Increased COVID-19 mortality in patients with schizophrenia: A retrospective study in Brazil.

The risk that COVID-19 poses for mortality risk in individuals with schizophrenia in low- and middle-income countries has only been the subject of a few studies. In this retrospective study, we examined the standardized mortality ratio (SMR), by age group and sex, in a cohort of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia (n = 20,417), with second-generation antipsychotics, in a South Brazilian State database (Paraná-Brazil). We performed a linkage with the Brazilian Mortality Information System database between 2020 and 2021.

Profile of users of anticytokines offered by the health care system in the state of Paraná for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: The Brazilian Unified Health Care System (SUS) offers treatment for patients with RA through federal funding (Ministry of Health) and state co-financing. The Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis describe the therapeutic regimen for the disease, including the anticytokines adalimumab, etanercept or infliximab.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of registered users of those anticytokines, biologics registered in the Information System of the Pharmaceutical Assistance Specialized Division, managed by the Paraná State Drug Center.