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INTRODUCTION: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant vascular dysplasia that might affect 1/5000-10 000 individuals worldwide. It is a rare and underdiagnosed condition. Population-based epidemiological studies are crucial for comprehending and quantifying the impact of this disease. We aim to estimate the prevalence in a Prepaid Health Care System of Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed, which included all patients over 18 years of age affiliated with the Hospital Italiano Medical Care Program (IHMCP), a prepaid health maintenance organization (HMO) of Buenos Aires. For case inclusion, individuals were required to have a clinical diagnosis of HHT. Case detection included the search in our Institutional Registry. The prevalence was calculated by dividing the number of cases of HHT by the total number of all active affiliates at January 2023. Age and gender specific prevalence rates were estimated. RESULTS: 48 cases were reported. The prevalence was 3.2 in 10 000 (IC 95% 2.4-4.2). Specific prevalence in women was 3.9 in 10 000 (IC 95% 2.8-5.5) and in men 2.1 in 10 000 (IC 95% 1.2-3.6). The average age was 54.8 (19), 35 patients were women (72.9%) with an average age of 55 (19.9), and 55 (17.2) for men. The most common referrals were physicians (60.4%) followed by family history (18.7%). The 48 patients corresponded to 39 families. DISCUSSION: The prevalence identified in our study is higher than the one documented in other studies.

Introducción: La telangiectasia hemorrágica hereditaria (HHT) es una displasia vascular que puede afectar a 1 de 5000 a 10 000 personas en el mundo. Es una afección rara y subdiagnosticada. Los estudios epidemiológicos son fundamentales para comprender y cuantificar el impacto de esta enfermedad. Nuestro objetivo fue estimar la prevalencia en un Sistema Prepago de Atención de la Salud, en Buenos Aires, Argentina. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal en pacientes mayores de 18 años afiliados al Programa de Atención Médica del Hospital Italiano en Buenos Aires (Plan de Salud). Para la inclusión de casos, se requería el diagnóstico de HHT. La detección de casos incluyó su búsqueda en nuestro Registro Institucional. La prevalencia se calculó dividiendo el número de casos por el número total de afiliados activos en enero de 2023. Se estimaron tasas específicas por edad y género. Resultados: Se reportaron 48 casos. La prevalencia fue de 3.2 por 10 000 personas (IC 95% 2.4-4.2). La específica en mujeres fue de 3.9 (IC 95% 2.8-5.5) y en hombres de 2.1 por 10 000 (IC 95% 1.2-3.6). La edad promedio fue de 55 años (19), con 35 pacientes mujeres (72.9%) con una edad promedio de 55 años (19.9) y 55 (17.2) para hombres. La derivación más común fue de médicos (60.4%), seguidas por antecedentes familiares (18.7%). Los 48 pacientes correspondían a 39 familias. Discusión: La prevalencia identificada en nuestro estudio es más alta que la documentada en otros estudios.

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Introdução: O tratamento da obesidade envolve diversas abordagens multidisciplinares, incluindo a intervenção cirúrgica. A pandemia de COVID-19 impactou o acesso a ela gerando dificuldades em sua retomada e acentuando as disparidades entre o sistema público e privado. Objetivo: Analisar o impacto da pandemia na cirurgia bariátrica realizada pelo SUS e por convênios médicos no Brasil. Métodos: Os dados foram coletados utilizando as bases de dados TABNET do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares (SIH), do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), e o Painel de dados do TISS da Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar (ANS), no período de 2015 a 2021 e foi realizada uma análise quantitativa descritiva, calculando-se a média das informações. Além disso, foram realizadas estimativas estatísticas utilizando regressão linear no software SPSS, com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: Foi identificada correlação significativa e direta entre o aumento do número de procedimentos realizados pelo SUS e o aumento médio de procedimentos ao longo dos anos, enquanto no sistema de convênios não houve correlação significativa. Durante a pandemia, houve queda expressiva no volume cirúrgico em ambos os sistemas, com o sistema público sendo mais afetado. A retomada do volume cirúrgico ainda não alcançou os níveis anteriores à pandemia no sistema público, enquanto o sistema privado apresentou aumento significativo. Conclusão: A pandemia do COVID-19 teve impacto significativo na capacidade do setor público e privado em realizar operações bariátricas no Brasil. Os resultados evidenciam diferenças regionais e socioeconômicas na realização desses procedimentos.

Introduction: The treatment of obesity involves several multidisciplinary approaches, including surgical intervention. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted access to it, creating difficulties in its resumption and accentuating the disparities between the public and private system. Objective: To analyze the impact of the pandemic on bariatric surgery performed by SUS and medical insurance in Brazil. Methods: Data were collected using the TABNET databases of the Hospital Information System (SIH), of the Unified Health System (SUS), and the TISS data panel of the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), in the period of 2015 to 2021 and a descriptive quantitative analysis was performed, calculating the average of the information. In addition, statistical estimates were performed using linear regression in SPSS software, with a 95% confidence interval. Results: A significant and direct correlation was identified between the increase in the number of procedures performed by the SUS and the average increase in procedures over the years, while in the health insurance system there was no significant correlation. During the pandemic, there was a significant drop in surgical volume in both systems, with the public system being more affected. The resumption of surgical volume has not yet reached pre-pandemic levels in the public system, while the private system showed a significant increase. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the ability of the public and private sector to perform bariatric surgeries in Brazil. The results show regional and socioeconomic differences in the performance of these procedures.

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Hasta diciembre de 2020, en Argentina el aborto era legal ante determinadas causales. Sin embargo, era común que la implementación de esta legislación se viera entorpecida. El objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar las barreras y los factores facilitadores para la accesibilidad a la interrupción legal de embarazo en una institución del subsistema privado y de la seguridad social. Se realizó una investigación con enfoque cualitativo con entrevistas a profesionales del equipo de salud involucrados en el circuito de atención de interrupción legal de embarazo del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. Los resultados se organizan en cinco ejes temáticos que surgieron luego de un proceso de lectura, interpretación y discusión:1) ausencia de una política institucional explícita, 2) los componentes de la práctica (falta de registro en la historia clínica electrónica, desarrollo de circuitos paralelos para acceder a la medicación: misoprostol), 3) el marco jurídico legal y las causales (falta de leyes claras, diversas interpretaciones en lo que respecta al causal salud), 4) la objeción de conciencia y 5) los aspectos contextuales (movimiento feminista, el proyecto de ley desaprobado en el senado en 2018). A pesar de que el equipo de salud contaba con un marco legal claro, implementar una política institucional interna resulta sumamente necesario. (AU)

Up until December 2020, abortion was legal in Argentina on certain grounds. However, it was common for the implementation of this legislation to be hindered. The purpose of this research was to identify the barriers and facilitating factors for the accessibility to legal abortion in both private and public health care institutions. A qualitative research was carried out with interviews with health professionals involved in the health team at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires legal interruption of pregnancy care circuit. The results are organized into five thematic axes that emerged after a process of reading, interpreting and discussing: 1) the absence of an explicit institutional policy, 2) the components of the practice (lack of registration in the electronic health records, development of parallel circuits to access medication: misoprostol), 3) the legal framework and grounds (lack of clear laws, different interpretations regarding health grounds), 4) conscientious objection, and 5) contextual aspects (feminist movement, the bill disapproved in the Senate in 2018). Even though the health teamhad a clear legal framework in place, implementing an internal institutional policy is extremely necessary. (AU)

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BACKGROUND: Non-attendance to scheduled medical appointments in outpatient clinics is a problem that affects patient health and health-care systems. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate association of non-attendance to scheduled appointments in outpatient clinics and Emergency Department (ED) visits, hospitalizations and mortality. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of outpatients enrolled in 2015 to 2016 in the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires HMO with over five scheduled appointments. Individual non-attendance proportion was obtained by dividing missed over scheduled appointment numbers in the 365 days prior to index date. Outcomes were evaluated with a Cox proportional-hazards or Fine and Gray model for competing risks. We adjusted by several variables. RESULTS: Sixty-five thousand two hundred sixty-five adults were included. Mean age was 63.6 years (SD 18.16), 29.9% male. Outpatients had average 10.18 (SD 5.59) appointments. Non-attendance the year before the index appointment had a median of 20%. A 10% increase in non-attendance was significantly associated with ED visits (asHR 1.19; 95%CI 1.08-1.32, P < .001) and all-cause mortality (aHR 7.57; 95%CI 4.88-11.73, P < .001). In the matched subcohort analysis we observed a crude significant association of non-attendance with ED visits (P < .001) and all-cause mortality (P < .001). DISCUSSION: Our findings show non-attendance could be a marker of health events that lead to emergency department evaluations and/or death.

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Objective: To estimate all-claims-all-conditions expenditures paid for by health plans for patients suffering from Parkinson´s disease (PD). Methods: Using administrative claims data from two health maintenance organizations for 2014 and 2015 in Colombia, we identified 2,917 patients with PD by applying an algorithm that uses International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System codes. Descriptive statistics were applied to compute unadjusted all-cause median costs. A generalized linear model was used to estimate adjusted and attributable direct costs of advanced PD. Results: Approximately 30% of the all-cause direct costs were associated with technologies not included in universal health coverage benefit packages. In 2015, the annual median interquartile range per patient all-cause direct costs to insurers was USD1,576 (605-3,617). About 16% of patients had advanced PD. Regression analysis estimated that additional costs attributable to advanced PD was USD3,416 (p = 0.000). Multimorbidity was highly prevalent, and 96% of PD patients had at least one other chronic condition. Conclusions: In the context of high judicialization, patients suffering from PD must increasingly use the judicial system to access treatment. To promote more equitable and efficient access benefit packages, developing countries must consider more thoroughly the needs of these patients.

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OBJECTIVE: To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of natural childbirth and elective C-section for normal risk pregnant women. METHODS: The study was conducted from the perspective of supplemental health, a health subsystem that finances private obstetric care, represented in Brazil by health plan operators. The reference populations were normal risk pregnant women, who could undergo natural childbirth or elective C-section, subdivided into primiparous and multiparous women with previous uterine scar. A decision analysis model was constructed including choice of delivery types and health consequences for mother and newborn, from admission for delivery to maternity hospital discharge. Effectiveness measures were identified from the scientific literature, and cost data obtained by consultation with health professionals, health plan operators' pricing tables, and pricing reference publications of health resources. RESULTS: Natural childbirth was dominant compared with elective C-section for primiparous normal risk pregnant women, presenting lower cost (R$5,210.96 versus R$5,753.54) and better or equal effectiveness for all evaluated outcomes. For multiparous women with previous uterine scar, C-section presented lower cost (R$5,364.07) than natural childbirth (R$5,632.24), and better or equal effectiveness; therefore, C-section is more efficient for this population. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to control and audit C-sections without clinical indication, especially with regard to primiparous women, contributing to the management of perinatal care.

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BACKGROUND: In spite of the frequency of chronic urticaria, there are no epidemiological studies on its prevalence in Argentina. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to define the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of chronic urticaria patients in Buenos Aires. METHODS: The population studied were the members of the Italian Hospital Medical Care Program, a prepaid health maintenance organization located in the urban areas around the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. All patients with diagnosis of chronic urticaria members of the Italian Hospital Medical Care Program, and with at least 12 months of follow up were included in the study. All medical records obtained between January 1st, 2012 and December 31, 2014 were analyzed. The prevalence ratio for chronic urticaria per 100,000 population with 95% CI for December 31, 2014 was calculated. The prevalence rate for the entire population and then discriminated for adults and pediatric patients (less than 18 years old at diagnosis) was assessed. RESULTS: 158,926 members were analyzed. A total of 463 cases of chronic urticaria were identified on prevalence date (68 in pediatrics, 395 in adults), yielding a crude point prevalence ratio of 0.29% (CI 95% 0.26-0.31%). The observed prevalence of chronic urticaria in the adult population was 0.34 % (95% CI 0.31-0.38%), while in pediatrics it was 0.15 % (95% CI 0.11-0.20%). STUDY LIMITATIONS: the main weakness is that the results were obtained from an HMO and therefore the possibility of selection bias. CONCLUSIONS: chronic urticaria is a global condition. Its prevalence in Buenos Aires is comparable with other countries.

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Resumen Objetivo: Estimar el gasto en el último año de vida de los pacientes diagnosticados con cáncer para Colombia. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo con datos de la facturación de dos EPS para los años 2011-2013. Se calculó el gasto en el último año de vida para la cohorte de pacientes fallecidos durante este tiempo. Se identificaron los pacientes que hubieran sido diagnosticados con cáncer en el año de la muerte usando códigos CIE-10. Se define gasto en el último año de vida como servicios prestados desde la fecha de muerte y los 360 días previos. Resultados: El 30,4% de los fallecidos de la cohorte tenían un diagnóstico de cáncer. Del total del gasto de todos los fallecidos en su último año de vida, el 43,6% del gasto correspondía a personas diagnosticadas con cáncer en 2012 y el 40% en 2013. El gasto medio para pacientes fallecidos por cáncer es entre 72% y 76% más alto que aquellos que no. El gasto mensual es más alto en los meses más cercanos a la muerte. Conclusiones: El uso de recursos de los pacientes que fallecen por cáncer podría disminuirse con programas de cuidado paliativo que respetan la calidad de vida de los pacientes.

Abstract Objective: To estimate last-year-of-life expenditure for patients diagnosed with cancer in Colombia. Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study. Using claims data for two HMO for years 20112013, last-year-of-life expenditure was estimated for all persons dying in 2012-2013. Cancer diagnoses were identified using ICD-10 codes. Last-year-of-life expenditure was defined as allservices provided between the date of death and the 360 days previous. Results: A cancer diagnosis was recorded in 30.4% of the deceased and accounted for 43.6% of total last-year-of-life expenditure in 2012, and 40% in 2013. The mean per deceased expenditure was between 72% and 76% higher for patients with cancer as compared to patients without cancer. Last-year-of-life expenditure increases with the proximity to death. Conclusion: The use of resources for people dying with cancer diagnosis could be reduced with palliative care programs that give patients a quality of life.

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Abstract: Background: In spite of the frequency of chronic urticaria, there are no epidemiological studies on its prevalence in Argentina. Objective: The objective of this study was to define the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of chronic urticaria patients in Buenos Aires. Methods: The population studied were the members of the Italian Hospital Medical Care Program, a prepaid health maintenance organization located in the urban areas around the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. All patients with diagnosis of chronic urticaria members of the Italian Hospital Medical Care Program, and with at least 12 months of follow up were included in the study. All medical records obtained between January 1st, 2012 and December 31, 2014 were analyzed. The prevalence ratio for chronic urticaria per 100,000 population with 95% CI for December 31, 2014 was calculated. The prevalence rate for the entire population and then discriminated for adults and pediatric patients (less than 18 years old at diagnosis) was assessed. Results: 158,926 members were analyzed. A total of 463 cases of chronic urticaria were identified on prevalence date (68 in pediatrics, 395 in adults), yielding a crude point prevalence ratio of 0.29% (CI 95% 0.26-0.31%). The observed prevalence of chronic urticaria in the adult population was 0.34 % (95% CI 0.31-0.38%), while in pediatrics it was 0.15 % (95% CI 0.11-0.20%). Study limitations: the main weakness is that the results were obtained from an HMO and therefore the possibility of selection bias. Conclusions: chronic urticaria is a global condition. Its prevalence in Buenos Aires is comparable with other countries.

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ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of natural childbirth and elective C-section for normal risk pregnant women. METHODS The study was conducted from the perspective of supplemental health, a health subsystem that finances private obstetric care, represented in Brazil by health plan operators. The reference populations were normal risk pregnant women, who could undergo natural childbirth or elective C-section, subdivided into primiparous and multiparous women with previous uterine scar. A decision analysis model was constructed including choice of delivery types and health consequences for mother and newborn, from admission for delivery to maternity hospital discharge. Effectiveness measures were identified from the scientific literature, and cost data obtained by consultation with health professionals, health plan operators' pricing tables, and pricing reference publications of health resources. RESULTS Natural childbirth was dominant compared with elective C-section for primiparous normal risk pregnant women, presenting lower cost (R$5,210.96 versus R$5,753.54) and better or equal effectiveness for all evaluated outcomes. For multiparous women with previous uterine scar, C-section presented lower cost (R$5,364.07) than natural childbirth (R$5,632.24), and better or equal effectiveness; therefore, C-section is more efficient for this population. CONCLUSIONS It is necessary to control and audit C-sections without clinical indication, especially with regard to primiparous women, contributing to the management of perinatal care.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Realizar uma análise de custo-efetividade do parto vaginal e da cesariana eletiva para gestantes de risco habitual. MÉTODOS A perspectiva adotada foi a da saúde suplementar, subsistema de saúde financiador da assistência obstétrica privada, representado no Brasil por operadoras de planos de saúde. As populações de referência foram as gestantes de risco habitual, que poderiam ser submetidas ao parto vaginal ou à cesariana eletiva, subdivididas em primíparas e multíparas com uma cicatriz uterina prévia. Foi construído um modelo de decisão analítico que incluiu a escolha pelos tipos de parto, consequências em saúde para mãe e recém-nascido da internação para o parto à alta da maternidade. As medidas de efetividade foram identificadas a partir da literatura científica. Os dados de custos foram obtidos pela consulta aos profissionais de saúde, tabelas das operadoras dos planos de saúde e publicações de referências de preços de recursos de saúde. RESULTADOS O parto vaginal foi dominante em comparação com a cesariana eletiva para gestantes de risco habitual primíparas e apresentou menor custo (R$5.210,96 versus R$5.753,54) e melhor ou igual efetividade para todos os desfechos avaliados. Para multíparas com uma cicatriz uterina prévia, a cesariana mostrou-se com custo inferior (R$5.364,07) ao do parto vaginal (R$5.632,24) e melhor ou igual efetividade, portanto mais eficiente para essa população. CONCLUSÕES É necessário o controle e a auditoria das cesarianas sem indicação clínica, destacadamente em primíparas, contribuindo para a gestão da atenção perinatal.

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