Purpose: Drug utilization research (DUR) contributes to inform policymaking and to strengthen health systems. The availability of data sources is the first step for conducting DUR. However, documents that systematize these data sources in Latin American (LatAm) countries are not known. We compiled the potential data sources for DUR in the LatAm region.Methods: A network of DUR experts from nine LatAm countries was assembled and experts conducted: (i) a website search of the government, academic, and private health institutions; (ii) screening of eligible data sources, and (iii) liaising with national experts in pharmacoepidemiology (via an online survey). The data sources were characterized by accessibility, geographic granularity, setting, sector of the data, sources and type of the data. Descriptive analyses were performed.Results: We identified 125 data sources for DUR in nine LatAm countries. Thirty‐eight (30%) of them were publicly and conveniently available; 89 (71%) were accessible with limitations, and 18 (14%) were not accessible or lacked clear rules for data access. From the 125 data sources, 76 (61%) were from the public sector only; 46 (37%) were from pharmacy records; 43 (34%) came from ambulatory settings and; 85 (68%) gave access to individual patient‐level data.Conclusions: Although multiple sources for DUR are available in LatAm countries, the accessibility is a major challenge. The procedures for accessing DUR data should be transparent, feasible, affordable, and protocol‐driven. This inventory could permit a comparison of drug utilization between countries identifying potential medication‐related problems that need further exploration.

Introducción: Los adultos mayores son particularmente proclives a sufrir de dolor crónico, el tratamiento seleccionado paradigmáticamente para esta problemática es la utilización de analgésicos. No obstante, la evidencia apunta a que este método podría generar efectos e interacciones adversas en este grupo poblacional. Objetivo: Se pretende en la presente investigación conocer las intervenciones no farmacológicas para el manejo del dolor crónico de los adultos mayores en atención primaria en salud. Metodología: Para el efecto, se realiza una investigación bibliográfica estructurada de artículos publicados durante los últimos 5 años, en diferentes gestores de búsqueda como PubMed, Tripdatabase, Cochrane, Uptodate, Elsevier entre otros. Resultados: 10 artículos se adecuaron al objetivo y se encontró que la intensidad del dolor crónico disminuyó con el uso de las intervenciones no farmacológicas. Conclusiones: Las intervenciones no farmacológicas para controlar el dolor crónico en adultos mayores fueron eficaces para reducir los niveles de dolor.

Introduction: During the last decades the use of erythropoiesis stimulating agents has significantly diminished the prevalence of anemia in patients receiving chronic hemodialysis. Currently, residing at higher altitudes is associated with higher levels of endogenous erythropoietin. Objective: This study aims to analyze how residing at higher altitudes influences the requirements of exogenous erythropoietin in patients receiving hemodialysis as renal replacement therapy. Methodology: Descriptive observational cross-section, including adult patients from three Ecuadorian centers, receiving chronic hemodialysis, between January and June 2020. Patients were classified into two groups regarding the altitude of residence: those living at low-lying regions (2000 masl, Quito). Results: We included 580 patients, 45.5% in the high-altitude group and 54.5% at low-lying regions. Median exogenous erythropoietin dose was higher in low-lying regions (22000 international units) versus high altitude (17333.3 international units) (P=0.00003) and the proportion of patients without erythropoietin requirement was higher in high altitude (21.6%), compared to low regions (1.0%) (P<0.01). The multivariate analysis associated residing in low regions (HR 58.9, P<0.01), age (HR 0.98, P=0.03) and Kt/V (HR 38.5, P<0.01) with higher exogenous erythropoietin requirements. Additionally, among patients who required erythropoietin, residing in lower altitudes was linked with a need for exogenous erythropoietin doses exceeding 15000 international units per week (HR 1.92, P=0.001). Conclusion: In Ecuadorian patients receiving hemodialysis, living at high altitude is associated with a reduced requirement of exogenous erythropoietin compared with those patients residing in low-lying regions.

Background Media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic increased tuning ratings during this time. The aim of this study was to identify misleading advertising of health-related products on Ecuadorian television during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Television channels were monitored for 111 h in the months of June and October 2020. Verbal, nonverbal and context content were analyzed from each advertising spot according to ethical standards for the promotion of products for human health Results A total of 667 spots were analyzed. Most, 90%, involved misleading advertising of health-related products. Products for gastrointestinal conditions were the most publicized (17.8%) during the period analyzed. Newscasts most often advertised products intended to improve sexual potency (22.9%) and to a lesser degree those intended to prevent and treat respiratory problems (1.8%); this relationship was reversed when compared to general programming (p < 0.05). Conclusions Most of the health-related products advertised on Ecuadorian television are advertised misleadingly, with news programs having the highest number of such advertisements per hour of programming.

La concepción de la salud entendida como la provisión de servicios hospitalarios, tratamientos médicos, prescripción y entrega de medicamentos para atender enfermedades, es una concepción restringida y fragmentaria del derecho a la salud. No es ese SARS-CoV-2 de apenas 20 nanómetros lo que golpea nuestros frágiles sistemas de salud; es la ruptura del equilibrio social y la pobre incidencia del abordaje ecosistémico de la determinación social de la salud para enfrentar esta pandemia.