Tracking amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease progression using passively collected smartphone sensor data.

BACKGROUND: Passively collected smartphone sensor data provide an opportunity to study physical activity and mobility unobtrusively over long periods of time and may enable disease monitoring in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS). METHODS: We enrolled 63 PALS who used Beiwe mobile application that collected their smartphone accelerometer and GPS data and administered the self-entry ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-RSE) survey. We identified individual steps from accelerometer data and used the Activity Index to summarize activity at the minute level. Walking, Activity Index, and GPS outcomes were then aggregated into day-level measures. We used linear mixed effect models (LMMs) to estimate baseline and monthly change for ALSFRS-RSE scores (total score, subscores Q1-3, Q4-6, Q7-9, Q10-12) and smartphone sensor data measures, as well as the associations between them. FINDINGS: The analytic sample (N = 45) was 64.4% male with a mean age of 60.1 years. The mean observation period was 292.3 days. The ALSFRS-RSE total score baseline mean was 35.8 and had a monthly rate of decline of -0.48 (p-value <0.001). We observed statistically significant change over time and association with ALSFRS-RSE total score for four smartphone sensor data-derived measures: walking cadence from top 1 min and log-transformed step count, step count from top 1 min, and Activity Index from top 1 min. INTERPRETATION: Smartphone sensors can unobtrusively track physical changes in PALS, potentially aiding disease monitoring and future research.

Estimated Incidence of Symptomatic Lyme Borreliosis Cases in Lublin, Poland in 2021.

Lyme borreliosis (LB), the most common tick-borne disease in Europe, is endemic to Poland. Despite public health surveillance with mandatory reporting of LB cases by physicians and laboratories, many symptomatic LB cases are not included in surveillance in Poland. We estimated the extent of the under-ascertainment of symptomatic LB cases via surveillance in the Polish province of Lublin to better understand Poland's LB burden. The number of incident symptomatic LB cases in Lublin in 2010 was estimated from two seroprevalence studies conducted among adults in Lublin, as well as estimates of the proportion of asymptomatic LB cases and the duration of LB antibody persistence. The estimated number of incident symptomatic LB cases was compared to the number of surveillance-reported cases in Lublin to derive an under-ascertainment multiplier. This multiplier was applied to the number of surveillance-reported cases in 2021 to estimate the number and population-based incidence of symptomatic LB cases in Lublin in 2021. We estimate that there are 5.9 symptomatic LB cases for every surveillance-reported LB case in Lublin. Adjusting for under-ascertainment, the estimated number of symptomatic LB cases in Lublin in 2021 was 6204 (population-based incidence: 467.6/100,000). After adjustment for under-ascertainment, the incidence of symptomatic LB in Lublin, Poland, is high.

Estimated Number of Symptomatic Lyme Borreliosis Cases in Adults in Finland in 2021 Using Seroprevalence Data to Adjust the Number of Surveillance-Reported Cases: A General Framework for Accounting for Underascertainment by Public Health Surveillance.

Background: Finland conducts public health surveillance for Lyme borreliosis (LB) based on clinically diagnosed and laboratory-confirmed cases. We used data from seroprevalence studies to determine the extent to which LB cases were underascertained by public health surveillance. Methods: The numbers of incident symptomatic LB cases in 2011 in six regions in Finland were estimated using (1) data from Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato seroprevalence studies, (2) estimates of the proportion of LB infections that are asymptomatic, and (3) estimates of the duration of LB antibody detection. The numbers of estimated incident symptomatic LB cases were compared with the numbers of surveillance-reported LB cases to estimate regional underascertainment multipliers. Underascertainment multipliers were applied to the numbers of surveillance-reported LB cases in each region in 2021 and summed to estimate the number of symptomatic LB cases in Finland among adults in 2021. A sensitivity analysis evaluated the impact of different durations of antibody detection. Results: Using an asymptomatic proportion of 50% and a 10-year duration of antibody detection, the estimated regional underascertainment multipliers in Finland ranged from 1.0 to 12.2. Applying the regional underascertainment multipliers to surveillance-reported LB cases in each region and summing nationally, there were 19,653 symptomatic LB cases in Finland among adults in 2021 (526/100,000 per year). With 7,346 surveillance-reported LB cases in Finland among adults in 2021, the estimated number of symptomatic LB cases indicate that there were 2.7 symptomatic LB cases for every surveillance-reported LB case among adults. With a 5- or 20-year duration of antibody detection, there were an estimated 36,824 or 11,609 symptomatic LB cases among adults in 2021, respectively. Discussion: Finland has robust public health surveillance for LB, but cases are underascertained. This framework for estimating LB underascertainment can be used in other countries that conduct LB surveillance and have conducted representative LB seroprevalence studies.

Protocol for 'virtual presence': a qualitative study of the cultural dialectic between loneliness and technology.

INTRODUCTION: Most research on loneliness comes from the health sciences, statistically seeking to measure the health-related effects of feeling alone or isolated. There is a need to expand on this understanding and explore loneliness as a more complex social phenomenon. In this article, we present a qualitative design for studying the intersection between loneliness, technology and culture. Conceptualising this as the cultural dialectic between loneliness and technology, we aim to unpack the reciprocal ways by which understandings of loneliness shape technology, while technologies also affect society's understandings of loneliness. In elucidating this dialectic, we aim to develop new knowledge and a novel theoretical framework for understanding loneliness and its technological solutions, which, in turn, can enable better solutions to contemporary problems of loneliness. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will adopt a qualitative approach that combines interviews, participant observation and textual analysis to explore loneliness and its technological solutions from the perspectives of policy-makers, producers, professionals and users in Norway and the UK. The data will be analysed through an analytical framework combining insights from discourse theory and philosophical debates on presence, which will allow us to capture and rethink fundamental assumptions about loneliness and technology. Outcomes will be revised understandings of loneliness, relevant to researchers, entrepreneurs, policy-makers, clinicians, educators and the broader public. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The project has been evaluated and approved by the data protection officer at Oslo Metropolitan University and by the Norwegian Social Science Data Services. Additional ethical approval for data collection in the UK has been provided by the University of Oxford Interdivisional Research Ethics Committee. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, international conference presentations and lay media.

Overweight and prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the association between overweight and outcome in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients. We searched PubMed and Embase using variations of the search terms triple-negative breast cancer (population), overweight and/or obesity (exposure), and prognosis (outcome). Based on the World Health Organization guidelines for defining overweight, we included longitudinal observational studies, which utilized survival statistics with hazard ratios (HRs) in our analysis. The included studies measured body mass index at the time of diagnosis of TNBC and reported disease-free survival and/or overall survival. Study quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and study data were extracted using the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) checklist, independently by two authors. Random-effects models were used to combine the effect sizes (HRs), and the results were evaluated and adjusted for possible publication bias. Thirteen studies of 8,944 TNBC patients were included. The meta-analysis showed that overweight was associated with both shorter disease-free survival (HR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.09-1.46) and shorter overall survival (HR = 1.29; 95%CI: 1.11c1.51) compared to normal-weight. Additionally, our Bayesian meta-analyses suggest that overweight individuals are 7.4 and 9.9 times more likely to have shorter disease-free survival and overall survival, respectively. In conclusion, the available data suggest that overweight is associated with shorter disease-free and overall survival among TNBC patients. The results should be interpreted with caution due to possible publication bias.

Young women's contraceptive practices: a household survey in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. / Práticas contraceptivas de mulheres jovens: inquérito domiciliar no Município de São Paulo, Brasil.

The last decade has witnessed initiatives to expand access to contraceptives in Brazil. However, the last population-based study on contraception was undertaken in 2006. A household survey in 2015 investigated contraceptive practices in women 15 to 44 years of age living in the city of São Paulo. The current study selected data on young women 15 to 19 years of age. The objectives were to identify the prevalence of contraception, the contraceptives used, sources, and differences in contraceptive practices. The young women are part of a probabilistic study sample. Differences in contraception use were compared by multiple logistic regression analysis. A total of 633 young women were interviewed, of whom 310 (48.5%) were sexually initiated. Of these, 60% reported emergency contraception use at least once in their lives. Emergency contraception use was directly proportional to age and lifetime number of partners. Prevalence of contraception was 81%. The odds of current contraception use were higher among young women residing in the health district of the city with the better social conditions, Catholics, those who reported sexual relations in the previous 30 days, and those with history of an obstetrics and gynaecology visit in the previous year, and inversely proportional to the lifetime number of sex partners. Male condoms and the pill were the most common methods (28.2% and 23%). Most of the women purchased their contraceptives in retail pharmacies (75.2%), and the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) was only a significant source for injectable hormonal contraceptives. Government support for women's sexual and reproductive rights is still insufficient.

Iniciativas para ampliar o acesso a contraceptivos ocorreram no Brasil na última década. No entanto, o último estudo de base populacional sobre anticoncepção foi realizado em 2006. Um inquérito domiciliar investigou a prática contraceptiva de mulheres com 15 a 44 anos, residentes no Município de São Paulo em 2015. Para o presente trabalho, foram selecionados os dados relativos às jovens com idade entre 15 e 19 anos. Foram objetivos: identificar a prevalência da anticoncepção, os contraceptivos adotados, suas fontes de obtenção e os diferenciais no uso da contracepção. As jovens integram a amostra probabilística do estudo. Diferenciais do uso de contracepção foram avaliados por meio de regressão logística múltipla. Foram entrevistadas 633 jovens, das quais, 310 (48,5%) haviam iniciado atividade sexual. Dessas, 60% relataram uso de contracepção de emergência pelo menos uma vez na vida. Esse uso foi diretamente proporcional à idade e ao número de parceiros na vida. A prevalência da anticoncepção foi de 81%. A chance de estar usando contraceptivo foi maior entre as residentes na região de saúde com melhor desenvolvimento social, as católicas, as que tiveram relação sexual nos últimos 30 dias e as que realizaram consulta ginecológica no último ano. Foi inversamente proporcional ao número de parceiros na vida. Preservativo masculino e pílula foram os métodos mais frequentes (28,2% e 23%). A maioria das mulheres comprou o contraceptivo na rede comercial de farmácias (75,2%), o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) foi fonte significativa apenas para a obtenção do anticoncepcional hormonal injetável. O apoio do Estado ao exercício dos direitos sexuais e reprodutivos segue insuficiente.

En la última década hubo en Brasil iniciativas para ampliar el acceso a anticonceptivos. No obstante, el último estudio de base poblacional sobre anticoncepción se realizó en 2006. Una encuesta domiciliaria investigó la práctica contraceptiva de mujeres de 15 a 44 años, residentes en el municipio de São Paulo en 2015. Para el presente estudio, se seleccionaron los datos relativos a las jóvenes con edad entre 15 y 19 años. Los objetivos fueron: identificar la prevalencia de la anticoncepción, los métodos anticonceptivos adoptados, sus fuentes de obtención y los diferenciales en el uso de métodos anticonceptivos. Las jóvenes integran la muestra probabilística del estudio. Los diferenciales del uso de métodos anticonceptivos fueron evaluados mediante regresión logística múltiple. Se entrevistaron a 633 jóvenes, de las cuales 310 (48,5%) habían comenzado su actividad sexual. De éstas, un 60% informaron el uso de métodos anticonceptivos de emergencia por lo menos una vez en la vida. Este uso fue directamente proporcional a la edad y al número de parejas en su vida. La prevalencia de métodos anticonceptivos fue de un 81%. La oportunidad de estar usando algún método anticonceptivo fue mayor entre las residentes en la región de salud con un mejor desarrollo social, las católicas, las que tuvieron relaciones sexuales en los últimos 30 días y las que fueron a una consulta ginecológica durante el último año. Fue inversamente proporcional al número de parejas en su vida. El preservativo masculino y la píldora fueron los métodos más frecuentes (28,2% y 23% respectivamente). La mayoría de las mujeres compró el contraceptivo en la red comercial de farmacias (75,2%), el Sistema Único de Salud (SUS) fue una fuente significativa solamente para la obtención del anticonceptivo hormonal inyectable. El apoyo del Estado al ejercicio de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos sigue siendo insuficiente.

Práticas contraceptivas de mulheres jovens: inquérito domiciliar no Município de São Paulo, Brasil / Young women's contraceptive practices: a household survey in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

Iniciativas para ampliar o acesso a contraceptivos ocorreram no Brasil na última década. No entanto, o último estudo de base populacional sobre anticoncepção foi realizado em 2006. Um inquérito domiciliar investigou a prática contraceptiva de mulheres com 15 a 44 anos, residentes no Município de São Paulo em 2015. Para o presente trabalho, foram selecionados os dados relativos às jovens com idade entre 15 e 19 anos. Foram objetivos: identificar a prevalência da anticoncepção, os contraceptivos adotados, suas fontes de obtenção e os diferenciais no uso da contracepção. As jovens integram a amostra probabilística do estudo. Diferenciais do uso de contracepção foram avaliados por meio de regressão logística múltipla. Foram entrevistadas 633 jovens, das quais, 310 (48,5%) haviam iniciado atividade sexual. Dessas, 60% relataram uso de contracepção de emergência pelo menos uma vez na vida. Esse uso foi diretamente proporcional à idade e ao número de parceiros na vida. A prevalência da anticoncepção foi de 81%. A chance de estar usando contraceptivo foi maior entre as residentes na região de saúde com melhor desenvolvimento social, as católicas, as que tiveram relação sexual nos últimos 30 dias e as que realizaram consulta ginecológica no último ano. Foi inversamente proporcional ao número de parceiros na vida. Preservativo masculino e pílula foram os métodos mais frequentes (28,2% e 23%). A maioria das mulheres comprou o contraceptivo na rede comercial de farmácias (75,2%), o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) foi fonte significativa apenas para a obtenção do anticoncepcional hormonal injetável. O apoio do Estado ao exercício dos direitos sexuais e reprodutivos segue insuficiente.

Práticas contraceptivas de mulheres jovens: inquérito domiciliar no Município de São Paulo, Brasil / Prácticas anticonceptivas en mujeres jóvenes: encuesta domiciliaria en el municipio de São Paulo, Brasil / Young women's contraceptive practices: a household survey in the city of São Paulo, Brazil

Iniciativas para ampliar o acesso a contraceptivos ocorreram no Brasil na última década. No entanto, o último estudo de base populacional sobre anticoncepção foi realizado em 2006. Um inquérito domiciliar investigou a prática contraceptiva de mulheres com 15 a 44 anos, residentes no Município de São Paulo em 2015. Para o presente trabalho, foram selecionados os dados relativos às jovens com idade entre 15 e 19 anos. Foram objetivos: identificar a prevalência da anticoncepção, os contraceptivos adotados, suas fontes de obtenção e os diferenciais no uso da contracepção. As jovens integram a amostra probabilística do estudo. Diferenciais do uso de contracepção foram avaliados por meio de regressão logística múltipla. Foram entrevistadas 633 jovens, das quais, 310 (48,5%) haviam iniciado atividade sexual. Dessas, 60% relataram uso de contracepção de emergência pelo menos uma vez na vida. Esse uso foi diretamente proporcional à idade e ao número de parceiros na vida. A prevalência da anticoncepção foi de 81%. A chance de estar usando contraceptivo foi maior entre as residentes na região de saúde com melhor desenvolvimento social, as católicas, as que tiveram relação sexual nos últimos 30 dias e as que realizaram consulta ginecológica no último ano. Foi inversamente proporcional ao número de parceiros na vida. Preservativo masculino e pílula foram os métodos mais frequentes (28,2% e 23%). A maioria das mulheres comprou o contraceptivo na rede comercial de farmácias (75,2%), o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) foi fonte significativa apenas para a obtenção do anticoncepcional hormonal injetável. O apoio do Estado ao exercício dos direitos sexuais e reprodutivos segue insuficiente.

En la última década hubo en Brasil iniciativas para ampliar el acceso a anticonceptivos. No obstante, el último estudio de base poblacional sobre anticoncepción se realizó en 2006. Una encuesta domiciliaria investigó la práctica contraceptiva de mujeres de 15 a 44 años, residentes en el municipio de São Paulo en 2015. Para el presente estudio, se seleccionaron los datos relativos a las jóvenes con edad entre 15 y 19 años. Los objetivos fueron: identificar la prevalencia de la anticoncepción, los métodos anticonceptivos adoptados, sus fuentes de obtención y los diferenciales en el uso de métodos anticonceptivos. Las jóvenes integran la muestra probabilística del estudio. Los diferenciales del uso de métodos anticonceptivos fueron evaluados mediante regresión logística múltiple. Se entrevistaron a 633 jóvenes, de las cuales 310 (48,5%) habían comenzado su actividad sexual. De éstas, un 60% informaron el uso de métodos anticonceptivos de emergencia por lo menos una vez en la vida. Este uso fue directamente proporcional a la edad y al número de parejas en su vida. La prevalencia de métodos anticonceptivos fue de un 81%. La oportunidad de estar usando algún método anticonceptivo fue mayor entre las residentes en la región de salud con un mejor desarrollo social, las católicas, las que tuvieron relaciones sexuales en los últimos 30 días y las que fueron a una consulta ginecológica durante el último año. Fue inversamente proporcional al número de parejas en su vida. El preservativo masculino y la píldora fueron los métodos más frecuentes (28,2% y 23% respectivamente). La mayoría de las mujeres compró el contraceptivo en la red comercial de farmacias (75,2%), el Sistema Único de Salud (SUS) fue una fuente significativa solamente para la obtención del anticonceptivo hormonal inyectable. El apoyo del Estado al ejercicio de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos sigue siendo insuficiente.

The last decade has witnessed initiatives to expand access to contraceptives in Brazil. However, the last population-based study on contraception was undertaken in 2006. A household survey in 2015 investigated contraceptive practices in women 15 to 44 years of age living in the city of São Paulo. The current study selected data on young women 15 to 19 years of age. The objectives were to identify the prevalence of contraception, the contraceptives used, sources, and differences in contraceptive practices. The young women are part of a probabilistic study sample. Differences in contraception use were compared by multiple logistic regression analysis. A total of 633 young women were interviewed, of whom 310 (48.5%) were sexually initiated. Of these, 60% reported emergency contraception use at least once in their lives. Emergency contraception use was directly proportional to age and lifetime number of partners. Prevalence of contraception was 81%. The odds of current contraception use were higher among young women residing in the health district of the city with the better social conditions, Catholics, those who reported sexual relations in the previous 30 days, and those with history of an obstetrics and gynaecology visit in the previous year, and inversely proportional to the lifetime number of sex partners. Male condoms and the pill were the most common methods (28.2% and 23%). Most of the women purchased their contraceptives in retail pharmacies (75.2%), and the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) was only a significant source for injectable hormonal contraceptives. Government support for women's sexual and reproductive rights is still insufficient.

Hearing loss assessment in primary and secondary acquired cholesteatoma, / Potenciais evocados auditivos de longa latência com verbais e não verbais

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Acquired middle ear cholesteatoma can be classified as primary or secondary. Although both can result in hearing loss, it is still controversial whether there is an association between the type of cholesteatoma and the degree of hearing loss. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between hearing loss and the type of acquired cholesteatoma, and the status of the ossicular chain. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional historical cohort study involving patients diagnosed with acquired cholesteatoma who were surgically treated. Air and bone conduction thresholds, air-bone gaps and the status of the ossicular chain were analyzed for both types of cholesteatoma. RESULTS: Eighty patients aged 5-57 were included in the study. Fifty-one patients had primary cholesteatoma and 29 had secondary cholesteatoma. Both types of cholesteatoma determined greater air-bone gaps at 0.5 kHz. Secondary cholesteatoma determined greater hearing loss in all analyzed frequencies and higher air conduction and air-bone gap means. CONCLUSION: There was association between hearing loss and the type of cholesteatoma. Secondary cholesteatoma resulted in greater hearing impairment.

RESUMO INTRODUÇÃO: O colesteatoma adquirido de orelha média pode ser classificado como primário e secundário. Ambos podem ocasionar perda de audição, mas ainda há controvérsia quanto à relação dos tipos de colesteatoma com a perda auditiva. OBJETIVO: Analisar a relação dos tipos de colesteatoma e da erosão da cadeia ossicular com a perda auditiva. MÉTODO: Estudo de coorte histórica com corte transversal, envolvendo pacientes que receberam o diagnóstico de colesteatoma adquirido e foram submetidos à cirurgia otológica. Foram analisados os limiares ósseos, aéreos e a diferença aéreo-óssea, e suas associações com os tipos de colesteatoma e com a presença de erosão na cadeia ossicular. RESULTADOS: No estudo foram incluídos oitenta pacientes, com idade entre 5 e 57 anos, sendo 51 com colesteatoma primário e 29 com colesteatoma secundário. Ambos os tipos de colesteatoma determinaram maior diferença aéreo-óssea na frequência de 0,5 kHz. O colesteatoma secundário determinou uma perda auditiva maior em todas as frequências analisadas, e maiores médias do limiar aéreo e da diferença aéreo-óssea. CONCLUSÃO: Houve associação entre o tipo de colesteatoma e a perda de audição. O colesteatoma secundário determinou maior comprometimento da audição.

Hearing loss assessment in primary and secondary acquired cholesteatoma.

INTRODUCTION: Acquired middle ear cholesteatoma can be classified as primary or secondary. Although both can result in hearing loss, it is still controversial whether there is an association between the type of cholesteatoma and the degree of hearing loss. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between hearing loss and the type of acquired cholesteatoma, and the status of the ossicular chain. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional historical cohort study involving patients diagnosed with acquired cholesteatoma who were surgically treated. Air and bone conduction thresholds, air-bone gaps and the status of the ossicular chain were analyzed for both types of cholesteatoma. RESULTS: Eighty patients aged 5-57 were included in the study. Fifty-one patients had primary cholesteatoma and 29 had secondary cholesteatoma. Both types of cholesteatoma determined greater air-bone gaps at 0.5kHz. Secondary cholesteatoma determined greater hearing loss in all analyzed frequencies and higher air conduction and air-bone gap means. CONCLUSION: There was association between hearing loss and the type of cholesteatoma. Secondary cholesteatoma resulted in greater hearing impairment.

Vestibulopatias / Vestibular diseases

A tontura é um dos sintomas mais referidos nos consultórios médicos do Brasil e pode ter grande impacto na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Um diagnóstico preciso das causas da tontura permite não só o tratamento adequado dos pacientes, mas também identificar determinadas condições patológicas sistêmicas ou de maior gravidade. Este artigo tem como objetivo descrever e diferenciar as principais vestibulopatias, de várias causas, incluindo princípios do diagnóstico e tratamento deste quadro...

Uso de serviços segundo a posse de plano privado de saúde no município de São Paulo / Health insurance and health services utilization in Sao Paulo, Brazil

O sistema de saúde brasileiro é composto por um segmento público universal e por um segmento privado. Grande parte da população do município de São Paulo está coberta por planos privado de saúde, porém existem poucos estudos locais explorando a influência desse fator no uso dos serviços de saúde. O estudo de unidades geográficas menores permite um melhor entendimento da realidade local. Objetivo Analisar o uso dos serviços de saúde segundo a posse de plano privado de saúde no município de São Paulo. Métodos - Estudo transversal com base nos dados obtidos no Inquérito de Saúde no Município de São Paulo de 2008. Analisamos o uso de serviços na resolução das condições agudas de saúde, no acompanhamento de doenças crônicas, no rastreamento de neoplasias e na hospitalização. Primeiro realizamos uma análise descritiva dos dados, com estimativa das prevalências. Então, verificamos a associação de cada um dos desfechos com a posse de plano privado de saúde, por meio da regressão logística múltipla, com ajuste para variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas e da condição de saúde, estimando o Odds Ratio. Resultados As pessoas sem plano privado de saúde apresentaram maior chance de uso de serviços de urgência e emergência. As pessoas com plano apresentaram maior chance de uso de serviços ambulatoriais, de acompanhamento da hipertensão arterial sistêmica, de rastreamento de neoplasias e de hospitalização. Conclusões A posse de plano privado de saúde determinou diferenças...

The Brazilian health system is constituted by a universal public system and a private system. The city of São Paulo has a large insurance coverage but there are few local studies on the influence of this factor on health services utilization. Smaller geographic area research allows for better understanding of the local setting. Objective To analyze health services utilization according to private health insurance ownership in São Paulo. Method We performed a trans-sectional study, based on data from a health household survey performed in 2008 in São Paulo. We analyzed health services utilization in acute health issues, chronic disease followup, cancer early detection and hospitalization. We verified the association between each outcome and the ownership of private health insurance using multiple logistic regression, taking in account adjustment factors as demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and health condition. We estimated the Odds Ratio. Results People without private health insurance had bigger chances of using emergency services. People owning insurance had bigger chances of using ambulatory services and bigger chances of using services for hypertension follow-up and for cancer early detection and hospitalization. Conclusions Private health insurance ownership engendered differences in health services utilization and there are socio-economic related inequalities in São Paulo...