Metabolic,mental health,behavioural and socioeconomic characteristics of migrants with Chagas disease in a non‐endemic country

Objectives Chronic Chagas disease causes cardiopathy in 20–40% of the 8–10 million people affected. The prevalence of atherogenic factors increases rapidly in Latin America. Somatic, mental, behavioural and social characteristics of the 80 000 Latino migrants with Chagas disease in Europe are not known. We postulate that they may accumulate these factors for poor health – notably cardiovascular‐outcomes. Methods This study took place at the Geneva University Hospitals in 2011. Latin American migrants with Chagas disease diagnosed in Geneva since 2008 were contacted. Interviews and blood tests assessed behavioural, socioeconomic, metabolic and cardiovascular factors. Results One hundred and thirty‐seven patients (women: 84.7%; median age: 43 years) with chronic Chagas disease were included in the study. The majority were Bolivians (94.2%), undocumented (83.3%), uninsured (72.3%) and living below the Swiss poverty line (89.1%). Prevalence of obesity was 25.5%, of hypertension 17.5%, of hypercholesterolemia 16.1%, of impaired fasting glucose 23.4%, of diabetes 2.9%, of metabolic syndrome 16.8%, of anxiety 58.4%, of depression 28.5%, of current smoking 15.4% and of sedentary lifestyle 62.8%. High (>10%) 10‐year cardiovascular risk affected 12.4%. Conclusions Latin American migrants with Chagas disease accumulate pathogenic chronic conditions of infectious, non‐transmissible, socioeconomic and behavioural origin, putting them at high risk of poor health, notably cardiovascular, outcomes. This highlights the importance of screening for these factors and providing interventions to tackle reversible disorders; facilitating access to care for this hard‐to‐reach population to prevent delays in medical interventions and poorer health outcomes; and launching prospective studies to evaluate the long‐term impact of these combined factors on the natural course of Chagas disease.     

Borderline high serum calcium levels are associated with arterial stiffness and 10‐year cardiovascular disease risk determined by Framingham risk score

Recent epidemiological data indicate that the concentration of circulating calcium is related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. We determined whether serum calcium level is related to arterial stiffness and 10‐year CVD risk calculated by Framingham risk score (FRS). We examined the association of normal‐range serum calcium level with arterial stiffness and FRS in 565 Korean adults participating at the Health Promotion Center of Gangnam Severance Hospital between March 2016 and May 2017. High brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was defined as >1460 cm/s, and high FRS was defined as ≥10 percent for 10‐year CVD risk. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for high baPWV and high FRS were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for confounding variables. The OR (95% CI) for high baPWV was 3.91 (1.15‐7.36) per 1 mg/dL increment of serum calcium after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, exercise regularity, alcohol consumption, mean blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, HDL‐cholesterol, C‐reactive protein, γ‐glutamyltransferase, uric acid level, phosphate level, potassium level, and presence of hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia medications (P = 0.024). A positive association between serum calcium level and high FRS was also observed after adjusting for the same covariables (OR, 3.54 [95% CI, 1.01‐12.44], P = 0.048). Serum calcium level was independently and positively associated with baPWV and 10‐year CVD risk estimates. Early detection of higher serum calcium level may be important for the assessment of arterial stiffness and future risk of a cardiovascular event.     

Mortality of Chagas’ disease in Brazil: spatial patterns and definition of high‐risk areas

Objective To describe patterns of spatial distribution of mortality associated with Chagas’ disease in Brazil. Methods Nationwide study of all deaths in Brazil from 1999 to 2007, where Chagas’ disease was recorded as a cause of death. Data were obtained from the national Mortality Information System of the Ministry of Health. We calculated the mean mortality rate for each municipality of residence in three‐year intervals and the entire period. Empirical Bayes smoothing was used to minimise random variation in mortality rates because of the population size in the municipalities. To evaluate the existence of spatial autocorrelation, global and local Moran’s I indices were used. Results The nationwide mean mortality rate associated with Chagas’ disease was 3.37/100 000 inhabitants/year, with a maximum of 138.06/100 000 in one municipality. Independently from the statistical approach, spatial analysis identified a large cluster of high risk for mortality by Chagas’ disease, involving nine states in the Central region of Brazil. Conclusion This study defined geographical priority areas for the management of Chagas’ disease and consequently reducing disease‐associated mortality in Brazil. Different spatial‐analytical approaches can be integrated to provide data for planning, monitoring and evaluating specific intervention measures.     

A low carbohydrate Mediterranean diet improves cardiovascular risk factors and diabetes control among overweight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a 1‐year prospective randomized intervention study

Background: The appropriate dietary intervention for overweight persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is unclear. Trials comparing the effectiveness of diets are frequently limited by short follow‐up times and high dropout rates. Aim: The effects of a low carbohydrate Mediterranean (LCM), a traditional Mediterranean (TM), and the 2003 American Diabetic Association (ADA) diet were compared, on health parameters during a 12‐month period. Methods: In this 12‐month trial, 259 overweight diabetic patients (mean age 55 years, mean body mass index 31.4 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to one of the three diets. The primary end‐points were reduction of fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and triglyceride (TG) levels. Results: 194 patients out of 259 (74.9%) completed follow‐up. After 12 months, the mean weight loss for all patients was 8.3 kg: 7.7 kg for ADA, 7.4 kg for TM and 10.1 kg for LCM diets. The reduction in HbA1c was significantly greater in the LCM diet than in the ADA diet (?2.0 and ?1.6%, respectively, p < 0.022). HDL cholesterol increased (0.1 mmol/l ± 0.02) only on the LCM (p < 0.002). The reduction in serum TG was greater in the LCM (?1.3 mmol/l) and TM (?1.5 mmol/l) than in the ADA (?0.7 mmol/l), p = 0.001. Conclusions: An intensive 12‐month dietary intervention in a community‐based setting was effective in improving most modifiable cardiovascular risk factors in all the dietary groups. Only the LCM improved HDL levels and was superior to both the ADA and TM in improving glycaemic control.     

Using vital registration data to update mortality among patients lost to follow‐up from ART programmes: evidence from the Themba Lethu Clinic,South Africa

Objective To estimate the rates of mortality in patients lost to follow‐up (LTFU) from a large urban public sector HIV clinic in South Africa. Methods We compared vital status using the clinic’s database to vital status verified against the Vital Registration system at the South African Department of Home Affairs. We compared rates of mortality before and after updating mortality data. Predictors of mortality were estimated using Kaplan–Meier curves and proportional hazard regression. Results Of the 7097 total patients who initiated highly active antiretroviral therapy at Themba Lethu Clinic by October 1st, 2008 and had an ID number, 6205 were included. 2453 patients (21%) were LTFU, of whom 1037 (42.3%) could be included in the analysis. After matching to the vital registration system, mortality more than doubled from 4.2% (258/6205) to 10.9% (676/6205). Overall 37% of those LTFU died by life‐table analysis the probability of survival amongst those LTFU was 69% (95% CI: 66–72%), 64% (95% CI: 61–67%) and 59% (95% CI: 55–62%) by years 1, 2 and 3 since being lost, respectively. Those at highest risk of death after being lost were patients with a history of tuberculosis, CD4 count < 100 cells/μl, BMI < 17.5, haemoglobin < 10 and on <6 months of treatment. Conclusion Mortality was substantially underestimated among patients lost from a South African HIV treatment programme despite limited active tracing. Linking to vital registration systems can provide more accurate assessments of programme effectiveness and target lost patients most at risk for mortality.     

Adult deaths and the future: a cause‐specific analysis of adult deaths from a longitudinal study in rural Tanzania 2003–2007

Objectives To determine patterns and risk factors for cause‐specific adult mortality in rural southern Tanzania. Methods The study was a longitudinal open cohort and focused on adults aged 15–59 years between 2003 and 2007. Causes of deaths were ascertained by verbal autopsy (VA). Cox proportion hazards regression model was used to determine factors associated with cause‐specific mortality over the 5‐year period. Results Thousand three hundred and fifty‐two of 65 548 adults died, representing a crude adult mortality rate (AMR) of 7.3 per 1000 person years of observation (PYO). VA was performed for 1132 (84%) deaths. HIV/AIDS [231 (20.4%)] was the leading cause of death followed by malaria [150 (13.2%)]. AMR for communicable disease (CD) causes was 2.49 per 1000 PYO, 1.21 per 1000 PYO for non‐communicable diseases (NCD) and 0.53 per 1000 PYO for accidents/injury causes. NCD deaths increased from 16% in 2003 to 24% in 2007. High level of education was associated with a reduction in the risk of dying from NCDs. Those with primary education (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.92) and with education beyond primary school (HR = 0.11, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.40) had lower mortality than those who had no formal education. Compared with local residents, in‐migrants were 1.7 (95% CI: 1.37, 2.11) times more likely to die from communicable disease causes. Conclusion NCDs are increasing as a result of demographic and epidemiological transitions taking place in most African countries including Tanzania and require attention to prevent increased triple disease burden of CD, NCD and accident/injuries.