RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in a metropolitan area of Northern Italy and study how the introduction of the 2015 revised Jones criteria affects the epidemiology in a region with moderate to high incidence of ARF. STUDY DESIGN: The incidence of ARF in children 5-14 years old living in the Province of Turin was estimated using low-risk criteria in a 10-year period (group A patients). The proportion of patients fulfilling only high-risk (HR) criteria (group B patients) was also calculated both prospectively (from July 2015 through December 2016) and retrospectively (from January 2007 through June 2015). RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five group A patients were identified for an annual incidence of 3.2-9.6 out of 100 000 children. The use of HR criteria identified an additional 28 patients (group B), resulting in a 20.7% increase in the incidence of ARF. Age, sex annual incidence, and seasonal distribution pattern were comparable between group A and group B patients. CONCLUSIONS: HR criteria should be used for the diagnosis ARF in our region. The application of these criteria led to a 20% increase in patients with the diagnosis of ARF. The characteristics of patients fulfilling only HR criteria are similar to the remaining patients, suggesting that these criteria are sensitive and specific.
Assuntos
Febre Reumática/diagnóstico , Febre Reumática/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Itália/epidemiologia , Masculino , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Estudos Retrospectivos , Estações do Ano , Distribuição por SexoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To establish if the correction with estimates of ultraviolet (UV) exposure influences the association between 25-OH-vitamin D (25OHD) levels and metabolic variables. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed in 575 obese children and adolescents (>6 years of age) in a tertiary referral center. Cardiovascular risk factors were measured. The estimate of UV exposure was evaluated by 3 methods: (1) season; (2) mean of UV radiation (UVR); and (3) mean of UV index (UVI). UVR and UVI were considered at 1 (UVR 1 month prior to testing [UVR1], UVI 1 month prior to testing [UVI1]) or 3 (UVR 3 months prior to testing [UVR3], UVI 3 months prior to testing [UVI3]) months prior to testing. All analyses were corrected for confounders (sex, age, puberty, body mass index, waist circumference, the inclusion and exclusion of estimates of UV exposure). RESULTS: The 25OHD levels were associated with seasons, UVR1, UVR3, UVI1, and UVI3, and best associations with UVR3 and UVI3. In all models, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were negatively associated with 25OHD levels. The strength of the association increased with no correction, correction for seasons, UVR, and UVI. UVR3 and UVI3 performed better than UVR1 and UVI3. CONCLUSIONS: Higher lipid concentrations were associated with low 25OHD levels in obese children and adolescents with the power of the association dependent on the estimates of UVR. As the mean values 3 months prior to testing for both UVR and UVI determined the best associations, the interval of the steady state time of 25OHD levels could be preferentially used in the metabolic studies. Controlling for an estimate of UVR is important to decrease the heterogeneity of studies.