ABSTRACT Introduction: Health-related loss of quality of life among dengue patients and their relatives, and unforeseen family expenses incurred for this reason, have not been sufficiently studied in Cuba. Objective: Describe the impact on quality of life, as well as the non-medical direct and indirect unforeseen expenses incurred by patients hospitalized with dengue and their relatives. Method: A cost analysis study was conducted based on data provided by patients hospitalized with dengue in Salvador Allende Clinical Surgical Hospital and their relatives in November 2013. A closed-ended questionnaire of 173 questions was applied in January-February 2014. Estimation was made of average health-related loss of quality of life, direct non-medical costs and indirect costs. Results: The 30-44 years age group was the most harshly affected during the episode. There was a predominance of the female sex (63.3%). Health-related quality of life decreased dramatically from an average 86.9 the day before the disease to 27.8 on the day when patients felt the worst. At the time of the interview, 51% of the patients perceived that they had not recovered from the disease. Mean hospital stay was 5 days. Unforeseen patient and family expenses rose to 61.24 CUC (CI 95%; 43.23-79.25 CUC), of which 66.2 % was spent on food and 13.6 % on transport. Average income loss was 25.30 CUC for patients and 4.50 CUC for relatives. Total average cost per patient was 89.25 CUC (CI 95% 67.33-110.29 CUC). Conclusions: Evidence was found of loss of quality of life as a result of dengue. Unforeseen expenses were high, representing three times the mean salary in the province of Havana.

RESUMEN Introducción: En Cuba no se han estudiado suficientemente los gastos de bolsillo y la pérdida de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (de pacientes con dengue y sus familiares. Objetivo: Describir la afectación de la calidad de vida, los costos no médicos directos (gastos de bolsillo) e indirectos de pacientes hospitalizados con dengue y sus familiares. Método: Estudio de descripción de costos desde la perspectiva de pacientes y familiares, para los hospitalizados con dengue en el Clínico Quirúrgico ”Salvador Allende”, en noviembre de 2013. En enero-febrero de 2014 se aplicó un cuestionario cerrado de 173 preguntas. Se calcularon la pérdida promedio de calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, los costos no médicos directos y los costos indirectos. Resultados: Durante el episodio de dengue el grupo de edad más afectado fue el de 30-44 años. Predominaron las mujeres (63,3 %). La calidad de vida relacionada con la salud se afectó sensiblemente pasando como promedio de 86,9 el día antes de la enfermedad a 27,8 el día que las personas se sintieron más enfermas. En el momento de la entrevista, el 51 % de los pacientes percibían que no se habían recuperado de la enfermedad. Los pacientes estuvieron hospitalizados como promedio 5 días. Los gastos de bolsillo de pacientes y familiares ascendieron a 61,24 CUC (IC95% 43,23-79,25 CUC), en que el 66,2 % fue en alimentación y el 13,6 % en transporte. Las pérdidas promedio de ingreso fueron de 25,30 CUC para los pacientes y 4,50 CUC para los familiares. Los costos totales promedio por paciente fueron de 89,25 CUC (IC95% 67,33-110,29 CUC). Conclusiones: Se evidenció la pérdida de calidad de vida como consecuencia del dengue. Los gastos de bolsillo fueron altos y representan tres veces el valor del salario medio de la Provincia La Habana.

Uma lista das espécies de zooplâncton identificadas durante dez anos de estudos no sistema de lagos do médio Rio Doce é apresentada. Este sistema de lagos faz parte do bioma da Mata Atlântica, um hotspot de biodiversidade. Três tipos de estudos foram conduzidos pelo Programa de Pesquisas Ecológicas de Longa Duração (PELD-UFMG site4): i) um estudo temporal, que amostrou quatro lagoas mensalmente e três lagoas semestralmente durante dez anos; ii) um estudo comparativo entre a composição de espécies da região limnética e litorânea e iii) um estudo espacial que avaliou a composição de espécies de dezoito lagoas (oito dentro dos limites do Parque Estadual do Rio Doce (PERD) e dez na sua região do entorno) durante um ano com amostragens trimestrais. Um total de 354 taxa foram identificados sendo 175 pertencentes a Rotifera, 95 a Protozoa (Amoeba Testacea), 55 a Cladocera e 25 a Copepoda. Embora muitas espécies identificadas sejam comuns a ambientes tropicais, são apresentados novos registros para a bacia do Médio Rio Doce. O grupo de lagos fora do PERD apresentou uma maior riqueza exclusiva comparado ao grupo de lagoas dentro do PERD. Este padrão pode ser devido a maiores frequência e intensidade de distúrbios aos quais as lagoas fora do PERD estão sujeitas, já que este é um fator importante que afeta a estruturação de comunidades. Este ecossistema aquático apresenta mais da metade das espécies de zooplâncton já registradas para o Estado de Minas Gerais e é, sem dúvida, uma das prioridades do Brasil para a conservação, sustentando uma alta diversidade em uma região muito pequena, limitada e ameaçada.

A list of zooplankton species identified during ten years of studies in the lake system of the middle Rio Doce basin is presented. This lake system integrates the Atlantic Forest biome, a biodiversity hotspot. Three types of studies were achieved by the Brazilian Long Term Ecological Research Program (Brasil-LTER/PELD-UFMG site 4): i) a temporal study (study 1) which sampled four lakes monthly and three lakes twice a year during ten years; ii) a comparative study of limnetic and littoral species composition (study 2) and iii) a spatial study (study 3) that evaluated the species composition of eighteen lakes (eight lakes inside the Rio Doce State Park (RDSP) and ten lakes in its surrounding area) during one year with quarterly sampling. A total of 354 taxawere identified out of which 175 belong to the Rotifera, 95 to the Protozoa (Amoeba Testacea), 55 to Cladocera and 25 to Copepoda. Although many identified species where common in tropical environments, we present new records for the Middle Rio Doce basin. The group of lakes outside the RDSP showed higher exclusive species compared to lakes inside the RDSP. This pattern may be due to higher disturbance intensity and frequency to which the lakes outside RDSP are subjected, being an important factor affecting community structure. These aquatic ecosystems presents more than half of the zooplankton species registered for the Minas Gerais State and is, undoubtedly, one of the Brazil's priorities for conservation, sustaining high diversity in a very small, limited and threatened region.