A critical analysis of the decreasing trends in tuberculosis cure indicators in Brazil, 2001-2022.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal trend of tuberculosis cure indicators in Brazil. METHODS: An ecological time-series study using administrative data of reported cases of the disease nationwide between 2001 and 2022. We estimated cure indicators for each federative unit (FU) considering individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculosis-HIV coinfection, and those in tuberculosis retreatment. We used regression models using joinpoint regression for trend analysis, reporting the annual percentage change and the average annual percentage change. RESULTS: For the three groups analyzed, we observed heterogeneity in the annual percentage change in the Brazilian FUs, with a predominance of significantly decreasing trends in the cure indicator in most FUs, especially at the end of the time series. When considering national indicators, an average annual percentage change of -0.97% (95% CI: -1.23 to -0.74) was identified for the cure of people with pulmonary tuberculosis, of -1.11% (95% CI: -1.42 to -0.85) for the cure of people with tuberculosis-HIV coinfection, and of -1.44% (95% CI: -1.62 to -1.31) for the cure of people in tuberculosis retreatment. CONCLUSIONS: The decreasing trends of cure indicators in Brazil are concerning and underscore a warning to public authorities, as it points to the possible occurrence of other treatment outcomes, such as treatment discontinuity and death. This finding contradicts current public health care policies and requires urgent strategies aiming to promote follow-up of patients during tuberculosis treatment in Brazil.

A critical analysis of the decreasing trends in tuberculosis cure indicators in Brazil, 2001-2022

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the temporal trend of tuberculosis cure indicators in Brazil. Methods: An ecological time-series study using administrative data of reported cases of the disease nationwide between 2001 and 2022. We estimated cure indicators for each federative unit (FU) considering individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculosis-HIV coinfection, and those in tuberculosis retreatment. We used regression models using joinpoint regression for trend analysis, reporting the annual percentage change and the average annual percentage change. Results: For the three groups analyzed, we observed heterogeneity in the annual percentage change in the Brazilian FUs, with a predominance of significantly decreasing trends in the cure indicator in most FUs, especially at the end of the time series. When considering national indicators, an average annual percentage change of −0.97% (95% CI: −1.23 to −0.74) was identified for the cure of people with pulmonary tuberculosis, of −1.11% (95% CI: −1.42 to −0.85) for the cure of people with tuberculosis-HIV coinfection, and of −1.44% (95% CI: −1.62 to −1.31) for the cure of people in tuberculosis retreatment. Conclusions: The decreasing trends of cure indicators in Brazil are concerning and underscore a warning to public authorities, as it points to the possible occurrence of other treatment outcomes, such as treatment discontinuity and death. This finding contradicts current public health care policies and requires urgent strategies aiming to promote follow-up of patients during tuberculosis treatment in Brazil.

A Matter of Inclusion: A Cluster-Randomized Trial to Access the Effect of Food Vouchers Versus Traditional Treatment on Tuberculosis Outcomes in Brazil.

We assessed the effectiveness of food vouchers as a social protection strategy to enhance the adherence to tuberculosis treatment in health-care facilities in Brazil between 2014 and 2017. A cluster-randomized controlled trial was performed in four Brazilian capital cities. A total of 774 adults with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis were included in this study. Eligible participants initiated standard tuberculosis treatment per National Tuberculosis Program guidelines. Health clinics were assigned randomly to intervention groups (food voucher or standard treatment). The food voucher was provided by researchers, which could be used by subjects only for buying food. Most people with tuberculosis were poor, did receive benefits of the Bolsa Familia Program, and were unemployed. By Poisson regression analysis, with the total number of subjects included in the study, we found that individuals with tuberculosis who received food vouchers had a 1.13 greater risk of cure (95% CI, 1.03-1.21) compared with those who did not receive food vouchers. The provision of food vouchers improved outcomes of tuberculosis treatment and it should be enhanced even further as social protection for people with tuberculosis.

Factors associated with COVID-19 hospital deaths in Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2020. / Fatores associados ao óbito hospitalar por COVID-19 no Espírito Santo, 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze factors associated with the deaths of individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using secondary data. Logistic regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR). RESULTS: As at May 14, 2020, 200 individuals had been discharged and 220 had died. Of the total number of people studied, 57.1% were male, 46.4% were >60 years old, 57.9% were cases notified by a private institution, and 61.7% had >1 comorbidity. In the adjusted analysis, hospital mortality was higher for the 51-60 age group (OR=4.33 - 95%CI 1.50;12.46), the over 60 age group (OR=11.84 - 95%CI 4.31;32.54), cases notified by public institutions (OR=8.23 - 95%CI 4.84;13.99) and cases with a greater number of comorbidities (two [OR=2.74 - 95%CI 1.40;5.34] and three [OR=2.90 - 95%CI 1.07;7.81]). CONCLUSION: Higher mortality was found in older individuals, those with comorbidities and users of public hospitals.

Mortality in patients admitted to hospital by COVID-19 in Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2020 / Mortalidad en pacientes ingresados en el hospital por COVID-19 en Espírito Santo, Brasil, 2020 / Fatores associados ao óbito hospitalar por COVID-19 no Espírito Santo, 2020

Objective. To analyze the factors associated with COVID-19 mortality in individuals admitted to hospitals in Espírito Santo, Brazil. Methods. Cross-sectional study. Logistic regression models estimated an association of mortality with sociodemographic, clinical and hospitalization characteristics. Results. Until May 14, 2020, 200 individuals were discharged and 220 died. Of the total number of people studied, 57.1% were male, 46.4% >60 years old, 57.9% notified by a private institution, and 61.7% had >1 comorbidity. Regarding mortality, the age groups from 51 to 60 years old (odds ratio, OR=4.33 ­ 95%CI 1.50;12.46) and over 60 years (OR=11.84 ­ 95%CI 4.31;32.54), the notifying institution (OR=8,23 ­ 95%CI 4.84;13.99) and the number of comorbidities (two [OR=2.74 ­ 95%CI 1.40;5.34] and three [OR=2,90 ­ 95%CI 1.07;7.81]). Conclusion. The analysis points to a worsening of the death episode in older individuals, with comorbidities and users of public hospitals.

Objetivo. Analisar os fatores associados ao óbito em indivíduos internados por COVID-19 em hospitais do Espírito Santo, Brasil. Métodos. Estudo transversal, com dados secundários. Modelos de regressão logística foram empregados para estimar razões de chance (odds ratio: OR) brutas e ajustadas. Resultados. Até 14 de maio de 2020, 200 indivíduos receberam alta e 220 foram a óbito. Do total de pessoas estudadas, 57,1% eram do sexo masculino, 46,4% maiores de 60 anos de idade, 57,9% foram notificados por instituição privada e 61,7% apresentaram mais de 1 comorbidade. Na análise ajustada, a mortalidade hospitalar foi maior entre aqueles nas faixas etárias de 51 a 60 (OR=4,33 ­ IC95% 1,50;12,46) e mais de 60 anos (OR=11,84 ­ IC95% 4,31;32,54), notificados por instituição pública (OR=8,23 ­ IC95% 4,84;13,99) e com maior número de comorbidades (duas [OR=2,74 ­ IC95% 1,40;5,34] e três [OR=2,90 ­ IC95% 1,07;7,81]). Conclusão. Observa-se maior mortalidade em idosos, com comorbidades e usuários de hospitais públicos.

Fatores associados ao óbito hospitalar por COVID-19 no Espírito Santo, 2020 / Mortalidad en personas ingresados en el hospital por COVID-19 en Espírito Santo, Brasil, 2020 / Factors associated with COVID-19 hospital deaths in Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2020

Objetivo: Analisar os fatores associados ao óbito em indivíduos internados por COVID-19 em hospitais do Espírito Santo, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal, com dados secundários. Modelos de regressão logística foram empregados para estimar razões de chance (odds ratio: OR) brutas e ajustadas. Resultados: Até 14 de maio de 2020, 200 indivíduos receberam alta e 220 foram a óbito. Do total de pessoas estudadas, 57,1% eram do sexo masculino, 46,4% maiores de 60 anos de idade, 57,9% foram notificados por instituição privada e 61,7% apresentaram mais de 1 comorbidade. Na análise ajustada, a mortalidade hospitalar foi maior entre aqueles nas faixas etárias de 51 a 60 (OR=4,33 - IC95% 1,50;12,46) e mais de 60 anos (OR=11,84 - IC95% 4,31;32,54), notificados por instituição pública (OR=8,23 - IC95% 4,84;13,99) e com maior número de comorbidades (duas [OR=2,74 - IC95% 1,40;5,34] e três [OR=2,90 - IC95% 1,07;7,81]). Conclusão: Observa-se maior mortalidade em idosos, com comorbidades e usuários de hospitais públicos.

Objetivo: Analizar los factores asociados con la mortalidad por COVID-19 en individuos ingresados en hospitales de Espírito Santo, Brasil. Métodos: Estudio transversal. Los modelos de regresión logística estimaron una asociación de la mortalidad con características sociodemográficas, clínicas y de hospitalización. Resultados: Hasta el 14 de mayo de 2020, 200 individuos fueron dados de alta y 220 murieron. Del número total de personas estudiadas, 57,1% eran hombres, 46,4% >60 años, 57,9% notificados por una institución privada y 61,7% tenía más de 1 comorbilidad. Con respecto a la mortalidad, fue mayor en los grupos de edad de 51 a 60 años (odds ratio, OR=4,33 - IC95% 1,50;12,46) y los mayores de 60 años (OR=11,84 - IC95% 4,31;32,54), notificados por institución pública (OR=8,23 - IC95% 4,84;13,99) y con más número de comorbilidades (dos [OR=2,74 - IC95% 1,40;5,34] y tres [OR=2,90 - IC95%: 1,07;7,81]). Conclusión: El análisis apunta a mayor mortalidad en adultos mayores, con comorbilidades y usuarios de hospitales públicos.

Objective: To analyze factors associated with the deaths of individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using secondary data. Logistic regression models were used to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR). Results: As at May 14, 2020, 200 individuals had been discharged and 220 had died. Of the total number of people studied, 57.1% were male, 46.4% were >60 years old, 57.9% were cases notified by a private institution, and 61.7% had >1 comorbidity. In the adjusted analysis, hospital mortality was higher for the 51-60 age group (OR=4.33 - 95%CI 1.50;12.46), the over 60 age group (OR=11.84 - 95%CI 4.31;32.54), cases notified by public institutions (OR=8.23 - 95%CI 4.84;13.99) and cases with a greater number of comorbidities (two [OR=2.74 - 95%CI 1.40;5.34] and three [OR=2.90 - 95%CI 1.07;7.81]). Conclusion: Higher mortality was found in older individuals, those with comorbidities and users of public hospitals.

Tuberculosis in Brazil and cash transfer programs: A longitudinal database study of the effect of cash transfer on cure rates.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis incidence is disproportionately high among people in poverty. Cash transfer programs have become an important strategy in Brazil fight inequalities as part of comprehensive poverty alleviation policies. This study was aimed at assessing the effect of being a beneficiary of a governmental cash transfer program on tuberculosis (TB) treatment cure rates. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal database study including people ≥18 years old with confirmed incident TB in Brazil in 2015. We treated missing data with multiple imputation. Poisson regression models with robust variance were carried out to assess the effect of TB determinants on cure rates. The average effect of being beneficiary of cash transfer was estimated by propensity-score matching. RESULTS: In 2015, 25,084 women and men diagnosed as new tuberculosis case, of whom 1,714 (6.8%) were beneficiaries of a national cash transfer. Among the total population with pulmonary tuberculosis several determinants were associated with cure rates. However, among the cash transfer group, this association was vanished in males, blacks, region of residence, and people not deprived of their freedom and who smoke tobacco. The average treatment effect of cash transfers on TB cure rates, based on propensity score matching, found that being beneficiary of cash transfer improved TB cure rates by 8% [Coefficient 0.08 (95% confidence interval 0.06-0.11) in subjects with pulmonary TB]. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that, in Brazil, the effect of cash transfer on the outcome of TB treatment may be achieved by the indirect effect of other determinants. Also, these results suggest the direct effect of being beneficiary of cash transfer on improving TB cure rates.

Effect of the Bolsa Familia Programme on the outcome of tuberculosis treatment: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Social protection interventions might improve tuberculosis outcomes and could help to control the epidemic in Brazil. The aim of this study was to evaluate the independent effect of the Bolsa Familia Programme (BFP) on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Brazil. METHODS: We prospectively recruited and followed up individuals (aged ≥18 years) who initiated tuberculosis treatment at 42 health-care centres across seven cities in Brazil, between March 1, 2014, and April 30, 2017. Patients were interviewed at health-care centres and information about individual characteristics, socioeconomic status, living conditions, lifestyle, and comorbidities was recorded. Patients were separated into two groups according to BFP beneficiary status: BFP (exposed) or non-BFP (not exposed). Treatment outcome (cure, dropout, death, or development of drug-resistant tuberculosis or treatment failure) was recorded after 6 months of therapy. Pearson's χ2 test and ANOVA were used to compare tuberculosis treatment outcomes between the two groups, and we estimated the propensity score of being a beneficiary of the BFP using a logit model. We used multinomial regression models to evaluate the effect of the BFP on tuberculosis treatment outcomes. FINDINGS: 1239 individuals were included in the study, of whom 196 (16%) were beneficiaries of the BFP and 1043 (84%) were not. After 6 months of treatment, 912 (87%) of 1043 patients in the non-BFP group and 173 (88%) of 196 patients in the BFP group were cured of tuberculosis, 103 (10%) patients in the non-BFP group and 17 (9%) patients in the BFP group had dropped out, and 25 (3%) patients in the non-BFP group and six (3%) patients in the BFP group had died. Three (<1%) of 1043 patients in the non-BFP group developed drug-resistant tuberculosis. Being a BFP beneficiary had a positive effect for cure (average effect 0·076 [95% CI 0·037 to 0·11]) and a negative effect for dropout (-0·070 [-0·105 to 0·036]) and death (-0·002 [-0·021 to 0·017]). INTERPRETATION: BFP alone had a direct effect on tuberculosis treatment outcome and could greatly contribute to the goals of the WHO End TB Strategy. FUNDING: Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and Brazilian Ministry of Health Department of Science and Technology (DECIT).

Is there a causal effect of parity on body composition: a birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death, worldwide. Obesity is one of the factors that is associated with the development of such diseases. The role of reproductive factors on women body composition has been evaluated, but the findings are controversial. This study was aimed at assessing the association of parity with body composition among women. METHODS: In 1982, the maternity hospital of Pelotas, a southern Brazilian city, were visited daily and all deliveries were identified. Those livebirths whose family lived in the urban area of the city have been prospectively followed (n = 5914). In 2012-13, we tried to follow the whole cohort, the subjects were interviewed and examined. We evaluated the association of parity with the following body composition variables: body mass index, waist circumference and fat mass %. Estimates were adjusted for family income, skin color, maternal schooling, occupational status, alcohol, smoking, physical activity, and consumption of processed and ultraprocessed foods. All these analyses were replicated among the cohort men as a comparison. We also assessed whether duration of breastfeeding moderated the association. RESULTS: In the 2012-13 visit, 3701 subjects were evaluated (mean age of 30.2 years). In the present analysis, we included 1620 women and 1653 men. 33% of women were nulliparous and 48% of men were without children. Even after controlling for confounding, parous women had a BMI 0.96 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.30; 1.62) higher than nulliparous and for men the regression coefficient was 0.79 kg/m2 (95% CI: 0.29; 1.29). Waist circumference was also higher among parous women. Among men, the association was not linear and the regression coefficients were lower than that observed among women [3.41 cm (95% CI: -0.91; 7.73) among men and 4.83 cm (95% CI: 2.43; 7.24) among women with more than 3 children when compared with those without children], but this difference was not statistically significant (interaction p value = 0.58). Fat mass % was not associated with parity. Breastfeeding did not modify the association between parity and body composition. CONCLUSIONS: Parity was positively associated with body mass index and waist circumference among women. However, similar results among men suggest that there is no causal effect of parity.