Extended high-frequency hearing loss among Afro-Colombian adolescents from a rural area in Colombia: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Research trends concerning hearing loss within teen rural populations are limited and current evidence suggests that extended high-frequency audiometry can be a sensitive tool to detect subclinical hearing loss. Moreover, current research emphasises the importance of representing different ethnic populations in science. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of acquired hearing loss through conventional pure-tone (0.

Prospective, comparative, pilot study of maintenance treatment in comorbid bipolar disorders with post-traumatic stress disorder.

There is limited real-world evidence that evaluates the impact of monotherapy vs. combination therapy as a maintenance treatment in comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in bipolar disorder (BD). Our aim was to compare lithium vs.

Factors associated with mental health outcomes after COVID-19: A 24-month follow-up longitudinal study.

Objective: Investigate the proportion of mental health outcomes (MHOs) and associated factors in COVID-19 survivors during a 24-month follow-up period.

Method: An observational, prospective study was performed in a teaching hospital in Barranquilla, Colombia, from April 1, 2020, to August 30, 2022. A cohort of 1565 COVID-19 survivors was recruited after discharge from the emergency room (ER), inpatient floor (IF), and intensive care unit (ICU) services and followed for 24 -months.

Factors associated with allergic rhinitis and combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome (CARAS) in adults undergoing immunotherapy in a tropical country: Is ISAAC-III questionnaire useful in adult populations?

Background: Allergic diseases affect about 10-30% of the population in low- or middle-income tropical countries. Few studies describe the factors associated with allergic diseases in adult patients undergoing immunotherapy in Latin American countries.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the factors associated with allergic rhinitis (AR) and AR in comorbidity with asthma (CARAS) in adults treated with immunotherapy in two allergy referral centers in Bogotá (Colombia).

Auditory function in symptomatic patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 and unexposed patients: An analytical cross-sectional study.

Objective: To describe audiological symptoms, audiometric profile, and distortion product otoacoustic emission in symptomatic patients recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive RT-PCR test) and asymptomatic patients (negative RT-PCR test).

Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using data obtained from clinical charts, physical examination, audiometry, and distortion product otoacoustic emission on 40 patients [case patients (CP)] recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed by a positive RT-PCR test and 22 asymptomatic participants with a negative RT-PCR test [non-case (NC)].

Results: Sixty-two patients (mean age: 31.

Audiological benefit, quality of life, and factors associated with functional gain in elderly hearing aid users in a developing country between 2017 and 2020: a pre-post-study.

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common auditory deficit in older adults and may lead to quality-of-life deterioration. However, few studies have been performed in low/middle-income countries, particularly in Latin America. This study aimed to assess the audiological benefit, quality of life, and factors associated with functional gain in elderly hearing aid users in the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá and UNIMEQ-ORL, two otology referral centers in Colombia.

External validation of the ACC/AHA ASCVD risk score in a Colombian population cohort.

No cardiovascular risk score has included Latin American patients in its development. The ACC/AHA ASCVD risk score has not been validated in Latin America; consequently, its predictive capacity in the population of the region is unknown. The aim of this study is to evaluate the discrimination capacity and calibration of the ACC/AHA ASCVD score to predict the 10-year risk of a cardiovascular event in a primary prevention cohort followed in a Colombian hospital.

Dizziness in adults with chronic otitis media at two otology referral centres in Colombia: a cross-sectional study in a middle-income country.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of dizziness and its associated factors in patients with COM at two otologic referral centres in a middle-income country.

Design: Cross-sectional study. Adults with and without COM diagnosis from two otology-referral centres in Bogotá (Colombia) were included.

Incidence, etiology, sociodemographic and clinical characterization of acute respiratory failure in pediatric patients at a high-altitude city: A multicenter cohort study.

Background: Acute respiratory failure is a life-threatening medical condition, associated with a variety of conditions and risk factors, including acute respiratory diseases which are a frequent cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Colombia, the literature related to ARF is scarce.

Objective: To determine the incidence, causes, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of ARF in three hospitals in Bogota, a high-altitude city located in Colombia, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Factors associated with allergic rhinitis and combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome (CARAS) in children aged 5-18 years undergoing immunotherapy in a tropical low- or middle-income country.

Background: Tropics have some particularities that can impact the natural history and factors associated with allergic diseases. However, few studies described the characteristics of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and combined AR and asthma syndrome (CARAS) in Latin American tropical countries.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the medical, social, and environmental factors associated with AR and CARAS in children aged 5-18 years treated with immunotherapy in two allergy referral centers in Bogotá (Colombia).

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health, daily and occupational activities of pediatric otolaryngologists in Latin America.

Background: Otolaryngologists have a higher risk of physical/psychological problems due to their frequent exposure to SARS-CoV-2. There is no information about the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of these specialists in low/middle-income countries from Latin America. This study aimed to assess the frequency of anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as the changes in occupational and daily activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic in a group of pediatric otolaryngologists in Latin America.

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health, daily and occupational activities among health professionals in Colombia: a national study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an unprecedented physical and mental burden on healthcare workers who are frequently at high risk of infection, particularly in low-income countries. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety, depression, and stress, as well as changes in daily and occupational activities among healthcare professionals due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia.

Methods: An observational, cross-sectional study was conducted between February and June 2021.

Analysis of tinnitus severity and associated factors in patients with chronic otitis media in a low- to middle-income country.

Objective: This study aimed to describe the tinnitus severity in patients with chronic otitis media (COM) and describe the sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with tinnitus severity.

Design: Cross-sectional study. Two otology-referral centers in Bogotá (Colombia) were included.

Prediction of SARS-CoV-2 infection with a Symptoms-Based model to aid public health decision making in Latin America and other low and middle income settings.

Symptoms-based models for predicting SARS-CoV-2 infection may improve clinical decision-making and be an alternative to resource allocation in under-resourced settings. In this study we aimed to test a model based on symptoms to predict a positive test result for SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic using logistic regression and a machine-learning approach, in Bogotá, Colombia. Participants from the CoVIDA project were included.

Impact of the COVID-19 national lockdown in the allergic rhinitis symptoms in patients treated with immunotherapy at two allergy referral centers in Bogotá, Colombia.

Background: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) "lockdowns" caused an abruptly restricted access to health care services such as immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis (AR) and led to higher exposure to indoor allergens. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on AR symptoms reported by the patients treated with immunotherapy who attended the Hospital Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá and Unidad Médico Quirúrgica de Otorrinolaringología, Colombia.

Methods: Pre-post study that included patients with AR confirmed diagnosis (prick test), treated with immunotherapy before and after COVID-19 lockdowns on March-June 2020.

Frequency of self-reported allergies at a high-complexity referral hospital in Colombia, a tropical Latin American country.

Background: The frequency of allergic diseases in tropical Latin American populations is poorly understood, and certain particularities can impact their natural history and risk factors.

Objective: The study aimed to determine the frequency of self-reported allergies (allergic diseases, drug, and food allergies) in patients who attended the Hospital Universitario Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia.

Material And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the frequency of self- reported allergies reported by all the patients who attended an allergy referral center between June and December 2019.

Prevalence and associated factors of allergic diseases in school children and adolescents aged 6-7 and 13-14 years from two rural areas in Colombia.

Introduction: The prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing worldwide, affecting about 30% of the population in low to middle-income countries. Research trends on allergic diseases within rural pediatric populations of Latin American countries is scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of allergic diseases (allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis) and their associated factors using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood-III (ISAAC-III) questionnaire in school-aged children from two rural municipalities in Colombia.

Associated factors, health-related quality of life, and reported costs of chronic otitis media in adults at two otologic referral centers in a middle-income country.

Background: Despite the high prevalence of chronic otitis media (COM) in low to middle-income countries, there are few studies regarding its associated factors, health-related quality of life, and treatment costs. This study aimed to identify associated factors of COM, assess its impact on the quality of life as well as estimate the patients' reported costs of COM treatment in Colombia.

Methods: Cross-sectional study.