El tratamiento más frecuente contra el cáncer es la cirugía; sin embargo es un procedimiento invasivo que se ha asociado con la presencia de sintomatología psicológica hasta en el 76% de los pacientes. El estudio de la ansiedad ante la cirugía requiere de herramientas específicas adaptadas a las peculiaridades del constructo; entre ellas se encuentra la Escala de Ansiedad Preoperatoria y de Información Ámsterdam (APAIS) que ha sido validada en pacientes sometidos a diversas cirugías en múltiples países; mostrando consistentemente propiedades psicométricas adecuadas. Objetivo: Obtener la confiabilidad y validez de la APAIS en población oncológica para población latinoamericana. Método: Estudio transversal, no experimental, de análisis psicométrico que incluyó una muestra no probabilística de 117 mujeres con edades entre 25 y 75 años, todas diagnosticadas con cáncer de mama y programadas para cirugía en un hospital público de México (57 mujeres) o Costa Rica (63 mujeres). Resultados: Los seis reactivos de la Escala APAIS mostraron adecuada distribución de las contestaciones de las participantes entre las opciones de respuestas, tener capacidad de discriminación entre grupos extremos y contribuyeron a la consistencia interna del instrumento. El análisis factorial de máxima verosimilitud con rotación varimax mostró una estructura que explicó el 58,58% de la varianza con dos factores, la cual fue confirmada por análisis factorial confirmatorio; la escala total mostró una consistencia interna de α=0,816. Dicha escala mostró adecuada sensibilidad y especificidad con un punto de corte de 14 puntos. Conclusiones: La escala APAIS muestra propiedades psicométricas adecuadas para considerarla válida y confiable para evaluar ansiedad prequirúrgica en mujeres con cáncer de mama.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health issue, particularly in developing countries. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at increased risk for TB due to immunosuppression. This retrospective study (2005-2022) assessed a preemptive latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and treatment strategy in 338 HSCT recipients and their donors. Screening included tuberculin skin test (TST) or QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT), and pulmonary imaging, with positive cases receiving isoniazid (INH) therapy before HSCT. Statistical analyses compared TB reactivation rates, overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) across HSCT groups. Of 338 patients, screening involved TST in 325 and QFT in 13 cases, resulting in 94 (27.8%) patients with LTBI. INH therapy was completed by 83 patients, with 5 discontinuing due to hepatotoxicity. The cumulative incidence of active TB was 0.6%, and one patient who received INH prophylaxis developed LTBI reactivation. LTBI status did not affect OS or RFS. Our study demonstrates that the use of LTBI protocols incorporating TST/QFT and chest CT-scans, followed by INH in positive cases, was safe and is an accessible option among HSCT recipients in high-burden regions.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health issue, particularly in developing countries. Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at elevated risk for TB due to immunosuppression. This retrospective study (2005-2022) assessed a preemptive latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening and treatment strategy in 338 HSCT recipients and their donors. Screening included tuberculin skin test (TST) or QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT), and pulmonary imaging, with positive cases receiving isoniazid (INH) therapy. Statistical analyses aimed to compare TB reactivation rates, overall survival (OS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) across HSCT groups. Of 338 patients, 92 (27%) were diagnosed with LTBI. Screening involved TST in 325 cases and QFT in 13. INH therapy was completed by 81 patients, with 5 discontinuing due to hepatotoxicity. The cumulative incidence of active TB was 0.6%, and LTBI reactivation rate in patients who received INH was 1.2%. LTBI status did not affect OS or RFS. Our study exemplifies the effectiveness of LTBI protocols incorporating TST/QFT and CT-scan testing, followed by INH therapy, in reducing TB reactivation among HSCT recipients in a high-burden region.

The aim of this study was to identify psychological and physical correlates of Quality of Life (QOL) in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). A total of 146 adult patients participated, of which 67.12% receiving an autologous HSCT and 32.87% an allogeneic HSCT. The sample included 63.01% male patients with a mean age of 40.24 years (s.d.=14.03). This was a cross-sectional design in which QoL was assessed using the Functionality Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT). Independent variables included physical symptoms, emotional distress, coping, and problem-solving style. Multiple regression analyses were performed for each QoL sub-scale with variables that showed correlation. The analysis showed the global QoL mean was 83.33 (s.d.=13.47) on a scale from 0 to 108. Descriptive analyses of the QoL subscales showed greater negative impact on functional well-being. In contrast, physical well-being was the least affected subscale. Of the eight regression models (one for each QoL sub-scale) between 24.4% and 71.6% of the total variance was explained. Models included eight independent variables, the most strongly associated were fatigue, depression, and anxious preoccupation. In conclusion we identified medical and psychological correlates of patients’ QoL. While this design cannot establish causal relations, establishing these correlates is relevant for clinical practice to identify patients with higher risk for compromised QoL and to guide the development of clinical interventions to promote protective QoL factors.