Post-COVID-19 condition: a sex-based analysis of clinical and laboratory trends.

Background and aim: Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) encompasses long-lasting symptoms in individuals with COVID-19 and is estimated to affect between 31-67% of patients, with women being more commonly affected. No definitive biomarkers have emerged in the acute stage that can help predict the onset of PCC, therefore we aimed at describing sex-disaggregated data of PCC patients from a local cohort and explore potential acute predictors of PCC and neurologic PCC. Methods: A local cohort of consecutive patients admitted with COVID-19 diagnosis between June 2020 and July 2021 were registered, and clinical and laboratory data were recorded. Only those <65 years, discharged alive and followed up at 6 and 12 months after admission were considered in these analyses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore variables associated with PCC (STATA v 18.0). Results: From 130 patients in the cohort, 104 were contacted: 30% were women, median age of 42 years. At 6 months, 71 (68%) reported PCC symptoms. Women exhibited a higher prevalence of any PCC symptom (87 vs. 60%, p = 0.007), lower ferritin (p = 0.001) and procalcitonin (p = 0.021) and higher TNF levels (p = 0.042) in the acute phase compared to men. Being women was independently associated to 7.60 (95% CI 1.27-45.18, p = 0.026) higher risk for PCC. Moreover, women had lower return to normal activities 6 and 12 months. Conclusion: Our findings highlight the lasting impact of COVID-19, particularly in young women, emphasising the need for tailored post-COVID care. The lower ferritin levels in women are an intriguing observation, warranting further research. The study argues for comprehensive strategies that address sex-specific challenges in recovery from COVID-19.

Disparities in Stroke Incidence Over Time by Sex and Age in Latin America and the Caribbean Region 1997 to 2021: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background High-income country studies show unfavorable trends in stroke incidence (SI) in younger populations. We aimed to estimate temporal change in SI disaggregated by age and sex in Latin America and the Caribbean region. Methods and Results A search strategy was used in MEDLINE, WOS, and LILACS databases from 1997 to 2021, including prospective population-based observational studies with first-ever stroke incidence in Latin America. Reports without data broken down by age and sex were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed with The Joanna Briggs Institute's guide. The main outcomes were incidence rate ratio and relative temporal trend ratio of SI, comparing time periods before 2010 with after 2010. Pooled relative temporal trend ratios considering only studies with 2 periods in the same population were calculated by random-effects meta-analysis. Meta-regression analysis was used to evaluate incidence rate determinants. From 9242 records identified, 6 studies were selected including 4483 first-ever stroke in 4 101 084 individuals. Crude incidence rate ratio in younger subjects (<55 years) comparing before 2010:after 2010 periods showed an increase in SI in the past decade (incidence rate ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.23-1.50]), in contrast to a decrease in older people during the same period (incidence rate ratio, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.76-0.89]). Overall relative temporal trend ratio (<55:≥55 years) was 1.65 (95 CI%, 1.50-1.80), with higher increase in young women (pooled relative temporal trend ratio, 3.08 [95% CI, 1.18-4.97]; P for heterogeneity <0.001). Conclusions An unfavorable change in SI in young people, especially in women, was detected in population-based studies in the past decade in Latin America and the Caribbean. Further investigation of the explanatory variables is required to ameliorate stroke prevention and inform local decision-makers. Registration URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ Identifier: CRD42022332563.

Stroke in Latin America: Systematic review of incidence, prevalence, and case-fatality in 1997-2021.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is a major global cause of death and disability. Most strokes occur in populations of low-middle-income country (LMIC); therefore, the subsequent disease burden is greater than in populations of high-income countries. Few epidemiological data exist for stroke in Latin America, composed primarily of LMIC. AIMS: To determine epidemiological measures of incidence, prevalence, and 1-month case-fatality for stroke in Latin America/Caribbean (LAC) during 1997-2021. SUMMARY OF REVIEW: A structured search was conducted to identify relevant references from MEDLINE, WOS, and LILACS databases for prospective observational and cross-sectional studies in LAC populations from January 1997 to December 2021. A total of 9242 records were screened and 12 selected for analysis, seven incidence studies and five prevalence studies. Case-fatality was reported in six articles. Sub-group analysis by age, sex, and income countries was performed. A narrative synthesis of the findings was performed. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect model to obtain pooled estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Studies quality was assessed according to the risk of bias criteria described in the Joanna Briggs Institute's guide. The overall crude annual incidence rate of first-ever stroke in LAC was 119.0 (95% CI = 95.9-142.1)/100,000 people (with high heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 98.1%)). The overall crude prevalence was 3060 (95% CI: 95.9-142.1)/100,000 people (with high heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 98.8%)). The overall case-fatality at 1 month after the first stroke was 21.1% (95% CI = 18.6-23.7) (I2 = 49.40%). CONCLUSION: This review contributes to our understanding regarding the burden caused by stroke in LAC. More studies with comparable designs are needed to generate reliable data and should include both standardized criteria, such as the World Health Organization clinical criteria and updated standard methods of case assurance, data collection, and reporting.

A Chilean Experience of Telestroke in a COVID-19 Pandemic Year.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Telemedicine for stroke patients' care (telestroke [TS]) has grown notably in recent decades and may offer advantages during health crisis. Hospital admissions related to stroke have decreased globally during the COVID-19 pandemic, but scarce information is available regarding the effect of COVID-19 in TS. Using a population-based TS registry, we investigated the impact of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout our TS network in Santiago, Chile. METHODS: Stroke codes evaluated after the onset of COVID-19 restrictions in Chile (defined as March 15, 2020) were compared with those evaluated in 2019. We analyzed differences between number of stroke codes, thrombolysis rate, stroke severity, and time from the stroke onset to hospital admission. RESULTS: We observed that the number of stroke codes and the number of patients undergoing reperfusion therapy did not change significantly (p = 0.669 and 0.415, respectively). No differences were found with respect to the median time from the stroke onset to admission (p = 0.581) or in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores (p = 0.055). The decision-making-to-needle time was significantly shorter in the COVID-19 period (median 5 min [IQR 3-8], p < 0.016), but no significant changes were found at the other times. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the potential of adapting TS to extreme situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the importance of establishing networks that facilitate patient access to quality treatments.

Gemcitabine plus paclitaxel as first-line chemotherapy for patients with advanced breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of gemcitabine and paclitaxel as first-line treatment in advanced breast cancer. METHODS: Patients with histologically confirmed metastatic or metastatic plus locally advanced breast cancer received gemcitabine 1,200 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 and paclitaxel 175 mg/m(2) on day 1 every 21 days for 8 cycles. RESULTS: From December 1999 to August 2001, 45 patients, with a median age of 53.5 years (range, 22-77), received a total of 260 cycles. All were assessable for response and toxicity. Twenty-seven patients had prior adjuvant therapy. Hormonal receptor status was positive in 31.1% and negative in 40.0% of patients. Main metastatic sites included soft tissue (62.2%) and lung (53.3%). The objective response rate was 66.7%; complete response, 22.2%; partial response, 44.4%; stable disease, 15.6%; progressive disease, 17.8%. Median duration of response was 18 months and median time to tumor progression was 11 months. Grade 3/4 leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia developed in 13.3% of patients, and 15.5% developed grade 3/4 mucositis. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Median overall survival was 19 months. CONCLUSIONS: Gemcitabine plus paclitaxel is an active combination with a favorable toxicity profile as first-line treatment for patients with advanced breast cancer.

Gemcitabine/paclitaxel as first-line treatment of advanced breast cancer.

Gemcitabine (Gemzar) and paclitaxel exhibit good activity and good safety profiles when used alone and together in the treatment of advanced breast cancer. In a phase II trial, 45 patients with metastatic breast cancer received gemcitabine at 1,200 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8 and paclitaxel at 175 mg/m2 on day 1 every 21 days. Twenty-seven patients (60.0%) had prior adjuvant therapy. Objective response was observed in 30 patients (objective response rate 66.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 52%-71%), including complete response in 10 (22.2%) and partial response in 20 (44.4%). Median duration of response was 18 months (95% CI = 11-26.7 months), median time to tumor progression for the entire population was 11 months (95% CI = 7.1-18.7 months), median overall survival was 19 months (95% CI = 17.3-21.7 months), and the 1-year survival rate was 69%. Treatment was well tolerated, with grade 3/4 toxicities being infrequent. Grade 3/4 leukopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia were each observed in six patients (13.3%). No patient was discontinued from the study due to hematologic or nonhematologic toxicity. Thus, the gemcitabine/paclitaxel combination shows promising activity and tolerability when used as first-line treatment in advanced disease. The combination recently has been shown to be superior to paclitaxel alone as first-line treatment in anthracycline-pretreated advanced disease according to interim results of a phase III trial and it should be further evaluated in comparative trials in breast cancer.

Estudio comparativo del efecto fármacos vasoactivos en las angiopatias seniles / Comparative study of the effect of vasoative drugs in the senil angiopathies

Se efectuó un estudio abierto comparativo sobre 100 pacientes ancianos con patología vascular cerebral y periférica, con el objeto de evaluar la acción terapéutica de una asociación de dibidroergotoxina, hidroxicobalamina y aminoácidos neurotróficos en relación al buflomedil. Se enfatizó la frecuencia e importancia de las manifestaciones subjetivas y objetivas de la insuficiencia vascular y la necesidad del examen clínico frecuente. De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos la asociación de dibidroergotoxina, bidroxicobalamina y aminoácidos neurotróficos resultó más eficiente y mejor tolerada que el buflomedil

Estudio comparativo del efecto fármacos vasoactivos en las angiopatias seniles / Comparative study of the effect of vasoative drugs in the senil angiopathies

Se efectuó un estudio abierto comparativo sobre 100 pacientes ancianos con patología vascular cerebral y periférica, con el objeto de evaluar la acción terapéutica de una asociación de dibidroergotoxina, hidroxicobalamina y aminoácidos neurotróficos en relación al buflomedil. Se enfatizó la frecuencia e importancia de las manifestaciones subjetivas y objetivas de la insuficiencia vascular y la necesidad del examen clínico frecuente. De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos la asociación de dibidroergotoxina, bidroxicobalamina y aminoácidos neurotróficos resultó más eficiente y mejor tolerada que el buflomedil (AU)