BackgroundConsidering the limited accuracy of clinical examination for early diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD), echocardiography has emerged as an important epidemiological tool. The ideal setting for screening is yet to be defined. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of latent RHD in schoolchildren (aged 5–18 years) and to compare effectiveness of screening between public schools, private schools, and primary care centers in Minas Gerais, Brazil.Methods and ResultsThe PROVAR (Rheumatic Valve Disease Screening Program) study uses nonexperts and portable and handheld devices for RHD echocardiographic screening, with remote interpretation by telemedicine, according to the 2012 World Heart Federation criteria. Compliance with study consent and prevalence were compared between different screening settings, and variables associated with RHD were analyzed. In 26 months, 12 048 students were screened in 52 public schools (n=10 901), 2 private schools (n=589), and 3 primary care centers (n=558). Median age was 12.9 years, and 55.4% were girls. Overall RHD prevalence was 4.0% borderline (n=486) and 0.5% definite (n=63), with statistically similar rates between public schools (4.6%), private schools (3.5%), and primary care centers (4.8%) (P=0.24). The percentage of informed consents signed was higher in primary care centers (84.4%) and private schools (66.9%) compared with public schools (38.7%) (P<0.001). Prevalence was higher in children ≥12 years (5.3% versus 3.1%; P<0.001) and girls (4.9% versus 4.0%; P=0.02). Only age (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.17; P<0.001) was independently associated with RHD.Conclusions RHD screening in primary care centers seems to achieve higher coverage rates. Prevalence among schoolchildren is significantly high, with rates higher than expected in private schools of high‐income areas. These data are important for the formulation of public policies to confront RHD.

Integration focused echo into PC is feasible in Brazil as a strategy to deliver cardiovascular care to low-resourced areas through task shifting. The burden of HD observed suggests this tool may improve early diagnosis and referral.

Introduction: In recent years, new technologies-noticeably ultra-portable echocardiographic machines-have emerged, allowing for Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) early diagnosis. We aimed to perform a cost-utility analysis to assess the cost-effectiveness of RHD screening with handheld devices in the Brazilian context. Methods: A Markov model was created to assess the cost-effectiveness of one-time screening for RHD in a hypothetical cohort of 11-year-old socioeconomically disadvantaged children, comparing the intervention to standard care using a public perspective and a 30-year time horizon. The model consisted of 13 states: No RHD, Undiagnosed Asymptomatic Borderline RHD, Diagnosed Asymptomatic Borderline RHD, Untreated Asymptomatic Definite RHD, Treated Asymptomatic Definite RHD, Untreated Mild Clinical RHD, Treated Mild Clinical RHD, Untreated Severe Clinical RHD, Treated Severe Clinical RHD, Surgery, Post-Surgery and Death. The initial distribution of the population over the different states was derived from primary echo screening data. Costs of the different states were derived from the Brazilian public health system database. Transition probabilities and utilities were derived from published studies. A discount rate of 3%/year was used. A cost-effectiveness threshold of $25,949.85 per Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) averted is used in concordance with the 3x GDP per capita threshold in 2015. Results: RHD echo screening is cost-effective with an Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio of $10,148.38 per DALY averted. Probabilistic modelling shows that the intervention could be considered cost-effective in 70% of the iterations. Conclusion: Screening for RHD with hand held echocardiographic machines in 11-year-old children in the target population is cost-effective in the Brazilian context. Highlights: • A cost-effectiveness analysis showed that Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) echocardiographic screening utilizing handheld devices, performed by non-physicians with remote interpretation by telemedicine is cost-effective in a 30-year time horizon in Brazil. • The model included primary data from the first large-scale RHD screening program in Brazilian underserved populations and costs from the Unified Health System (SUS), and suggests that the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio of the intervention is considerably below the acceptable threshold for Brazil, even after a detailed sensitivity analysis. Ubels et al: Cost-Effectiveness of Rheumatic Heart Disease Echocardiographic Screening in Brazil Art. 18, page 2 of 11 • Considering the high prevalence of subclinical RHD in Brazil, and the significant economic burden posed by advanced disease, these data are important for the formulation of public policies and surveillance approaches. • Cost-saving strategies first implemented in Brazil by the PROVAR study, such as taskshifting to non-physicians, computer-based training, routine use of affordable devices and telemedicine for remote diagnosis may help planning RHD control programs in endemic areas worldwide.

In our study, PGB-related improvements in sleep quality and HRQoL were marginally related to reductions in pain intensity in patients with neuropathic pain. Improvement in sleep quality was a significant predictor of better HRQoL, whereas pain intensity reduction was not.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a associação de mortalidade com variáveis sociodemográficas, clínicas, lesões e complicações em pacientes com trauma de pelve decorrente de trauma contuso. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo e observacional com dados de registro de trauma obtidos durante cinco anos. O óbito foi a variável de estratificação das análises. Para verificar se as variáveis de interesse tinham associação com o óbito, foi realizado o teste t de Student e teste do Qui-quadrado (ou Fisher) e Wilcoxon-Mann Whitney. Os fatores independentemente associados ao óbito foram analisados por modelo logístico binomial, e com base nos testes de Wald e por Critérios de Informação de Akaike (AIC) e Bayesiano de Schwarz (BIC). Resultados: dos 28 pacientes com fratura de pelve por trauma contuso, 23 (82,1%) eram homens; 16 (57,1%) com média de idade de 38,8 anos (desvio padrão 17,3). Houve 98 lesões ou fraturas nos 28 pacientes. Quanto à gravidade, sete pacientes tiveram Injury Severity Score superior a 24 (25%). O tempo de internação hospitalar médio foi 26,8 dias (DP=22,4). Quinze pacientes (53,6%) tiveram internação em UTI. A incidência de óbito foi de 21,4%. A análise mostrou que idade igual ou maior do que 50 anos e presença de coagulopatia foram fatores independentemente associados ao óbito. Conclusão: as fraturas de pelve podem ter mortalidade elevada. Neste estudo a mortalidade foi superior ao que é descrito na literatura. A idade acima de 50 anos e a coagulopatia se revelaram fatores de risco nessa população.