Users' Perceptions of Access to and Quality of Unified Health System Services in Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study and Implications to Healthcare Management Challenges.

Evaluating the access to and quality of healthcare services from the users' perspective is an important assessment process to identify priorities. This study assessed the profile of health service usage and the views of the Unified Health System (SUS) users about the access to and quality of SUS public health services. A cross-sectional study was conducted with participants from the Coastal Lowlands Region of the Rio de Janeiro State/Brazil, between August and November 2023. The association between categorical variables was analyzed using the Pearson Chi-Square test, using R software 4.3. A total of 200 individuals were interviewed using a 66-question survey instrument. Participants who reported using SUS services more frequently rated this system as essential (p-value = 0.031). However, overall, 64% of participants rated the quality of care to be very bad/bad and 34.9% rated access as very bad/bad. Access was considered poor by respondents who used public services rarely or sometimes (p-value = 0.002). In terms of accessing SUS services consultations provided by specialists (e.g., neurologists), these were available only in another municipality (p-value = 0.001). Many participants were SUS dependent for health services, and gaps and weaknesses were observed regarding users' perspectives of the access to and quality of SUS health care. Policymakers should prioritize evaluations and dialogue with the community to make SUS services responsive and to optimize value-for-money in health service planning.

Infection in Hospitalized Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Proposal of an Algorithm for Diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Identification of infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a major challenge in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: This medical records review study evaluated clinical markers, including the performance of C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in the diagnosis of infection in SLE patients. METHODS: One hundred four SLE patients hospitalized between 2014 and 2018 were allocated into 3 groups, namely, infection, infection and disease activity, and isolated disease activity. Groups were compared in relation to clinical and laboratory variables. Accuracy measures were calculated for CRP, NLR, and PLR. RESULTS: C-reactive protein, NLR, and PLR differed between the groups with higher values observed in the infected group, intermediate values in the mixed group, and lower values in the group with isolated activity-CRP (56 vs 26 vs 15 mg/dL, p = 0.002), NLR (7.9 vs 4.0 vs 3.1, p = 0.005), and PLR (270 vs 227 vs 134, p = 0.025). Fever, tachypnea, and PLR were independently associated with infection. The cutoff points of the CRP of 20 mg/L, NLR of 3.5, and PLR of 151.4 presented values of sensitivity and specificity for the prediction of infection equal to 67% and 67%, 65% and 58%, and 71% and 53%, respectively. The developed algorithm showed a sensitivity of 86.6% and specificity of 81% for the diagnosis of infection. CONCLUSIONS: The combined use of clinical and laboratory markers presented superior accuracy than their isolated use, suggesting a great potential for the application of the algorithm in clinical practice.

Health-related quality of life in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics

Objective: To assess health-related quality of life and associated factors in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, as well as to determine utility values using the EuroQol-5D-3L instrument. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a state-run pharmacy in the Brazilian National Health System. Individuals were included if they were using a single atypical antipsychotic and completed the EuroQol-5D-3L. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical data were collected. The dependent variable was the EuroQol-5D-3L utility score. Associations between the independent variables and the dependent variable were analyzed in a multiple linear regression model. Results: A total of 394 patients were included, and their mean utility score was 0.664±0.232. Patients treated with clozapine had the highest mean score (0.762 [0.202]), followed by olanzapine (0.687 [0.230]), risperidone (0.630 [0.252]), ziprasidone (0.622 [0.234]), and quetiapine (0.620 [0.243]). The following variables were related to higher utility scores: income, employment, clozapine use, no illicit psychoactive substance use, no suicide attempts, and no comorbidities. Conclusion: Evaluating health-related quality of life differences in the available atypical antipsychotics can facilitate the choice of treatment, improve health outcomes, and ensure rational prescriptions.

Health-related quality of life in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics.

OBJECTIVE: To assess health-related quality of life and associated factors in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics, as well as to determine utility values using the EuroQol-5D-3L instrument. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a state-run pharmacy in the Brazilian National Health System. Individuals were included if they were using a single atypical antipsychotic and completed the EuroQol-5D-3L. Sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical data were collected. The dependent variable was the EuroQol-5D-3L utility score. Associations between the independent variables and the dependent variable were analyzed in a multiple linear regression model. RESULTS: A total of 394 patients were included, and their mean utility score was 0.664±0.232. Patients treated with clozapine had the highest mean score (0.762 [0.202]), followed by olanzapine (0.687 [0.230]), risperidone (0.630 [0.252]), ziprasidone (0.622 [0.234]), and quetiapine (0.620 [0.243]). The following variables were related to higher utility scores: income, employment, clozapine use, no illicit psychoactive substance use, no suicide attempts, and no comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Evaluating health-related quality of life differences in the available atypical antipsychotics can facilitate the choice of treatment, improve health outcomes, and ensure rational prescriptions.

Non-genetic factors and polymorphisms in genes CYP2C9 and VKORC1: predictive algorithms for TTR in Brazilian patients on warfarin.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the association of non-genetic factors and polymorphisms CYP2C9*2 (rs1799853), CYP2C9*3 (rs1075910), and VKORC1-G1639A (rs9923231) with time in therapeutic range (TTR), and to build a regression model to predict the quality of oral anticoagulation control in a sample of Brazilian patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study developed at an anticoagulation clinic of a university hospital. Overall, 312 patients were included. The quality of oral anticoagulation control was evaluated by TTR. TTR was dichotomized for analysis, using two cutoff points for classification as inadequate (TTR ≤ 60.0%) and optimal (TTR ≥ 75.0%) control. RESULTS: The average age was 60.4 ± 13.5 years, with a predominance of women (187; 59.9%). The -G1639A polymorphism of the VKORC1 gene, when evaluated, based on the recessive inheritance pattern [AA × (GA + GG)], patients with AA genotype exhibited a higher TTR (68.2% versus 62.8%, p = 0.017). TTR ≤ 60.0% was associated with number of drugs in chronic use, assistance for warfarin administration, reports of not taking warfarin, absenteeism, sex (female), and target INR (International Normalized Ratio; 2.00-3.00). TTR ≥ 75.0% was associated with sex (male), target INR (2.00-3.00), assistance for warfarin administration, reports of not taking warfarin, and absenteeism. The two algorithms proposed showed adequate ability to predict TTR presenting good sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provided useful information for risk stratification depending on TTR level and for future investigations on the quality of oral anticoagulation control in Brazilian anticoagulation clinics.

Indicator of access to medicines in relation to the multiple dimensions of access.

Aim: Creation of a single indicator of access to medicines. Methods: Data collection was performed with individuals who obtained their medication from either public and/or private pharmacies. A Likert scale was used to measure the importance and satisfaction in relation to various access dimensions. Results: A total of 580 individuals were interviewed. Overall, participants attributed very similar importance scores to the dimensions of access to medicines. The results of the mean score of each dimension showed a statistically significant difference according to the type of pharmacy that the participant visited. Conclusion: This developed indicator will enable a review of access to medicines, making comparisons possible as well as improving decision making about public policies in the field of Pharmaceutical Services.

18F-FDG PET/CT as a prognostic factor in penile cancer.

PURPOSE: Penile cancer (PC) is a rare neoplasm with an aggressive behavior and variable prognosis. Lymph node (LN) involvement and pathological features of the primary lesion have been proven to be the most important survival factors. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography with fluorodeoxyglucose labelled with fluorine-18 (18F-FDG PET/CT) provides information on tumor staging and works as a prognostic factor, with promising results in other carcinomas. The aim of the present study is to evaluate PET/CT as a prognostic factor in PC. METHODS: Fifty-five patients (mean age 56.6 y) diagnosed with penile squamous cell carcinoma were prospectively evaluated from 2012 to 2014. All subjects underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT before treatment and were regularly followed after surgery. RESULTS: Out of the 53 patients selected, 17 (32.1%) had localized disease (cT1-2) and 24 (45.3%) had palpable nodes (cN+). Partial penile amputation was performed in 38 patients (71.7%) and inguinal lymphadenectomy (LND) in 30 (56.6%). From the LND group, 16 (53.3%) presented with positive neoplastic cells (pN+). Patients with more aggressive disease had a significantly (p = 0.019) higher 18F-FDG tumor uptake (pSUVmax), while inguinal LN uptake (nSUVmax) was able to recognize metastatic LN (p = 0.039). Some pathological prognostic features, when presented, have shown significant changes in pSUVmax values. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed and specific cutoff values of pSUVmax were evaluated to determine sensitivity and specificity. Regarding regional LNs, PET/CT presented a 76.2% accuracy in cN+ patients. After a 39-month follow up, pSUVmax of 16.6 (p = 0.0001) and nSUVmax of 6.5 (p = 0.019) were established as the ideal values to predict cancer-specific survival. The multivariate analysis confirmed nSUVmax as a predictor for LN metastasis (p = 0.043) and pSUVmax as a mean to estimate survival rate (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study showed promising results on the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT as a prognostic tool for PC, using specific cutoff values of pSUVmax and nSUVmax.

Effectiveness to identify acute myocardial infarction using the Manchester screening in patients with chest pain at the emergency service.

BACKGROUND: Among cardiovascular diseases (CVD), acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the main manifestation, corresponding to signs and symptoms that occur with ischemia and outcome of angina or acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of biochemical markers eligible in a chest pain protocol, using Point of care Test (POCT), in patients in a reference emergency room. METHODS: In this study, 1380 medical records of patients of both genders were evaluated, ranked by applying chest pain protocol using the Manchester Triage System (MTS). Markers for myocardial injury were measured in serial analysis including myoglobin (Mgb), creatine kinase MB fraction mass (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI). RESULTS: Acute myocardial infarction was predominant in males (P < .001), in patients with hypertension (P < .001), and in those with previous myocardial infarction (P < .026) and significant electrocardiogram (ECG) data for AMI screening (P < .001). A multivariate regression model showed as predictors for AMI the variables ECG data by admittance at the emergency room, previous AMI history, levels of both Mgb at the third hour, and cTnI at the sixth hour after admission. CONCLUSION: This study showed the importance of a rapid and serial test as a cardiac marker for AMI screening, as well as has indicated the importance of time between the onset of chest pain and admission to the emergency room as an efficient aid in diagnosing this life-threatening disease.

Systemic lupus erythematosus: disease activity may influence the release of endothelial microparticles?

: To evaluate blood-borne endothelial microparticles (EMPs) in women with SLE and correlated these to disease activity as defined by the SLEDAI-2K score. The study takes cross-sectional design. A total of 90 age-matched women were recruited including: G1 (healthy volunteers, n = 30), G2 (women with SLE and low disease activity (SLEDAI-2K score ≤4; n = 30) and G3 (women with SLE and moderate/high disease activity (SLEDAI-2K score >4; n = 30). Blood was collected in 3.2% sodium citrate. Subsequently, the microparticles were purified by ultracentrifugation and labeled with anti-CD51/61 and anti-Annexin-V antibodies. Quantification and phenotyping were performed using flow cytometry. The number of EMPs was significantly higher in SLE patients compared with controls (P = 0.0178). When SLE patients were stratified according to disease activity, the number of EMPs was significantly increased in women with moderate-to-high disease activity compared with controls (P = 0.0074). We observed a correlation between the number of EMPs and age (r = -0.34; P = 0.0123) and between the number of EMPs and SLEDAI-2K score (r = 0.30; P = 0.04). Our results suggest that the SLE causes increased EMPs release, especially in patients with SLEDAI-2K score greater than 4. Although measurement of the EMPs could be useful in distinguishing patients with SLE from health controls, they have limited value in differentiating between SLE subtypes.

Consumer Willingness to Pay for Dengue Vaccine (CYD-TDV, Dengvaxia®) in Brazil; Implications for Future Pricing Considerations.

Introduction and Objective: Dengue virus is a serious global health problem with an estimated 3.97 billion people at risk for infection worldwide. In December 2015, the first vaccine (CYD-TDV) for dengue prevention was approved in Brazil, developed by Sanofi Pasteur. However, given that the vaccine will potentially be paid via the public health system, information is need regarding consumers' willingness to pay for the dengue vaccine in the country as well as discussions related to the possible inclusion of this vaccine into the public health system. This was the objective of this research. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with residents of Greater Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, about their willingness to pay for the CYD-TDV vaccine. Results: 507 individuals were interviewed. These were mostly female (62.4%) had completed high school (62.17%), were working (74.4%), had private health insurance (64.5%) and did not have dengue (67.4%). The maximum median value of consumers' willingness to pay for CYD-TDV vaccine is US$33.61 (120.00BRL) for the complete schedule and US$11.20 (40.00BRL) per dose. At the price determined by the Brazil's regulatory chamber of pharmaceutical products market for the commercialization of Dengvaxia® for three doses, only 17% of the population expressed willingness to pay for this vaccine. Conclusion: Brazil is currently one of the largest markets for dengue vaccine and the price established is a key issue. We believe the manufacturer should asses the possibility of lower prices to reach a larger audience among the Brazilian population.