Search

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant global health threat, with uncertainties persisting regarding the factors determining whether individuals experience mild symptoms, severe conditions, or succumb to the disease. This study presents an NMR metabolomics-based approach, analysing 80 serum and urine samples from COVID-19 patients (34 intensive care patients and 46 hospitalized patients) and 32 from healthy controls. Our research identifies discriminant metabolites and clinical variables relevant to COVID-19 diagnosis and severity. These discriminant metabolites play a role in specific pathways, mainly “Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis”, “Phenylalanine metabolism”, “Glycerolipid metabolism” and “Arginine and proline metabolism”. We propose a three-metabolite diagnostic panel—comprising isoleucine, TMAO, and glucose—that effectively discriminates COVID-19 patients from healthy individuals, achieving high efficiency. Furthermore, we found an optimal biomarker panel capable of efficiently classify disease severity considering both clinical characteristics (obesity/overweight, dyslipidemia, and lymphocyte count) together with metabolites content (ethanol, TMAO, tyrosine and betaine).

Background Periodontitis, one of the most common forms of periodontal disease, has been linked to several cardiovascular factors including metabolic syndrome and inflammatory processes. This study aimed to determine the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and periodontitis in a representative sample of individuals in the north of Peru. Materials and methods Secondary data analysis using information of a population-based survey, enrolling subjects aged 35 to 69 years. The outcome was periodontitis, evaluated using a self-reported and validated 8-item questionnaire (≥5 points compatible with severe periodontitis), whereas the exposure was the presence of T2DM, evaluated using results of oral glucose tolerance test and categorized into two different forms: (a) normoglycemic, prediabetes, and T2DM, and (b) without T2DM, with T2DM and

Background Periodontitis, one of the most common forms of periodontal disease, has been linked to several cardiovascular factors including metabolic syndrome and inflammatory processes. This study aimed to determine the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and periodontitis in a representative sample of individuals in the north of Peru. Materials and methods Secondary data analysis using information of a population-based survey, enrolling subjects aged 35 to 69 years. The outcome was periodontitis, evaluated using a self-reported and validated 8-item questionnaire, whereas the exposure was the presence of T2DM, evaluated using results of oral glucose tolerance test and categorized into two different forms: (a) normoglycemic, prediabetes, and T2DM, and (b) without T2DM, with T2DM and

Abstract: This study aimed to estimate the population-based Parkinson disease prevalence, and to explore potentially associated factors and conditions. A population-based survey was conducted in Northern Peru. Symptoms compatible with Parkinson’s were defined using a validated Spanish questionnaire (≥ 42 points suggest Parkinson’s). Potential factors (e.g., age, sex, etc.) and clinical conditions (e.g., depressive symptoms, perceived stress, etc.) associated with Parkinson’s were assessed. In total, 1,609 subjects were included, mean age of participants was 48.2 (SD: 10.6), and 810 (50.3%) were women. Parkinson’s prevalence was 1.6% (95%CI: 1.0; 2.4). Those aged ≥ 55 years, and those who reported using wood as fuel for household cooking had a Parkinson’s prevalence from 3.5 to 4 times greater than those who did not. The presence of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, perceived stress, poor sleep quality, and cognitive impairment was more common among those with Parkinson’s, and quality of life in these participants was lower than those without Parkinson’s. In conclusion, 1.6% of the population shows symptoms compatible with Parkinson’s. Age and use of wood for household cooking were factors associated with Parkinson’s. Several mental health conditions and lower quality of life were more frequent among those with Parkinson’s. Appropriate strategies are required to detect, prevent, and manage Parkinson’s cases.

Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased fastest in low- and middle-income countries in the last decades. Together with this rising prevalence, pharmacological and surgical interventions for obesity have emerged. How many people need these treatments is unknown. We quantified the prevalence of people in need of pharmacological and surgical treatment for obesity in Peru between 2014 and 2022. Methods Repeated cross-sectional analysis of national health surveys in Peru was conducted. Eligibility for pharmacological treatment for obesity was: body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 or BMI ≥27 kg/m2 alongside type 2 diabetes or hypertension (self-reported). Eligibility for bariatric surgery were BMI ≥40 kg/m2 or BMI between 35 to 39.9 kg/m2 linked to weight-related health problems. We used Poisson regressions to identify associated factors with eligibility for obesity management. Results Across years, 260,131 people (mean age 44.0 and 54.5% were women) were studied, 66,629 (27.7%; 95% CI: 27.4% - 28.1%) were eligible for obesity medication, and 5,263 (2.5%; 95% CI: 2.4% - 2.6%) were eligible for bariatric surgery. Female sex, older age, higher socioeconomic level and study year were associated with higher probability of eligibility for both obesity medication and bariatric surgery. Conclusions Eligibility for obesity management has increased over time in Peru. There is a need to strengthen policies to tackle overweight and obesity in Peru, acknowledging that some individuals may benefit from pharmacological and surgical interventions.

Background The co-occurrence of chronic diseases and acute infectious events exacerbates disability and diminishes quality of life, yet research in Low- and Middle-Income countries is scarce. We aimed to investigate the relationship between infectious events and multimorbidity in resource-constrained settings. Methods We conducted a sequential mixed-method study in Lima and Tumbes, Peru, with participants having multimorbidity from the CRONICAS Cohort Study. They completed a questionnaire on the occurrence, treatment, and health-seeking behaviour related to acute infectious events. Qualitative interviews explored the perceptions and links between multimorbidity and acute infectious events for a subgroup of participants. Findings Among individuals with multimorbidity, low awareness of chronic conditions and poor medication adherence. The cumulative incidence for respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, the most reported acute conditions, was 2.0 [95%CI: 1.8–2.2] and 1.6 [1.2–1.9] events per person per year, respectively. Individuals with cancer (6.4 [1.6–11.2] events per person per year) or gastrointestinal reflux (7.2 [4.4–10.1] events per person per year) reported higher cumulative incidence of infectious events than others, such as those with cardiovascular and metabolic conditions (5.2 [4.6–5.8] events per person per year). Those with three or more chronic conditions had a slightly higher cumulative incidence compared with individuals with two conditions (5.7 [4.4–7.0] vs 5.0 [4.4–5.6] events per person per year). Around 40% of individuals with multimorbidity sought healthcare assistance, while others chose drugstores or didn't seek help. Our qualitative analysis showed diverse perceptions among participants regarding the connections between chronic and acute conditions. Those who recognized a connection emphasized the challenges in managing these interactions. Interpretation Our study advances understanding of multimorbidity challenges in resource-limited settings, highlighting the impact of acute infections on patients' existing multimorbidity burden.

There are few studies focused on the epidemiology of hypertensive crisis at the population level in resource-constrained settings. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and trends over time of hypertensive crisis, as well as the factors associated with this condition among adults. A secondary data analysis was carried out using the Peruvian Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES). Hypertensive crisis was defined based on the presence of systolic (≥ 180mmHg) or diastolic (≥ 110mmHg) blood pressure, regardless of previous diagnosis or medication use. The factors associated with our outcome were evaluated using multinomial logistic regression, and the trend of hypertensive crisis was evaluated using the Cochrane-Armitage test. Data from 260,167 participants were analyzed, with a mean age of 44.2 (SD: 16.9) years and 55.5% were women. Hypertension prevalence was 23% (95%CI: 22.7-23.4) and, among them, 5.7% (95%CI: 5.4-5.9) had hypertensive crisis, with an overall prevalence of 1.5% (95%CI: 1.4-1.6). From 2014 to 2022, a significant decrease in the prevalence of hypertensive crisis was observed, from 1.7% in 2014 to 1.4% in 2022 (p = 0.001). In the multivariable model, males, increasing age, living in urban areas, high body mass index, and self-reported type 2 diabetes were positively associated with hypertensive crisis, whereas higher educational level, socioeconomic status, and high altitude were inversely associated. There is a need to improve strategies for the diagnosis, treatment, and control of hypertension, especially hypertensive crisis.

Background The long-term impact of elevated blood pressure on mortality outcomes has been recently revisited due to proposed changes in cut-offs for hypertension. This study aimed at assessing the association between high blood pressure levels and 10-year mortality using the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7) and the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2017 blood pressure guidelines. Methods Data analysis of the PERU MIGRANT Study, a prospective ongoing cohort, was used. The outcome of interest was 10-year all-cause mortality, and exposures were blood pressure categories according to the JNC-7 and ACC/AHA 2017 guidelines. Log-rank test, Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression models were used to assess the associations of interest controlling for confounders. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated. Results A total of 976 records, mean age of 60.4 (SD: 11.4), 513 (52.6%) women, were analyzed. Hypertension prevalence at baseline almost doubled from 16.0% (95% CI 13.7%–18.4%) to 31.3% (95% CI 28.4%–34.3%), using the JNC-7 and ACC/AHA 2017 definitions, respectively. Sixty-three (6.4%) participants died during the 10-year follow-up, equating to a mortality rate of 3.6 (95% CI 2.4–4.7) per 1000 person-years. Using JNC-7, and compared to those with normal blood pressure, those with pre-hypertension and hypertension had 2.1-fold and 5.1-fold increased risk of death, respectively. Similar mortality effect sizes were estimated using ACC/AHA 2017 for stage-1 and stage-2 hypertension. Conclusions Blood pressure levels under two different definitions increased the risk of 10-year all-cause mortality. Hypertension prevalence doubled using ACC/AHA 2017 compared to JNC-7. The choice of blood pressure cut-offs to classify hypertension categories need to be balanced against the patients benefit and the capacities of the health system to adequately handle a large proportion of new patients.

Abstract Stroke is a recurrent and well-known cardiovascular event and a leading cause of death worldwide. We identified reliable epidemiological evidence of stroke in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and estimated the prevalence and incidence of stroke, overall and by sex, in that region. A systematic search in OVID (Medline, Embase and Global Health) and in the Latin America and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) until the end of 2020 was made for all cross-sectional or longitudinal studies estimating (or allowing the estimation of) the prevalence or incidence of stroke among individuals of the general population ≥ 18 years from LAC countries. No language restriction was applied. Studies were assessed for methodological quality and risk of bias. Pooled estimates were calculated using random effect meta-analysis as high heterogeneity was expected. A total of 31 papers for prevalence and 11 papers for incidence were included in the review for analysis. The overall pooled stroke prevalence was 32 (95% CI 26–38) per 1000 subjects and were similar among men (21; 95% CI 17–25) and women (20; 95% CI 16–23) per 1000 subjects. The overall pooled stroke incidence was 255 (95% CI 217–293) per 100 000 person-years, being higher in men (261; 95% CI 221–301) compared to women (217; 95% CI 184–250) per 100 000 person-years. Our results highlight the relevance of the prevalence and incidence of stroke in the LAC region. The estimates were similar in stroke prevalence by sex, but with higher incidence rates among males than females. Subgroup analyses highlight the need for standardized methodologies to obtain appropriate prevalence and incidence estimates at the population level in a region with a great burden of cardiovascular events.

Abstract: Evidence points to a direct relationship between nutritional quality and food expenditure. However, food expenditure is highly susceptible to changes, and nutritional quality of household food presents limited evidence. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between nutritional quality available and total food expenditure in Peruvian households, and whether there were differences by area (urban and rural) and between years of the COVID-19 pandemic. For this, we used Peru’s National Household Survey (ENAHO) from 2019 and 2020. We assessed total food expenditure in US dollars per day, whereas household nutritional quality available was assessed based on dietary diversity and compliance with the household calorie requirements, percentage of food expenditure, and potential confounders. We used the Student’s t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), linear regression, and the Wald test to assess the interaction effect. Households with adequate total/partial nutritional quality available by area were found to spend, on average, USD 2.00 more in urban than in rural areas and, by year, they presented 7.1% more percentage of food expenditure in 2020 than in 2019. Despite associations existing between nutritional quality available and total food expenditure by year and study area, the effect modification was only present by study area. In multivariable model, households with adequate total/partial nutritional quality available consistently presented a lower total food expenditure by year, with a lower total food expenditure in urban areas. An inverse relationship was found between nutritional quality available and total food expenditure, in contrast to the direct relationship of studies assessing dietary cost and nutritional quality. Our results reflect the nutritional deficit in the food purchases of Peruvian households.

Objetivo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar las tendencias ocurridas en diferentes indicadores de tabaquismo en adolescentes peruanos. Asimismo, se evaluó las tendencias en dichos indicadores de acuerdo a sexo y en aquellos sin antecedente de tabaquismo previo. Materiales y métodos. El presente estudio usa la Encuesta Mundial sobre Tabaquismo en Jóvenes (Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2007, 2014, 2019). Tabaquismo activo se definió según el consumo de tabaco en los últimos 30 días. Tabaquismo pasivo se definió en función a exposición a tabaco dentro y fuera del hogar, tanto global como en forma diaria. Los análisis consideraron el diseño muestral. Resultados. Un total de 17 047 registros (9869 en el 2007, 3424 en el 2014, y 3754 en el 2019) fueron analizados; edad media 14 años y 49,9% mujeres. El 26,6% reportó antecedente de tabaquismo previo; dicha prevalencia cayó de 45,2% (2007), a 25,3% (2014), y a 19,4% (2019, p de tendencias < 0,001), mientras que el tabaquismo activo cayó de 17,1% (2007) a 8,7% (2014) y a 5,7% (2019). La prevalencia global de tabaquismo pasivo en el hogar cayó de 24,7%, a 12,9% y a 10,4% (p de tendencias

Objetivo. Determinar si existe asociación entre la presencia de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) y la duración, dificultad para dormir, y calidad de sueño, en sujetos de 30 a 69 años en Tumbes. Materiales y métodos. Estudio transversal analítico. Las variables dependientes fueron dificultad para dormir (a veces/casi nunca y frecuentemente), duración del sueño (normal, corto y prolongado) y calidad del sueño (buena y mala). La variable independiente fue la presencia de DM2 evaluada usando la prueba de tolerancia oral a la glucosa (no DM2, con DM2 y sin diagnóstico previo, y con DM2 y diagnóstico previo). Se usó modelos de regresión de Poisson para reportar razones de prevalencia (RP) e intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC 95%). Resultados. Se analizaron 1604 individuos, con una edad media de 48,2 años; 50,3% fueron mujeres; 71 (4,4%) tenían DM2 sin diagnóstico previo y 105 (6,5%) tenían DM2 con diagnóstico previo. Según las características del sueño, 12,0% presentó sueño corto y 8,2% presentó sueño prolongado; 3,7% reportó dificultad para dormir, y 19,5% tuvo mala calidad de sueño. En el modelo multivariable, tener DM2 con diagnóstico previo estuvo asociado con dificultad para dormir (RP = 2,20; IC 95%: 1,13–4,27) y mala calidad de sueño (RP = 1,40; IC 95%: 1,05–1,92) comparado con aquellos sin DM2. Conclusiones. Los individuos con DM2 que tenían diagnóstico previo tuvieron mayor probabilidad de presentar dificultad para dormir y mala calidad de sueño. Nuestros resultados sugieren la necesidad de evaluar en forma periódica las características del sueño en pacientes con DM2.

Abstract Clinical trials evaluating cardiac progenitor cells (CPC) demonstrated feasibility and safety, but no clear functional benefits. Therefore a deeper understanding of CPC biology is warranted to inform strategies capable to enhance their therapeutic potential. Here we have defined, using a label-free proteomic approach, the differential cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments of human CPC (hCPC). Global analysis of cytoplasmic repertoire in hCPC suggested an important hypoxia response capacity and active collagen metabolism. In addition, comparative analysis of the nuclear protein compartment identified a significant regulation of a small number of proteins in hCPC versus human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). Two proteins significantly upregulated in the hCPC nuclear compartment, IL1A and IMP3, showed also a parallel increase in mRNA expression in hCPC versus hMSC, and were studied further. IL1A, subjected to an important post-transcriptional regulation, was demonstrated to act as a dual-function cytokine with a plausible role in apoptosis regulation. The knockdown of the mRNA binding protein (IMP3) did not negatively impact hCPC viability, but reduced their proliferation and migration capacity. Analysis of a panel of putative candidate genes identified HMGA2 and PTPRF as IMP3 targets in hCPC. Therefore, they are potentially involved in hCPC proliferation/migration regulation.

Objective. To determine the prevalence and incidence of arterial hypertension, as well as the prevalence of previous diagnosis of arterial hypertension (self-reported) among the adult population of Peru. Materials and methods. Systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies available in LILACS, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Global Health. Studies were included if they followed a random sampling approach in adult population. Screening and assessment of manuscripts was carried out independently by two researchers. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the overall prevalence and incidence of hypertension. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the risk of bias in the manuscripts. Results. A total of 903 papers were screened, and only 15 were included in the estimation of hypertension prevalence, 8 in the assessment of previous hypertension diagnosis, and 4 for incidence estimations. The pooled prevalence of hypertension was 22.0% (95% CI: 20.0% - 25.0%; I2=99.2%). This estimate was lower in national studies [20.0% (95% CI: 17.0% - 22.0%; I2=99.4%] than in sub-national studies [24.0% (95% CI: 17.0% - 30.0%; I2=99.2%]. The pooled prevalence of previous hypertension diagnosis was 51.0% (95% CI: 43.0% - 59.0%; I2=99.9%). The pooled incidence of hypertension was 4.2 (95% CI: 2.0 - 6.4; I2=98.6%) per 100 person-years. The included studies did not present high risk of bias. Conclusions. Our findings show that one in five Peruvians has hypertension, and that four new cases appear per 100 persons per year; in addition, only half of the subjects with hypertension are previously diagnosed.

Objective: To determine the incidence of stroke, overall and by sub-types, in Peru between 2017 and 2018. Materials and Methods: Analysis of hospital morbidity data obtained from SUSALUD (open data). Using the ICD-10 codes, the following were studied: subarachnoid hemorrhage (I60), atraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (I61), cerebral infarction (I63), and unspecified stroke (I64). The crude and age-standardized incidence was calculated according to the population of the World Health Organization and using the national projected population number of people according to year, age and sex as the denominator. Results: In 2017, a total of 10,570 stroke cases were recorded, whereas, in 2018, there were 12,835 cases. Ischemic events were more frequent in both years. Regardless of stroke subtype and year, men were more affected than women. In the 35+ year-old population, an increase in the crude incidence of total stroke was observed between 2017 and 2018, from 80.9 to 96.7 per 100,000 person-years. The age-standardized incidence showed the same trend, but in a greater magnitude: from 93.9 to 109.8 per 100,000 person-years. Ischemic stroke was the one that increased the most, with an age-standardized rate in people aged 35+ years of 35.2 in 2017 and 46.3 per 100,000 person-years in 2018. Conclusions: The incidence of stroke is high in Peru. Ischemic cases are the most frequent and they disproportionately affect men. Our results suggest the need for a surveillance system to robustly quantify the incidence of these cases and understand their determinants.

Objective To determine the agreement between the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk predictions computed with the WHO non-laboratory-based model and laboratory-based model in a nationally representative sample of Peruvian adults.Design Cross-sectional analysis of a national health survey.Methods Absolute CVD risk was computed with the 2019 WHO laboratory-based and non-laboratory-based models. The risk predictions from both models were compared with Bland-Altman plots, Lin’s concordance coefficient correlation (LCCC), and kappa statistics, stratified by sex, age, body mass index categories, smoking and diabetes status.Results 663 people aged 30–59 years were included in the analysis. Overall, there were no substantial differences between the mean CVD risk computed with the laboratory-based model 2.0% (95% CI 1.8% to 2.2%) and the non-laboratory-based model 2.0% (95% CI 1.8% to 2.1%). In the Bland-Altman plots, the limits of agreement were the widest among people with diabetes (−0.21; 4.37) compared with people without diabetes (−1.17; 0.95). The lowest agreement as per the LCCC was also seen in people with diabetes (0.74 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.82)), the same was observed with the kappa statistic (kappa=0.36). In general, agreement between the scores was appropriate in terms of clinical significance.Conclusions The absolute cardiovascular predicted risk was similar between the laboratory-based and non-laboratory-based 2019 WHO cardiovascular risk models. Pending validation from longitudinal studies, the non-laboratory-based model (instead of the laboratory-based) could be used when assessing CVD risk in Peruvian population.

Background Peru faces challenges to provide adequate care to stroke patients. Length of hospitalization and in-hospital mortality are two well-known indicators of stroke care. We aimed to describe the length of stay (LOS) of stroke in Peru, and to assess in-hospital mortality risk due to stroke, and subtypes. Methods This retrospective cohort study used hospitalization registries coding with ICD-10 from 2002 to 2017 (N = 98,605) provided by the Ministry of Health; in-hospital mortality was available for 2016–2017 (N = 6,566). Stroke cases aged ≥35 years were divided into subarachnoid hemorrhage (I60), intracerebral hemorrhage (I61), cerebral infarction (I63), and stroke not specified as hemorrhage or infarction (I64). Data included stroke LOS and in-hospital mortality; socio-demographic and clinical variables. We fitted a region- and hospital level-stratified Weibull proportional hazard model to assess the in-hospital mortality. Results The median LOS was 7 days (IQR: 4–13). Hemorrhagic strokes had median LOS longer than ischemic strokes and stroke not specified as hemorrhage or infarction (P =

Ageratina pichinchensis (Kunth) R.M. King & H. Rob. belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a plant native to Mexico to which several biological properties are attributed. In this study, the cytotoxic effect of four extracts from the wild plants and two extracts from A. pichinchensis callus culture were evaluated against carcinogenic cell lines including prostate carcinoma, cervical cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoma human, lung cancer, and cellular keratinocytes. The extracts were obtained with ethyl acetate and methanol using both leaves and stems or the callus. Only the ethyl acetate extract of the callus culture influenced the cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) with an IC50 of 94.79 ± 2.0 µg/mL. From the ethyl acetate callus extract, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran was isolated and purified and also evaluated against cancer cells. The cytotoxic evaluation of this compound showed a significant effect against the HeLa cell line with an IC50 of 23.86 ± 2.5 µg/mL. Our results contribute to the development of biotechnological alternatives and extraction processes to produce compounds with possible potential against certain types of human cancer.

Background: Information about the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) awareness in the prevalence of anxiety disorders is scarce. Moreover, reports from resource-constrained and semiurban settings are usually focused on hospital-based data, instead of population-based surveys. We aimed to evaluate the association between T2DM and anxiety symptoms, with emphasis on T2DM awareness. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using information from a population-based study. The outcome of interest was the presence of anxiety symptoms assessed by the Goldberg anxiety test, while the exposure variable was T2DM, defined using the oral glucose tolerance test. In addition, another definition was used based on self-reported T2DM awareness of previous diagnosis. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported using Poisson regression models. Results: Data from 1,607 participants, of mean age 48.2 (SD: 10.6) years, and 809 (50.3%) females, were analyzed. Of all participants, 176 (11.0%; 95% CI: 9.5%–12.6%) had T2DM, 105 (59.7%) were aware of previous diagnosis, and 674 (41.9%; 95% CI: 39.5%–44.4%) had anxiety symptoms. In multivariable model, T2DM was not associated with anxiety symptoms (PR = 1.16; 95% CI: 0.99–1.36); however, individuals aware of T2DM diagnosis had a 36% (95% CI: 14%–64%) greater prevalence of anxiety symptoms compared to those without T2DM. Additionally, those aware of T2DM diagnosis had a 56% (95% CI: 13%-116%) higher probability to have anxiety symptoms compared to those not aware of T2DM diagnosis. Conclusions: The association between T2DM and anxiety symptoms was present among those participants who self-reported T2DM diagnosis, as opposed to those with T2DM but not aware and to those without T2DM. Evaluation of anxiety symptoms may be relevant among those with previous T2DM diagnosis.

Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, who then become infected with SARS-CoV-2, are at greater risk of developing complications from COVID-19, which may even lead to death. Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires continuous contact with healthcare facilities; therefore, this type of patients should have regular access to medicines, tests and appointments with healthcare personnel. In Peru, care and treatment continuity have been affected since the national state of emergency due to COVID-19 began; because many healthcare facilities suspended outpatient consultations. The strategies presented in this study were developed by different Peruvian health providers in the pandemic context to ensure care continuity for people with diabetes. This article provides recommendations to strengthen primary healthcare, because it is the first level of healthcare contact for patients with diabetes.

Background: Financial incentives may improve the initiation and engagement of behaviour change that reduce the negative outcomes associated with non-communicable diseases. There is still a paucity in guidelines or recommendations that help define key aspects of incentive-oriented interventions, including the type of incentive (e.g. cash rewards, vouchers), the frequency and magnitude of the incentive, and its mode of delivery. We aimed to systematically review the literature on financial incentives that promote healthy lifestyle behaviours or improve health profiles, and focused on the methodological approach to define the incentive intervention and its delivery. The protocol was registered at PROSPERO on 26 July 2018 (CRD42018102556). Methods: We sought studies in which a financial incentive was delivered to improve a health-related lifestyle behaviour (e.g., physical activity) or a health profile (e.g., HbA1c in people with diabetes). The search (which took place on March 3rd 2018) was conducted using OVID (MEDLINE and Embase), CINAHL and Scopus. Results: The search yielded 7,575 results and 37 were included for synthesis. Of the total, 83.8% (31/37) of the studies were conducted in the US, and 40.5% (15/37) were randomised controlled trials. Only one study reported the background and rationale followed to develop the incentive and conducted a focus group to understand what sort of incentives would be acceptable for their study population. There was a degree of consistency across the studies in terms of the direction, form, certainty, and recipient of the financial incentives used, but the magnitude and immediacy of the incentives were heterogeneous. Conclusions: The available literature on financial incentives to improve health-related lifestyles rarely reports on the rationale or background that defines the incentive approach, the magnitude of the incentive and other relevant details of the intervention, and the reporting of this information is essential to foster its use as potential effective interventions.

Background There are several ecological studies, but few studies of the prevalence of SARS-COV-2 at high altitude. We aimed to estimate the population-based seroprevalence of SARS-COV-2 in three settings of Cusco at the end of the first wave among adults. Methods A population-based survey was conducted in September 2020, in three settings in the region of Cusco: (1) Cusco city at 3,300 meters above the sea level (m.a.s.l.), (2) the periphery of Cusco (Santiago, San Jerónimo, San Sebastián, and Wanchaq) at 3,300 m.a.s.l., and (3) Quillabamba city, located at 1,050 m.a.s.l. People aged ≥ 18 years within a family unit were included. The diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was based on identifying anti- SARS-CoV-2 total antibodies (IgM and IgG) in serum using the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 chemiluminescence test. Results We enrolled 1924 participants from 712 families. Of the total, 637 participants were anti-SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. Seroprevalence was 38.8% (95% CI [33.4%–44.9%]) in Cusco city, 34.9% (95% CI [30.4%–40.1%]) in the periphery of Cusco, and 20.3% (95% CI [16.2%–25.6%]) in Quillabamba. In 141 families (19.8%; 95% CI [17.0%–22.8%]) the whole members were positive to the test. Living with more than three persons in the same house, a positive COVID-19 case at home, and a member who died in the last five months were factors associated with SARS-COV-2 seropositivity. Dysgeusia/dysosmia was the symptom most associated with seropositivity (aPR = 2.74, 95% CI [2.41–3.12]); whereas always wearing a face shield (aPR = 0. 73; 95% CI [0.60–0.89]) or a facial mask (aPR = 0.76, 95% CI [0.63–0. 92) reduced that probability. Conclusions A great proportion of Cusco’s city inhabitants presented anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at the end of the first wave, with significant differences between settings. Wearing masks and face shields were associated with lower rate of seropositivity; however, efforts must be made to sustain them over time since there is still a high proportion of susceptible people.

ABSTRACT Objective. To identify gaps in postgraduate training and options for building capacity in noncommunicable disease (NCDs) research in Latin America. Methods. This was a scoping review of postgraduate opportunities in NCDs at top universities in Latin America and of training grants awarded by international funding bodies. Three global university rankings were considered—the QS Ranking, the Shanghai Ranking, and the Times Ranking. Latin American universities appearing in at least two of these were selected. University websites were searched for current graduate programs in biostatistics, epidemiology, global health, health economics, and public health. Information was extracted, summarized, and evaluated to identify any programs focused on NCDs. In addition, seven international funding bodies’ websites were searched for training grants. Results. In all, 33 universities offering 72 postgraduate programs met the inclusion criteria. One of these programs was exclusively devoted to NCD, and 12 offered NCDs as a dissertation research topic. Only two training grants were awarded to a Latin American institution for NCD capacity building. There are few NCD research training programs in Latin America and only one program exclusively focused on NCDs. Conclusion. There seem to be few NCD-specific research training programs in Latin America. Leveraging existing programs and expanding those with a focus on NCDs could help enhance NCD research capacity in the region. These initiatives should be supported by international funding agencies through more funding opportunities.

Objetivos. Identificar estudios de prevalencia e incidencia de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en población general adulta de Perú. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron estudios observacionales que incluyeron individuos de población general seleccionados aleatoriamente. La definición de diabetes debió incluir al menos un parámetro de laboratorio (p. ej. glucosa basal). Se revisó LILACS, SciELO, Scopus, Medline, Embase y Global Health, sin restricciones. El riesgo de sesgo se evaluó con la escala Newcastle-Ottawa. Resultados. La búsqueda identificó 909 resultados, adicionalmente se agregó un artículo de otra fuente. Luego de evaluar los resultados, se seleccionaron 20 artículos que representaron nueve estudios (n=16 585). Uno de los estudios fue de alcance nacional y otro seminacional (ENINBSC, 2004-05 y PERUDIAB, 2010-12); el primero reportó una prevalencia de 5,1% en sujetos ≥35 años, mientras que el segundo reportó 7,0% en sujetos ≥25 años. Otros estudios se enfocaron en poblaciones de una o varias ciudades del país, o en grupos poblacionales selectos, como el estudio PERU MIGRANT (2007-08) que reportó la prevalencia de diabetes en sujetos de zonas rurales (0,8%), en migrantes de zonas rurales a urbanas (2,8%), y en zonas urbanas (6,3%). Tres estudios realizaron seguimiento prospectivo, siendo uno de ellos el PERUDIAB: incidencia acumulada de 19,5 nuevos casos por 1000 personas al año. El riesgo de sesgo fue bajo en todos los estudios. Conclusiones. Estudios poblacionales señalan que la prevalencia de diabetes ha aumentado y se registran aproximadamente dos casos nuevos por cada cien personas al año. La evidencia aún es escasa en la selva y en poblaciones rurales.

Objective To estimate the pooled prevalence of multimorbidity (≥2 non-communicable diseases in the same individual) among adults of the general population of Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC).Design Systematic review and meta-analysis.Data sources MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, Scopus and LILACS up to 1 July 2020.Eligibility criteria for selecting studies The outcome was the prevalence of multimorbidity. Reports were selected whether they enrolled adult individuals (age ≥18 years) from the general population.Data extraction and synthesis Reviewers extracted relevant data and assessed risk of bias independently. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to report pooled prevalence estimates of multimorbidity; pooled estimates by pre-specified subgroups (eg, national studies) were also pursued.Results From 5830 results, we selected 28 reports, mostly from Brazil and 16 were based on a nationally representative sample. From the 28 selected reports, 26 were further included in the meta-analysis revealing a pooled multimorbidity prevalence of 43% (95% CI: 35% to 51%; I2: 99.9%). When only reports with a nationally representative sample were combined, the pooled prevalence was 37% (95% CI: 27% to 47%; I2: 99.9%). When the ascertainment of multimorbidity was based on self-reports alone, the pooled prevalence was 40% (95% CI: 31% to 48%; I2: 99.9%); this raised to 52% (95% CI: 33% to 70%; I2: 99.9%) for reports including self-reported and objective diagnosis.Conclusions Our results complement and advance those from global efforts by incorporating much more reports from LAC. We revealed a larger presence of multimorbidity in LAC than previously reported.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020196177.

Background Understanding the relationship between BMI and blood pressure requires assessing whether this association is similar or differs across population groups. This study aimed to assess the association between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure levels, and how these associations vary between socioeconomic groups and geographical settings. Methods Data from the National Demographic Health Survey of Peru from 2014 to 2019 was analyzed considering the complex survey design. The outcomes were levels of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and the exposure was BMI. Exposure and outcomes were fitted as continuous variables in a non-linear quadratic regression model. We explored effect modification by six socioeconomic and geographical variables (sex, age, education level, socioeconomic position, study area, and altitude), fitting an interaction term between each of these variables and BMI. Results Data from 159, 940 subjects, mean age 44.4 (SD: 17.1), 54.6% females, was analyzed. A third (34.0%) of individuals had ≥12 years of education, 24.7% were from rural areas, and 23.7% lived in areas located over 2,500 m above sea level. In the overall sample mean BMI was 27.1 (SD: 4.6) kg/m2, and mean SBP and DBP were 122.5 (SD: 17.2) and 72.3 (SD: 9.8) mmHg, respectively. In the multivariable models, greater BMI levels were associated with higher SBP (p-value < 0.001) and DBP (p-value < 0.001). There was strong evidence that sex, age, education level, and altitude were effect modifiers of the association between BMI and both SBP and DBP. In addition to these socio-demographic variables, socioeconomic position and study area were also effect modifiers of the association between BMI and DBP, but not SBP. Conclusions The association between BMI and levels of blood pressure is not uniform on a range of socio-demographic and geographical population groups. This characterization can inform the understanding of the epidemiology and rise of blood pressure in a diversity of low-resource settings.

Las enfermedades no transmisibles (ENT) son causa importante de carga de enfermedad en el Perú así como en otros países en desarrollo. Las respuestas para el control de las ENT requieren de investigación multidisciplinaria, tanto a nivel local como internacional. Desde hace más de 10 años, CRONICAS: Centro de Excelencia en Enfermedades Crónicas, de la Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, realiza investigación en el campo de las ENT en el Perú. En el presente artículo se describen algunos estudios realizados, incluyendo los estudios epidemiológicos PERU MIGRANT, y la cohorte CRONICAS. También se presentan resultados de revisiones sistemáticas y resultados de intervenciones frente a las ENT. A través de estos estudios llevados a cabo por el centro CRONICAS se señalan potenciales áreas para afrontar las ENT en países en desarrollo.

BackgroundAt the population level we would expect that people with obesity undergo diabetes screening tests more often than people with overweight and much more often than people with normal weight. We described the trends of diabetes screening according to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in Peru.MethodsPooled analysis of health national surveys (2015-2019); men and women aged 35-70 years. We used relative frequencies to study: among those who have had a glucose test in the last year, how many there were in each BMI and WC category. We fitted a Poisson model to study whether people with high BMI or WC were more likely to have had a glucose test.ResultsPeople with overweight (PR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.29-1.38), obesity (PR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.51-1.63) and central obesity (PR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.35-1.96) were more likely to have had a glucose test. At the sub-national level, there was one (of twenty-five) region in which men with obesity were more often screened for diabetes than men with overweight and much more than men with normal weight. There were seven regions in which women with obesity were the most often screened for diabetes.ConclusionsConsistent with a risk-based prevention approach, people with obesity would be screened for diabetes more often than those with overweight and those with normal weight. This ideal profile was only observed in few regions. Diabetes screening strategies should be strengthened and homogenised, so that they reach those at high risk of diabetes.

IntroductionThe impact of entrepreneurship training on the levels of compulsory education has been weak until now. Complementarily to the demand of greater effectiveness in entrepreneurship education, it is a priority to make scientifically verified instruments available to provide useful information about the achievement of the competences needed for the development of entrepreneurial capacities. Our research is focused on the design and assessment of entrepreneurship competency, tackling one the dimension concerning business skills or competences. Specifically, the aim of the study consists in the development, validation and reliability of an instrument, intended for secondary education, created with the purpose of detecting the strictly indispensable entrepreneurial competencies in the basic training of the business profile, the Basic Scale of Entrepreneurial Competencies (BSEC).MethodsThe research was developed in three phases via qualitative and quantitative methods. In the development phase the items were generated and the dimensions and components of entrepreneurship competency were identified. Also, the content and face validity were carried out, where experts (n = 48) and students (n = 24) took part. In the recruitment phase a multi-stage sampling stratified by conglomerates was performed, obtaining a sample of 1440 students, aged between 11 and 17 years old (M = 14.6, SD = 1.597) and a composition by sex of 679 girls and 761 boys. Construct validity was evaluated in the assessment stage through factor analysis (EFA and CFA). Later, the reliability was studied via the Cronbach´s α coefficient and the stability and reproducibility over time with the test-restest technique. Finally, the convergent and divergent validity were evaluated through the average variance extracted (AVE), the composite reliability (CR) and the square root of the AVE.Results44 items were developed in the phase of generating items. After carrying out the validity of the content, there were 14 items with acceptable values in the Content Validity Ratio (CVR.89) and in the Content Validity Index (CVI.92). During the validation of the scale, the results of the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a first-order trifactorial structure and a second-order factor. The scale's stability was appropriate, having an ICC = .92. The convergent validity results with Composite Reliability (CR) scores > 0.7 and the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) >. 0.50, along with the square root values of the AVE greater than the correlations between the other constructs show us important evidence of the validity of the Scale. The structure of the BSEC is made up of 13 items and three domains: Operations and Marketing Competencies (OMC), Competencies in Socio-Business and Legal Organization (CSBLO) and Economic-Financial Competencies (EFC).ConclusionsThe results of the research reflect its validity and reliability. This Scale has an evident usefulness for the training and assessment of entrepreneurship competence. Specifically, it is efficient for the valuation of entrepreneurial competencies in adolescent students in the stage prior to their incorporation into the work environment or their integration into the itineraries leading to higher education levels.

Objetivo: describir los patrones de mortalidad existente en el Perú, tanto a nivel nacional como regional. Materiales y métodos: este es un análisis secundario realizado usando los registros nacionales de mortalidad desde el año 2003 al 2016. Se siguió la clasificación de la Carga Mundial de Enfermedad 2017 para agrupar las causas básicas de muerte en cinco grupos: no transmisibles, infecciosas, maternas y neonatales, nutricionales, y accidentes y lesiones. Se usó la prueba tau de Mann-Kendall para evaluar tendencias en las causas de muerte en el tiempo. Resultados: entre el 2003 y 2016, hubo un total de 1 295 290 muertes a nivel nacional, pero solo se analizaron 698 037 muertes. Para el año 2003, 63,9% de las muertes ocurridas fueron por enfermedades no transmisibles, el 16,9% por causas infecciosas, y 8,8% por accidentes y lesiones. Para el año 2016, el 83,6% de las muertes fueron debido a enfermedades no transmisibles (valor de p para tendencia < 0,001), mientras que 8,6% fueron por causas infecciosas (valor de p para tendencia < 0,001), y 5,4 % por accidentes y lesiones (valor de p para tendencia < 0,001). Similares resultados se encontraron al evaluar las tendencias por sexo y por regiones. Conclusiones: desde el 2003 al 2016, la proporción de muertes debido a enfermedades no transmisibles se incrementó en el Perú. Este hallazgo es válido tanto para varones como mujeres, así como para las 25 regiones del país, donde las enfermedades no transmisibles fueron la primera causa de muerte.

Background: Novel approaches to reduce diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) in low- and middle-income countries are needed. Our objective was to compare incidence of DFUs in the thermometry plus mobile health (mHealth) reminders (intervention) vs. thermometry-only (control). Methods: We conducted a randomized trial enrolling adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus at risk of foot ulcers (risk groups 2 or 3) but without foot ulcers at the time of recruitment, and allocating them to control (instruction to use a liquid crystal-based foot thermometer daily) or intervention (same instruction supplemented with text and voice messages with reminders to use the device and messages to promote foot care) groups, and followed for 18 months. The primary outcome was time to occurrence of DFU. A process evaluation was also conducted. Results: A total of 172 patients (63% women, mean age 61 years) were enrolled; 86 to each study group. More patients enrolled in the intervention arm had a history of previous DFU (66% vs. 48%). Follow-up for the primary endpoint was complete for 158 of 172 participants (92%). Adherence to ≥80% of daily temperature measurements was 87% (103 of 118) among the study participants who returned the logbook. DFU cumulative incidence was 24% (19 of 79) in the intervention arm and 11% (9 of 79) in the control arm. After adjusting for history of foot ulceration and study site, the hazard ratio (HR) for DFU was 1.44 (95% CI 0.65, 3.22). Conclusions: In our study, conducted in a low-income setting, the addition of mHealth to foot thermometry was not effective in reducing foot ulceration. Importantly, there was a higher rate of previous DFU in the intervention group, the adherence to thermometry was high, and the expected rates of DFU used in our sample size calculations were not met. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02373592 (27/02/2015)

We aimed to study time trends and levels of mean total cholesterol and lipid fractions, and dyslipidaemias prevalence in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Systematic-review and meta-analysis of population-based studies in which lipid (total cholesterol [TC; 86 studies; 168,553 people], HDL-Cholesterol [HDL-C; 84 studies; 121,282 people], LDL-Cholesterol [LDL-C; 61 studies; 86,854 people], and triglycerides [TG; 84 studies; 121,009 people]) levels and prevalences were laboratory-based. We used Scopus, LILACS, Embase, Medline and Global Health; studies were from 1964 to 2016. Pooled means and prevalences were estimated for lipid biomarkers from ≥2005. The pooled means (mg/dl) were 193 for TC, 120 for LDL-C, 47 for HDL-C, and 139 for TG; no strong trends. The pooled prevalence estimates were 21% for high TC, 20% for high LDL-C, 48% for low HDL-C, and 21% for high TG; no strong trends. These results may help strengthen programs for dyslipidaemias prevention/management in LAC.

Objectives This study aimed to estimate the trends in the prevalence and treatment of depressive symptoms using nationally representative surveys in Peru from 2014 to 2018.Design A secondary analysis was conducted using five nationally representative surveys carried out consecutively in the years between 2014 and 2018.Setting The study was conducted in Peru.Participants Individuals, men and women, aged ≥15 years who participated in the selected surveys. Sampling was probabilistic using a two-stage approach.Main outcome measures Two versions of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) that focused on the presence of depressive symptoms were administered (one in the last 2 weeks and other in the last year). Scores ≥15 were used as the cut-off point in both versions of the PHQ-9 to define the presence of depressive symptoms. Also, the treatment rate was based on the proportion of individuals who had experienced depressive symptoms in the last year and who had self-reported having received specific treatment for these symptoms. The age-standardised prevalence was estimated.Results A total of 161 061 participants were included. There was no evidence of a change in age-standardised prevalence rates of depressive symptoms at the 2 weeks prior to the point of data collection (2.6% in 2014 to 2.3% in 2018), or in the last year (6.3% in 2014 to 6.2% in 2018). Furthermore, no change was found in the proportion of depressive cases treated in the last year (14.6% in 2014 to 14.4% in 2018). Rural areas and individuals with low-level of wealth had lower proportion of depressive cases treated.Conclusions No changes in trends of rates of depressive symptoms or in the proportion of depressive cases treated were observed. This suggests the need to reduce the treatment gap considering social determinants associated with inequality in access to adequate therapy.

Presentamos los resultados de una encuesta sobre docencia virtual realizada por las Delegaciones de Estudiantes de Enfermería y Medicina de la Universidad de Murcia. Ha sido llevada a cabo en el período de suspensión de la docencia presencial en la Universidad de Murcia, previo al período de vacaciones de primavera. En general, la percepción del estudiantado de las Facultades de Enfermería y Medicina dista de ser satisfactoria, por lo que los profesores debemos hacer un esfuerzo para intentar suplir las deficiencias en la formación de los estudiantes tras el cierre presencial de la Universidad.

Objetivos. Describir la tendencia de mortalidad por enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) en el Perú en el periodo 2003-2015. Materiales y Métodos. Análisis de datos secundarios y de diseño ecológico. Se analizaron registros nacionales de mortalidad basados en certificados de defunción. ERC fue definida como código CIE 10: N18 en la causa básica. Se describen frecuencias absolutas y relativas de muerte por ERC. Para estimar la proporción de muertes por ERC en cada región del Perú, se utilizó un modelo lineal mixto generalizado. La variable desenlace fue la proporción de muertes, las variables independientes fueron cada región del país y el año. Resultados. El análisis incluyó 1 086 778 defunciones, de los cuales 25 091 (2,0 % ajustado por edad y sexo) fueron por ERC. Durante el periodo de estudio la edad promedio, al momento del fallecimiento, aumentó en 2,6 años (p0,001); además, la proporción de muertes por ERC ajustada por edad y sexo fue siempre mayor en mujeres. En el periodo de observación la región con mayor mortalidad por ERC fue Puno (4,1 %), y con menor mortalidad fue Amazonas (1,1 %). Aquellas regiones que mostraron un aumento significativamente mayor que las demás fueron Tacna, La Libertad, Tumbes, Apurímac, Cusco, Ica, Moquegua, Ayacucho, Huancavelica y Puno. Conclusiones. En el periodo 2003-2015, la mortalidad por ERC en el Perú ha aumentado; esta tendencia se observa en varias regiones del país. Es necesario implementar medidas de prevención, temprana identificación, y acceso al tratamiento, para mejorar esta tendencia.

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) have received political attention and commitment, yet surveillance is needed to measure progress and set priorities. Building on global estimates suggesting that Peru is not on target to meet the Sustainable Development Goal 3.4, we estimated the contribution of various NCDs to the change in unconditional probability of dying from NCDs in 25 regions in Peru.MethodsUsing national death registries and census data, we estimated the unconditional probability of dying between ages 30 and 69 from any and from each of the following NCDs: cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and chronic kidney disease. We estimated the contribution of each NCD to the change in the unconditional probability of dying from any of these NCDs between 2006 and 2016.ResultsThe overall unconditional probability of dying improved for men (21.4%) and women (23.3%). Cancer accounted for 10.9% in men and 13.7% in women of the overall reduction; cardiovascular diseases also contributed substantially: 11.3% in men) and 9.8% in women. Consistently in men and women and across regions, diabetes moved in the opposite direction of the overall reduction in the unconditional probability of dying from any selected NCD. Diabetes contributed a rise in the unconditional probability of 3.6% in men and 2.1% in women.ConclusionsAlthough the unconditional probability of dying from any selected NCD has decreased, diabetes would prevent Peru from meeting international targets. Policies are needed to prevent diabetes and to strengthen healthcare to avoid diabetes-related complications and delay mortality.

ObjectivesIn the last decade, Latin American (LA) countries, like Peru, have undergone an epidemiological transition that has changed the pattern of oncological cases. Given that Peru's oncological pattern could illustrate those of other LA countries, we aimed at determining trends and changes in cancer-related mortality by age and sex in Peru between 2003 and 2016.Methods and resultsA secondary data analysis using national deaths registries was conducted. Categories were created according to the 27 most frequent sites of presentation of cancer. We found that deaths attributed to cancer increased from 15.4% of all deaths in 2003 to 18.1% in 2016 (pConclusionsBetween the years 2003 and 2016, almost one fifth of deaths were attributed to cancer in Peru. Absolute and relative number of deaths due to cancer has increased in this period for both men and women; however, standardized mortality rates due to cancer have declined.

INTRODUCTION:In the current international context, entrepreneurship education claims a privileged place within educational systems, given that it contributes decisively to innovation and to the set of competences demanded in the new knowledge-based economy. The state of the research in this line highlights the existing formative deficiencies at these basic education levels, despite the fact that numerous initiatives of fostering business culture have already been developed. Among the currently existing gaps, conspicuous by its absence is the lack of instruments capable of efficiently measure the basic business knowledge, needed to progressively constitute a consistent business identity stands out. In this sense, we set ourselves the construction and validation of a basic business knowledge scale for the Secondary Education stage. METHODS:This study was implemented in two phases. In the first phase, the dimensions and components of the Basic Business Knowledge Scale were identified via a systematic review of the literature following the PRISMA-P protocol and a qualitative study. In the second phase, the scale was developed and validated. On the one hand, a content validation was conducted through interviews of experts and students, studying the content validity (the Content Validity Ratio and the Content Validity Index) and the face validity (Think-aloud protocols). On the other hand, the construct validity was analyzed through an Explanatory Factor Analysis (EFA) and a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Then, the reliability was calculated with the Cronbach Alpha and the test stability with a test-retest. The convergent validity has been validated by the average variance extracted (AVE) and the discriminant validity between constructs was established through the AVE estimated for each construct with the squared interconstruct correlations associated with that factor. The sample was made up of 1440 students (679 girls and 761 boys) from age 11 to 17 (M = 14.6, SD = 1.597). RESULTS:The EFA and the CFA showed evidence of a first-order three-factor structure (Knowledge in Business Management (KBM), Legal Knowledge (LK) and Strategic Knowledge (SK)), and a second-order factor, Basic Business Knowledge. In the construct validity two items were eliminated due to their factor loadings being lower than .40. The results of the fit indices contributed acceptable values regarding the proposed model. The three subscales and the scale as a whole revealed a satisfactory internal consistency with Cronbach alphas over .75. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was above .90, showing an appropriate stability. The convergent validity offers values over .80 in the composite reliability (CR) and the average variance extracted (AVE) is greater than .50. Moreover, in the divergent validity, the values of the square root of the AVE are greater than the correlations with the other constructs. Finally, the Basic Business Knowledge Scale has 18 items. CONCLUSIONS:We find evidence concerning the validity and reliability of the Basic Business Knowledge Scale, tested with Spanish Secondary Education students within the compulsory stage of teaching. We believe that this Scale can contribute to a better understanding of the formation of indispensable basic culture to establish a genuine business spirit.

Objective: To characterize the prevalence and clustering of multimorbidity in four diverse geographical settings in Peru. Methods: Multimorbidity, defined as having ≥2 chronic conditions, was studied in adults aged ≥35 years in four diverse settings in Peru: Lima, Tumbes, and urban and rural Puno. Six of these conditions (alcohol disorder, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes, and hypertension) were cataloged as objectively ascertained chronic conditions and paired in dyads to explore clusters of multimorbidity. Results: We analyzed data from 2890 adults, mean age 55.2 years, 49% males. Overall, 19.1% of participants had multimorbidity, ranging from 14.7% in semi-urban Tumbes to 22.8% in Lima. The dyads with the highest coexistence (approximately 20%) were observed in hypertension and diabetes in Tumbes, whereas the dyads with lowest coexistence (approximately 1%) were those involving asthma in all study sites. In terms of clusters, Tumbes showed a predominance of hypertension and diabetes, urban and rural Puno a predominance of depression and alcohol disorders, and Lima a higher degree of coexistence of all of the six conditions than in the other clusters. Conclusion: Multimorbidity is common and the pattern of clusters is highly heterogeneous. The conditions to prioritize will vary in each setting.

Objective To synthetize the scientific evidence on the association between serum lipids and premature mortality in Latin America (LA). Methods Five data bases were searched from inception without language restrictions: Embase, Medline, Global Health, Scopus and LILACS. Population-based studies following random sampling methods were identified. The exposure variable was lipid biomarkers (e.g., total, LDL- or HDL- cholesterol). The outcome was all-cause and cause-specific mortality. The risk of bias was assessed following the Newcastle-Ottawa criteria. Results were summarized qualitatively. Results The initial search resulted in 264 abstracts, five (N = 27,903) were included for the synthesis. Three papers reported on the same study from Puerto Rico (baseline in 1965), one was from Brazil (1996) and one from Peru (2007). All reports analysed different exposure variables and used different risk estimates (relative risks, hazard ratios or odds ratios). None of the reviewed reports showed strong association between individual lipid biomarkers and all-cause or cardiovascular mortality. Conclusion The available evidence is outdated, inconsistently reported on several lipid biomarker definitions and used different methods to study the long-term mortality risk. These findings strongly support the need to better ascertain the mortality risk associated with lipid biomarkers in LA.

Introduction A recently recognised form of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of unknown origin (CKDu) is afflicting communities, mostly in rural areas in several regions of the world. Prevalence studies are being conducted in a number of countries, using a standardised protocol, to estimate the distribution of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and thus identify communities with a high prevalence of reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In this paper, we propose a standardised minimum protocol for cohort studies in high-risk communities aimed at investigating the incidence of, and risk factors for, early kidney dysfunction.Methods and analysis This generic cohort protocol provides the information to establish a prospective population-based cohort study in low-income settings with a high prevalence of CKDu. This involves a baseline survey that included key elements from the DEGREE survey (eg, using the previously published DEGREE methodology) of a population-representative sample, and subsequent follow-up visits in young adults (without a pre-existing diagnosis of CKD (eGFR

Background: Incentives play a role in introducing health-related benefits, but no interventions using mixed incentives, i.e. a combination of individual and group incentives, have been tested in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We evaluated the feasibility of implementing individual- and mixed-incentives, with and without a supportive partner, on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) control and weight loss among patients with T2DM. Methods: This is a feasibility, sex-stratified, single-blinded, randomized controlled study in individuals with T2DM. All participants received diabetes education and tailored goal setting for weight and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Participants were randomly assigned into three arms: individual incentives (Arm 1), mixed incentives-altruism (Arm 2), and mixed incentives-cooperation (Arm 3). Participants were accompanied by a diabetes educator every other week to monitor targets, and the intervention period lasted 3 months. The primary outcome was the change in HbA1c at 3 months from baseline. Weight and change body mass index (BMI) were considered as secondary outcomes. Results: Out of 783 patients screened, a total of 54 participants, 18 per study arm, were enrolled and 44 (82%) completed the 3-month follow-up. Mean baseline HbA1c values were 8.5%, 7.9% and 8.2% in Arm 1, Arm 2, and Arm 3, respectively. At 3 months, participants in all three study arms showed reductions in HbA1c ranging from -0.9% in Arm 2 to -1.4% in Arm 1. Weight and BMI also showed reductions. Conclusions: Individual and mixed cash incentives show important reductions in HbA1c, weight and BMI in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after 3 months. Recruitment and uptake of the intervention were successfully accomplished demonstrating feasibility to conduct larger effectiveness studies to test individual and mixed economic incentives for diabetes management. Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02891382

Community Kitchens (CKs) are one of the main food providers to low-income families in Peru and may encourage healthier diets. We aimed to determine the prevalence of fruit and vegetable consumption and associated sociodemographic and behavioral factors among CKs customers. A cross-sectional study enrolling customers of 48 CKs in two areas of Lima, Peru, was performed. The self-reported amount of fruits and vegetables consumed (

OBJECTIVE:Analyze the measurement invariance and the factor structure of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) in the Peruvian population. METHOD:Secondary data analysis performed using cross-sectional data from the Health Questionnaire of the Demographic and Health Survey in Peru. Variables of interest were the PHQ-9 and demographic characteristics (sex, age group, level of education, socioeconomic status, marital status, and area of residence). Factor structure was evaluated by standard confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and measurement invariance by multi-group CFA, using standard goodness-of-fit indices criteria for interpreting results from both CFAs. Analysis of the internal consistency (α and ω) was also pursued. RESULTS:Data from 30,449 study participants were analyzed, 56.7% were women, average age was 40.5 years (standard deviation (SD) = 16.3), 65.9% lived in urban areas, 74.6% were married, and had 9 years of education on average (SD = 4.6). From standard CFA, a one-dimensional model presented the best fit (CFI = 0.936; RMSEA = 0.089; SRMR = 0.039). From multi-group CFA, all progressively restricted models had ΔCFI