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Background: Increased pediatric COVID-19 occurrence due to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has raised concerns about the effectiveness of existing vaccines. The protection provided by the SOBERANA-02-Plus vaccination scheme against this variant has not yet been studied. We aimed to evaluate the scheme's effectiveness against symptomatic Omicron infection and severe disease in children. Methods: In September 2021, Cuba implemented a mass pediatric immunization with the heterologous SOBERANA-02-Plus scheme: 2 doses of conjugated SOBERANA-02 followed by a heterologous SOBERANA-Plus dose. By December, before the Omicron outbreak, 95.4% of 2-18 years-old had been fully immunized. During the entire Omicron wave, we conducted a nationwide longitudinal post-vaccination case-population study to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of the SOBERANA-02-Plus scheme against symptomatic infection and severe disease in children without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The identification of COVID-19 cases relied on surveillance through first line services, which refer clinical suspects to pediatric hospitals where they are diagnosed based on a positive RT-PCR test. We defined the Incidence Rate ratio (IRR) as IRvaccinated age group/IRunvaccinated 1-year-old and calculated vaccine effectiveness as VE = (1-IRR)∗100%. 24 months of age being the 'eligible for vaccination' cut-off, we used a regression discontinuity approach to estimate effectiveness by contrasting incidence in all unvaccinated 1-year-old versus vaccinated 2-years-old. Estimates in the vaccinated 3-11 years-old are reported from a descriptive perspective. Findings: We included 1,098,817 fully vaccinated 2-11 years-old and 98,342 not vaccinated 1-year-old children. During the 24-week Omicron wave, there were 7003/26,241,176 person-weeks symptomatic COVID-19 infections in the vaccinated group (38.2 per 105 person-weeks in 2-years-old and 25.5 per 105 person-weeks in 3-11 years-old) against 3577/2,312,273 (154.7 per 105 person-weeks) in the unvaccinated group. The observed overall vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic infection was 75.3% (95% CI, 73.5-77.0%) in 2-years-old children, and 83.5% (95% CI, 82.8-84.2%) in 3-11 years-old. It was somewhat lower during Omicron BA.1 then during Omicron BA.2 variant circulation, which took place 1-3 and 4-6 months after the end of the vaccination campaign. The effectiveness against severe symptomatic disease was 100.0% (95% CI not estimated) and 94.6% (95% CI, 82.0-98.6%) in the respective age groups. No child death from COVID-19 was observed. Interpretation: Immunization of 2-11 years-old with the SOBERANA-02-Plus scheme provided strong protection against symptomatic and severe disease caused by the Omicron variant, which was sustained during the six months post-vaccination follow-up. Our results contrast with the observations in previous real-world vaccine effectiveness studies in children, which might be explained by the type of immunity a conjugated protein-based vaccine induces and the vaccination strategy used. Funding: National Fund for Science and Technology (FONCI-CITMA-Cuba).

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Introducción: La principal causa de anemia en los preescolares es la deficiencia dietética de hierro, pero existen otras condiciones asociadas y no evaluadas. Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de anemia y deficiencia de hierro en niños de 6 a 59 meses y su asociación con inflamación, sobrepeso global, ingestión de alimentos y nivel de instrucción materno. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal nacional, con determinaciones de hemoglobina, ferritina, receptores de transferrina, proteína C reactiva y alfa-1 glicoproteína ácida. Se evaluó el estado nutricional, dieta y nivel de instrucción de la madre. Resultados: Se estudiaron 1417 niños. La prevalencia de anemia fue de un 22,5 %, la de deficiencia de hierro, de un 35,6 % y la de disfunción eritropoyética, de un 13,3 %; con inflamación 37,6 % y prevalencia de sobrepeso global 7,5 %. La anemia estuvo asociada al déficit de hierro OR = 2,07(1,45-2,97) y la inflamación OR = 2,01(1,45-2,78). No se encontraron asociaciones entre la anemia y el déficit de hierro con el sobrepeso global. El bajo consumo de huevos OR = 1,84 (IC95 %1,39-2,43), frutas OR = 1,73 (IC95 %1,29-2,34) y leguminosas OR = 1,68 (IC95 %1,25-2,25) resultaron ser un factor de riesgo de anemia. El análisis de regresión logística mostró que la anemia estaba asociada al grupo menor de 2 años, deficiencia de hierro, inflamación y bajo consumo de frutas; y el sobrepeso global fue un factor de protección. Conclusiones: La anemia y deficiencia de hierro clasifican como problemas de salud pública moderados asociados a la inflamación. El grupo menor de dos años y el bajo consumo de frutas resultó ser un factor de riesgo y el sobrepeso global resultó un factor de protección para la anemia.

Introduction: The main cause of anemia in preschoolers is dietary iron deficiency, nonetheless there are other associated and unevaluated conditions. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in children aged 6 to 59 months and the association with inflammation, overall overweight, food intake and maternal educational level. Methods: A national cross-sectional study was carried out, with determinations of hemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin receptors, C-reactive protein and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein. The nutritional status, diet and educational level of the mother were evaluated. Results: One thousand four hundred and seventeen children were studied. The prevalence of anemia was 22.5%, 35.6% of iron deficiency, and 13.3% of erythropoietic dysfunction. 37.6% of cases presented inflammation and 7.5% presented global overweight prevalence. Anemia was associated with iron deficiency OR = 2.07(1.45-2.97) and inflammation OR = 2.01(1.45-2.78). No associations were found between anemia and iron deficiency with overall overweight. Low consumption of eggs OR = 1.84 (95% CI 1.39-2.43), fruits OR = 1.73 (95% CI 1.29-2.34) and legumes OR = 1.68 (CI 95% 1.25-2.25) were found to be a risk factor for anemia. The logistic regression analysis showed that anemia was associated with the group under two years of age. Conclusions: Anemia and iron deficiency classify as moderate public health problems associated with inflammation. The group under two years of age and low fruit consumption turned out to be a risk factor and overall overweight turned out to be a protective factor for anemia.

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This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in women of reproductive age and the association with inflammation, global overweight, adiposity, and menorrhagia. A sample design of women of reproductive age from the Eastern, Central, and Havana Regions was carried out. Biochemical determinations of hemoglobin, serum ferritin, soluble transferrin receptors, leukocytes, C-reactive protein, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, and homocysteine were performed. Serum ferritin was also adjusted by inflammation. Nutritional status was assessed, and menstrual characteristics were collected by survey. A total of 742 women were studied. The prevalence of anemia was 21.4%, iron storage deficiency at 16.0%, and erythropoietic dysfunction at 5.4%, with inflammation at 47.0% and elevated homocysteine at 18.6%. Global overweight was 46.2% and increased adiposity at 58.4%. Anemia is associated with iron deposition deficiency (OR = 3.023 (1.816-5.033)) and with erythropoietic deficiency (OR = 5.62 (3.03-10.39)), but not with inflammation, global overweight, and adiposity. Global overweight was found to be associated with inflammation (OR = 2.23 (1.41-3.53)). Anemia was associated with heavy menstrual bleeding (OR = 1.92 (1.34-2.76)). Homocysteine was associated with inflammation (OR = 2.05 (1.08-3.90)), but not with anemia. In conclusion, anemia in Cuba is classified as a moderate public health problem, but not iron deficiency. A high prevalence of overweight and obesity was found, associated with inflammation, but not with anemia or iron deficiency. Heavy menstrual bleeding is a factor associated with anemia.

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INTRODUCTION: Ferritin is the best biomarker for assessing iron deficiency, but ferritin concentrations increase with inflammation. Several adjustment methods have been proposed to account for inflammation's effect on iron biomarker interpretation. The most recent and highly recommended method uses linear regression models, but more research is needed on other models that may better define iron status in children, particularly when distributions are heterogenous and in contexts where the effect of inflammation on ferritin is not linear. OBJECTIVE: Assess the utility and relevance of quadratic regression models and quantile quadratic regression models in adjusting ferritin concentration in the presence of inflammation. METHODS: We used data from children aged under five years, taken from Cuba's national anemia and iron deficiency survey, which was carried out from 2015-2018 by the National Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology Institute. We included data from 1375 children aged 6 to 59 months and collected ferritin concentrations and two biomarkers for inflammation: C-reactive protein and α-1 acid glycoprotein. Quadratic regression and quantile regression models were used to adjust for changes in ferritin concentration in the presence of inflammation. RESULTS: Unadjusted iron deficiency prevalence was 23% (316/1375). Inflammation-adjusted ferritin values increased iron-deficiency prevalence by 2.6-4.5 percentage points when quadratic regression correction model was used, and by 2.8-6.2 when quantile regression was used. The increase when using the quantile regression correction model was more pronounced and statistically significant when both inflammation biomarkers were considered, but adjusted prevalence was similar between the two correction methods when only one biomarker was analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of quadratic regression and quantile quadratic regression models is a complementary strategy in adjusting ferritin for inflammation, and is preferable to standard regression analysis when the linear model's basic assumptions are not met, or when it can be assumed that ferritin-inflammation relationships within a subpopulation may deviate from average trends.

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Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the prototype of systemic autoimmune disease with clinical characteristics that show geographic variations. However, these differences between regions have not been fully described; therefore, the objective of this study is to describe the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of Cuban patients with SLE. Patients and methods: 149 patients with SLE and 151 with other systemic autoimmune diseases were studied. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics according on the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology of 1997 were identified. To evaluate the associations between clinical manifestations and SLE, a logistic regression analysis was performed; the odds ratio (OR) was calculated with its corresponding 95% confidence interval and the method of multiple correspondence analysis was also used. By an analysis of the configurations of frequency the typical combinations of criteria related to the patients with SLE were identified. Results: The most frequent criteria in SLE were immunological disorders (85.2%). ANA positive (85.2%) arthritis (78.5%), photosensitivity (77.2%), and malar rash (61%). The renal involvement and immunological disorders criteria were the best (highest OR) at discriminating SLE patients. The combination of only three criteria (malar rash, positive ANA, and immunological disorder) could be enough to classify a homogeneous population. Conclusions: This study enabled us to determine the main clinical characteristics of patients with SLE in Cuba. This information could be useful to improve the efficiency of SLE diagnosis and facilitate more specific treatments.

Introducción: El lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) es el prototipo de enfermedad autoinmune sistémica, con características clínicas que muestran variaciones geográficas. Sin embargo, estas diferencias entre regiones no están completamente descritas, por lo cual, el objetivo de este trabajo es describir las características clínicas y sociodemográficas de pacientes cubanos con LES. Pacientes y métodos: Se hizo un estudio con 149 pacientes con LES y 151 con otras enfermedades autoinmunes sistêmicas. Se identificaron sus características sociodemográficas y clínicas, basadas principalmente en los criterios del Colegio Americano de Reumatología de 1997. Para evaluar las asociaciones entre las manifestaciones clínicas y el LES se llevó a cabo un análisis de regresión logística, se calculó la odds ratio, con su correspondiente intervalo de confianza al 95%, y se empleó la técnica de análisis de correspondencia múltiple. Mediante un análisis frecuencial de las configuraciones, se identificaron las combinaciones típicas de criterios relacionadas con los pacientes con LES. Resultados: Los criterios más frecuentes en el LES fueron: alteraciones inmunológicas (85,2%), ANA positivo (85,2%), artritis (78,5%), fotosensibilidad (77,2%) y rash malar (61%). Los criterios afección renal y alteraciones inmunológicas son los que mejor (mayor valor de la odds ratio) discriminan a los pacientes con LES. La combinación de solamente tres criterios (rash malar, ANA positivo y alteraciones inmunológicas) podría ser suficiente para clasificar a una población homogénea. Conclusiones: El estudio permitió conocer las principales características clínicas de pacientes con LES en Cuba. Esta información puede ser útil para mejorar la eficacia del diagnóstico del LES y favorecer la aplicación de tratamientos más específicos.

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INTRODUCTION: Anemia is a public health problem worldwide and is most prevalent in preschool children, for whom it is the most frequent cause of nutritional deficits. In turn, iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia, affecting 43% of children globally. Previous studies in Cuba show rates of iron deficiency in preschool children between 38.6% and 57.6%, higher in infants (71.2% to 81.1%). WHO recommends using serum ferritin as an indicator of iron deficiency accompanied by acute (C-reactive protein) and chronic (a1-acid glycoprotein) inflammation biomarkers. OBJECTIVE: Assess how inflammation affects measuring and reporting of iron-deficiency anemia rates in Cuban preschool children. METHODS: Data were obtained from serum samples contained in the National Anemia and Iron Deficiency Survey, and included presumably healthy preschool Cuban children (aged 6-59 months). Serum samples were collected from 1375 children from randomly selected provinces in 4 regions of the country from 2014 through 2018. We examined the association between ferritin and two inflammatory biomarkers: C-reactive protein and a1-acid glycoprotein. Individual inflammation-adjusted ferritin concentrations were calculated using four approaches: 1) a higher ferritin cut-off point (⟨30 g/L); 2) exclusion of subjects showing inflammation (C-reactive protein ⟩5 mg/L or a1-acid glycoprotein ⟩1 g/L); 3) mathematical correction factor based on C-reactive protein or a1-acid glycoprotein; and 4) correction by regression with the method proposed by the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia Group. We estimated confidence intervals of differences between unadjusted prevalence and prevalence adjusted for inflammation by each method. RESULTS: The proportion of children with inflammation according to C-reactive protein concentrations >5 mg/L was lower (11.1%, 153/1375) than the proportion measured according to the concentrations of a1-acid glycoprotein, at >1 g/L (30.8%, 424/1375). The percentage of children with high concentrations of at least one of the aforementioned biomarkers was 32.7% (450/1375). Thus, each correction method increased the observed prevalence of iron deficiency compared to unadjusted estimates (23%, 316/1375). This increase was more pronounced when using the internal regression correction method (based only on C-reactive protein) or the method based on a higher cut-off point. Adjustment using all four methods changed estimated iron deficiency prevalence, increasing it from 0.1% to 8.8%, compared to unadjusted values. CONCLUSIONS: One-third of preschool children had biomarkers indicating elevated inflammation levels. Without adjusting for inflammation, iron deficiency prevalence was underestimated. The significant disparity between unadjusted and inflammation-adjusted ferritin when using some approaches highlights the importance of selecting the right approach for accurate, corrected measurement. The internal regression correction approach is appropriate for epidemiological studies because it takes into account inflammation severity. However, other models should be explored that account for inflammation and also provide better adjusted ferritin concentrations.

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INTRODUCCIÓN: actualmente hay consenso en que el proceso aterosclerótico se inicia en la infancia, y la dislipidemia es uno de los principales factores de riesgo aterogénicos que deben ser estudiados, así como la valoración nutricional para una adecuada prevención. OBJETIVO: identificar algunas señales de aterosclerosis tempranas como el sobrepeso y las dislipidemias en adolescentes. MÉTODOS: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal de 372 adolescentes de la Secundaria Básica "Protesta de Baraguá". Se hicieron mediciones de peso, talla, índice de masa corporal y circunferencia de la cintura. Se tomó muestra de sangre venosa con ayuno de 12 horas. Se midió el colesterol total, el colesterol unido a lipoproteína baja y alta densidad, y triglicéridos. En el análisis estadístico se realizaron prueba de comprobación de media entre variables de valoración nutricional y lipídicas entre sexos (prueba t), y se trabajó con una probabilidad de error menor de 0,05. RESULTADOS: la media del peso, talla y circunferencia de la cintura fueron mayores en el sexo masculino (p< 0,05). El exceso de peso fue 23,7 %, y a partir del percentil 90-97 hubo un 21,8 % de exceso de grasa abdominal. La media del colesterol total, lipoproteínas de alta y baja densidad y triglicéridos, fue similar en los diferentes sexos, sin relación significativa (p> 0,05). El 18,5 % presentó colesterol total limítrofe alto, el 26,6 % tenía triglicéridos limítrofe alto y 7,5 % alto, con predominio del sexo femenino. CONCLUSIONES: alrededor de la cuarta parte de los adolescentes tenían exceso de peso e incremento de la grasa abdominal, casi la cuarta parte tenía el colesterol total limítrofe y alto, y la alteración lipídica observada con mayor frecuencia fue la hipertrigliceridemia.

INTRODUCTION: there is a current consensus that the atherosclerotic process begins at childhood and that dyslipidemia is one of the atherogenic risk factors to be studied together with the nutritional assessment for the adequate prevention of atherosclerosis. OBJECTIVE: to identify some early signs of atherosclerosis such as overweight and dyslipidemias in teenagers. METHODS: a cross-sectional descriptive study of 372 teenagers from "Protesta de Baragua" junior high school. Weight, height, body mass index and waist circumference were measured. Blood samples were taken after 12 hour fasting. Total cholesterol, low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride were all measured. The statistical analysis included the t test among nutritional assessment and lipid variables between sexes and the error probability was lower than 0.05. RESULTS: weight, height and waist circumference means were higher in males (p< 0.05). Overweight was 23.7 % and from the 90-97th percentile, the excessive abdominal fat was 21.8 %. The mean of total cholesterol, high and low density lipoproteins and triglycerides was similar in both sexes, with no significant relation (p> 0.05). In this group, 18.5 % of adolescents presented with borderline high total cholesterol, 26.6 % showed borderline high triglyceride rate and 7.5 % had high cholesterol, being females predominant. CONCLUSIONS: one fourth of adolescents approximately exhibited overweight and increased abdominal fat; almost 25 % had reached borderline and high total cholesterol whereas the most observed lipid disorder was hypertrigliceridemia.

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Introducción: cada día las crisis de aterosclerosis se manifiestan en personas de menor edad y está demostrada la importancia de conocer los principales factores que la originan, entre ellos la obesidad. En los niños y adolescentes cubanos el sobrepeso y la obesidad se han incrementado de manera notable. Objetivo: identificar los factores de riesgo cardiovascular en adolescentes supuestamente sanos. Métodos: se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en adolescentes supuestamente sanos de la secundaria básica "Protesta de Baraguá". La muestra estuvo constituida por 687 estudiantes. Se aplicó el modelo de recolección de dato primario del Centro de Investigaciones y Referencia en Aterosclerosis de La Habana. Se realizaron mensuraciones de peso, talla y circunferencia de la cintura. Se evaluó el estado nutricional por percentiles de índice de masa corporal y circunferencia de la cintura. Las cifras de tensión arterial se clasificaron según los percentiles de tensión arterial ajustados para edad, sexo y talla. Resultados: se halló que 46 adolescentes (6,6 %) eran fumadores, la relación fue estadísticamente significativa en relación con el sexo; 96 (13,9 %) tenían sobrepeso y 64 (9,3 %) eran obesos; la circunferencia de la cintura mostró que 98 (14,2 %) tenían posible situación de riesgo y 56 (8,1%) eran francamente atípicos (percentil>97) ; 4 % de los adolescentes tenían tensión arterial alta En todos los casos predominó el sexo masculino. El antecedente familiar de obesidad se presentó en 73 (10,6 %) y la relación resultó estadísticamente significativa en varones. Conclusiones: predominó el hábito tabáquico, la hipertensión arterial, el sobrepeso, la obesidad y los antecedentes familiares de obesidad, en el sexo masculino y en las féminas predominaron los antecedentes familiares de hipertensión arterial y de diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: everyday atherosclerosis crises manifest in younger people and it is demonstrated the importance of knowing the main factors that cause it, including obesity. In Cuban children and adolescents, overweight and obesity have dramatically increased. Objective: to identify cardiovascular risk factors in supposedly healthy adolescents. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in supposedly healthy adolescents from 12 to 15 years from a secondary basic school. The objective was identifying cardiovascular risk factor and their relationship with hypertension. The sample was constituted by 687 students. Data were registered in the primary data collection form of Havana Research and Reference Centre on Atherosclerosis. Measurements of weight, height and waist circumference were performed. Nutritional status by percentiles of body mass index and waist circumference were also evaluated. The blood pressure levels were classified according to the percentiles of blood pressure adjusted for age, sex, and height. Results: 46 adolescents (6.6 %) were found to be smokers, the relationship was statistically significant in relation to gender, 96 (13.9 %) were overweight and 64 (9.3 %) were obese; circumference waist showed that 98 (14.2 %) had possible risks, and 56 (8.1 %) were frankly atypical, 4% adolescents had high blood pressure. Male adolescents predominated in all parameters. Family history of obesity occurred in 73 (10.6 %) and the relationship was statistically significant in males. Conclusions: predominance of smoking, hypertension, overweight, obesity and family history of obesity prevailed in male adolescents males; whereas family history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus prevailed in female adolescents.

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Antecedentes: la enfermedad cardiovascular se asocia con alteraciones lipídicas, hiperglucemia y exceso de peso. Objetivo: asociar las alteraciones en los lípidos séricos y la glucemia con exceso de peso y adiposidad corporal, en adolescentes aparentemente sanos. Material y métodos: estudio descriptivo transversal en 372 adolescentes de12 a 15 años, de la escuela secundaria básica Protesta de Baraguá-Cuba, en quienes se relacionó el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y circunferencia de la cintura con los lípidos séricos y la glucemia. Resultados: se encontraron las siguientes prevalencias: CT>170 mg/dL, 24,7%; c-LDL>110 mg/dL, 12,6%; TG>90 mg/dL, 34,1%; c-HDL<45 mg/dL, 16,1% y glucemia >125mg/dL 10,5%. La prevalencia de exceso de peso según IMC >p85 fue 14,7% y la de valores de riesgo y atípicos de circunferencia de cintura (CC) fue 23,6%. Según Chi2 en las mujeres se encontraron diferencias entre glucemia >125mg/dL según IMC y CC (p<0,001) y en los hombre entre c-HDL<45mg/dL según CC (p=0,037) y entre TG >90 mg/dL según IMC (p=0,040) y CC (p=0,036). Las demás comparaciones entre lípidos séricos y glucemia según IMC y CC no fueron significativas (p>0,05). Conclusión: en los adolescentes estudiados las prevalencias de exceso de peso y de adiposidad central fueron altas, las relaciones entre valores alterados de TG, c-HDL e hiperglucemia con exceso de peso y adiposidad central dependen del sexo.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is associated with lipid abnormalities, hyperglycaemia and overweight. Objectives: To study the relationship between serum lipids and fasting glycaemia with body mass index and waist circumference. Materials and methods: 372 adolescents, 12 to 15 years, participated in a cross sectional study. Associations between Body Mass Index and waist circumference with serum lipids and glycaemia were evaluated. Results: The following prevalence was found: CT>170 mg/dL, 24.7%; LDL- c >110 mg/dL, 12.6%; TG>90 mg/dL, 34.1%; HDL-c<45 mg/dL, 6.1% and glycaemia >125mg/dL 10.5%. Overweight prevalence, BMI> p85 was 14.7% and risk of high waist circumference and atypical values was 23.6%. According Chi2, in girls differences were found between glycaemia > 125mg/dl according BMI and WC (p <0.001) and in boys between HDL-c <45mg/dL according WC (p = 0.037) and between TG > 90 mg / dL according BMI (p = 0.040) and WC (p = 0.036). Conclusions: In adolescents studied the prevalence of overweight and central adiposity were high, the relationship between altered TG, HDL-c and hyperglycemia overweight and central adiposity values depend on sex.

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