We have read with interest the short communication published by Segovia-Juarez et al., 2020 in Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology establishing that high altitude reduces the infection rate of COVID-19 but not the case fatality rate in the Peruvian setting. We support this hypothesis, however there could be an important number of under registered deaths on account of a low rate of diagnostic tests performed per inhabitant and mostly in symptomatic patients (Pasquariello and Stranges, 2020).

Introducción: Además de tener acceso limitado a los servicios de salud, la población migrante es vulnerable a problemas de salud tales como enfermedades crónicas. Considerando la masiva migración venezolana al Perú se evaluó la asociación entre factores sociodemográficos y recibir tratamiento para enfermedades crónicas en pacientes migrantes venezolanos según la “Encuesta Dirigida a la Población Venezolana que Reside en el País” - ENPOVE 2018. Métodos: Estudio transversal analítico basado en un análisis secundario de ENPOVE 2018. El estudio incluyó a todo migrante venezolano con 18 años a más que tuvieran enfermedades crónicas de cualquier tipo. El desenlace fue haber recibido tratamiento para la enfermedad crónica que padece. Se usó Regresión de Poisson para obtener razones de prevalencia crudas y ajustadas (RPa) considerando el muestreo complejo. Resultados: ...

Objetivo: Determinar la asociación entre los factores sociodemográficos y reproductivos, y la fecundidad adicional no deseada (FAND) en el Perú según la Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar (ENDES) del 2018. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, analítico transversal, a partir de la ENDES del Perú del año 2018. La FAND es una variable que se creó a partir de la diferencia numérica entre la fecundidad obtenida y la fecundidad deseada. Se categorizó la variable FAND en dos categorías: la diferencia numérica positiva correspondió a presencia de FAND; y la diferencia numérica negativa o nula correspondió a ausencia de FAND. Se realizó una regresión de Poisson, tanto cruda como ajustada. Resultados: Se analizaron los datos de 6944 mujeres entre 40 y 49 años, con una edad promedio de 44,3. Se halló una prevalencia de FAND de 72,5% (IC95%: 70,4%-74...

Introduction: Anemia is a global public health issue that affects mainly children aged less than 5 years. In Peru, despite the reduction in the prevalence of anemia between 2010 and 2018, anemia remains a major concern, especially in high-risk zones such as rural areas. Several sociodemographic factors have been associated with anemia in children; however, components contributing to the urban–rural gap have not been previously assessed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the determinants of the difference in anemia prevalence between urban and rural areas, and its spatial distribution in Peruvian children aged 6–59 months. Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2019 Peruvian Demographic Health Survey. The study population included 18 846 children aged 6–59 months. A multivariate decomposition analysis for non-linear response model was performed to identif...

Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a chronic granulomatous condition caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a microorganism that affects the skin and Schwann’s cells. Making a diagnosis of this condition is difficult in non-endemic areas because of low clinical suspicion. During the 2012-2019 time period, three cases of Hansen’s disease were diagnosed and treated in the ID service of Dos de Mayo Hospital. The average time history of the disease was 4 years. Patients started their condition with the appearance of pruriginous papular lesions affecting specific body regions, progressing to generalized nodular lesions. Paresthesia and tactile, thermal, pain, and vibratory hypoesthesia were found. These manifestations later progressed to anesthesia. Diagnosis was made through bacilloscopy in lymphatic fluid and skin node biopsy. Clinical features for each patient are also described. We emphasize th...

Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a chronic granulomatous condition caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a microorganism that affects the skin and Schwann’s cells. Making a diagnosis of this condition is difficult in non-endemic areas because of low clinical suspicion. During the 2012-2019 time period, three cases of Hansen’s disease were diagnosed and treated in the ID service of Dos de Mayo Hospital. The average time history of the disease was 4 years. Patients started their condition with the appearance of pruriginous papular lesions affecting specific body regions, progressing to generalized nodular lesions. Paresthesia and tactile, thermal, pain, and vibratory hypoesthesia were found. These manifestations later progressed to anesthesia. Diagnosis was made through bacilloscopy in lymphatic fluid and skin node biopsy. Clinical features for each patient are also described. We emphasize th...

A 27-year-old Peruvian woman living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in clinical stage B3 and not on antiretroviral therapy presented with a ten-day history of fever, chills, night sweats and a two-day history of skin lesions. On physical examination, several erythematous-purplish lesions were found on the face and legs. Meningococcal infection was suspected and ceftriaxone was started. Blood culture grew nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica. A biopsy of the skin lesions showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV); therefore, corticosteroids were added. After two weeks of antibiotic and corticosteroid treatment, the lesions had resolved, but they recurred two days after treatment with prednisone was stopped. Corticosteroids and combination antiretroviral therapy were started simultaneously and the lesions resolved without recurrence. HIV infection has been associated with higher rates of...

Purpose: Depression has become a major health concern, particularly in developing countries. This disorder is highly prevalent among certain vulnerable populations, such as prisoners. In Peru, prisons are overcrowded, and the health of prisoners is neglected. Thus, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of depression diagnosed during incarceration in male inmates from all Peruvian prisons and assess its associated factors. Design/methodology/approach: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the secondary data analysis of the National Census of Prison Population 2016 in Peru. This study included records of prisoners who reported whether they were diagnosed with depression by a health-care professional after admission into the prisons. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariable analyses were performed. Findings: Of the 63,312 prisoners included in this study, 1,007 reported an in-...