The effectiveness of inactivated vaccines (VE) against symptomatic and severe COVID-19 caused by omicron is unknown. We conducted a nationwide, test-negative, case-control study to estimate VE for homologous and heterologous (BNT162b2) booster doses in adults who received two doses of CoronaVac in Brazil in the Omicron context. Analyzing 1,386,544 matched-pairs, VE against symptomatic disease was 8.6% (95% CI, 5.6–11.5) and 56.8% (95% CI, 56.3–57.3) in the period 8–59 days after receiving a homologous and heterologous booster, respectively. During the same interval, VE against severe Covid-19 was 73.6% (95% CI, 63.9–80.7) and 86.0% (95% CI, 84.5–87.4) after receiving a homologous and heterologous booster, respectively. Waning against severe Covid-19 after 120 days was only observed after a homologous booster. Heterologous booster might be preferable to individuals with completed primary series inactivated vaccine.

Background Large outbreaks of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant have occurred in countries with high coverage of inactivated Covid-19 vaccines, raising urgent questions about effectiveness of these vaccines against disease and hospitalization with Omicron. Methods We conducted a nationwide, test-negative, case-control study of adults who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. We evaluated vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic Covid-19 and severe Covid-19 (hospital admission or deaths) for the primary series of CoronaVac and homologous and heterologous (BNT162b2) booster doses. Findings Between September 6, 2021, and March 10, 2022, a total of 1,339,986 cases were matched to 1,339,986 test-negative controls. In the period of Omicron predominance, vaccine effectiveness ≥180 days after the second CoronaVac dose was 8.1% (95% CI, 7.0 to 9.1) and 57.0% (95% CI, 53.5 to 60.2) against symptomatic and severe Covid-19, respectively. Vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease was 15.0% (95% CI, 12.0 to 18.0) and 56.8% (95% CI, 56.3 to 57.4) in the period 8-59 days after receiving a homologous and heterologous booster, respectively. During the same interval, vaccine effectiveness against severe Covid-19 was 71.3% (95% CI, 60.3 to 79.2) and 85.5% (95% CI, 83.3 to 87.0) after receiving a homologous and heterologous booster, respectively. Whereas waning of vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic Covid-19 was observed ≥90 days after a homologous and heterologous booster, waning against severe Covid-19 was only observed after a homologous booster. Interpretation A homologous CoronaVac booster dose provided limited additional protection, while a BNT162b2 booster dose afforded sustained protection against severe disease for at least three months.

Resumo: No contexto das políticas públicas de saúde, a rede de atenção é uma estratégia que visa a promover a equidade do acesso das pessoas aos serviços e reduzir a sua fragmentação. O objetivo foi avaliar o grau de desenvolvimento dos componentes de uma rede de atenção à saúde para hipertensão. Trata-se de um estudo avaliativo do tipo ex-ante, de corte transversal, voltado à implantação da Rede de Atenção à Saúde das pessoas com doenças crônicas com a aplicação de questionário a 17 gestores de saúde dos municípios que formam a maior região de saúde de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. O questionário é constituído de 65 questões que contemplam os cinco componentes: Atenção Primária à Saúde; Atenção Especializada; Sistemas de Apoio; Sistemas Logísticos; e Governança. Foram realizados testes estatísticos descritivos e a classificação dos serviços prestados em cada componente por meio do teste de Friedman, seguido pelo pós-teste de Student-Newman-Keuls, com nível de significância de 5%. Os resultados foram distribuídos em quartis e apresentados em gráficos Boxplot. Foram estabelecidas correlações entre as dimensões. Resultados apontam que os componentes estão no grau intermediário de implantação, com baixo desenvolvimento nos quesitos necessários para a constituição de redes. A Atenção Primária à Saúde não coordena o cuidado, e os componentes Atenção Especializada e Governança apresentaram os piores resultados. Os achados apontam predomínio de serviços instalados ainda distantes das práticas necessárias para a composição de redes de atenção à saúde, podendo comprometer a sua implantação.

OBJECTIVETo estimate age and sex-specific suicide rates, compare suicide rates between indigenous communities, and quantify the frequency of intrafamilial suicide clustering.METHODSWe performed a retrospective cohort study involving 14,666 indigenous individuals in reservations in Dourados, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, from 2003 through 2013 using national and local census.RESULTSThe overall suicide rate was 73.4 per 100,000 person-years. Adolescent males aged 15-19 and girls aged 10-14 had the highest rates for each sex at 289.3 (95%CI 187.5-391.2) and 85.3 (95%CI 34.9-135.7), respectively. Comparing the largest reservations, Bororo had a higher suicide rate than Jaguapiru (RR = 4.83, 95%CI 2.85-8.16) and had significantly lower socioeconomic indicators including income and access to electricity. Nine of 19 suicides among children under 15 occurred in household clusters. Compared with adult suicides, a greater proportion of child (OR = 5.12, 95%CI 1.89-13.86, p = 0.001) and adolescent (OR = 3.48, 95%CI 1.29-9.44, p = 0.017) suicides occurred within household clusters.CONCLUSIONSHigh rates of suicide occur among children and adolescents in these indigenous reservations, particularly in poor communities. Nearly half of child suicides occur within household clusters. These findings underscore the need for broad public health interventions and focused mental health interventions in households following a suicide.

São Paulo is a state in Brazil with one of the highest numbers of confirmed and severe cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), with an incidence of 294 hospitalizations per 100,000 inhabitants. We report the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 120,804 hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 from February 26 to October 10, 2020, in São Paulo. Characteristics of patients who died and survived were compared using a survival analysis. The median age was 60 years (interquartile range [IQR], 47–72), 67,821 (56.1%) were men, and 61,659 (51.0%) were white. Most hospitalized patients (79,812; 66.1%) reported one or more comorbidities, 41,708 (34.5%) hospitalized patients were admitted to intensive care units, and 33,079 (27.4%) died. Men (hazard ratio [HR], 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–1.25), elderly individuals (HR, 3.85; 95% CI, 3.68–4.02), and patients with chronic cardiovascular disease including hypertension (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02–1.08), chronic lung disease (HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.31–1.45), diabetes mellitus (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.11–1.18), and chronic neurological disease (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.41–1.55) were at higher risk for death from COVID-19.

Abstract

Context and objectiveIncarcerated women are more vulnerable to developing cervical cancer than women in general; therefore, screening and intervention programs must be included in their healthcare provision. We therefore aimed to investigate the state of cervical cancer screening for imprisoned women in Mato Grosso do Sul, and to analyze the interventions geared toward the control of cervical cancer.Materials and methodsThis was a cross-sectional study with analysis of primary and secondary data. Interviews were held with 510 women in seven prisons in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The data for 352 medical records were analyzed statistically with the significance level set at 5%. Associations were assessed by the chi-squared test, adjusted by the Bonferroni correction.ResultsMost female prisoners had limited education, used tobacco, and had key risk factors for the development of cervical cancer. Half of the women interviewed (n = 255) stated that they had received a Papanicolaou (Pap) test in prison, but 134 (52.5%) of these did not know the result. Of those who had not received a Pap test, 149 (58.4%) stated that this was because of a lack of opportunity. There was no information regarding the provision of Pap tests or subsequent treatment in the medical records of 211 (59.9%) women. No protocols were in place for the provision of Pap tests in prison. There were statistical differences between prisons in terms of test frequency, the information provided to women, and how information was recorded in medical records.ConclusionThe screening of cervical cancer in prisons is neither systematic nor regular, and the results are not communicated to women in a significant number of cases. It is necessary to organize health services within the prison environment, ensuring that tests are done and that there is investigation for human papillomavirus. This could increase the diagnosis of cervical cancer at less advanced stages of the disease.

Resumo Introdução A estruturação dos serviços de saúde é um elemento fundamental para dar respostas à carga de doenças crônicas. Objetivo Analisar a relação entre internações e óbitos pelas doenças do aparelho circulatório e a estrutura nos serviços de saúde. Método Estudo transversal desenvolvido em estado do Centro-Oeste brasileiro, região de saúde composta de 17 municípios e 1.112.792 habitantes. Foram analisadas as dimensões demográfica, epidemiológica e de estrutura de saúde pela estatística descritiva e correlação linear de Pearson. Resultados A taxa da mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório foi de 29,49%, superior aos achados no país e no Centro-Oeste. Houve correlação significativa entre internação por doenças isquêmicas do coração e número de leitos e entre internação por doenças do aparelho circulatório e número de serviços especializados para cada 10 mil habitantes. Conclusão As diferenças encontradas entre internações e a existência dos serviços especializados e leitos indicam que a população que reside em municípios com estrutura de serviços complexa possui mais acesso aos serviços e às internações. Os resultados demonstram que deve haver mais cuidado na conformação e oferta de serviços na Rede de Atenção à Saúde para as doenças do aparelho circulatório, visando assegurar equidade no acesso da população aos serviços pactuados.