Spatial and spatio-temporal distribution of women living with HIV mortality in Porto Alegre, Brazil, from 2007 to 2017.

Objetive: To present some factors related to the mortality rates of WLHIV in the city of Porto Alegre-RS.

Methods: This is a spatial and spatio-temporal analysis of ecological data about all women monitored by the health care services for the vertical transmission (VT) of HIV, between 2007 and 2017, residing in the city that died during the period. The units of analysis were the 17 sanitary districts of the city.

First and second COVID-19 waves in Brazil: A cross-sectional study of patients' characteristics related to hospitalization and in-hospital mortality.

Background: Background The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic was more aggressive in Brazil compared to other countries around the globe. Considering the Brazilian peculiarities, we analyze the in-hospital mortality concerning socio-epidemiological characteristics of patients and the health system of all states during the first and second waves of COVID-19.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients with positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil.

Social inequalities in the use of contraceptives in adult women from Southern Brazil.

Objective: To describe the contraceptive methods used by adult women and the associated socioeconomic and demographic factors.

Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study with 20 to 49-year-old women from São Leopoldo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, in 2015. Three outcomes were considered to analyze the association with demographic and socioeconomic characteristics: use of oral contraceptive pills, tubal ligation and male condom.

Pharmacotherapeutic profile of users and expenditure on high-cost drugs in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, 2014.

Objective: to describe the pharmacotherapeutic profile of users of the Specialized Program for Pharmaceutical Assistance, and to measure the expenditure on the most prevalent and the most expensive medications.

Methods: descriptive study conducted in São Leopoldo-RS, Brazil, with secondary data regarding information about requests accepted in 2014, through administrative proceedings; delivery notes of the State Health Department/RS were used to assess the costs.

Results: 1,528 users were included in the study, mostly women (56.

Effect of characteristics of pharmacotherapy on non-adherence in chronic cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Introduction: Cardiovascular medications are effective in prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD); however, medication non-adherence contributes to morbidity and mortality.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarise the evidence regarding the relationship between characteristics of drug therapy (pharmacotherapy) and medication non-adherence in the CVD population.

Methods: Systematic searches in PubMed, LILACS, Academic Search and CINAHL databases for observational studies that enrolled adults with CVD were performed, from January 1960 to December 2015.

[HIV and syphilis coinfection in pregnancy and vertical HIV transmission: a study based on epidemiological surveillance data].

Objective: To estimate the rate of HIV and syphilis coinfection among pregnant women living in Porto Alegre, Brazil, as well as the association of coinfection with vertical HIV transmission and socioeconomic variables.

Method: This analytical retrospective cross-sectional study employed data from the regular epidemiological surveillance system for the period from 2010 to 2013. Data were obtained regarding pregnant women with HIV and exposed children, syphilis in pregnancy, and congenital syphilis.

People living with HIV on ART have accurate perception of lipodystrophy signs: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of lipodystrophy ranges from 31 to 65%, depending on the criteria adopted for diagnosis. The usual methods applied in the diagnosis vary from self-perception, medical examination, skinfolds measurements, or even imaging assessment for confirmation of fat distribution changes. Although several methods have been developed, there is no gold standard for characterization of LA and LH, or mixed forms.

Alcohol Drinking Pattern: A Comparison between HIV-Infected Patients and Individuals from the General Population.

Background: Alcohol consumption is highly prevalent in the general population and among HIV-infected population. This study aimed to compare the pattern of alcohol consumption and to describe characteristics associated with heavy alcohol consumption in individuals from the general population with patients infected with HIV.

Methods: Participants for this analysis came from a population-based cross-sectional study and from a consecutive sampling of patients infected with HIV.

Strategies to prevent HIV transmission to serodiscordant couples.

Introduction: The use antiretroviral reduces the sexual transmission of HIV, expanding interventions for serodiscordant couples.

Objective: This article aims to review the use of antiretroviral and other prevention interventions among serodiscordant couples and to analyze its use in Brazil.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed through the MEDLINE database and bases included in the Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde.

[Cost-effectiveness in health in Brazil: a systematic review].

A systematic review was performed with the aim of describing the landscape and evolution of cost-effectiveness studies in health in Brazil. The search for articles on cost-effectiveness was performed in the main electronic health databases. The review identified 83 cost-effectiveness studies conducted nationwide.

Comparison between potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease in people living with HIV/AIDS in areas of Brazil.

Introduction: Coronary heart disease and its risk factors depend on genetic characteristics, behaviors, and habits, all of which vary in different regions. The use of antiretroviral therapy (ARV) has increased the survival of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), who begin to present mortality indicators similar to the general population. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of factors potentially associated with coronary heart disease in three cohorts of PLWHA from three different regions of Brazil.

The HIV-Brazil cohort study: design, methods and participant characteristics.

Background: The HIV-Brazil Cohort Study was established to analyze the effectiveness of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) and the impact of this treatment on morbidity, quality of life (QOL) and mortality. The study design, patients' profiles and characteristics of cART initiation between 2003 and 2010 were described.

Methodology/principal Findings: Since 2003, the HIV-Brazil Cohort has been following HIV-infected adults receiving cART at 26 public health care facilities, using routine clinical care data and self-reported QOL questionnaires.

Raltegravir for the treatment of patients co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis (ANRS 12 180 Reflate TB): a multicentre, phase 2, non-comparative, open-label, randomised trial.

Background: Concurrent treatment of HIV and tuberculosis is complicated by drug interactions. We explored the safety and efficacy of raltegravir as an alternative to efavirenz for patients co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis.

Methods: We did a multicentre, phase 2, non-comparative, open-label, randomised trial at eight sites in Brazil and France.

Association of blood pressure and hypertension with alcohol consumption in HIV-infected white and nonwhite patients.

Introduction: Although alcohol abuse is associated with hypertension in whites and nonwhites, it has been scarcely investigated in HIV-infected patients.

Objective: To investigate whether the association of alcohol abuse with hypertension is influenced by skin color in HIV-infected individuals.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in HIV-infected individuals aged 18 years or older.

Risk of coronary heart disease among HIV-infected patients: a multicenter study in Brazil.

Cardiovascular disease has emerged as a crescent problem among HIV-infected population. This study aimed to determine the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease using the Framingham risk score among HIV-infected patients from three regions of Brazil. This is a pooled analysis of three cohort studies, which enrolled 3,829 individuals, 59% were men, 66% had white skin color, and mean age 39.

Metabolic syndrome and population attributable risk among HIV/AIDS patients: comparison between NCEP-ATPIII, IDF and AHA/NHLBI definitions.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is based on the same individual components, but has received several amendments to the original definition. In this study, we verified the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to different criteria, and the impact of each component on the diagnostic.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled HIV infected patients from a HIV/AIDS reference Center in southern Brazil.

Physical activity: do patients infected with HIV practice? How much? A systematic review.

Several studies have suggested that aerobic physical activity is safe and beneficial for HIV-infected adults. However, there is information lacking regarding whether HIV-infected patients practice physical activity and to what extent. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle or lack of physical activity in non-experimental conditions performed by HIV-infected subjects.

Independent predictors of metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected patients.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. However, a few studies have assessed its prevalence and risk factors among HIV patients from developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify independent risk factors for metabolic syndrome by the criteria of the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) among HIV-infected men and women.

Co-circulation HIV-1 subtypes B, C, and CRF31_BC in a drug-naïve population from Southernmost Brazil: analysis of primary resistance mutations.

In Southernmost Brazil HIV-1 subtypes B, C, and CRF31_BC co-circulates and, since 1996 with the implementation of free access to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART), this epidemic is under a quite characteristic selective pressure. The profile of mutations and polymorphisms in the protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) genes of HIV-1 from untreated patients living in Porto Alegre, Southernmost Brazil were evaluated in order to identify the subtypes and circulating drug resistant genotypes. Blood samples from 99 HIV-1 positive drugs-naïve patients were collected from 2006 to 2007 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.