Severity and mortality of acute respiratory failure in pediatrics: A prospective multicenter cohort in Bogotá, Colombia.

Background and Aims: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is the most frequent cause of cardiorespiratory arrest and subsequent death in children worldwide. There have been limited studies regarding ARF in high altitude settings. The aim of this study was to calculate mortality and describe associated factors for severity and mortality in children with ARF. Methods: The study was conducted within a prospective multicentric cohort that evaluated the natural history of pediatric ARF. For this analysis three primary outcomes were studied: mortality, invasive mechanical ventilation, and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) length of stay. Eligible patients were children older than 1 month and younger than 18 years of age with respiratory difficulty at the time of admission. Patients who developed ARF were followed at the time of ARF, 48 h later, at the time of discharge, and at 30 and 60 days after discharge. It was conducted in the pediatric emergency, in-hospital, and critical-care services in three hospitals in Bogotá, Colombia, from April 2020 to June 2021. Results: Out of a total of 685 eligible patients, 296 developed ARF for a calculated incidence of ARF of 43.2%. Of the ARF group, 90 patients (30.4%) needed orotracheal intubation, for a mean of 9.57 days of ventilation (interquartile range = 3.00-11.5). Incidence of mortality was 6.1% (n = 18). The associated factors for mortality in ARF were a history of a neurologic comorbidity and a higher fraction of inspired oxygen at ARF diagnosis. For PICU length of stay, the associated factors were age between 2 and 5 years of age, exposure to smokers, and respiratory comorbidity. Finally, for mechanical ventilation, the risk factors were obesity and being unstable at admission. Conclusions: ARF is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Understanding the factors associated with greater mortality and severity of ARF might allow earlier recognition and initiation of prompt treatment strategies.

Burden of respiratory failure in pediatric patients: Analysis of a prospective multicenter cohort in Bogotá, Colombia.

Background and Aims: The approach to the burden of disease is a demographic, economic, and a health problem, which requires the design and application of specific measures of cost of the disease, such as disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), to establish better public health policies in the pediatric population. The aim of this study is to approach the burden of disease in children with acute respiratory failure (ARF) through the calculation of DALYs. Methods: This study was conducted in the framework of a prospective, multicenter cohort in Bogotá, Colombia. Inclusion criteria were all pediatric patients admitted to the emergency department, hospitalization, and intensive care unit with respiratory distress; eligible patients were all those who developed ARF between April 2020 and December 2021. They were followed-up during hospitalization, at 30 and 60 days after admission. The Infant/Toddler Quality of Life Questionnaire and KIDSCREEN quality of life scales were applied for follow-up according to the age group. The results were used to calculate DALYs. Results: Six hundred and eighty-five eligible patients, 296 (43.08%) developed ARF, of these 22 (6.08%) patients died (mortality rate = 7.43%). The total DALYs was 277.164 years. For younger than 9 years, the DALYs were 302.64 years, while for older than 10 years were 40.49 years. Conclusion: ARF is one of the main causes of preventable mortality in pediatrics, its progression to respiratory failure is a highly prevalent condition in pediatric age, a condition that has a great impact on mortality, morbidity, and disability in our patients.

Use of high-flow cannula in pediatric patients with respiratory failure: A prospective cohort study in three high-altitude hospitals.

Background and Aims: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a common cause of morbimortality, and a frequent reason for admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). It requires a high-flow oxygen device as treatment. Our aim is to determine the frequency and main indications for the use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), and the prevalence of HFNC failure and its main causes, in three hospitals. Methods: It is a multicenter prospective cohort study, developed in three hospitals in Bogota. Eligible patients were children older than 1 month and younger than 18 years who presented ARF and required management with an HFNC. The study was carried out between April 2020 and December 2021. The follow-up was carried out at 1, 6, and 48 h after starting the management. Results: Of 685 patients included in the study, 296 developed ARF. The prevalence of patients with ARF who required management with HFNC was 48%. The frequency of the pathologies that cause the ARF was: Bronchiolitis was the most frequent pathology (34.5%), followed by asthmatic crisis (15.5%) and pneumonia (12.7%). The average time of use of HFNC was 81.6 h. Regarding treatment failure with HFNC, 15 patients presented torpid evolution and required invasive mechanical ventilation, with a prevalence of therapeutic failure of the HFNC of 10.6%. Conclusion: The use of HFNC is more frequent in patients with bronchiolitis, in children under 2 years of age and in males, which is in line with what has been reported in the literature. In addition, the failure rate of HFNC is low (10.6%), and it may be useful in other pathologies besides bronchiolitis, such as asthma, pneumonia, among others. It opens the possibility to continue evaluating the role of HFNC in pediatric pathology in new studies.

Promoting tobacco cessation and smoke-free workplaces through community outreach partnerships in Puerto Rico.

BACKGROUND: Puerto Rico (PR) has a lower smoking prevalence than the United States (14.8% vs. 21.2%, respectively); nevertheless, the five leading causes of death are associated with smoking. There is a need to implement evidence-based tobacco control strategies in PR. OBJECTIVES: The Outreach Pilot Program (OPP) was designed to engage communities, health professionals, and researchers in a network to advance health promotion activities and research to increase the use of the PR Quitline (PRQ) among smokers and promoting policies in support of smoke-free workplaces. METHODS: Using community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods, the OPP mobilized a network of community and academic partners to implement smoking cessation activities including referrals to the PRQ, adoption of evidence-based smoking cessation programs, and promotion of smoke-free legislation. RESULTS: Eighty organizations participated in the OPP. Collaborators implemented activities that supported the promotion of the PRQ and smoke-free workplaces policy and sponsored yearly trainings, including tobacco control conferences. From 2005 to 2008, physician referrals to the PRQ increased from 2.6% to 7.2%. The number of annual smokers receiving cessation services through the PRQ also increased from 703 to 1,086. The OPP shepherded a rigorous smoke-free law through participation in the development, promotion, and implementation of the smoke-free workplaces legislation as well as the creation of the PR Tobacco Control Strategic Plan, launched in 2006. CONCLUSIONS: This project demonstrates the feasibility of developing a successful and sustainable community-based outreach program model that enlists the participation of academic researchers, community organizations, and health care providers as partners to promote tobacco control.

Probabilidades de empleo-desempleo en Medellín: evidencia empírica para pensar un seguro de desempleo en Colombia / Employment and unemployment probabilities in Medellin: empirical evidence for thinking unemployment insurance in Colombia

OBJETIVOS: estimar las probabilidades de empleo-desempleo de la fuerza laboral del área metropolitana de Medellín-Colombia y analizar la duración del desempleo según características individuales y tiempo de búsqueda de empleo de un grupo de trabajadores cesantes de esta área en el año 2004, a fin de aportar evidencia científica para la toma de decisiones en materia de políticas de protección social. METODOLOGIA: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal que utilizó fuentes de información secundaria y primaria. Dos categorías centrales de análisis se definieron para los propósitos del estudio: fuerza laboral ocupada y fuerza laboral cesante. Para los fines pertinentes, se aplicaron técnicas de regresión logística y de estimación no paramétrica tipo Kaplan-Meier de tablas de supervivencia. RESULTADOS los cesantes de sexo femenino, con edad superior a los 44 años, educación media y experiencia laboral en los sectores de la industria y el comercio, fueron los que registraron mayores probabilidades de permanecer desempleados y, por tanto, mayor tiempo promedio de búsqueda de empleo. DISCUCION: los principales hallazgos del estudio y su relación con otros de carácter local y nacional evidencian que buena parte del desempleo en Colombia es de larga duración y este precedente debería orientar la discusión sobre los alcances y las características de un seguro de desempleo.

OBJECTIVE::to estimate the probability of employment and unemployment of the labor force in the metropolitan area of Medellin-Colombia and analyze the duration of unemployment by individual characteristics and job search time of a group of unemployed workers in this area in 2004, to provide scientific evidence for making decisions on social protection policies. METHODOLOGY cross sectional study that used secondary sources and primary. Two central categories of analysis were defined for the purposes of the study: labor force employed and unemployed labor force. For relevant purposes of the study, logistic regression and nonparametric estimation of Kaplan-Meier survival tables techniques were applied. RESULTS : the unemployed men, aged between 29 and 44 years, with university education and work experience in the service sector, were the least likely to remain registered unemployed, and therefore lower average seek time employment. DISCUSSION : the main findings of the study and its relationship with other local and national, evidence that much unemployment in Colombia is long lasting and that this should focus the discussion on the scope and nature of unemployment insurance.

Análisis de la actualización del Plan Obligatorio de Salud del Sistema de Seguridad Social en Salud colombiano, 2009-2012 / An analysis of the updating of the Colombian social security system's mandatory health plan, 2009-2012

Objetivo Analizar, desde la perspectiva del derecho a la salud, la actualización del Plan Obligatorio de Salud (POS) del Sistema General de Seguridad Social en Salud (SGSSS) colombiano, comparando los contenidos del POS vigente hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2009 (POS-2009) con los contenidos del POS vigente a partir del 1 de enero del año 2012. Metodología Estudio descriptivo que indagó las modificaciones cuantitativas y las características de esas modificaciones del POS-2012 en comparación con el POS-2009. Resultados Hubo variación importante en el número y en las características de los servicios y de los medicamentos entre los POS comparados. En total se incluyeron 1 724 nuevos procedimientos y 128 nuevos medicamentos en el POS-2012, al tiempo que se excluyeron 366 procedimientos y 79 medicamentos. Algunas de esas inclusiones se corresponden con la frecuencia de demandas mediante acciones de tutela en el período 2009-2011. Discusión y conclusiones Hay avances significativos en los contenidos del POS-2012 que responden a algunas de las más frecuentes demandas de la población.(AU)

Objective Analyzing the updating the Colombian social security system's mandatory health plan (MHP),from a perspective of the right to health, by comparing and contrasting MHP content valid until 31st December 2009 (POS-2009) with MHP content from 1st January 2012 onwards (POS-2012). Methodology This was a descriptive study aimed at ascertaining the quantitative changes made and comparing the characteristics of modifications made in POS-2012 to POS-2009. Results Variation was observed between the two versions of the MHP regarding the number and characteristics of services and drugs;1,724 new procedures and 128 new medicines were included in the 2012 MHP, while 366 procedures and 79 medicines present in the 2009 MHP were excluded from MHP 2012. Some inclusions were related to frequent writs being issued from 2009-2011demanding access to such procedures and drugs. Discussion and Conclusions Significant progress was found regarding the content of the 2012 MHP compared to 2009 provision, thereby addressing some of the population's most frequent writs and plaints.(AU)

[An analysis of the updating of the Colombian social security system's mandatory health plan, 2009-2012]. / Análisis de la actualización del Plan Obligatorio de Salud del Sistema de Seguridad Social en Salud colombiano, 2009-2012.

OBJECTIVE: Analyzing the updating the Colombian social security system's mandatory health plan (MHP),from a perspective of the right to health, by comparing and contrasting MHP content valid until 31st December 2009 (POS-2009) with MHP content from 1st January 2012 onwards (POS-2012). METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive study aimed at ascertaining the quantitative changes made and comparing the characteristics of modifications made in POS-2012 to POS-2009. RESULTS: Variation was observed between the two versions of the MHP regarding the number and characteristics of services and drugs;1,724 new procedures and 128 new medicines were included in the 2012 MHP, while 366 procedures and 79 medicines present in the 2009 MHP were excluded from MHP 2012. Some inclusions were related to frequent writs being issued from 2009-2011 demanding access to such procedures and drugs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Significant progress was found regarding the content of the 2012 MHP compared to 2009 provision, thereby addressing some of the population's most frequent writs and plaints.

[A governance approach applied to analysing research into unemployed workers in the city of Medellin in Colombia]. / Un enfoque de gobernanza aplicado al análisis de una investigación sobre trabajadores cesantes en Medellín, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Performing an academic exercise aimed at applying the analytical categories from the governance approach developed by Marc Hufty et al., to understand social actors’ relationships in an investigation and intervention project studying so-cioeconomic conditions and seeking to guarantee health insurance continuity for those workers who had lost their work in the city of Medellin, Colombia, from 2004 to 2007. METHODOLOGY: A process of investigation and intervention was examined as a casestudy in which researchers were one of the actors so involved. Characterising stake-holders included: their level of inclusion/involvement in the problem; their power for influencing public policy proposals; their perceptions and proposals’ characteristics, power and dynamics regarding the problem of unemployment and health insurance when someone has lost her/his work; and the characteristics of their interaction with other actors. RESULTS: The results showed that the four analytical dimensions proposed by Hufty (actors, social norms, nodal points and processes) were useful for describing and understanding the interaction of the actors involved in the research and intervention proposal being analysed here (i.e. the case-study). CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the analytical governance framework proposed by Hufty was useful for understanding how the social subjects interacted; these were the rules which were taken for describing their interaction, being the most important nodes for interaction and progresses achieved whilst implementing the intervention proposal.

Un enfoque de gobernanza aplicado al análisis de una investigación sobre trabajadores cesantes en Medellín, Colombia / A governance approach applied to analysing research into unemployed workers in the city of Medellin in Colombia

Objetivo Realizar un ejercicio académico de aplicación de las categorías analíticas del enfoque de gobernanza desarrollado por Marc Hufty para comprender el proceso de relacionamiento de actores sociales en un proyecto de investigación e intervención que estudió las condiciones socioeconómicas y de aseguramiento en salud de los trabajadores cesantes-TC en la ciudad de Medellín-Colombia en los años 2004 y 2007 y que incorporó la propuesta de una política pública para garanti-zar la continuidad de su aseguramiento en salud. Metodología Se trató del examen como caso de un proceso de investigación e intervención, en el que los investigadores fueron uno de los actores involucrados. La caracterización de los actores involucrados incluyó: nivel de inserción/ involucramiento en el problema; poder de decisión en la política pública pro-puesta; características, fuerza y dinámica de sus percepciones, expectativas y propuestas sobre el problema del desempleo y del aseguramiento en salud cuando alguien queda cesante; características de su interacción con otros actores. Resultados Se encontró que las dimensiones analíticas propuestas por Hufty (actores, normas sociales, puntos nodales y procesos) resultaron útiles para describir y comprender el proceso de interacción de actores sociales involucrados en la investigación y la propuesta de intervención que sirvió como caso de estudio. Conclusiones El marco analítico de gobernanza propuesto por Hufty fue útil para entender cómo interactuaron los sujetos sociales, cuáles fueron las normas acogi-das para interactuar, cuáles nodos de actuación fueron más importantes y los pro-gresos alcanzados durante el proceso.

Objective Performing an academic exercise aimed at applying the analytical categories from the governance approach developed by Marc Hufty et al., to understand social actors’ relationships in an investigation and intervention project studying so-cioeconomic conditions and seeking to guarantee health insurance continuity for those workers who had lost their work in the city of Medellin, Colombia, from 2004 to 2007. Methodology A process of investigation and intervention was examined as a casestudy in which researchers were one of the actors so involved. Characterising stake-holders included: their level of inclusion/involvement in the problem; their power for influencing public policy proposals; their perceptions and proposals’ characteristics, power and dynamics regarding the problem of unemployment and health insurance when someone has lost her/his work; and the characteristics of their interaction with other actors. Results The results showed that the four analytical dimensions proposed by Hufty (actors, social norms, nodal points and processes) were useful for describing and understanding the interaction of the actors involved in the research and intervention proposal being analysed here (i.e. the case-study). Conclusions It was concluded that the analytical governance framework proposed by Hufty was useful for understanding how the social subjects interacted; these were the rules which were taken for describing their interaction, being the most important nodes for interaction and progresses achieved whilst implementing the intervention proposal.