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Background We have here assessed the impact of demographic, clinical, and treatment compliance characteristics on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Venezuelan patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have used a disease-specific questionnaire, the Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL), validated in our patient population, to measure HRQoL. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients with SLE from outpatient clinics. Patients completed a form with demographic, clinical, and treatment compliance data, and the LupusQoL questionnaire. HRQoL was classified as better or worse according to previously established cut-off points for this patient population. Spearman’s r test was used to determine the correlations between age, years of education, disease duration, SLEDAI, and SLICC-DI with the eight domains of the LupusQoL. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the HRQoL between the two groups of patients according to treatment compliance. Binomial logistic regression using the backward stepwise selection method was performed to identify the risk factors associated with each of the eight domains of the LupusQoL among patients with inactive (SLEDAI < 4) and active (SLEDAI ≥ 4) SLE. Results HRQoL of our patients was classified as better in all domains of the LupusQoL. Age correlated negatively with all domains of the LupusQoL, except with “burden to others”, and disease activity correlated negatively with all domains of the LupusQoL, except with “intimate relationships” and “burden to others” (p < 0.05). Patients who fully complied with indicated treatment had higher scores in “physical health” domain compared to patients who did not comply with at least one of the prescribed medications (p < 0.05). In patients with active SLE, a risk factor associated with worse “planning” and “intimate relationships” was advanced age, while having had SLE flare-ups in the previous six months was a risk factor associated with worse “physical health” (p < 0.05). Conclusion Age and disease activity were negatively correlated with almost all domains of the LupusQoL, and treatment compliance was associated with higher score in the “physical health” domain. Disease control and treatment compliance should be the main goals for a better HRQoL in our patients with SLE.

Background In low- and middle-income countries, pregnant women and newborns are more vulnerable to adverse outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, in Venezuela, there are no integrated data in a national surveillance system to identify the clinical-epidemiological characteristics and maternal-foetal outcomes of pregnant women hospitalised with COVID-19. Methods A retrospective study was conducted among Venezuelan pregnant women hospitalised with COVID-19 seen at the “Ruiz y Páez” University Hospital Complex and the San Cristobal Central Hospital between June 2020 and September 2021. Information was obtained from physical and digitised clinical records using a purpose-designed proforma to collect epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, treatment, obstetric and perinatal complications, and maternal-foetal outcomes data. Results A total of 80 pregnant women with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection were seen within the study period, 59 (73.8%) survived and 21 (26.2%) died. The median (interquartile range) age was 29 (23–33) years, the majority being in the third trimester of pregnancy (81.2%; n = 65). Interestingly, four (5%) pregnant women were co-infected with malaria by Plasmodium vivax and three (3.8%) with syphilis. The most frequent symptoms were fever (75%; n = 60), dry cough (68.8%; n = 55), dyspnoea (55%; n = 44), and headache (53.8%; n = 43). The most frequent maternal complications were anaemia (51.5%; n = 66) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (17.5%; n = 14). The most frequent perinatal complications were preterm delivery (39.2%; n = 20/51) and oligohydramnios (31.3%; n = 25). A total of 29 (36.3%) adverse foetal outcomes were documented, 21 stillbirth and eight abortions. Conclusion This is the first study to describe the clinical-epidemiological behaviour of COVID-19 in hospitalised Venezuelan pregnant women. Anaemia, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, oligohydramnios, and low birth weight were the most frequent maternal-foetal complications in this population of pregnant women.

BackgroundWe have here assessed the impact of demographic, clinical, and treatment compliance characteristics on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of Venezuelan patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We have used a disease-specific questionnaire, the Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL), validated in our patient population, to measure HRQoL.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients with SLE from outpatient clinic. Patients completed a form with demographic, clinical, and treatment compliance data, and the LupusQoL questionnaire. HRQoL was classified as better or worse according to the cutoff points previously established for this patient population. Spearman’s r test was used to determine the correlations between age, years of education, disease duration, SLEDAI, and SLICC-DI with the eight domains of the LupusQoL. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare HRQoL between the two groups of patients according to treatment compliance. Binomial logistic regression using the backward successive step selection method was performed to identified the risk factors associated with each of the eight domains of the LupusQoL between patients with inactive SLE (SLEDAI < 4) and active (SLEDAI ≥ 4).ResultsHRQoL of our patients was classified as better in all domains of the LupusQoL. Age correlated negatively with all domains of the LupusQoL, except with “burden to others”, and disease activity correlated negatively with all domains of the LupusQoL, except with “intimate relationships” and “burden to others” (p < 0.05). Patients who fully complied with indicated treatment had higher scores in “physical health” domain compared to patients who did not comply with at least one of the prescribed medications (p < 0.05). In patients with active SLE, a risk factor associated with worse “planning” and “intimate relationships” was older age, while having had SLE flare-ups in the previous six months was a risk factor associated with worse “physical health” (p < 0.05).ConclusionAge and disease activity were negatively correlated with almost all domains of the LupusQoL, and treatment compliance was associated with higher score in the “physical health” domain. Disease control and treatment compliance should be the main goals for a better HRQoL in our patients with SLE.

Background In low- and middle-income countries, pregnant women and newborns are more vulnerable to adverse outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, in Venezuela, there are no integrated data in a national surveillance system to identify the clinical-epidemiological characteristics and maternal-foetal outcomes of pregnant women hospitalised with COVID-19. Methods A retrospective study was conducted among Venezuelan pregnant women hospitalised with COVID-19 seen at the “Ruiz y Páez” University Hospital Complex and the San Cristobal Central Hospital between June 2020 and September 2021. Information was obtained from physical and digitised clinical records using a form to collect epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, treatment, obstetric and perinatal complications, and maternal-foetal outcomes data. Results A total of 80 pregnant women with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were tested, 59 (73.8%) survived and 21 (26.2%) deceased. The median age was 29 [IQR —interquartile range— 10] years, the majority being in the third trimester of pregnancy (81.2%). Interestingly, four (5%) pregnant women were co-infected with malaria by Plasmodium vivax and three (3.8%) with syphilis. The most frequent symptoms were fever (75%), dry cough (68.8%), dyspnoea (55%), and headache (53.8%). The most frequent maternal complications were anaemia (51.5%) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (17.5%). The most frequent perinatal complications were preterm delivery (39.2%) and oligohydramnios (31.3%). A total of 29 (36.3%) perinatal deaths were documented, 21 stillbirth and eight abortions. Conclusion This is the first study to describe the clinical-epidemiological behaviour of COVID-19 in hospitalised Venezuelan pregnant women. Anaemia, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, and perinatal death were the most frequent maternal-foetal complications in this population of pregnant women.

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Background and Objective: The recognition of the patterns in which diseases are grouped has been growing research focus on multimorbidity. No data on this topic are available in Venezuela. The aim was to identify multimorbidity patterns in adult patients and to determine risk factors for multimorbidity patterns.