Identifying biologically implausible values in big longitudinal data: an example applied to child growth data from the Brazilian food and nutrition surveillance system.

BACKGROUND: Several strategies for identifying biologically implausible values in longitudinal anthropometric data have recently been proposed, but the suitability of these strategies for large population datasets needs to be better understood. This study evaluated the impact of removing population outliers and the additional value of identifying and removing longitudinal outliers on the trajectories of length/height and weight and on the prevalence of child growth indicators in a large longitudinal dataset of child growth data. METHODS: Length/height and weight measurements of children aged 0 to 59 months from the Brazilian Food and Nutrition Surveillance System were analyzed. Population outliers were identified using z-scores from the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts. After identifying and removing population outliers, residuals from linear mixed-effects models were used to flag longitudinal outliers. The following cutoffs for residuals were tested to flag those: -3/+3, -4/+4, -5/+5, -6/+6. The selected child growth indicators included length/height-for-age z-scores and weight-for-age z-scores, classified according to the WHO charts. RESULTS: The dataset included 50,154,738 records from 10,775,496 children. Boys and girls had 5.74% and 5.31% of length/height and 5.19% and 4.74% of weight values flagged as population outliers, respectively. After removing those, the percentage of longitudinal outliers varied from 0.02% (<-6/>+6) to 1.47% (<-3/>+3) for length/height and from 0.07 to 1.44% for weight in boys. In girls, the percentage of longitudinal outliers varied from 0.01 to 1.50% for length/height and from 0.08 to 1.45% for weight. The initial removal of population outliers played the most substantial role in the growth trajectories as it was the first step in the cleaning process, while the additional removal of longitudinal outliers had lower influence on those, regardless of the cutoff adopted. The prevalence of the selected indicators were also affected by both population and longitudinal (to a lesser extent) outliers. CONCLUSIONS: Although both population and longitudinal outliers can detect biologically implausible values in child growth data, removing population outliers seemed more relevant in this large administrative dataset, especially in calculating summary statistics. However, both types of outliers need to be identified and removed for the proper evaluation of trajectories.

Mortality inequalities measured by socioeconomic indicators in Brazil: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: Summarize the literature on the relationship between composite socioeconomic indicators and mortality in different geographical areas of Brazil. METHODS: This scoping review included articles published between January 1, 2000, and August 31, 2020, retrieved by means of a bibliographic search carried out in the Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Lilacs databases. Studies reporting on the association between composite socioeconomic indicators and all-cause, or specific cause of death in any age group in different geographical areas were selected. The review summarized the measures constructed, their associations with the outcomes, and potential study limitations. RESULTS: Of the 77 full texts that met the inclusion criteria, the study reviewed 24. The area level of composite socioeconomic indicators analyzed comprised municipalities (n = 6), districts (n = 5), census tracts (n = 4), state (n = 2), country (n = 2), and other areas (n = 5). Six studies used composite socioeconomic indicators such as the Human Development Index, Gross Domestic Product, and the Gini Index; the remaining 18 papers created their own socioeconomic measures based on sociodemographic and health indicators. Socioeconomic status was inversely associated with higher rates of all-cause mortality, external cause mortality, suicide, homicide, fetal and infant mortality, respiratory and circulatory diseases, stroke, infectious and parasitic diseases, malnutrition, gastroenteritis, and oropharyngeal cancer. Higher mortality rates due to colorectal cancer, leukemia, a general group of neoplasms, traffic accident, and suicide, in turn, were observed in less deprived areas and/or those with more significant socioeconomic development. Underreporting of death and differences in mortality coverage in Brazilian areas were cited as the main limitation. CONCLUSIONS: Studies analyzed mortality inequalities in different geographical areas by means of composite socioeconomic indicators, showing that the association directions vary according to the mortality outcome. But studies on all-cause mortality and at the census tract level remain scarce. The results may guide the development of new composite socioeconomic indicators for use in mortality inequality analysis.

Mortality inequalities measured by socioeconomic indicators in Brazil: a scoping review

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE Summarize the literature on the relationship between composite socioeconomic indicators and mortality in different geographical areas of Brazil. METHODS This scoping review included articles published between January 1, 2000, and August 31, 2020, retrieved by means of a bibliographic search carried out in the Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Lilacs databases. Studies reporting on the association between composite socioeconomic indicators and all-cause, or specific cause of death in any age group in different geographical areas were selected. The review summarized the measures constructed, their associations with the outcomes, and potential study limitations. RESULTS Of the 77 full texts that met the inclusion criteria, the study reviewed 24. The area level of composite socioeconomic indicators analyzed comprised municipalities (n = 6), districts (n = 5), census tracts (n = 4), state (n = 2), country (n = 2), and other areas (n = 5). Six studies used composite socioeconomic indicators such as the Human Development Index, Gross Domestic Product, and the Gini Index; the remaining 18 papers created their own socioeconomic measures based on sociodemographic and health indicators. Socioeconomic status was inversely associated with higher rates of all-cause mortality, external cause mortality, suicide, homicide, fetal and infant mortality, respiratory and circulatory diseases, stroke, infectious and parasitic diseases, malnutrition, gastroenteritis, and oropharyngeal cancer. Higher mortality rates due to colorectal cancer, leukemia, a general group of neoplasms, traffic accident, and suicide, in turn, were observed in less deprived areas and/or those with more significant socioeconomic development. Underreporting of death and differences in mortality coverage in Brazilian areas were cited as the main limitation. CONCLUSIONS Studies analyzed mortality inequalities in different geographical areas by means of composite socioeconomic indicators, showing that the association directions vary according to the mortality outcome. But studies on all-cause mortality and at the census tract level remain scarce. The results may guide the development of new composite socioeconomic indicators for use in mortality inequality analysis.

Dor musculoesquelética e resiliência elevada da enfermagem em emergência tem relação com jornada de trabalho / Musculoskeletal pain and high resilience of emergency nursing is related to working hours / El dolor musculoesquelético y la alta resiliencia de la enfermería de emergencia está relacionado con la jornada laboral

Objetivo: Avaliar frequência, intensidade da dor musculoesquelética e capacidade de resiliência de profissionais de enfermagem que atuam em uma Unidade de Emergência no âmbito hospitalar. Métodos: Estudo transversal, desenvolvido com profissionais de enfermagem que atuam na Unidade de Emergência de um hospital geral. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre dezembro de 2019 a março de 2020, mediante aplicação do questionário sociodemográfico, laboral e clínico, Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares, escala numérica de avaliação da dor e escala de resiliência. Resultados: Participaram 31 profissionais, com predomínio de mulheres, idade entre 18 a 40 anos, técnicos de enfermagem, com vínculo empregatício exclusivo. Estas sentem dor, de moderada e alta intensidade, em diferentes regiões anatômicas. No último ano, as regiões corporais mais acometidas foram parte superior e inferior das costas, pescoço e ombros. Foi observada associação significativa entre jornada diária de trabalho e intensidade da dor (p=0,044) e, entre resiliência elevada e apresentar mais que um vínculo empregatício (p=0,029). Conclusão: Avaliação da intensidade, locais de dor musculoesquelética e resiliência da Enfermagem é importante como subsídio para ações e intervenções com esses trabalhadores para proteger e promover sua saúde e garantir segurança e qualidade da assistência ao usuário que acessa a Unidade de Emergência. (AU)

Objective: To assess frequency, intensity of musculoskeletal pain and resilience of nursing professionals who work in an Emergency Unit in the hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study, developed with nursing professionals who work in the Emergency Unit of a general hospital. Data collection took place between December 2019 and March 2020, using the sociodemographic, labor and clinical questionnaire, Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, numerical pain assessment scale and resilience scale. Results: 31 professionals participated, with a predominance of women, aged between 18 and 40 years, nursing technicians, with exclusive employment relationship. They feel pain, of moderate and high intensity, in different anatomical regions. In the last year, the most affected body regions were the upper and lower back, neck and shoulders. A significant association was observed between daily work hours and pain intensity (p = 0.044) and between high resilience and having more than one job (p = 0.029). Conclusion: Assessment of intensity, places of musculoskeletal pain and nursing resilience is important as a basis for actions and interventions with these workers to protect and promote their health and ensure safety and quality of care for users who access the Emergency Unit. (AU)

Objetivo: Evaluar la frecuencia, intensidad del dolor musculoesquelético y la resiliencia de los profesionales de enfermería que laboran en una Unidad de Urgencias del hospital. Métodos: Estudio transversal, desarrollado con profesionales de enfermería que laboran en la Unidad de Urgencias de un hospital general. La recogida de datos se llevó a cabo entre diciembre de 2019 y marzo de 2020, utilizando el cuestionario sociodemográfico, laboral y clínico, el cuestionario nórdico musculoesquelético, la escala numérica de evaluación del dolor y la escala de resiliencia. Resultados: Participaron 31 profesionales, con predominio de mujeres, con edades entre 18 y 40 años, técnicos de enfermería, con relación laboral exclusiva. Sienten dolor, de intensidad moderada y alta, en diferentes regiones anatómicas. En el último año, las regiones corporales más afectadas fueron la espalda alta y baja, el cuello y los hombros. Se observó una asociación significativa entre las horas diarias de trabajo y la intensidad del dolor (p = 0,044) y entre alta resiliencia y tener más de un trabajo (p = 0,029). Conclusión: La valoración de la intensidad, los lugares de dolor musculoesquelético y la resiliencia de enfermería es importante como base de acciones e intervenciones con estos trabajadores para proteger y promover su salud y garantizar la seguridad y calidad de la atención a los usuarios que acceden a la Unidad de Urgencias. (AU)

Combined association of obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases with severe COVID-19 outcomes: a nationwide cross-sectional study of 21 773 Brazilian adult and elderly inpatients.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the combined association of obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) with severe COVID-19 outcomes in adult and elderly inpatients. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study based on registry data from Brazil's influenza surveillance system. SETTING: Public and private hospitals across Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: Eligible population included 21 942 inpatients aged ≥20 years with positive reverse transcription-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 until 9 June 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Severe COVID-19 outcomes were non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation use, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death. Multivariate analyses were conducted separately for adults (20-59 years) and elders (≥60 years) to test the combined association of obesity (without and with DM and/or CVD) and degrees of obesity with each outcome. RESULTS: A sample of 8848 adults and 12 925 elders were included. Among adults, obesity with DM and/or CVD showed higher prevalence of invasive (prevalence ratio 3.76, 95% CI 2.82 to 5.01) and non-invasive mechanical ventilation use (2.06, 1.58 to 2.69), ICU admission (1.60, 1.40 to 1.83) and death (1.79, 1.45 to 2.21) compared with the group without obesity, DM and CVD. In elders, obesity alone (without DM and CVD) had the highest prevalence of ICU admission (1.40, 1.07 to 1.82) and death (1.67, 1.00 to 2.80). In both age groups, obesity alone and combined with DM and/or CVD showed higher prevalence in all outcomes than DM and/or CVD. A dose-response association was observed between obesity and death in adults: class I 1.32 (1.05 to 1.66), class II 1.41 (1.06 to 1.87) and class III 1.77 (1.35 to 2.33). CONCLUSIONS: The combined association of obesity, diabetes and/or CVD with severe COVID-19 outcomes may be stronger in adults than in elders. Obesity alone and combined with DM and/or CVD had more impact on the risk of COVID-19 severity than DM and/or CVD in both age groups. The study also supports an independent relationship of obesity with severe outcomes, including a dose-response association between degrees of obesity and death in adults.