Body adiposity markers and insulin resistance in patients with type 1 diabetes

ABSTRACT Objectives: Body composition changes are associated with adverse effects such as increased insulin resistance (IR) in individuals with diabetes mellitus. This study aims to evaluate the association between different body adiposity markers and IR in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Subjects and methods: The cross-sectional study included outpatient adults with T1D from a university public hospital in southern Brazil. The body adiposity markers studied were waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI), conicity index (CI), lipid accumulation product (LAP) and body adiposity index (BAI). IR was calculated using an Estimated Glucose Disposal Rate (EGDR) equation (analyzed in tertiles), considering an inverse relation between EGDR and IR. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CIs of association of adiposity markers with IR. Results: A total of 128 patients were enrolled (51% women), with a median EGDR of 7.2 (4.4-8.7) mg.kg−1.min−1. EGDR was negatively correlated with WC (r = −0.36, p < 0.01), WHtR (r = −0.39, p < 0.01), CI (r = −0.44, p < 0.01), LAP (r = −0.41, p < 0.01) and BMI (r = −0.24, p < 0.01). After regression analyses, WC (OR = 2.07; CIs: 1.12-3.337; p = 0.003), WHtR (OR = 2.77; CIs: 1.59-4.79; p < 0.001), CI (OR = 2.59; CIs: 1.43-4.66; p = 0.002), LAP (OR = 2.27; CIs: 1.25-4.11; p = 0.007) and BMI (OR = 1.78; CIs: 1.09-2.91; p = 0.019) remained associated with IR. Conclusions: The authors suggest using the studied adiposity markers as a routine since they were shown to be suitable parameters in association with IR.

Body adiposity markers and insulin resistance in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Objective: Body composition changes are associated with adverse effects such as increased insulin resistance (IR) in individuals with diabetes mellitus. This study aims to evaluate the association between different body adiposity markers and IR in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Subjects and methods: The cross-sectional study included outpatient adults with T1D from a university public hospital in southern Brazil. The body adiposity markers studied were waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI), conicity index (CI), lipid accumulation product (LAP) and body adiposity index (BAI). IR was calculated using an Estimated Glucose Disposal Rate (EGDR) equation (analyzed in tertiles), considering an inverse relation between EGDR and IR. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CIs of association of adiposity markers with IR. Results: A total of 128 patients were enrolled (51% women), with a median EGDR of 7.2 (4.4-8.7) mg.kg-1.min-1. EGDR was negatively correlated with WC (r = -0.36, p < 0.01), WHtR (r = -0.39, p < 0.01), CI (r = -0.44, p < 0.01), LAP (r = -0.41, p < 0.01) and BMI (r = -0.24, p < 0.01). After regression analyses, WC (OR = 2.07; CIs: 1.12-3.337; p = 0.003), WHtR (OR = 2.77; CIs: 1.59-4.79; p < 0.001), CI (OR = 2.59; CIs: 1.43-4.66; p = 0.002), LAP (OR = 2.27; CIs: 1.25-4.11; p = 0.007) and BMI (OR = 1.78; CIs: 1.09-2.91; p = 0.019) remained associated with IR. Conclusion: The authors suggest using the studied adiposity markers as a routine since they were shown to be suitable parameters in association with IR.

Evaluating User Experience With a Chatbot Designed as a Public Health Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil: Mixed Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: The potential of chatbots for screening and monitoring COVID-19 was envisioned since the outbreak of the disease. Chatbots can help disseminate up-to-date and trustworthy information, promote healthy social behavior, and support the provision of health care services safely and at scale. In this scenario and in view of its far-reaching postpandemic impact, it is important to evaluate user experience with this kind of application. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the quality of user experience with a COVID-19 chatbot designed by a large telehealth service in Brazil, focusing on the usability of real users and the exploration of strengths and shortcomings of the chatbot, as revealed in reports by participants in simulated scenarios. METHODS: We examined a chatbot developed by a multidisciplinary team and used it as a component within the workflow of a local public health care service. The chatbot had 2 core functionalities: assisting web-based screening of COVID-19 symptom severity and providing evidence-based information to the population. From October 2020 to January 2021, we conducted a mixed methods approach and performed a 2-fold evaluation of user experience with our chatbot by following 2 methods: a posttask usability Likert-scale survey presented to all users after concluding their interaction with the bot and an interview with volunteer participants who engaged in a simulated interaction with the bot guided by the interviewer. RESULTS: Usability assessment with 63 users revealed very good scores for chatbot usefulness (4.57), likelihood of being recommended (4.48), ease of use (4.44), and user satisfaction (4.38). Interviews with 15 volunteers provided insights into the strengths and shortcomings of our bot. Comments on the positive aspects and problems reported by users were analyzed in terms of recurrent themes. We identified 6 positive aspects and 15 issues organized in 2 categories: usability of the chatbot and health support offered by it, the former referring to usability of the chatbot and how users can interact with it and the latter referring to the chatbot's goal in supporting people during the pandemic through the screening process and education to users through informative content. We found 6 themes accounting for what people liked most about our chatbot and why they found it useful-3 themes pertaining to the usability domain and 3 themes regarding health support. Our findings also identified 15 types of problems producing a negative impact on users-10 of them related to the usability of the chatbot and 5 related to the health support it provides. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that users had an overall positive experience with the chatbot and found the health support relevant. Nonetheless, qualitative evaluation of the chatbot indicated challenges and directions to be pursued in improving not only our COVID-19 chatbot but also health chatbots in general.

Synchronous Teleconsultation and Monitoring Service Targeting COVID-19: Leveraging Insights for Postpandemic Health Care.

BACKGROUND: Although a great number of teleconsultation services have been developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, studies assessing usability and health care provider satisfaction are still incipient. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the development, implementation, and expansion of a synchronous teleconsultation service targeting patients with symptoms of COVID-19 in Brazil, as well as to assess its usability and health care professionals' satisfaction. METHODS: This mixed methods study was developed in 5 phases: (1) the identification of components, technical and functional requirements, and system architecture; (2) system and user interface development and validation; (3) pilot-testing in the city of Divinópolis; (4) expansion in the cities of Divinópolis, Teófilo Otoni, and Belo Horizonte for Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais faculty and students; and (5) usability and satisfaction assessment, using Likert-scale and open-ended questions. RESULTS: During pilot development, problems contacting users were solved by introducing standardized SMS text messages, which were sent to users to obtain their feedback and keep track of them. Until April 2022, the expanded system served 31,966 patients in 146,158 teleconsultations. Teleconsultations were initiated through chatbot in 27.7% (40,486/146,158) of cases. Teleconsultation efficiency per city was 93.7% (13,317/14,212) in Teófilo Otoni, 92.4% (11,747/12,713) in Divinópolis, and 98.8% (4981/5041) in Belo Horizonte (university campus), thus avoiding in-person assistance for a great majority of patients. In total, 50 (83%) out of 60 health care professionals assessed the system's usability as satisfactory, despite a few system instability problems. CONCLUSIONS: The system provided updated information about COVID-19 and enabled remote care for thousands of patients, which evidenced the critical role of telemedicine in expanding emergency services capacity during the pandemic. The dynamic nature of the current pandemic required fast planning, implementation, development, and updates in the system. Usability and satisfaction assessment was key to identifying areas for improvement. The experience reported here is expected to inform telemedicine strategies to be implemented in a postpandemic scenario.

Saturated fatty acid intake decreases serum adiponectin levels in subjects with type 1 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin is a protein secreted by adipose tissue. It plays a key role in insulin resistance and has anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic functions. Changes in diet can influence adiponectin levels. Different dietary interventions, especially those altering fatty acid intake, have been reported as possible mediators of adiponectin levels. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 122 subjects with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Dietary intake was evaluated by 3-day weighed-diet records. Adiponectin levels were categorized into tertiles (T1, <10.260µg/mL; T2, 10.261-18.280µg/mL; T3, >18.281µg/mL). RESULTS: Mean age was 38±11years, and mean duration of diabetes was 17±9years. After multiple regression analysis, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (r=-0.19, p = 0.03), age (r=-0.22, p=0.01), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r=-0.27, p=0.002), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r=-0.19, p=0.30), total lipid intake (g) (r=-0.20, p=0.02), saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake (r=-0.25, p=0.004), monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) intake (r=-0.21, p=0.02), cholesterol intake (mg) (r=-0.20, p=0.021), sodium intake (g) (r=-0.19, p=0.03), and urinary albumin excretion rate (UAE) (µg/24h) (r=0.26, p=0.02) correlated with adiponectin levels. Even after adjustment for age, SBP or DBP, UAE, and WHR in all models, inverse associations between adiponectin levels and intake of total SFA and MUFA and polyunsaturated fatty acid fractions were observed. Subjects in the first and third tertiles of adiponectin exhibited the greatest differences between adiponectin levels, with a trend toward increasing levels with higher SFA intake. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that high SFA intake may be associated with lower adiponectin levels in patients with T1DM.

XIMEHR - Modelo de interface extensível para sistemas de registro eletrônico de saúde baseados na ISO 13606 / XIMEHR - eXtensible interface model for electronic health record based on ISO13606 / Modelo de interfaz extensible para sistemas de registros electrónicos de salud basado en la norma ISO 13606

O objetivo do estudo que deu origem a este artigo é propor um modelo de interface extensível (XIMEHR) para sistemas de registro eletrônico de saúde, baseados nos padrões da norma ISO 13606. A partir do conceito de Design Science, o estudo é uma resposta ao desafio à participação de usuários finais no desenvolvimento de sistemas de informação em saúde. Interfaces para prontuários eletrônicos do paciente são geradas através de um protótipo de sistema que estrutura, organiza e gerencia os conceitos clínicos. O protótipo desenvolvido foi avaliado e sua funcionalidade atendeu aos propósitos para os quais foi elaborado. Ao mesmo tempo que preserva e estrutura as informações, o modelo proposto proporcionou flexibilidade, reutilização de conceitos e permitiu a padronização do documento. Acreditamos que o produto desse estudo contribuirá para aprimorar a qualidade dos dados clínicos registrados e poderá favorecer a troca de informações entre sistemas eletrônicos utilizados na prestação de cuidado à saúde...

This paper presents the results of a study which had as the main goal to propose the eXtensible interfacemodel for electronic health record (XIMEHR) based on ISO 13606 standard. Based on the concept ofDesign Science, this study is a response to the challenge to the final user’s participation in the development of health information systems. Interfaces for electronic health record are generated through a prototype that structures, organizes and manages clinical concepts. The prototype developed was evaluated and itfulfilled the purposes for which it was created. At the same time that the model preserves and structures the information, it also provides flexibility, reuse of the concepts and the standardization of the document. Webelieve that the result of this study will contribute to improve the quality of recorded clinical data and mightencourage the information exchange between electronic systems used in providing health care...

El objetivo del estudio en que se basó este artículo es proponer un modelo de interfaz extensible (XIMEHR)para los sistemas de registro electrónico de salud, apoyado en la ISO 13606. A partir del concepto de DesignScience, el estudio es una respuesta al desafío a la participación de los usuarios finales en el desarrollo desistemas de información acerca de la salud. Interfaces con la historia clínica electrónica del paciente segeneran a través de un prototipo que estructura, organiza y gestiona los conceptos clínicos. El prototipodesarrollado fue evaluado y su funcionalidad asistió a los fines para los cuales fue diseñado. Al mismo tiempo que preserva y estructura las informaciones, el modelo propuesto ha proporcionado flexibilidad, reutilización de conceptos y ha permitido la estandarización del documento. Creemos que el producto de este estudio ayudará a mejorar la calidad de los datos clínicos registrados y podrá fomentar el intercambio de informaciones entre sistemas electrónicos utilizados en la atención de salud...

Dietary fatty acids and cardiovascular disease: a review

Fatty acids (FAs) can be classified into saturated (SFA), unsaturated (poly- or monounsaturated) and trans FA. Recent studies have found that both the quantity and quality of dietary FAs may influence their role in metabolic pathways. Due to their chemical composition, some FAs play a major role in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease. This is especially true for SFA and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which include marine eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The proinflammatory effects of high SFA intake may increase the risk of atherosclerosis. On the other hand, dietary n-3 intake may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by decreasing atherosclerosis, inflammation, and thrombotic processes. The goal of this study was to review the current literature on the role of FA intake in the prevention and risk of cardiovascular disease...