Sex differences in the secular change in waist circumference relative to BMI in five countries from 1997 to 2020.

Objective: The objective of this study was to quantify changes over time in waist circumference (WC) relative to BMI by sex in the Americas (United States, Mexico, Chile, and Peru) and England.

Methods: Data from adults aged 25 to 64 years between 1997 and 2020 were analyzed, and US data were stratified by race and ethnicity groups. Sex-specific BMI and WC means and obesity and abdominal obesity prevalence were compared between the first and last surveys.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) in Chile.

Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the 34-item Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure questionnaire (CORE-OM).

Method: Psychometric exploration was conducted in two samples: non-clinical ( = 706) and clinical ( = 420) participants. The non-clinical sample comprised a subgroup of community members ( = 308) and students ( = 398).

Sex differences in the secular change in waist circumference relative to body mass index in the Americas and England from 1997 to 2020.

Objective: To quantify changes over time in waist circumference (WC) relative to body mass index (BMI) by sex in the Americas (U S, Mexico, Chile, Peru) and England.

Methods: Data from adults aged 25-64 years between 1997 and 2020 was analysed; US data was stratified by racial-ethnic groups. Sex-specific BMI and WC means, and obesity and abdominal obesity prevalence, were compared between the first and last surveys.

Associations between the stringency of COVID-19 containment policies and health service disruptions in 10 countries.

Background: Disruptions in essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported in several countries. Yet, patterns in health service disruption according to country responses remain unclear. In this paper, we investigate associations between the stringency of COVID-19 containment policies and disruptions in 31 health services in 10 low- middle- and high-income countries in 2020.

Tracking health system performance in times of crisis using routine health data: lessons learned from a multicountry consortium.

COVID-19 has prompted the use of readily available administrative data to track health system performance in times of crisis and to monitor disruptions in essential healthcare services. In this commentary we describe our experience working with these data and lessons learned across countries. Since April 2020, the Quality Evidence for Health System Transformation (QuEST) network has used administrative data and routine health information systems (RHIS) to assess health system performance during COVID-19 in Chile, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa, Republic of Korea and Thailand.

Sexual and gender minority health in Chile: findings from the 2016-2017 Health Survey.

Objective: To expose visibility of the health concerns of sexual and gender minority groups in Chile, as well as to provide a platform to advocate for policies that support the health and well-being of sexual and gender minority people in the country.

Methods: The health conditions and risk factors of participants identified as sexual and gender minority were compared to those identified as cisgender heterosexual using data from the 2016-2017 National Health Survey.

Results: Despite reporting higher self-rated health than heterosexual men, gay men had a higher risk of lifetime diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections.

The Validity and Reliability of the PHQ-9 and PHQ-2 on Screening for Major Depression in Spanish Speaking Immigrants in Chile: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: The study aimed to explore the psychometric properties of two versions of the Patient Health Questionnaires (PHQ-9 and PHQ-2) on screening for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) among Spanish-speaking Latin American adult immigrants in Santiago, and to explore factors associated with a higher risk of occurrence of MDD among them.

Methods: A representative sample of 897 Spanish-speaking immigrants completed the PHQ-9. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was employed to evaluate MDD.

COVID-19 and resilience of healthcare systems in ten countries.

Declines in health service use during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could have important effects on population health. In this study, we used an interrupted time series design to assess the immediate effect of the pandemic on 31 health services in two low-income (Ethiopia and Haiti), six middle-income (Ghana, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa and Thailand) and high-income (Chile and South Korea) countries. Despite efforts to maintain health services, disruptions of varying magnitude and duration were found in every country, with no clear patterns by country income group or pandemic intensity.

Changes in cardiovascular mortality in Chile during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted regular cardiovascular healthcare access and delivery. Service utilisation has declined, and excess cardiovascular mortality has been reported in several countries. We aim to estimate excess cardiovascular deaths in Chile during 2020.

Hypertension care cascade in Chile: a serial cross-sectional study of national health surveys 2003-2010-2017.

Background: Trend data on hypertension prevalence and attainment indicators at each step of the care cascade (awareness, treatment, control) are required in Chile. This study aims to quantify trends (2003-2017) in prevalence and in the proportion of individuals with hypertension attaining each step of the care cascade among adults aged 17 years or older, and to assess the impact of lowering the blood pressure (BP) thresholds used to define elevated BP on these indicators.

Methods: We used data from 2003, 2010, and 2017 Chilean national health surveys.

Folate status in women of childbearing age in the Urban Metropolitan Region of Chile: results from the National Health Survey 2016-2017.

Objective: To analyse serum folate levels in women of childbearing age in the Metropolitan Region (MR) of Chile.

Design: Cross-sectional design as part of the 2016-2017 National Health Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Salud, ENS 2016-2017), using a household-based multistage stratified random sample. Serum folate levels measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in fasting venous blood samples were classified as deficient (<4·4 ng/ml), normal (4·4-20 ng/ml) or supraphysiological (>20 ng/ml).

The Prevalence of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Chile: A Nationwide Study Performed as Part of the National Health Survey.

Objective: Genetic and environmental backgrounds influence the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In Latin America, epidemiologic data are scarce. We aimed to determine the prevalence of RA in Chile in a population-based study.