Household costs of dengue illness: secondary outcomes from a randomised controlled trial of dengue prevention in Guerrero state,Mexico

Background

Dengue is a serious public health problem with an important economic impact. This study used data from a cluster randomised controlled trial of community mobilisation for dengue prevention to estimate the household costs of treatment of dengue illness. It examined the economic impact of the trial intervention in the three coastal regions of Mexico’s Guerrero State.

Methods

The 2010 baseline survey covered households in a random sample of 90 clusters in the coastal regions; the clusters were randomly allocated to intervention or control and re-surveyed in 2012. The surveys asked about dengue cases in the last 12 months, expenditures on their treatment, and work or school days lost by patients and care givers. We did not assign monetary value to days lost, since a lost day to a person of low earning power is of equal or higher value to that person than to one who earns more.

Results

The 12,312 households in 2010 reported 1020 dengue cases in the last 12 months (1.9% of the sample population). Most (78%) were ambulatory cases, with a mean cost of USD 51 and 10.8 work/school days, rising to USD 96 and 11.4 work/school days if treated by a private physician. Hospitalised cases cost USD 28–94 in government institutions and USD 392 in private hospitals (excluding additional inpatient charges), as well as 9.6–17.3 work/school days. Dengue cases cost households an estimated 412,825 work/school days throughout the three coastal regions. In the follow up survey, 6.1% (326/5349) of households in intervention clusters and 7.9% (405/5139) in control clusters reported at least one dengue case. The mean of days lost per case was similar in intervention and control clusters, but the number of days lost from dengue and all elements of costs for dengue cases per 1000 population were lower in intervention clusters. If the total population of the three coastal regions had received the intervention, some 149,401 work or school days lost per year could have been prevented.

Conclusion

The economic effect of dengue on households, including lost work days, is substantial. The Camino Verde trial intervention reduced household costs for treatment of dengue cases.

Trial registration

The trial was registered as ISRCTN:27,581,154.

     

Coverage and beliefs about temephos application for control of dengue vectors and impact of a community-based prevention intervention: secondary analysis from the Camino Verde trial in Mexico

Background

Temephos in domestic water containers remains a mainstay of Latin American government programmes for control of Aedes aegypti and associated illnesses, including dengue. There is little published evidence about coverage of routine temephos programmes. A cluster randomised controlled trial of community mobilisation in Mexico and Nicaragua reduced vector indices, dengue infection, and clinical dengue cases. Secondary analysis from the Mexican arm of the trial examined temephos coverage and beliefs, and the impact of the trial on these outcomes.

Methods

The trial impact survey in December 2012, in 10,491 households in 45 intervention and 45 control clusters, asked about visits from the temephos programme, retention of applied temephos, and views about temephos and mosquito control. Fieldworkers noted if temephos was present in water containers.

Results

Some 42.4% of rural and 20.7% of urban households reported no temephos programme visits within the last 12 months. Overall, 42.0% reported they had temephos placed in their water containers less than 3 months previously. Fieldworkers observed temephos in at least one container in 21.1% of households. Recent temephos application and observed temephos were both significantly more common in urban households, when other household variables were taken into account; in rural areas, smaller households were more likely to have temephos present.Most households (74.4%) did not think bathing with water containing temephos carried any health risk. Half (51%) believed drinking or cooking with such water could be harmful and 17.6% were unsure.Significantly fewer households in intervention sites (16.5%) than in control sites (26.0%) (Risk Difference ? 0.095, 95% confidence interval ? 0.182 to ?0.009) had temephos observed in their water; more households in intervention clusters (41.8%) than in control clusters (31.6%) removed the applied temephos quickly. Although fewer households in intervention sites (82.7%) compared with control sites (86.7%) (RD -0.04, 95% CI -0.067 to ?0.013) agreed temephos and fumigation was the best way to avoid mosquitoes, the proportion believing this remained very high.

Conclusion

Coverage with the government temephos programme was low, especially in rural areas. Despite an intervention encouraging non-chemical mosquito control, most households continued to believe that chemicals are the best control method.

Trial registration

ISRCTN:27581154.

     

Informed community mobilization for dengue prevention in households with and without a regular water supply: Secondary analysis from the Camino Verde trial in Nicaragua

Background

Studies in different countries have identified irregular water supply as a risk factor for dengue virus transmission. In 2013, Camino Verde, a cluster-randomised controlled trial in Managua, Nicaragua, and Mexico’s Guerrero State, demonstrated impact of evidence-based community mobilisation on recent dengue infection and entomological indexes of infestation by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. This secondary analysis of data from the trial impact survey asks: (1) what is the importance of regular water supply in neighbourhoods with and without the trial intervention and (2) can community interventions like Camino Verde reasonably exclude households with adequate water supply?

Methods

Entomological data collected in the dry season of 2013 in intervention and control communities allow contrasts between households with regular and irregular water supplies. Indicators of entomological risk included the House Index and pupa positive household index. Generalised linear mixed models with cluster as a random effect compared households with and without regular water, and households in intervention and control communities.

Results

For the House Index, regular water supply was associated with a protection in both intervention households (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.6–0.9) and control households (OR 0.6, 95%CI 0.5–0.8). For the pupa positive household index, we found a similar protection from regular water supply in intervention households (OR 0.6, 95%CI 0.4–0.8) and control households (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.5–0.9). The Camino Verde intervention had a similar impact on House Index in households with regular water supply (OR 0.7, 95%CI 0.5–1.0) and irregular water supply (OR 0.6, 95%CI 0.4–0.8); for the pupa positive household index, the effect of the intervention was very similar in households with regular (OR0.5, 95%CI 0.3–0.8) and irregular (OR 0.5, 95%CI 0.3–0.9) water supply.

Conclusion

While Aedes aegypti control efforts based on informed community mobilisation had a strong impact on households without a regular water supply, this intervention also impacted entomological indices in households with a regular water supply. These households should not be excluded from community mobilisation efforts to reduce the Aedes aegypti vector.

Trial registration

ISRCTN27581154.

     

Evidence-based discussion increases childhood vaccination uptake: a randomised cluster controlled trial of knowledge translation in Pakistan

Background

Childhood vaccination rates are low in Lasbela, one of the poorest districts in Pakistan's Balochistan province. This randomised cluster controlled trial tested the effect on uptake of informed discussion of vaccination costs and benefits, without relying on improved health services.

Methods

Following a baseline survey of randomly selected representative census enumeration areas, a computer generated random number sequence assigned 18 intervention and 14 control clusters. The intervention comprised three structured discussions separately with male and female groups in each cluster. The first discussion shared findings about vaccine uptake from the baseline study; the second focussed on the costs and benefits of childhood vaccination; the third focussed on local action plans. Field teams encouraged the group participants to spread the dialogue to households in their communities. Both intervention and control clusters received a district-wide health promotion programme emphasizing household hygiene. Interviewers in the household surveys were blind of intervention status of different clusters. A follow-up survey after one year measured impact of the intervention on uptake of measles and full DPT vaccinations of children aged 12-23 months, as reported by the mother or caregiver.

Results

In the follow-up survey, measles and DPT vaccination uptake among children aged 12-23 months (536 in intervention clusters, 422 in control clusters) was significantly higher in intervention than in control clusters, where uptake fell over the intervention period. Adjusting for baseline differences between intervention and control clusters with generalized estimating equations, the intervention doubled the odds of measles vaccination in the intervention communities (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.24-3.88). It trebled the odds of full DPT vaccination (OR 3.36, 95% CI 2.03-5.56).

Conclusion

The relatively low cost knowledge translation intervention significantly increased vaccine uptake, without relying on improved services, in a poor district with limited access to services. This could have wide relevance in increasing coverage in developing countries.

Trial registration

ISRCTN12421731.

     

Dengue occurrence relations and serology: cross-sectional analysis of results from the Guerrero State,Mexico, baseline for a cluster-randomised controlled trial of community mobilisation for dengue prevention

Background

The Mexican arm of the Camino Verde trial of community mobilisation for dengue prevention covered three coastal regions of Guerrero state: Acapulco, Costa Grande and Costa Chica. A baseline cross-sectional survey provided data for community mobilisation and for adapting the intervention design to concrete conditions in the intervention areas.

Methods

Trained field teams constructed community profiles in randomly selected clusters, based on observation and key informant interviews. In each household they carried out an entomological inspection of water containers, collected information on socio-demographic variables and cases of dengue illness among household members in the last year, and gathered paired saliva samples from children aged 3–9 years, which were subjected to ELISA testing to detect recent dengue infection. We examined associations with dengue illness and recent dengue infection in bivariate and then multivariate analysis.

Results

In 70/90 clusters, key informants were unable to identify any organized community groups. Some 1.9% (1029/55,723) of the household population reported dengue illness in the past year, with a higher rate in Acapulco region. Among children 3–9 years old, 6.1% (392/6382) had serological evidence of recent dengue infection. In all three regions, household use of anti-mosquito products, household heads working, and households having less than 5 members were associated with self-reported dengue illness. In Acapulco region, people aged less than 25 years, those with a more educated household head and those from urban sites were also more likely to report dengue illness, while in Costa Chica and Costa Grande, females were more likely to report dengue illness. Among children aged 3–9 years, those aged 3–4 years and those living in Acapulco were more likely to have evidence of recent dengue infection.

Conclusions

The evidence from the baseline survey provided important support for the design and implementation of the trial intervention. The weakness of community leadership and the relatively low rates of self-reported dengue illness were challenges that the Mexican intervention team had to overcome. The higher dengue illness occurrence among women in Costa Grande and Costa Chica may help explain why women participated more than men in activities during the Camino Verde trial.

     

Beyond efficacy in water containers: Temephos and household entomological indices in six studies between 2005 and 2013 in Managua,Nicaragua

Background

A cluster-randomized controlled trial of community mobilisation for dengue prevention in Mexico and Nicaragua reported, as a secondary finding, a higher risk of dengue virus infection in households where inspectors found temephos in water containers. Data from control sites in the preceding pilot study and the Nicaragua trial arm provided six time points (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2011, 2012, 2013) to examine potentially protective effects of temephos on entomological indices under every day conditions of the national vector control programme.

Methods

Three household entomological indicators for Aedes aegypti breeding were Household Index, Households with pupae, and Pupae per Person. The primary exposure indicator at the six time points was temephos identified physically during the entomological inspection. A stricter criterion for exposure at four time points included households reporting temephos application during the last 30 days and temephos found on inspection. Using generalized linear mixed modelling with cluster as a random effect and temephos as a potential fixed effect, at each time point we examined possible determinants of lower entomological indicators.

Results

Between 2005 and 2013, temephos exposure was not significantly associated with a reduction in any of the three entomological indices, whether or not the exposure indicator included timing of temephos application. In six of 18 multivariate models at the six time points, temephos exposure was associated with higher entomological indices; in these models, we could exclude any protective effect of temephos with 95% confidence.

Conclusion

Our failure to demonstrate a significant protective association between temephos and entomological indices might be explained by several factors. These include ecological adaptability of the vector, resistance of Aedes to the pesticide, operational deficiencies of vector control programme, or a decrease in preventive actions by households resulting from a false sense of protection fostered by the centralized government programme using chemical agents. Whatever the explanation, the implication is that temephos affords less protection under routine field conditions than expected from its efficacy under experimental conditions.

Trial registration

ISRCTN 27581154.

     

Determinants of catastrophic health expenditure in Nigeria

Background

Catastrophic health expenditure is a measure of financial risk protection and it is often incurred by households who have to pay out of pocket for health care services that are not affordable. The study assessed the determinants of catastrophic health expenditure among households in Nigeria.

Methods

Secondary data from the Harmonized Nigeria Living Standard Survey (HNLSS) of 2009/10 was utilized to assess factors associated with catastrophic health expenditure in Nigeria. Household and individual characteristics associated with catastrophic health expenditure were determined using bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

Results showed that irrespective of the threshold for the two concepts of total household expenditure and non-food expenditure, having household members aged between 6 and 14 years, having household members aged between 15 and 24 years, having household members aged between 25 and 54 years, having no education, having primary education, having secondary education, lack of health insurance coverage, visiting a private health facility, households living in north central zone, households living in north east zone and having household members with non-chronic illnesses were factors that increase the risk of incurring catastrophic health expenditure among households.

Conclusions

Policy-makers and political actors need to design equitable health financing policies that will increase financial risk protection for people in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy.

     

“Where we put little fish in the water there are no mosquitoes:” a cross-sectional study on biological control of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes aegypti</Emphasis> vector in 90 coastal-region communities of Guerrero,Mexico

Background

In the Mexican state of Guerrero, some households place fish in water storage containers to prevent the development of mosquito larvae. Studies have shown that larvivorous fish reduce larva count in household water containers, but there is a lack of evidence about whether the use of fish is associated with a reduction in dengue virus infection. We used data from the follow up survey of the Camino Verde cluster randomised controlled trial of community mobilisation to reduce dengue risk to study this association.

Methods

The survey in 2012, among 90 clusters in the three coastal regions of Guerrero State, included a questionnaire to 10,864 households about socio-demographic factors and self-reported cases of dengue illness in the previous year. Paired saliva samples provided serological evidence of recent dengue infection among 4856 children aged 3–9 years. An entomological survey in the same households looked for larvae and pupae of Aedes aegypti and recorded presence of fish and temephos in water containers. We examined associations with the two outcomes of recent dengue infection and reported dengue illness in bivariate analysis and then multivariate analysis using generalized linear mixed modelling.

Results

Some 17% (1730/10,111) of households had fish in their water containers. The presence of fish was associated with lower levels of recent dengue virus infection in children aged 3–9 years (OR 0.64; 95% CI 0.45–0.91), as was living in a rural area (OR 0.57; 95% CI 0.45–0.71), and being aged 3–5 years (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.51–0.83). Factors associated with lower likelihood of self-reported dengue illness were: the presence of fish (OR 0.79; 95% CI 0.64–0.97), and living in a rural area (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.65–0.84). Factors associated with higher likelihood of self-reported dengue illness were: higher education level of the household head (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.07–1.52), living in a household with five people or less (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.16–1.52) and household use of insecticide anti-mosquito products (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.47–1.92).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that fish in water containers may reduce the risk of dengue virus infection and dengue illness. This could be a useful part of interventions to control the Aedes aegypti vector.

     

Health shock,catastrophic expenditure and its consequences on welfare of the household engaged in informal sector

Purpose

Despite significant contribution by India’s informal sector, tattered conditions have inflated the burden of health shocks in many ways. This study tries to examine the economic burden of health shocks and its associated consequences on households whose members are involved in informal sector. We primarily focus on three objectives for our analysis: (1) compute distribution and magnitude of health shocks and health expenditure between formal and informal workers; (2) evaluate the incidence and intensity of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), and measure its impoverishment effect; (3) estimate the major determinants of CHE for informal sector households.

Methods

Underlying objectives have been estimated using standard catastrophic and impoverishment measures (poverty headcount and poverty gap) and Poisson, logit and Tobit multivariate regression models. For empirical analysis, data is exploited from the recent round of Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS-II), 2012.

Results

We find that around 27% of households engaged in the informal sector spends more than 5% threshold on their health payment. We also find that OOP health expenditure pushes 7.12% informal sector households in poverty. Moreover, we also find that the impoverishment effect mainly rests on outpatient health expenditure and poverty deepening for informal sector households.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that informal sector workers are highly vulnerable to health shocks and economic burden in terms of high treatment costs and low insurance coverage. Further, we also show that workers engaged in the informal sector witness greater probability of incurring CHE and impoverishment. Results from the Tobit model suggests that various factors such as insurance coverage, severity of illness and others are crucial predictor of catastrophic spending.

     

Which green way: description of the intervention for mobilising against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes aegypti</Emphasis> under difficult security conditions in southern Mexico

Background

Community mobilisation for prevention requires engagement with and buy in from those communities. In the Mexico state of Guerrero, unprecedented social violence related to the narcotics trade has eroded most community structures. A recent randomised controlled trial in 90 coastal communities achieved sufficient mobilisation to reduce conventional vector density indicators, self-reported dengue illness and serologically proved dengue virus infection.

Methods

The Camino Verde intervention was a participatory research protocol promoting local discussion of baseline evidence and co-design of vector control solutions. Training of facilitators emphasised community authorship rather than trying to convince communities to do specific activities. Several discussion groups in each intervention community generated a loose and evolving prevention plan. Facilitators trained brigadistas, the first wave of whom received a small monthly stipend. Increasing numbers of volunteers joined the effort without pay. All communities opted to work with schoolchildren and for house-to-house visits by brigadístas. Children joined the neighbourhood vector control movements where security conditions permitted. After 6 months, a peer evaluation involved brigadista visits between intervention communities to review and to share progress.

Discussion

Although most communities had no active social institutions at the outset, local action planning using survey data provided a starting point for community authorship. Well-known in their own communities, brigadistas faced little security risk compared with the facilitators who visited the communities, or with governmental programmes. We believe the training focus on evidence-based dialogue and a plural community ownership through multiple design groups were key to success under challenging security conditions.

Trial registration

ISRCTN27581154.

     

The Effect of Exercise and Social Activity Interventions on Nutritional Status in Older Adults with Dementia Living in Nursing Homes: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Objectives

Examine the effects of a 24-week exercise intervention against a social intervention on body weight, body mass index (BMI) and nutritional status in PWD living in nursing homes.

Design

Randomized controlled trial.

Participants

Ninety-one older people with dementia living in nursing homes. Interventions: Exercise (n=44) or social-based activities (n=47), taking place twice per week, for 60 minutes/session, during 24 weeks.

Measurements

Nutritional status was measured with the mini-nutritional assessment (MNA), weight and BMI.

Results

After the 24-week intervention, none of MNA (B-coeff. 1.28; 95% CI -2.55 to 0.02), weight (-0.06; -1.58 to 1.45) and BMI (-0.05; -0.85 to 0.74) differed significantly between groups after adjustment for multiplicity. In the social group, MNA significantly improved while it remained stable in the exercise group. The percentage of at-risk and malnourished patients reduced in both groups by more than 6%.

Conclusion

The results suggest that social activities have as good effects as exercise activities on nutritional status in PWD nursing home residents.

     

Pupal productivity in rainy and dry seasons: findings from the impact survey of a randomised controlled trial of dengue prevention in Guerrero,Mexico

Background

The follow-up survey of a cluster-randomised controlled trial of evidence-based community mobilisation for dengue control in Nicaragua and Mexico included entomological information from the 2012 rainy and dry seasons. We used data from the Mexican arm of the trial to assess the impact of the community action on pupal production of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti in both rainy and dry seasons.

Methods

Trained field workers inspected household water containers in 90 clusters and collected any pupae or larvae present for entomological examination. We calculated indices of pupae per person and pupae per household, and traditional entomological indices of container index, household index and Breteau index, and compared these between rainy and dry seasons and between intervention and control clusters, using a cluster t-test to test significance of differences.

Results

In 11,933 houses in the rainy season, we inspected 40,323 containers and found 7070 Aedes aegypti pupae. In the dry season, we inspected 43,461 containers and counted 6552 pupae. All pupae and entomological indices were lower in the intervention clusters (IC) than in control clusters (CC) in both the rainy season (RS) and the dry season (DS): pupae per container 0.12 IC and 0.24 CC in RS, and 0.10 IC and 0.20 CC in DS; pupae per household 0.46 IC and 0.82 CC in RS, and 0.41 IC and 0.83 CC in DS; pupae per person 0.11 IC and 0.19 CC in RS, and 0.10 IC and 0.20 CC in DS; household index 16% IC and 21% CC in RS, and 12.1% IC and 17.9% CC in DS; container index 7.5% IC and 11.5% CC in RS, and 4.6% IC and 7.1% CC in DS; Breteau index 27% IC and 36% CC in RS, and 19% IC and 29% CC in DS. All differences between the intervention and control clusters were statistically significant, taking into account clustering.

Conclusions

The trial intervention led to significant decreases in pupal and conventional entomological indices in both rainy and dry seasons.

Trial registration

ISRCTN27581154.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes aegypti</Emphasis> breeding ecology in Guerrero: cross-sectional study of mosquito breeding sites from the baseline for the Camino Verde trial in Mexico

Background

Understanding the breeding patterns of Aedes aegypti in households and the factors associated with infestation are important for implementing vector control. The baseline survey of a cluster randomised controlled trial of community mobilisation for dengue prevention in Mexico and Nicaragua collected information about the containers that are the main breeding sites, identified possible actions to reduce breeding, and examined factors associated with household infestation. This paper describes findings from the Mexican arm of the baseline survey.

Methods

In 2010 field teams conducted household surveys and entomological inspections in 11,995 households from 90 representative communities in the three coastal regions of Guerrero State, Mexico. We characterized Ae. aegypti breeding sites and examined the effect of two preventive measures: temephos application in water containers, and keeping the containers covered. We examined associations with household infestation, using bivariate and multivariate analysis adjusted for clustering effects.

Results

We conducted entomological inspections in 11,995 households. Among 45,353 water containers examined, 6.5% (2958/45,353) were positive for larvae and/or pupae. Concrete tanks (pilas) and barrels (tambos) together accounted for 74% of pupal productivity. Both covering water containers and inserting temephos were independently associated with a lower risk of presence of larvae or pupae, with the effect of covering (OR 0.22; 95% CIca 0.15–0.27) stronger than that of temephos (OR 0.66; 95% CIca 0.53–0.84). Having more than four water containers was associated with household infestation in both rural areas (OR 1.42; 95% CIca 1.17–1.72) and urban areas (1.81; 1.47–2.25), as was low education of the household head (rural: 1.27; 1.11–1.46, and urban: 1.39; 1.17–1.66). Additional factors in rural areas were: household head without paid work (1.31; 1.08–1.59); being in the Acapulco region (1.91; 1.06–3.44); and using anti-mosquito products (1.27; 1.09–1.47). In urban areas only, presence of temephos was associated with a lower risk of household infestation (0.44; 0.32–0.60).

Conclusion

Concrete tanks and barrels accounted for the majority of pupal productivity. Covering water containers could be an effective means of Ae. aegypti vector control, with a bigger effect than using temephos. These findings were useful in planning and implementing the Camino Verde trial intervention in Mexico.

     

Age and IQ Explained Working Memory Performance in a RCT with Fatty Fish in a Group of Forensic Inpatients

Objectives

To investigate the effect of a long-term fatty fish intervention on a pure cognitive mechanism important for self-regulation and mental health, i.e. working memory (WM), controlling for age and IQ.

Design

A randomized controlled trial.

Setting

A forensic facility.

Participants

Eighty-four young to middle aged male forensic inpatients with psychiatric disorders.

Intervention

Consumption of farmed salmon or control meal (meat) three times a week during 23 weeks.

Measurement

Performance on WM tasks, both accuracy and mean reaction time, were recorded pre and post intervention.

Results

Performance on a cognitive functioning tasks taxing WM seemed to be explained by age and IQ.

Conclusion

Fatty fish consumption did not improve WM performance in a group of young to middle aged adults with mental health problems, as less impressionable factors such as aging and intelligence seemed to be the key components. The present study improves the knowledge concerning the interaction among nutrition, health and the aging process.

     

Pre Frail 80: Multifactorial Intervention to Prevent Progression of Pre-Frailty to Frailty in the Elderly

Objectives

Preventing or delaying frailty has important benefits in the elderly, and in health and social services. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of multifactorial interventions in the frail elderly, but there are fewer studies on community-dwelling pre-frail individuals. Identifying pre-frail individuals susceptible to intervention could prevent or delay frailty and its consequences and associated disability and might reverse the state from pre-frail to robust. To evaluate a multifactorial, interdisciplinary primary care intervention in community-dwelling pre-frail elderly patients aged ≥ 80 years.

Design

Randomized clinical trial in a Barcelona primary healthcare centre.

Setting

We included 200 community-dwelling subjects aged ≥ 80 years meeting the Fried pre-frailty criteria. Participants were randomized to intervention and control groups.

Intervention

The intervention group received a 6-month interdisciplinary intervention based on physical exercise, Mediterranean diet advice, assessment of inadequate prescribing in polypharmacy patients and social assessment, while the control group received standard primary healthcare treatment.

Results

173 pre-frail participants (86.5%) completed the study; mean age 84.5 years, 64.5% female. At twelve months, frailty was lower in the intervention group (RR 2.90; 95%CI 1.45 to 8.69). Reversion to robustness was greater in the intervention group (14.1% vs.1.1%, p <0.001). Functional and nutritional status, adherence to Mediterranean diet, quality of life, and functional mobility were improved in the intervention group (p ≤0.001).

Conclusion

A multifactorial, interdisciplinary primary healthcare intervention focused on physical exercise, nutrition, review of polypharmacy and social assessment prevented frailty in pre-frail elderly patients, and improved functional capacity, quality of life and adherence to the Mediterranean diet.

     

Dairy-Based and Energy-Enriched Berry-Based Snacks Improve or Maintain Nutritional and Functional Status in Older People in Home Care

Objective

Consumption of energy- and nutrient-dense snacks are recommended for older people to maintain adequate nutrition. We evaluated the effects of dairy-based and energy-enriched berry products consumed as snacks on nutritional and functional status among vulnerable older people receiving home care services.

Design

Randomised controlled study.

Setting and participants

The study sample consisted of 85 home care clients, with mean age of 81.9 (SD 7.1) years in the intervention group (n=50) and 83.7 (SD 8.1) years in the control group (n=35), and 72% women in both groups.

Intervention

In the intervention group, the participants consumed both high-protein dairy-based products and energy-enriched berry purées for three months. The snack products provided nearly 300 kcal and 14 g protein per day.

Measurements

The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), body mass index (BMI), mid-arm muscular area (MAMA) and concentrations of plasma albumin and prealbumin and blood haemoglobin were used to determine nutritional status, and handgrip strength was used to determine functional status at baseline and after the intervention. Results: After adjustment for age and gender, the intervention showed a significant effect on MNA scores (2.1, 95% [CI]: 1.0 to 3.3) (p=0.003), albumin concentration (2.0 g/L, 95% [CI]: 1.1 to 3.2) (p=0.006) and handgrip strength of the right hand in women (2.4 kg, 95% [CI]: 1.2 to 3.3) (p=0.007). The MNA scores improved in the intervention group, while albumin concentration and handgrip strength decreased in the control group.

Conclusions

Regular use of dairy- and energy-enriched berry-based snacks may improve or maintain nutritional and functional status among older people in home care.

     

A new adaptive home-based exercise technology among older adults living in nursing home: A pilot study on feasibility,acceptability and physical performance

Objectives

To explore the feasibility and acceptability of a new home-based exercise technology among older adults and to evaluate its efficacy on physical performance measures.

Design

Longitudinal clinical trial.

Setting

Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, a nursing home located in Gainesville, Florida.

Participants

Twelve pre-disabled older adults (≥75 years) living in a nursing home with a Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score between 6 and 9 and no diagnosis of dementia.

Intervention

Thirty minutes of light intensity exercise (aerobic, strength and balance) two times per week for four weeks using a home-based physical activity technology called Jintronix.

Measurements

Feasibility and acceptability were assessed through a 9-item self-administered questionnaire and by exploring the percentage of quality of movements and time performing exercise which was calculated automatically by Jintronix technology. Physical performance measures were assessed through the SPPB score at baseline, after 4 weeks of intervention and after 3 months from the completion of the intervention.

Results

Twelve older adults (80.5±4.2 years old) performed light intensity exercise with Jintronix for a total of 51.9±7.9 minutes per week. Participants reached 87% score of quality of movements in strength and balance exercises, a global appreciation score of 91.7% and a global difficulty score of 36%. Compared to baseline, there was a significant improvement in SPPB score at the end of the intervention and at 3 months following the completion of the exercise program (0.67±0.98 and 1.08±0.99 respectively, p-value <0.05).

Conclusion

Jintronix technology is feasible and acceptable among pre-disabled older adults without dementia living in nursing home and is beneficial in improving their physical performance.

     

Increased Mortality Despite Successful Multifactorial Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in Healthy Men: 40-Year Follow-Up of the Helsinki Businessmen Study Intervention Trial

Objectives

In a 5-year multifactorial risk reduction intervention for healthy men with at least one cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, mortality was unexpectedly higher in the intervention than the control group during the first 15-year follow-up. In order to find explanations for the adverse outcome, we have extended mortality follow-up and examined in greater detail baseline characteristics that contributed to total mortality.

Design

Long-term follow-up of a controlled intervention trial.

Setting

The Helsinki Businessmen Study Intervention Trial.

Participants and Intervention

The prevention trial between 1974–1980 included 1,222 initially healthy men (born 1919–1934) at high CVD risk, who were randomly allocated into intervention (n=612) and control groups (n=610). The 5-year multifactorial intervention consisted of personal health education and contemporary drug treatments for dyslipidemia and hypertension. In the present analysis we used previously unpublished data on baseline risk factors and lifestyle characteristics.

Main outcome measures

40-year total and cause-specific mortality through linkage to nation-wide death registers.

Results

The study groups were practically identical at baseline in 1974, and the 5-year intervention significantly improved risk factors (body mass index, blood pressure, serum lipids and glucose), and total CVD risk by 46% in the intervention group. Despite this, total mortality has been consistently higher up to 25 years post-trial in the intervention group than the control group, and converging thereafter. Increased mortality risk was driven by CVD and accidental deaths. Of the newly-analysed baseline factors, there was a significant interaction for mortality between intervention group and yearly vacation time (P=0.027): shorter vacation was associated with excess 30-year mortality in the intervention (hazard ratio 1.37, 95% CI 1.03–1.83, P=0.03), but not in the control group (P=0.5). This finding was robust to multivariable adjustments.

Conclusion

After a multifactorial intervention for healthy men with at least one CVD risk factor, there has been an unexpectedly increased mortality in the intervention group. This increase was especially observed in a subgroup characterised by shorter vacation time at baseline. Although this adverse response to personal preventive measures in vulnerable individuals may be characteristic to men of high social status with subclinical CVD, it clearly deserves further investigation.

     

Changes in Equity in Out-of-pocket Payments during the Period of Health Care Reforms: Evidence from Hungary

Background

At the beginning of 2007, health care reforms were implemented in Hungary in order to decrease public expenditure on health care. Reforms involved the increase of co-payments for pharmaceuticals and the introduction of co-payments for health care services.

Objective

The objective of this paper is to examine the progressivity of household expenditure on health care during the reform period, separately for expenditures on pharmaceuticals and medical devices, as well as for formal and informal patient payments for health care services.

Methods

We use data on household expenditure from the Household Budget Survey carried out by the Central Statistical Office of Hungary. We present household expenditure as a percentage of household income across different income quintiles and calculate Kakwani indexes as a measure of progressivity for a four years period (2005–2008): before, during and after the implementation of the health care reforms.

Results

We find that out-of-pocket payments on health care are highly regressive in Hungary with a Kakwani index of ?0.22. In particular, households from the lowest income quintile spend an about three times larger share of their income on out-of-pocket payments (6–7?%) compared to households in the highest income quintile (2?%). Expenditures on pharmaceuticals and medical devices are the most regressive types of expenditure (Kakwani index ?0.23/-0.24), and at the same time they represent a major part of the total household expenditure on health care (78–85?%). Informal payments are also regressive while expenditures on formal payments for services are the most proportional to income. We find that expenditures on formal payments became regressive after the introduction of user fees (Kakwani index ?0.1). At the same time, we observe that expenditures on informal payments became less regressive during the reform period (Kakwani index increases from ?0.20/-0.18 to ?0.12.)

Conclusions

More attention should be paid on the protection of low-income social groups when increasing or introducing co-payments especially for pharmaceuticals but also for services. Also, it is important to eliminate the practice of informal payments in order to improve equity in health care financing.

     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Camino Verde</Emphasis> (The Green Way): evidence-based community mobilisation for dengue control in Nicaragua and Mexico: feasibility study and study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background

Since the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that transmit dengue virus can breed in clean water, WHO-endorsed vector control strategies place sachets of organophosphate pesticide, temephos (Abate), in household water storage containers. These and other pesticide-dependent approaches have failed to curb the spread of dengue and multiple dengue virus serotypes continue to spread throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. A feasibility study in Managua, Nicaragua, generated instruments, intervention protocols, training schedules and impact assessment tools for a cluster randomised controlled trial of community-based approaches to vector control comprising an alternative strategy for dengue prevention and control in Nicaragua and Mexico.

Methods/Design

The Camino Verde (Green Way) is a pragmatic parallel group trial of pesticide-free dengue vector control, adding effectiveness to the standard government dengue control. A random sample from the most recent census in three coastal regions of Guerrero state in Mexico will generate 90 study clusters and the equivalent sampling frame in Managua, Nicaragua will generate 60 clusters, making a total of 150 clusters each of 137–140 households. After a baseline study, computer-driven randomisation will allocate to intervention one half of the sites, stratified by country, evidence of recent dengue virus infection in children aged 3–9 years and, in Nicaragua, level of community organisation. Following a common evidence-based education protocol, each cluster will develop and implement its own collective interventions including house-to-house visits, school-based programmes and inter-community visits. After 18 months, a follow-up study will compare dengue history, serological evidence of recent dengue virus infection (via measurement of anti-dengue virus antibodies in saliva samples) and entomological indices between intervention and control sites.

Discussion

Our hypothesis is that informed community mobilisation adds effectiveness in controlling dengue.

Trial registration

ISRCTN27581154.