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BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the burden of postacute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PASC) in low- and middle-income countries. We sought to characterize PASC with self-reported questionnaires and clinical examinations of end-organ function in Lima, Peru. METHODS: From January to July 2021, we recruited participants at least 8 weeks after COVID-19 diagnosis from a case registry in Lima, Peru. We evaluated participants for PASC with questionnaires, neuropsychiatric evaluations, chest X-ray, spirometry, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram. We used multivariable models to identify risk factors for PASC. RESULTS: We assessed 989 participants for PASC at a median 4.7 months after diagnosis. Clinically significant respiratory symptoms were reported by 68.3% of participants, particularly those who had been severely ill during acute COVID-19, and were associated with cardiac findings of ventricular hypertrophy or dilation on echocardiogram. Neuropsychiatric questionnaires were consistent with depression in 20.7% and cognitive impairment in 8.0%. Female sex and older age were associated with increased risk of respiratory (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.36 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.69-3.31] and aOR, 1.01 [95% CI, 1.00-1.03], respectively) and neuropsychiatric sequelae (aOR, 2.99 [95% CI, 2.16-4.18] and aOR, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.01-1.03], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 survivors in Lima, Peru, experienced frequent postacute respiratory symptoms and depression, particularly among older and female participants. Clinical examinations highlighted the need for cardiopulmonary rehabilitation among persons with severe COVID-19; psychosocial support may be required among all COVID-19 survivors.

BACKGROUND: Rapid IgM/IgG antibody tests were largely used in lieu of RT-PCR tests as part of COVID-19 public health response activities in Lima, Peru. To assess their utility, we explored the relationship between the time since onset of several COVID-19-related symptoms and the sensitivity of a rapid combined IgM/IgG antibody test. METHODS: We collected data from a community sample of individuals (n = 492) who received concurrent RT-PCR and rapid IgM/IgG antibody testing between May 2020 and March 2021. We estimated the sensitivity of the antibody test, against the RT-PCR test, by weeks since symptom onset via segmented regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity of the rapid IgM/IgG antibody test was 46.7% (95% CI, 42.4-51.2%). Among 372 (75.6%) participants who reported COVID-19-related symptoms, sensitivity increased from 30.4% (95% CI, 24.7-36.6%) in week 1 after symptom onset to 83.3% (95% CI, 41.6-98.4%) in week 4. The test sensitivity increased by 31.9% (95% CI, 24.8-39.0%) per week until week 2 to 3, then decreased by - 6.0% (95% CI, - 25.7-13.7%) per week thereafter. CONCLUSION: Rapid antibody tests are a poor substitute for RT-PCR testing, regardless of presenting symptoms. This highlights the need for future pandemic planning to include timely and equitable access to gold-standard diagnostics, treatment, and vaccination.

Background Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for coronavirus disease (COVID) are used in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to inform treatment decisions. However, to date, it is unclear when this use is cost-effective. Existing analyses are limited to a narrow set of countries and uses. The aim of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of COVID RDTs to inform the treatment of patients with severe illness in LMICs, considering real world practice. Methods and findings We assessed the cost-effectiveness of COVID testing across LMICs using a decision tree model, differentiating results by country income level, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) prevalence, and testing scenario (none, RDTs, polymerase chain reaction tests-PCRs and combinations). LMIC experts defined realistic care pathways and treatment options. Using a healthcare provider perspective and net monetary benefit approach, we assessed both intended (COVID symptom alleviation) and unintended (treatment side effects) health and economic impacts for each testing scenario. We included the side effects of corticosteroids, which are often the only available treatment for COVID. Because side effects depend both on the treatment and the patient's underlying illness (COVID or COVID-like illnesses, such as influenza), we considered the prevalence of COVID-like illnesses in our analyses. We found that SARS-CoV-2 testing of patients with severe COVID-like illness can be cost-effective in all LMICs, though only in some circumstances. High influenza prevalence among suspected COVID cases improves cost-effectiveness, since incorrectly provided corticosteroids may worsen influenza outcomes. In low- and some lower-middle-income countries, only patients with a high index of suspicion for COVID should be tested with RDTs, while other patients should be presumed to not have COVID. In some lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries, suspected severe COVID cases should almost always be tested. Further, in these settings, negative test results in patients with a high initial index of suspicion should be confirmed through PCR and, during influenza outbreaks, positive results in patients with a low initial index of suspicion should also be confirmed with a PCR. The use of interleukin-6 receptor blockers, when supported by testing, may also be cost-effective in higher-income LMICs. The cost at which they would be cost-effective in low-income countries ($162 to $406 per treatment course) is below current prices. The primary limitation of our analysis is substantial uncertainty around some of the parameters in our model due to limited data, most notably on current COVID mortality with standard of care, and insufficient evidence on the impact of corticosteroids on patients with severe influenza. Conclusions COVID testing can be cost-effective to inform treatment of LMIC patients with severe COVID-like disease. The optimal algorithm is driven by country income level and health budgets, the level of suspicion that the patient may have COVID, and influenza prevalence. Further research to better characterize the unintended effects of corticosteroids, particularly on influenza cases, could improve decision making around the treatment of those with COVID-like symptoms in LMICs., Author(s): Gabrielle Bonnet 1,*, John Bimba 2,3, Chancy Chavula 4, Harunavamwe N. Chifamba 5, Titus H. Divala 6, Andres G. Lescano 7, Mohammed Majam 8, Danjuma Mbo 9, Auliya A. [...]

Widely available and reliable testing for SARS-CoV-2 is essential for the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated the diagnostic performance of reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) performed on saliva and the SD Biosensor STANDARD Q antigen test performed on nasopharyngeal swab compared to the reference standard, nasopharyngeal swab (NP) RT-PCR. We enrolled participants living and/or seeking care in health facilities in North Lima, Peru from November 2020 to January 2021. Consenting participants underwent same-day RT-PCR on both saliva and nasopharyngeal swab specimens, antigen testing on a nasopharyngeal swab specimen, pulse oximetry, and standardized symptom assessment. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values for the nasopharyngeal antigen and saliva RT-PCR compared to nasopharyngeal RT-PCR. Of 896 participants analyzed, 567 (63.3%) had acute signs/symptoms of COVID-19. The overall sensitivity and specificity of saliva RT-PCR were 85.8% and 98.1%, respectively. Among participants with and without acute signs/symptoms of COVID-19, saliva sensitivity was 87.3% and 37.5%, respectively. Saliva sensitivity was 97.4% and 56.0% among participants with cycle threshold (CT) values of ≤30 and >30 on nasopharyngeal RT-PCR, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of nasopharyngeal antigen were 73.2% and 99.4%, respectively. The sensitivity of the nasopharyngeal antigen test was 75.1% and 12.5% among participants with and without acute signs/symptoms of COVID-19, and 91.2% and 26.7% among participants with CT values of ≤30 and >30 on nasopharyngeal RT-PCR, respectively. Saliva RT-PCR achieved the WHO-recommended threshold of >80% for sensitivity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, while the SD Biosensor nasopharyngeal antigen test did not. IMPORTANCE In this diagnostic validation study of 896 participants in Peru, saliva reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) had >80% sensitivity for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 among all-comers and symptomatic individuals, while the SD Biosensor STANDARD Q antigen test performed on nasopharyngeal swab had 80% sensitivity.

Objective To evaluate the impact of socioeconomic support on tuberculosis preventive therapy initiation in household contacts of tuberculosis patients and on treatment success in patients. Methods A non-blinded, household-randomized, controlled study was performed between February 2014 and June 2015 in 32 shanty towns in Peru. It included patients being treated for tuberculosis and their household contacts. Households were randomly assigned to either the standard of care provided by Peru's national tuberculosis programme (control arm) or the same standard of care plus socioeconomic support (intervention arm). Socioeconomic support comprised conditional cash transfers up to 230 United States dollars per household, community meetings and household visits. Rates of tuberculosis preventive therapy initiation and treatment success (i.e. cure or treatment completion) were compared in intervention and control arms. Findings Overall, 282 of 312 (90%) households agreed to participate: 135 in the intervention arm and 147 in the control arm. There were 410 contacts younger than 20 years: 43% in the intervention arm initiated tuberculosis preventive therapy versus 25% in the control arm (adjusted odds ratio, aOR:2.2; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.1-4.1). An intention-to-treat analysis showed that treatment was successful in 64% (87/135) of patients in the intervention arm versus 53% (78/147) in the control arm (unadjusted OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.0-2.6). These improvements were equitable, being independent of household poverty. Conclusion A tuberculosis-specific, socioeconomic support intervention increased uptake of tuberculosis preventive therapy and tuberculosis treatment success and is being evaluated in the Community Randomized Evaluation of a Socioeconomic Intervention to Prevent TB (CRESIPT) project. Objectif Evaluer l'impact de l'accompagnement socioeconomique sur le commencement du traitement preventif contre la tuberculose par les contacts familiaux des patients atteints de la maladie et sur la reussite du traitement pour les patients. Methodes Une etude controlee, non aveugle, a repartition aleatoire des foyers a ete realisee entre fevrier 2014 et juin 2015 dans 32 bidonvilles du Perou. Elle portait sur des patients traites contre la tuberculose et leurs contacts familiaux. Les foyers ont ete choisis de fagon aleatoire pour recevoir soit les soins standards prevus par le programme national de lutte contre la tuberculose du Perou (groupe temoin), soit les memes soins standards plus un accompagnement socioeconomique (groupe experimental). L'accompagnement socioeconomique comprenait des transferts monetaires conditionnels pouvant atteindre 230 dollars des Etats-Unis par foyer, des visites a domicile et des reunions communautaires. Le taux de commencement du traitement preventif contre la tuberculose et le taux de reussite du traitement (guerison ou achevement du traitement) ont ete compares entre le groupe experimental et le groupe temoin. Resultats Au total, 282 foyers sur 312 (90%) ont accepte de participer: 135 dans le groupe experimental et 147 dans le groupe temoin. 410 contacts avaient moins de 20 ans: dans le groupe experimental, 43% ont commence un traitement preventif contre la tuberculose, contre 25% dans le groupe temoin (rapport des cotes ajuste (RC):2,2; intervalle de confiance (IC) de 95%: 1,1 -4,1). Une analyse par intention de traiter a montre la reussite du traitement chez 64% (87/135) des patients du groupe experimental contre 53% (78/147) du groupe temoin (RC non ajuste: 1,6; IC 95%: 1,0-2,6). Ces ameliorations etaient equitables et independantes de la pauvrete des foyers. Conclusion Une intervention d'accompagnement socioeconomique specifiquement axe sur la tuberculose a permis d'augmenter la prise d'un traitement preventif contre la tuberculose ainsi que la reussite du traitement contre cette maladie. Elle est actuellement evaluee dans le cadre du projet CRESIPT (Community Randomized Evaluation of a Socioeconomic Intervention to Prevent TB). Objetivo Evaluar el impacto del apoyo socioeconomico en la iniciacion a la terapia preventiva contra la tuberculosis en contactos domesticos de pacientes con tuberculosis, asi como en el exito del tratamiento para los pacientes. Metodos Entre febrero de 2014 y junio de 2015, se realizo un estudio controlado, aleatorizado, domestico y no cegado en 32 barrios bajos de Peru. En este estudio se incluyeron pacientes que estaban siendo tratados contra la tuberculosis y sus contactos domesticos. Los hogares se asignaron de forma aleatoria a la atencion estandar ofrecida por el programa nacional contra la tuberculosis de Peru (grupo de control) o bien a la misma atencion estandar pero con un apoyo socioeconomico (grupo de intervencion). El apoyo socioeconomico consisti'a en transferencias de efectivo condicionadas de hasta 230 dolares estadounidenses por hogar, visitas domesticas y reuniones comunitarias. Se compararon los grupos de control y de intervention en cuanto a las tasas de initiation a la terapia preventiva contra la tuberculosis y al exito del tratamiento (es decir, la cura o la finalizacion del tratamiento). Resultados En general, 282 de 312 (90%) hogares aceptaron participar: 135 en el grupo de intervention y 147 en el grupo de control. Habia 410 contactos menores de 20 anos: el 43% del grupo de intervention initio la terapia preventiva contra la tuberculosis, frente al 25% del grupo de control (coeficiente de posibilidades ajustado, CPa: 2,2; intervalo de confianza, IC, del 95%: 1,1 -4,1). Un analisis de intention de tratar mostro que el tratamiento tuvo exito en un 64% (87/135) de los pacientes del grupo de intervention, frente a un 53% (78/147) de los pacientes del grupo de control (CP no ajustado: 1,6; IC del 95%: 1,0-2,6). Estas mejoras fueron equitativas, independientemente de la pobreza del hogar. Conclusion Una intervention de apoyo socioeconomic especffica para la tuberculosis aumento la aceptacion de la terapia preventiva contra la tuberculosis y el exito del tratamiento, y se esta evaluando en el proyecto Community Randomized Evaluation of a Socioeconomic Intervention to Prevent TB (CRESIPT--Evaluation Aleatoria Comunitaria de una Intervention Socioeconomica para Prevenir la TB)., Introduction An estimated one third of the world's population has latent tuberculosis infection and in 2015 10.4 million people developed tuberculosis disease. (1) Those at the highest risk of tuberculosis [...]

Author(s): Sumona Datta 1,2,3, Matthew J. Saunders 1,2,3, Marco A. Tovar 1,2,3, Carlton A. Evans 1,2,3,* Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and curable disease, but it kills more people than [...]

We report severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibody positivity among market and city bus depot workers in Lima, Peru. Among 1285 vendors from 8 markets, prevalence ranged from 27% to 73%. Among 488 workers from 3 city bus depots, prevalence ranged from 11% to 47%. Self-reported symptoms were infrequent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused considerable burden on mental health worldwide. To address this emergency in Peru, Socios en Salud (SES) implemented an innovative digital system for the diagnosis and psychological therapy in vulnerable populations. We describe the development, implementation, and participant outcomes of this intervention. Methods: We conducted an intervention in a general population of Lima, Peru using a digital tool, ChatBot-Juntos, incorporating the abbreviated Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ) to screen psychological distress. Participants positive for psychological distress received remote Psychological First Aid (PFA) and grief therapy if needed. Participants with a mental health condition or safety concern were referred to mental health services. SRQ scores were collected 3 months after PFA sessions. Differences between screening and follow-up scores were compared using Wilcoxon sign-rank test. Results: In total, 2027 people were screened; 1581 (77.9%) screened positive for psychological distress. Nine hundred ninety-seven (63%) people with psychological distress received PFA, and 320 (32.1%) of those were also referred for mental health care. At 3 months after follow-up, SRQ scores were collected for 579 (58%) participants. Significant reduction in SRQ scores was observed 3 months after PFA [median SRQ score changed from 9 to 5 (p < 0.001)], and after PFA plus referral to mental health services [median SRQ score changed from 11 to 6 (p < 0.001)]. Conclusion: Digital technology can be used to screen for psychological distress and deliver mental health support for populations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. More research is needed to determine whether technology contributes to improved mental health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Even when tuberculosis (TB) treatment is free, hidden costs incurred by patients and their households (TB- affected households) may worsen poverty and health. Extreme TB-associated costs have been termed 'catastrophic' but are poorly defined. We studied TB-affected households' hidden costs and their association with adverse TB outcome to create a clinically relevant definition of catastrophic costs. Methods and Findings: From 26 October 2002 to 30 November 2009, TB patients (n = 876, 11% with multi-drug-resistant [MDR] TB) and healthy controls (n = 487) were recruited to a prospective cohort study in shantytowns in Lima, Peru. Patients were interviewed prior to and every 2-4 wk throughout treatment, recording direct (household expenses) and indirect (lost income) TB-related costs. Costs were expressed as a proportion of the household's annual income. In poorer households, costs were lower but constituted a higher proportion of the household's annual income: 27% (95% CI = 20%-43%) in the least-poor houses versus 48% (95% CI = 36%-50%) in the poorest. Adverse TB outcome was defined as death, treatment abandonment or treatment failure during therapy, or recurrence within 2 y. 23% (166/725) of patients with a defined treatment outcome had an adverse outcome. Total costs $20% of household annual income was defined as catastrophic because this threshold was most strongly associated with adverse TB outcome. Catastrophic costs were incurred by 345 households (39%). Having MDR TB was associated with a higher likelihood of incurring catastrophic costs (54% [95% CI = 43%-61%] versus 38% [95% CI = 34%-41%], p < 0.003). Adverse outcome was independently associated with MDR TB (odds ratio [OR] = 8.4 [95% CI = 4.7-15], p < 0.001), previous TB (OR = 2.1 [95% CI = 1.3-3.5], p = 0.005), days too unwell to work pre-treatment (OR = 1.01 [95% CI = 1.00-1.01], p = 0.02), and catastrophic costs (OR =1.7 [95% CI = 1.1-2.6], p = 0.01). The adjusted population attributable fraction of adverse outcomes explained by catastrophic costs was 18% (95% CI = 6.9%-28%), similar to that of MDR TB (20% [95% CI = 14%-25%]). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that existing catastrophic costs thresholds (≥ 10% or [greater than or equal to] 15% of household annual income) were not associated with adverse outcome in our setting. Study limitations included not measuring certain 'dis-saving' variables (including selling household items) and gathering only 6 mo of costs-specific follow-up data for MDR TB patients. Conclusions: Despite free TB care, having TB disease was expensive for impoverished TB patients in Peru. Incurring higher relative costs was associated with adverse TB outcome. The population attributable fraction indicated that catastrophic costs and MDR TB were associated with similar proportions of adverse outcomes. Thus TB is a socioeconomic as well as infectious problem, and TB control interventions should address both the economic and clinical aspects of this disease. Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary., Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) disease kills 1.4 million per year and remains a major global health problem [1]. Many low- and middle-income countries are unlikely to meet the Millennium Development Goals [...]

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