nos primeiros sete meses de 2020, comparativamente à média dos mesmos meses entre 2016 e 2019, no Brasil e nas unidades federativas. A redução no número de procedimentos seria um indicativo de atraso no diagnóstico, na detecção e no tratamento da sífilis em 2020. Foram utilizadas informações disponibilizadas no Sistema de Informações Ambulatoriais (SIA/SUS). Os achados para o Brasil indicaram queda de 1/3 nos procedimentos de diagnóstico e de tratamento referentes à sífilis nos sete primeiros meses do ano da pandemia, comparados com a média dos sete primeiros meses nos quatro anos anteriores (2016-2019). Indicadores mostram diferenças importantes por unidades da federação, apontando para maiores quedas proporcionais nos volumes de procedimentos no Norte e Nordeste, com ênfase nos estados do Maranhão, Roraima, Pará, Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte, Amazonas, Pernambuco e Amapá.

Syphilis, a vertical and sexually transmitted infection, curable and preventable, is a public health problem in Brazil. Diagnostic methods and treatments are important in controlling the disease. The COVID-19 pandemic caused delays in diagnosis and lack of treatment in primary care in several diseases and in several countries, as the pandemic disrupted usual health care standards. The aim of the study was to identify whether there were fewer diagnostic and treatment procedures performed for syphilis in the first seven months of 2020, compared to the average for the same months between 2016 and 2019, in Brazil and Federative Units. The reduction in the number of procedures would be indicative of a delay in the diagnosis, detection and treatment of syphilis in 2020. Information used came from the Outpatient Information System (SIA / SUS). The findings for Brazil indicated a 1/3 drop in diagnosis and treatment procedures for syphilis in the first seven months of the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, compared with the first seven months of the previous four years (2016-2019). Indicators showed important differences by Federation Units, pointing to greater proportional decrease in the volume of procedures in the North and Northeast, with an emphasis on Maranhão, Roraima, Pará, Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte, Amazonas, Pernambuco and Amapá.

La sífilis, una infección vertical y de transmisión sexual, curable y prevenible, es un problema de salud pública en Brasil. Los métodos de diagnóstico y los tratamientos son importantes para controlar la enfermedad. La pandemia de Covid-19 provocó retrasos en el diagnóstico y tratamiento en la atención primaria de variadas enfermedades en varios países, ya que interrumpió los estándares habituales de atención de la salud. El objetivo del estudio fue identificar si se realizaron menos procedimientos de diagnóstico y tratamiento de la sífilis en los primeros siete meses de 2020 en comparación con la media de los mismos meses entre 2016 y 2019, en Brasil y en sus unidades federativas. La reducción del número de procedimientos indicaría indicativo de un retraso en el diagnóstico, la detección temprana y el tratamiento de la sífilis en 2020. Para ello se utilizó la información disponible en el Sistema de Información Ambulatoria (SIA/SUS). Los hallazgos indicaron una caída de un tercio en los procedimientos de diagnóstico y tratamiento de la sífilis en los primeros siete meses del año de la pandemia de Covid-19 para Brasil, en comparación con los primeros siete meses de los cuatro años anteriores (2016-2019). Los indicadores mostraron diferencias importantes por unidades de la Federación, apuntando a mayores caídas proporcionales en el volumen de trámites en el Norte y Nordeste, con énfasis en Maranhão, Roraima, Pará, Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte, Amazonas, Pernambuco y Amapá.

Preferences for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men and transgender women at risk of HIV infection: a multicentre protocol for a discrete choice experiment in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an important and well-established prevention strategy for sexual acquisition of HIV. In Brazil, transgender women (TGW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) bear the largest burden among key populations. Little is known about preferences for PrEP characteristics in these vulnerable populations in Latin America. The goal of this study is to investigate preferences of TGW and MSM with respect to PrEP characteristics, whether current user or not, and to assess any attributes and levels that may improve the decision to start using PrEP (uptake) and optimal continuity of use (adherence), which are important dimensions for PrEP success. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We hereby outline the protocol of a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to be conducted among TGW and MSM in Brazil. The study will be carried out in two phases. The first phase involves literature review and qualitative approaches including in-depth interviews to inform the development of the DCE (attributes and levels). The second phase entails the DCE survey and supporting questions pertaining to sociodemographic and risk behaviour information. The survey is aimed at current PrEP users and non-users, consisting of two modes of administration: face to face in five Brazilian capitals (Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Manaus, Porto Alegre and Salvador) and online targeting the entire country. A D-efficient zero-prior blocked experimental design will be used to select 60 paired-profile DCE choice tasks, in which participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups and presented with a set of 15 choice tasks. The planned sample size is 1000 volunteers. ETHICS, TIMELINE AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa-Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas-INI/FIOCRUZ, CEP/INI, CAAE 28416220.2.1001.5262, approval number 3.979.759 in accordance with the Comissão Nacional de Ética em Pesquisa (CONEP-Brazilian National Board of Research Ethics). The study will be conducted between 2020 and 2021. The results will be disseminated to the scientific community and to the public in general through publications in published in peer-reviewed journals and in scientific conferences.

Geographical variation in demand, utilization, and outcomes of hospital services for COVID-19 in Brazil: A descriptive serial cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the geographical variation in the provision of health services, namely in demand, patterns of utilization, and effectiveness in the Brazilian Health Regions in four different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, from February 2020 to March 2021. METHODS: Descriptive serial cross-sectional study based on secondary data on COVID-19 hospitalizations from SIVEP-Gripe, a public and open-access database of Severe Acute Respiratory Illness records collected by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, and COVID-19 case notification data from Brasil.io, a repository of public data. Fifty-six epidemiological weeks were split into four periods. The following variables were considered for each Brazilian Health Region, per period: number of hospitalizations, hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants, hospitalizations per 100 new cases notified in the Health Region, percentage of hospitalizations with ICU use, percentages of hospitalizations with invasive and non-invasive ventilatory support, percentage of hospitalizations resulting in death and percentage of hospitalizations with ICU use resulting in death. Descriptive statistics of the variables were obtained across all 450 Health Regions in Brazil over the four defined pandemic periods. Maps were generated to capture the spatiotemporal variation and trends during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. RESULTS: There was great variation in how COVID-19 hospitalizations grew and spread among Health Regions, with higher numbers between June and August 2020, and, especially, from mid-December 2020 to March 2021. The variation pattern in the proportion of ICU use in the hospitalizations across the Health Regions was broad, with no intensive care provision in large areas in the North, Northeast, and Midwest. The proportions of hospitalizations and hospitalizations with ICU use resulting in deaths were remarkably high, reaching medians of 34.0% and 62.0% across Health Regions, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Heath Regions in Brazil are highly diverse, showing broad disparities in the capacity to respond to the demands imposed by COVID-19, services provided, use and outcomes.

Trends in COVID-19 case-fatality rates in Brazilian public hospitals: A longitudinal cohort of 398,063 hospital admissions from 1st March to 3rd October 2020.

BACKGROUND: Almost 200,000 deaths from COVID-19 were reported in Brazil in 2020. The case fatality rate of a new infectious disease can vary by different risk factors and over time. We analysed the trends and associated factors of COVID-19 case fatality rates in Brazilian public hospital admissions during the first wave of the pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of all COVID-19-related admissions between epidemiological weeks 10-40 in the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS) was delimited from available reimbursement records. Smoothing time series and survival analyses were conducted to evaluate the trends of hospital case fatality rates (CFR) and the probability of death according to factors such as sex, age, ethnicity, comorbidities, length of stay and ICU use. RESULTS: With 398,063 admissions and 86,452 (21.7%) deaths, the overall age-standardized hospital CFR trend decreased throughout the period, varying from 31.8% (95%CI: 31.2 to 32.5%) in week 10 to 18.2% (95%CI: 17.6 to 18.8%) in week 40. This decreasing trend was observed in all sex, age, ethnic groups, length of stay and ICU admissions. Consistently, later admission (from July to September) was an independent protective factor. Patients 80+ year old had a hazard ratio of 8.18 (95% CI: 7.51 to 8.91). Ethnicity, comorbidities, and ICU need were also associated with the death risk. Although also decreasing, the CFR was always around 40-50% in people who needed an ICU admission. CONCLUSIONS: The overall hospital CFR of COVID-19 has decreased in Brazilian public hospitals during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020. Nevertheless, during the entire period, the CFR was still very high, suggesting the need for improving COVID-19 hospital care in Brazil.

Inpatient flow for COVID-19 in the Brazilian health regions / Fluxo de internação por COVID-19 nas regiões de saúde do Brasil

Objective: To investigate the flows of hospitalizations for COVID-19 in the 450 regions and 117 Brazilian health macro-regions between March and October 2020. Method: Descriptive study, comprising all hospitalizations due to COVID-19 registered in the Flu Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (SIVEP-Gripe) between the 8th and 44th epidemiological weeks of 2020. The proportion of hospitalizations for COVID-19 occurred within same health region of residency was calculated, stratified according to periods of greater and lesser demand for health care, according to the population size of health regions. The indicator of migratory efficacy was calculated, which takes into account the evasion and invasion of patients, by crossing the data of origin of the patients (health region of residence) with the data of the place of hospitalization (health region of attendance). Results: 397,830 admissions were identified for COVID-19 in the period. Evasion was 11.9% of residents in health regions and 6.8% in macro-regions, pattern that was maintained during the peak period of hospitalizations for COVID-19. There was an average of 17.6% of evasion of residents of health regions in the Northeast and of 8.8% in health regions of the South. Evasion was more accentuated in health regions with up to 100 thousand / inhabitants (36.9%), which was 7 times greater than that observed in health regions with more than 2 million / inhabitants (5.2%). The negative migratory efficacy indicator (-0.39) indicated a predominance of evasion. Of the 450 Brazilian health regions, 117 (39.3%) had a coefficient of migratory efficacy between -1 and -0.75 and 113 (25.1%) between -0.75 and -0.25. Conclusion: The results indicate that the regionalization of the health system proved to be adequate in the organization of care in the territory, however the long distances traveled are still worrying.

Objetivo: Investigar os fluxos de internações por COVID-19 nas 450 regiões e 117 macrorregiões de saúde brasileiras no período de março a outubro de 2020. Método: Estudo descritivo, compreendendo todas as internações por COVID-19 registradas no Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe (SIVEP-Gripe) entre a 8ª e a 44ª semanas epidemiológicas de 2020. Foi calculada a proporção das internações por COVID-19 realizadas pelos residentes que ocorreram dentro da sua respectiva região de saúde, estratificado segundo períodos de maior e menor demanda de internações e segundo o porte populacional das regiões de saúde. Foi calculado o indicador de eficácia migratória, que leva em consideração a evasão e invasão de pacientes, por meio do cruzamento dos dados de origem dos pacientes (região de saúde de residência) com os dados do local da realização das internações (região de saúde de atendimento). Resultados: Foram identificadas 397.830 internações por COVID-19 no Brasil. A evasão foi de 11,9% dos residentes nas regiões de saúde e de 6,8% nas macrorregiões; o padrão que se manteve também no período de pico das internações por COVID-19. Houve em média 17,6% de evasão dos residentes das regiões de saúde do Nordeste e de 8,8% nas regiões de saúde do Sul. A evasão foi mais acentuada nas regiões de saúde com até 100 mil/hab. (36,9%), a qual foi 7 vezes maior que a verificada nas regiões de saúde com mais de 2 milhões/habitantes (5,2%). O indicador de eficácia migratória negativo (-0,39) indicou predomínio da evasão. Das 450 regiões de saúde brasileiras, 117 (39,3%) apresentaram coeficiente de eficácia migratória entre -1 e -0,75 e 113 (25,1%) entre -0,75 e -0,25. Conclusão: Os resultados indicam que a regionalização do sistema de saúde mostrou-se adequada na organização do atendimento no território, porém as longas distâncias percorridas ainda são preocupantes

Educação e comunicação sobre vacinas contra Covid-19: um caminho a mais para a redução do impacto da doença nas populações

Trata-se de resenha crítica da obra, cuja referência é: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2021. Understanding and Communicating about COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Equity. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26154

Fluxo de internação por COVID-19 nas regiões de saúde do Brasil

Objetivo: Investigar os fluxos de internações por COVID-19 nas 450 regiões e 117 macrorregiões de saúde brasileiras no período de março a outubro de 2020. Método: Estudo descritivo, compreendendo todas as internações por COVID-19 registradas no Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe (SIVEP-Gripe) entre a 8ª e a 44ª semanas epidemiológicas de 2020. Foi calculada a proporção das internações por COVID-19 realizadas pelos residentes que ocorreram dentro da sua respectiva região de saúde, estratificado segundo períodos de maior e menor demanda de internações e segundo o porte populacional das regiões de saúde. Foi calculado o indicador de eficácia migratória, que leva em consideração a evasão e invasão de pacientes, por meio do cruzamento dos dados de origem dos pacientes (região de saúde de residência) com os dados do local da realização das internações (região de saúde de atendimento). Resultados: Foram identificadas 397.830 internações por COVID-19 no período. A evasão foi de 11,9% dos residentes nas regiões de saúde e de 6,8% nas macrorregiões; o padrão que se manteve também no período de pico das internações por COVID-19. Houve em média 17,6% de evasão dos residentes das regiões de saúde do Nordeste e de 8,8% nas regiões de saúde do Sul. A evasão foi mais acentuada nas regiões de saúde com até 100 mil/hab. (36,9%), a qual foi 7 vezes maior que a verificada nas regiões de saúde com mais de 2 milhões/habitantes (5,2%). O indicador de eficácia migratória negativo (-0,39) indicou predomínio da evasão. Das 450 regiões de saúde brasileiras, 117 (39,3%) apresentaram coeficiente de eficácia migratória entre -1 e -0,75 e 113 (25,1%) entre -0,75 e -0,25. Conclusão: Os resultados indicam que a regionalização do sistema de saúde mostrou-se adequada na organização do atendimento no território, porém as longas distâncias percorridas ainda são preocupantes.

COVID-19 hospitalizations in Brazil's Unified Health System (SUS).

OBJECTIVE: To study the profile of hospitalizations due to COVID-19 in the Unified Health System (SUS) in Brazil and to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality related to the disease. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, based on secondary data on COVID-19 hospitalizations that occurred in the SUS between late February through June. Patients aged 18 years or older with primary or secondary diagnoses indicative of COVID-19 were included. Bivariate analyses were performed and generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) were estimated with random effects intercept. The modeling followed three steps, including: attributes of the patients; elements of the care process; and characteristics of the hospital and place of hospitalization. RESULTS: 89,405 hospitalizations were observed, of which 24.4% resulted in death. COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the SUS were predominantly male (56.5%) with a mean age of 58.9 years. The length of stay ranged from less than 24 hours to 114 days, with a mean of 6.9 (±6.5) days. Of the total number of hospitalizations, 22.6% reported ICU use. The odds on in-hospital death were 16.8% higher among men than among women and increased with age. Black individuals had a higher likelihood of death. The behavior of the Charlson and Elixhauser indices was consistent with the hypothesis of a higher risk of death among patients with comorbidities, and obesity had an independent effect on increasing this risk. Some states, such as Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro, had a higher risk of in-hospital death from COVID-19. The odds on in-hospital death were 72.1% higher in municipalities with at least 100,000 inhabitants, though being hospitalized in the municipality of residence was a protective factor. CONCLUSION: There was broad variation in COVID-19 in-hospital mortality in the SUS, associated with demographic and clinical factors, social inequality, and differences in the structure of services and quality of health care.

Patients' Preferences after Recurrent Coronary Narrowing: Discrete Choice Experiments. / Preferências dos Pacientes após Estreitamento Coronário Recorrente: Experimentos de Escolha Discreta.

BACKGROUND: Selecting the optimal treatment strategy for coronary revascularization is challenging. A crucial endpoint to be considered when making this choice is the necessity to repeat revascularization since it is much more frequent after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). OBJECTIVE: This study intends to provide insights on patients' preferences for revascularization, strategies in the perspective of patients who had to repeat revascularization. METHODS: We selected a sample of patients who had undergone PCI and were hospitalized to repeat coronary revascularization and elicited their preferences for a new PCI or CABG. Perioperative death, long-term death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization were used to design scenarios describing hypothetical treatments that were labeled as PCI or CABG. PCI was always presented as the option with lower perioperative death risk and a higher necessity to repeat procedure. A conditional logit model was used to analyze patients' choices using R software. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients participated, most of them (73.7%) preferred CABG over PCI (p < 0.001). The regression coefficients were statistically significant for PCI label, PCI long-term death, CABG perioperative death, CABG long-term death and repeat CABG. The PCI label was the most important parameter (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Most patients who face the necessity to repeat coronary revascularization reject a new PCI, considering realistic levels of risks and benefits. Incorporating patients' preferences into benefit-risk calculation and treatment recommendations could enhance patient-centered care.

FUNDAMENTO: Selecionar a estratégia de tratamento ideal para a revascularização coronária é um desafio. Um desfecho crucial a ser considerado no momento dessa escolha é a necessidade de refazer a revascularização, uma vez que ela se torna muito mais frequente após a intervenção coronária percutânea (ICP) do que após a cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio (CRM). OBJETIVO: Pretende-se, com este estudo, trazer reflexões acerca das preferências dos pacientes pelas estratégias de revascularização sob a perspectiva de pacientes que tiveram que refazer a revascularização. MÉTODOS: Selecionamos uma amostra de pacientes que haviam sido submetidos à ICP e hospitalizados para refazer a revascularização coronária e elicitamos suas preferências por nova ICP ou CRM. Morte perioperatória, mortalidade a longo prazo, infarto do miocárdio e repetir a revascularização foram utilizados para a construção de cenários a partir da descrição de tratamentos hipotéticos que foram rotulados como ICP ou CRM. A ICP era sempre apresentada como a opção com menor incidência de morte perioperatória e maior necessidade de se refazer o procedimento. O modelo logístico condicional foi empregado para analisar as escolhas dos pacientes, utilizando-se o software R. Valores de p <0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos. RESULTADOS: Ao todo, 144 pacientes participaram, a maioria dos quais (73,7%) preferiram a CRM à ICP (p < 0,001). Os coeficientes de regressão foram estatisticamente significativos para o rótulo ICP, mortalidade a longo prazo da ICP, morte perioperatória da CRM, mortalidade a longo prazo da CRM e refazer a CRM. O rótulo ICP foi o parâmetro mais importante (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: A maioria dos pacientes que enfrentam a necessidade de refazer a revascularização coronária rejeitam uma nova ICP, com base em níveis realistas de riscos e benefícios. Incorporar as preferências dos pacientes à estimativa do risco-benefício e às recomendações de tratamento poderia melhorar o cuidado centrado no paciente.