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Background: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) is increasing in developing countries. Different worldwide guidelines have been proposed, but their applicability for AD specialists in Latin American (LA) countries is unknown. Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the medical approach to treating AD in LA countries. Methods: The study population comprised AD specialists (allergists and dermatologists). They completed an electronic survey containing questions about the health system, diagnostic criteria, and pharmacotherapy approach to treating AD. The survey was constructed and validated by the Atopic Dermatitis Committee of the Latin American Society of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (SLAAI) in Spanish and Portuguese. Each member was responsible for distributing the questionnaire through different networks in their respective countries. Results: A total of 284 AD specialists from 13 LA countries completed the questionnaire; among them, 67% were allergists and 33% were dermatologists. Less than 50% of the AD specialists strictly followed guideline recommendations. Among the AD specialists, the European and North American guidelines were more frequently used, and only 16% followed LA guidelines. Dermatologists used the local guidelines less frequently than allergists. Most physicians did not routinely use AD assessment tools (55%). The frequency of the diagnostic tests depends on symptom severity. The availability of some systemic treatments, such as biologics and Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors, is not universal in all LA countries. Conclusion: There were marked differences between the specialists, and these differences seemed to be affected by their specialty and each country's healthcare system. New AD education strategies that consider the particularities of the region could allow patients to be more accurately managed. AD assessment tools may provide a way to enhance AD treatment and allow for shared decision-making, patient empowerment, and standardized care.
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Purpose: Overuse of short-acting ß2-agonists (SABAs) for asthma is associated with a significant increase in exacerbations and healthcare resource use. However, limited data exist on the extent of SABA overuse outside of Europe and North America. As part of the multi-country SABA use IN Asthma (SABINA) III study, we characterized SABA prescription patterns in Colombia. Patients and Methods: This observational, cross-sectional cohort study of SABINA III included patients (aged ≥12 years) with asthma recruited from seven sites in Colombia. Demographics, disease characteristics (including investigator-defined asthma severity guided by the 2017 Global Initiative for Asthma report), and asthma treatments prescribed (including SABAs and inhaled corticosteroids [ICS]) in the 12 months preceding the study were recorded using electronic case report forms during a single study visit. Results: Of 250 patients analyzed, 50.4%, 33.2%, and 16.4% were enrolled by pulmonologists, general medicine practitioners, and allergists, respectively. Most patients were female (74.0%) and had moderate-to-severe asthma (67.6%). Asthma was partly controlled or uncontrolled in 57.6% of patients, with 15.6% experiencing ≥1 severe exacerbation 12 months before the study visit. In total, 4.0% of patients were prescribed SABA monotherapy and 55.6%, SABA in addition to maintenance therapy. Overall, 39.2% of patients were prescribed ≥3 SABA canisters in the 12 months before the study visit; 25.2% were prescribed ≥10 canisters. Additionally, 17.6% of patients purchased SABAs over the counter, of whom 43.2% purchased ≥3 canisters. Maintenance medication in the form of ICS or ICS/long-acting ß2-agonist fixed-dose combination was prescribed to 36.0% and 66.8% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that prescription/purchase of ≥3 SABA canisters were common in Colombia, highlighting a public health concern. There is a need to improve asthma care by aligning clinical practices with the latest evidence-based treatment recommendations to improve asthma management across Colombia.
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INTRODUCTION: Chikungunya virus infection has become a public health problem, due to its immediate effect on the health and quality of life of patients and their families, as well as complications in the medium and long term. Its necessary to determine immunological characteristics of this afection as an important step for the future development of strategies to reduce its incidence and aggressiveness. OBJECTIVE: To characterize immunologically a population from Colombian Caribbean with serologic and clinic diagnosis of chikungunya virus infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, longitudinal, and prospective study was conducted on in 109 patients with a clinical diagnosis and serological confirmation of chikungunya virus infection and attended in the emergency department of the Fundación Hospital Universitario Metropolitano and the Orthopaedic and Rheumatology Centre. Immunoglobulin G or M type antibodies against Chikungunya virus were determined in a peripheral blood sample using immuno-enzymatic serological and immunological test in order to diagnose rheumatic diseases. RESULTS: Tests were positive for immunoglobulin G type antibodies against chikungunya virus in all of the 109 patients. The results for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear, and anti-DNA antibodies were negative in almost all of the 109 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients were not in a viral replication process that characterizes the acute phase of the disease. There were no positive results in laboratory test related to rheumatic diseases. High concentrations of certain pro-inflammatory interleukins were found in patients, and the clinical manifestations in these, suggest an inflammatory joint process with severe arthralgia that can mimic the symptoms of a rheumatic disease.
INTRODUCCIÓN: La infección por el virus chikungunya se ha convertido en un problema de salud pública, tanto por su afección inmediata sobre la salud y calidad de vida de los pacientes y sus familias, como por las complicaciones a medio y largo plazos. Es necesario llevar a cabo la caracterización inmunológica de esta afección, como paso importante para el futuro desarrollo de estrategias tendentes a disminuir su incidencia y agresividad. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar inmunológicamente una población del Caribe colombiano con diagnóstico clínico y serológico de infección por el virus chikungunya. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo, longitudinal, prospectivo, en 109 pacientes con diagnóstico clínico y confirmación serológica de infección por el virus chikungunya, atendidos en el Servicio de Emergencias de la Fundación Hospital Universitario Metropolitano y en la consulta externa del Centro de Reumatología y Ortopedia. A partir de la toma de muestra de sangre periférica, se determinaron anticuerpos tipo inmunoglobulina G o M contra el virus chikungunya, por ensayo inmunoenzimático y pruebas de serología inmunológicas, orientadas al diagnóstico de enfermedades reumatológicas. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvieron resultados positivos para anticuerpos tipo inmunoglobulina G contra el virus chikungunya en 109 pacientes. Los resultados para anticuerpos antipéptido cíclico citrulinado, factor reumatoide, anticuerpos antinucleares, anticuerpo anti-ADN, fueron negativos en la mayoría de los sujetos. CONCLUSIÓN: Los pacientes no se encontraban en un proceso de replicación viral, característico de la fase aguda de la enfermedad. No hubo resultados positivos en las pruebas de laboratorio relacionadas con enfermedades reumatológicas. Las concentraciones altas halladas son sugerentes de un proceso inflamatorio articular con artralgias severas, que puede mimetizar las condiciones de una enfermedad reumatológica.
