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de Amorin Vilharba BL, Yamamura M, de Azevedo MV, Fernandes WDS, Santos-Pinto CDB, de Oliveira EF. Disease burden of congenital Zika virus syndrome in Brazil and its association with socioeconomic data. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11882. [PMID: 37482558 PMCID: PMC10363536 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38553-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection became a global public health concern, causing an epidemic in Latin America from 2015 to 2016, when a sudden increase in cases of microcephaly and other congenital anomalies was observed. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization defined congenital Zika-associated syndrome (CZS) as a set of congenital anomalies seen in children born to mothers with a history of gestational Zika fever, who have microcephaly as the most prevalent clinical sign. In order to describe the magnitude of CZS in Brazil, this study estimated the burden of disease due to CZS in Brazil using the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) indicator and other frequency measures, such as incidence and mortality rate, during the years 2015-2020. The association of these indicators with socioeconomic variables was also evaluated using Spearman's correlation coefficient. Choropleth maps were used to evaluate the spatial distribution of the indicators evaluated and the spatial autocorrelation was verified by the Bivariate Moran Local Index. From 2015 to 2020, 3,591 cases of CZS were confirmed in Brazil, with an incidence of 44.03 cases per 1000 live births, and a specific mortality of 12.35 deaths per 1000 live births. A global loss of 30,027.44 DALYs was estimated from 2015 to 2020. The Northeast region had the highest values for all health indicators assessed. Spatial correlation and autocorrelation analyses showed significant associations between health and socioeconomic indicators, such as per capita income, Gini index, illiteracy rate and basic sanitation. The study allowed us to have access to all reported cases of CZS, showing us the possible situation of the disease in Brazil; therefore, we believe that our results can help in the understanding of future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruna Luiza de Amorin Vilharba
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
| | - Mellina Yamamura
- Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brasil
| | | | - Wagner de Souza Fernandes
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Hospital Universitário Maria Aparecida Pedrossian-HUMAP-EBSERH, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil
| | | | - Everton Falcão de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brasil.
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Gilbert RK, Petersen LR, Honein MA, Moore CA, Rasmussen SA. Zika virus as a cause of birth defects: Were the teratogenic effects of Zika virus missed for decades? Birth Defects Res 2023; 115:265-274. [PMID: 36513609 PMCID: PMC10552063 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) was identified as a teratogen in 2016 when an increase in severe microcephaly and other brain defects was observed in fetuses and newborns following outbreaks in French Polynesia (2013-2014) and Brazil (2015-2016) and among travelers to other countries experiencing outbreaks. Some have questioned why ZIKV was not recognized as a teratogen before these outbreaks: whether novel genetic changes in ZIKV had increased its teratogenicity or whether its association with birth defects had previously been undetected. Here we examine the evidence for these two possibilities. We describe evidence for specific mutations that arose before the French Polynesia outbreak that might have increased ZIKV teratogenicity. We also present information on children born with findings consistent with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) as early as 2009 and epidemiological evidence that suggests increases in CZS-type birth defects before 2013. We also explore reasons why a link between ZIKV and birth defects might have been missed, including issues with surveillance of ZIKV infections and of birth defects, challenges to ZIKV diagnostic testing, and the susceptibility of different populations to ZIKV infection at the time of pregnancy. Although it is not possible to prove definitively that ZIKV had teratogenic properties before 2013, several pieces of evidence support the hypothesis that its teratogenicity had been missed in the past. These findings emphasize the need for further investments in global surveillance for emerging infections and for birth defects so that infectious teratogens can be identified more expeditiously in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K. Gilbert
- University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Lyle R. Petersen
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Margaret A. Honein
- Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Cynthia A. Moore
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Goldbelt Professional Services, LLC, Chesapeake, Virginia, USA
| | - Sonja A. Rasmussen
- Departments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Medicine and College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Paixão ES, Fernandes QHRF, Cardim LL, Pescarini JM, Costa MCN, Falcão IR, Brickley EB, Santos AC, Portela Souza A, Carvalho-Sauer RDCO, Smeeth L, Rodrigues LC, Barreto ML, Teixeira MG. Socioeconomic risk markers of congenital Zika syndrome: a nationwide, registry-based study in Brazil. BMJ Glob Health 2022; 7:bmjgh-2022-009600. [PMID: 36175039 PMCID: PMC9528618 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2022-009600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
While it is well known that socioeconomic markers are associated with a higher risk of arbovirus infections, research on the relationship between socioeconomic factors and congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) remains limited. This study investigates the relationship between socioeconomic risk markers and live births with CZS in Brazil. We conducted a population-based study using data from all registered live births in Brazil (Live Births Information System) linked with the Public Health Event Record from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018. We used logistic regression models to estimate the OR and 95% CIs of CZS based on a three-level framework. In an analysis of 11 366 686 live births, of which 3353 had CZS, we observed that live births of self-identified black or mixed race/brown mothers (1.72 (95% CI 1.47 to 2.01) and 1.37 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.51)) were associated with a higher odds of CZS. Live births from single women compared with married women and those from women with less than 12 years of education compared with those with more than 12 years of education also had higher odds of CZS. In addition, live births following fewer prenatal care appointments had increased odds of CZS in the nationwide data. However, in the analyses conducted in the Northeast region (where the microcephaly epidemic started before the link with Zika virus was established and before preventive measures were known or disseminated), no statistical association was found between the number of prenatal care appointments and the odds of CZS. This study shows that live births of the most socially vulnerable women in Brazil had the greatest odds of CZS. This disproportionate distribution of risk places an even greater burden on already socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and the lifelong disabilities caused by this syndrome may reinforce existing social and health inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enny S Paixão
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK .,Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Qeren Hapuk R Ferreira Fernandes
- Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Luciana L Cardim
- Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Julia M Pescarini
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Ila R Falcão
- Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth B Brickley
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Andreia Costa Santos
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - André Portela Souza
- School of Economics and Center for Applied Microeconomic Studies, Getulio Vargas Foundation, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Liam Smeeth
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Laura C Rodrigues
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Mauricio L Barreto
- Center of Data and Knowledge Integration for Health (CIDACS), Gonçalo Moniz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Salvador, Brazil
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