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Objective. To determine the 24-hour urinary sodium and potassium excretions in the Americas. Methods. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed seeking for studies conducted between 1990 and 2021 in adults living in any sovereign state of the Americas in Medline, Embase, Scopus, SciELO, and Lilacs. The search was first run on October 26th, 2020 and was updated on December 15th, 2021. Of 3 941 abstracts reviewed, 74 studies were included from 14 countries, 72 studies reporting urinary sodium (27 387 adults), and 42 studies reporting urinary potassium (19 610 adults) carried out between 1990 and 2020. Data were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis model. Results. Mean excretion was 157.29 mmol/24h (95% CI, 151.42-163.16) for sodium and 57.69 mmol/24h (95% CI, 53.35-62.03) for potassium. When only women were considered, mean excretion was 135.81 mmol/24h (95% CI, 130.37-141.25) for sodium and 51.73 mmol/24h (95% CI, 48.77-54.70) for potassium. In men, mean excretion was 169.39 mmol/24h (95% CI, 162.14-176.64) for sodium and 62.67 mmol/24h (95% CI, 55.41-69.93) for potassium. Mean sodium excretion was 150.09 mmol/24h (95% CI, 137.87-162.30) in the 1990s and 159.79 mmol/24h (95% CI, 151.63-167.95) in the 2010s. Mean potassium excretion was 58.64 mmol/24h (95% CI, 52.73-64.55) in the 1990s and 56.33 mmol/24/h (95% CI, 48.65-64.00) in the 2010s. Conclusions. These findings suggest that sodium excretions are almost double the maximum level recommended by the World Health Organization and potassium excretions are 35% lower than the minimum requirement; therefore, major efforts to reduce sodium and to increase potassium intakes should be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To estimate the burden of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Treponema pallidum (TP), and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among people aged 10 to 25 in Latin America and the Caribbean. Methods. The MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS databases were searched, as well as documents from regional organizations or national health Institutions. Population-based studies that reported prevalence or incidence of CT, NG, TP, and HPV detected through confirmatory tests in adolescents and young people were included. Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Pooled estimators were calculated in cases where heterogeneity was <70%; when not feasible, prevalence ranges were reported. Results. Out of a total of 3 583 references, 15 prevalence studies complied with the inclusion criteria. Due to substantial heterogeneity (>70%), it was not possible to pool frequency estimators. Among the general population, the prevalence of CT infection ranged between 2.1% and 30.1% (9 studies, 5 670 participants); for NG, prevalence ranged between 0% and 2.9% (8 studies, 5 855 participants); for TP, prevalence varied between 0% and 0.7% (3 studies, 11 208 participants), and for HPV infection, prevalence ranged between 25.1% and 55.6% (8 studies, 3 831 participants). Conclusions. Reliable, population-based data on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in adolescents and youth in Latin America and the Caribbean are limited. Additional studies are needed to better understand the burden of STIs in this population. However, given the substantial prevalence of STIs detected, countries need public health policies for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of STIs in young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]