"Bronchogenic cyst impersonating a pericardial lesion": A case report.

A 32-year-old female presented with palpitations and chest discomfort. The patient had a history of pericardiotomy due to pericardial effusion. Multimodal imaging, including echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) showed a single mass in the pericardium as the cause of the symptoms. Furthermore, its location and potential complications were accurately defined. The patient underwent a successful surgical resection of the pericardial cyst, microscopic histopathological examination was compatible with a bronchogenic cyst, a very rare congenital malformation. The article discusses the rarity of bronchogenic cysts in the pericardium and the importance of accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Mitral valve prolapse in patients with atrial septal defect: A quantitative three-dimensional echocardiographic analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Mitral valve (MV) prolapse is highly prevalent in patients with atrial septal defect (ASD). Abnormal left ventricular geometry has been proposed as the main mechanism of MV prolapse in ASD, however, the changes in the morphology of the MV apparatus remain to be clarified. Our aim was to assess the MV geometry in patients with ASD and MV prolapse. METHODS: We evaluated 99 patients (73% female, median age 40 years) with ASD who underwent a three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiogram. Three-dimensional analysis of the MV was done using dedicated automated software. Transthoracic echocardiographic parameters were assessed post ASD closure in 28 patients. RESULTS: MV prolapse was found in 39% of patients. Although smaller left ventricular dimensions and greater interatrial shunt were found in patients with MV prolapse compared with those without prolapse, there was no difference in the subvalvular parameters. MV prolapse was associated with larger mitral anterior-posterior diameter, anterolateral-posteromedial diameter, anterior perimeter, posterior perimeter, total perimeter, and anterior leaflet area (all p < 0.05). Mitral regurgitation was more frequent in patients with MV prolapse (80 vs. 48%, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with ASD, the main mechanism of MV prolapse is the presence of an organic primary process of the MV apparatus (excessive anterior mitral leaflet tissue and mitral annular enlargement).

Postoperative intermittent dysfunction of mitral valve prosthesis of unclear etiology identified by three-dimensional echocardiography.

A 56-year-old patient with rheumatic heart disease and atrial fibrillation underwent mitral valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis. The 3D perioperative echocardiogram showed an intermittent immobile medial disk without hemodynamic repercussion in the intensive care unit. The patient was taken back to the operating room and surgeons could not identify the cause. An enlarged left atrium and the size of the prosthetic valve was thought to have precipitated this condition. The heart team decided a biological prosthetic valve replacement would be performed. This case emphasizes the important role of the perioperative 3D echocardiogram in the detection of immediate surgical complications.

Habitability Models for Astrobiology.

Habitability has been generally defined as the capability of an environment to support life. Ecologists have been using Habitat Suitability Models (HSMs) for more than four decades to study the habitability of Earth from local to global scales. Astrobiologists have been proposing different habitability models for some time, with little integration and consistency among them, being different in function to those used by ecologists. Habitability models are not only used to determine whether environments are habitable, but they also are used to characterize what key factors are responsible for the gradual transition from low to high habitability states. Here we review and compare some of the different models used by ecologists and astrobiologists and suggest how they could be integrated into new habitability standards. Such standards will help improve the comparison and characterization of potentially habitable environments, prioritize target selections, and study correlations between habitability and biosignatures. Habitability models are the foundation of planetary habitability science, and the synergy between ecologists and astrobiologists is necessary to expand our understanding of the habitability of Earth, the Solar System, and extrasolar planets.

Right Ventricular Longitudinal Strain Predicts Low-Cardiac- Output Syndrome After Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Preserved and Mid-range Ejection Fraction.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze whether right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (RVFWSL) could be a predictor of low-cardiac-output syndrome (LCOS) after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥40%. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a third level university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: The study comprised 75 patients with severe aortic stenosis and LVEF ≥40% who underwent SAVR. The primary outcome was the occurrence of LCOS, and secondary outcomes were in-hospital mortality, hospital stay, or vasoplegic syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were divided into two groups (LCOS and no LCOS), and RVFWSL was analyzed to determine whether it is a predictor for LCOS. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic curve also was constructed, and the best cutoff value to predict LCOS was found. Furthermore, the reproducibility of RVFWSL measurements was evaluated. MEASUREMENT AND MAIN RESULTS: The incidence of LCOS was 20% in the present study's cohort. After multivariate analysis, cross-clamp time (odds ratio 1.06, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.11; p = 0.002) and RVFWSL (odds ratio 1.41, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.87; p = 0.015) were the only predictors of LCOS. However, RVFWSL did not show association with secondary outcomes (p > 0.05 for all). The area under the curve of RVFWSL to predict LCOS was 0.75, and the best cutoff value was -17.3%, with a sensitivity of 86.7% and specificity of 61.7%. CONCLUSIONS: RVFWSL seems to be a predictor of LCOS in patients with severe aortic stenosis and LVEF ≥40% undergoing SAVR. RVFWSL less than -17.3% may identify patients at increased risk for LCOS.

Prospective risk factors for increased central augmentation index in men and women.

BACKGROUND: Arterial wave reflections are important determinants of central pressure pulsatility and left ventricular afterload. The augmentation index (AIx) is the most widely used surrogate of arterial wave reflections. Despite multiple cross-sectional studies assessing the correlates of AIx, little prospective data exist regarding changes in AIx over time. We aimed to assess the predictors of changes in AIx over time in adults from the general population. METHODS: We performed radial arterial tonometry assessments a median of 3.18 ± 0.4 years apart on 143 nondiabetic adult participants in the population-based PREVENCION study. Central AIx was obtained using the generalized transfer function of the Sphygmocor device. RESULTS: Predictors of the change in AIx over time were investigated. Among men (n = 67), the change in AIx was predicted by abdominal obesity (standardized ß for waist circumference = 0.34; P = 0.002), impaired fasting glucose (standardized ß = 0.24; P = 0.009), and the change in heart rate (standardized ß = -0.78; P < 0.001). Among women (n = 76), the change in AIx was predicted by non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (standardized ß = 0.33; P = 0.001), C-reactive protein levels (standardized ß = 0.24; P = 0.02), change in mean arterial pressure (standardized ß = 0.33; P = 0.001), and change in heart rate (standardized ß = -0.52; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic and inflammatory factors predicted changes in AIx over time, with important sex differences. Metabolic factors, such as abdominal obesity and impaired fasting glucose, predicted changes in AIx in men, whereas C-reactive protein and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels predicted changes in women. Our findings highlight the impact of sex on arterial properties and may guide the design of interventions to favorably impact changes in late systolic pressure augmentation.

ESTIMATION OF VIBRATION AND FORCE STIMULUS THRESHOLDS FOR HAPTIC GUIDANCE IN MIS TRAINING / ESTIMACIÓN DE UMBRALES DE PERCEPCIÓN DE FUERZA Y VIBRACIÓN PARA GUIADO HÁPTICO EN ENTRENAMIENTO DE MIS

This manuscript investigates the minimum perception thresholds for force and vibration stimuli in a simple movement pattern and using the same haptic device. The model was model derived from the well-known Up-Down Transformed Response Rule varying the force magnitude and the amplitude of vibration feedback. It was demonstrated that the vibration sensitivity was around fifteen times smaller than the force threshold. The results were compared with previous published studies for different tasks, experimental configurations and devices. We concluded that the type of task significantly affects human detection threshold for force and vibration feedback, and should be adapted for the design of a new haptic-based skill transfer system for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) using haptic guidance.

El presente artículo muestra los resultados de una investigación para determinar los umbrales de mínima percepción ante estímulos de fuerzas y vibraciones aplicados durante la realización de un movimiento simple y utilizando el mismo dispositivo háptico. El modelo utilizado se derivó del bien conocido método de Up-Down Transformed Response Rule donde la retroalimentación fue variada en términos de la magnitud de la fuerza y de la amplitud de la vibración. Se demostró que la percepción de vibración fue alrededor de quince veces más pequeña que el umbral de fuerzas y se compararon los resultados con trabajos previos para diferentes tareas, configuraciones experimentales y distintos dispositivos. Se concluyó que el tipo de tarea afecta significativamente el umbral de detección humano tanto para retroalimentaciones de fuerzas como de vibraciones. Además es fundamental considerar estos valores en el diseño de nuevos sistemas de guiado hápticos para el entrenamiento de habilidades requeridas en Cirugías Mínimamente Invasivas (MIS por sus siglas en Ingles).

Expression and function of P2X(7) receptor and CD39/Entpd1 in patients with type 2 diabetes and their association with biochemical parameters.

Chronic inflammation is an important contributor to the insulin resistance observed in type 2 diabetes (T2D). We evaluated the expression and function of the P2X(7) receptor and CD39/Entpd1, molecules involved in the cellular regulation of inflammation, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from T2D patients, and their correlation with the concentration of HbA1c in blood. T2D patients with deficient metabolic control (DC) showed increased proportion of P2X(7)(+) cells compared with healthy individuals; T2D-DC subjects also displayed higher proportion of CD14(+), CD4(+) and CD19(+) subpopulations of P2X(7)(+) cells when compared with T2D patients with acceptable metabolic control. A significant association was observed between the proportion of P2X(7)(+)CD14(+) cells and blood concentration of LDL-c. In addition, the percentages of CD39(+) cells and CD39(+)CD19(+) cells were significantly associated with HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose levels. No changes were observed in the function of P2X(7)(+) cells from T2D patients; however, enhanced CD39/Entpd1 enzyme activity and low serum levels of IL-17 were detected. Therefore, CD39(+) cells could have a balancing regulatory role in the inflammatory process observed in patients with T2D.

Prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en la población adulta de Arequipa Metropolitana: resultados del estudio prevención / Prevalencia of overweight and obesity in the adult population of Arequipa Metropolitan: results of the study prevention

Antecedentes: El sobrepeso y la obesidad aumentan el riesgo de padecer enfermedades cardiovasculares y otras patologías que alteran significativamente la calidad y expectativa de vida. Estudios en otras poblaciones de América Latina y el Perú muestran que la prevalencia de obesidad viene aumentando en las últimas décadas. Métodos: PREVENCION es un estudio poblacional realizado en la ciudad de Arequipa entre los años 2004-2006, en el que se obtuvo una muestra probabilística, multietápica y estratificada de adultos no institucionalizados de entre 20-80 años de edad constituida por 1878 individuos (867 varones y 1011 mujeres) pertenecientes a 626 familias. Evaluamos la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad de acuerdo al índice de masa corporal (IMC) y la prevalencia de obesidad abdominal considerando el perímetro de cintura (PC). Resultados: El valor promedio del IMC en la población fue 26.2 kg/m2 (IC al 95 por ciento = 25.9û26.5 kg/m2). Las prevalencias estandarizadas por edad de obesidad (IMC≥30) y sobrepeso (IMC = 25.0û29.9) fueron 17.6 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento=15.7û19.6 por ciento) y 41.8 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento=39.3û44.4 por ciento), respectivamente. La prevalencia de obesidad fue más alta en mujeres (20.5 por ciento; IC al 95 por ciento=17.9-23.2 por ciento) que en hombres (14.7 por ciento; IC al 95 por ciento=12.3-17.5 por ciento; p=0.001). Sin embargo, la prevalencia de sobrepeso fue mayor en hombres (47.8 por ciento; IC al 95 por ciento=44.1-51.5 por ciento) que en mujeres (35.9 por ciento; IC al 95 por ciento=32.7-39.1 por ciento ; p<0.001), de modo que el 37.4 por ciento de hombres y el 43.7 por ciento de mujeres presentaron un IMC<25.0. La prevalencia de obesidad abdominal según los criterios del ATP III fue de 15.2 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento=12.8-18.1 por ciento) en hombres y 39.7 por ciento (IC al95 por ciento=36.3-43.2 por ciento) en mujeres (p<0.0001). A su vez, las prevalencias de obesidad abdominal en hombres y mujeres...

Prevalence of lifestyle-related cardiovascular risk factors in Peru: the PREVENCION study / Prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular relacionados con el estilo de vida en Perú: el estudio PREVENCIÓN

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of lifestyle-related cardiovascular risk factors in the adult population of Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru. METHODS: The prevalence and patterns of smoking, alcohol drinking, lack of physical activity, high-fat diet, and low fruit and vegetable intake were evaluated among 1 878 subjects (867 men and 1 011 women) in a population-based study. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of current smoking, former smoking, and never smoking were 21.6 percent, 14.3 percent, and 64.1 percent, respectively. The prevalence of current smoking was significantly higher in men than women (31.1 percent vs. 12.1 percent; P < 0.01). The prevalence of current alcohol use was 37.7 percent and significantly higher in men than women (55.5 percent vs. 19.7 percent; P < 0.01). Similarly, the prevalence of binge drinking was 21.2 percent, and the percentage of men who binge drink (36.1 percent) was significantly higher than for women (6.4 percent; P < 0.01). The vast majority of alcohol drinkers reported a pattern of alcohol consumption mainly on weekends and holidays rather than regular drinking with meals during the week. The proportion of insufficiently active people was 57.6 percent and was significantly higher in women than men (63.3 percent vs. 51.9 percent; P < 0.01). Overall, 42.0 percent of adults reported consuming high-fat diets, 34.5 percent reported low fruit intake, and 33.3 percent reported low vegetable intake. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of lifestyle-related cardiovascular risk factors found in this Andean population is of concern. Preventive programs are urgently needed to deal with this growing problem.

OBJETIVOS: Estimar la prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular relacionados con el estilo de vida de adultos de Arequipa, la segunda mayor ciudad de Perú. MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio de base poblacional para evaluar la prevalencia y los patrones de consumo de tabaco y bebidas alcohólicas, la falta de actividad física, la dieta rica en grasas y el bajo consumo de frutas y vegetales en 1 878 personas (867 hombres y 1 011 mujeres). RESULTADOS: Las prevalencias estandarizadas por la edad de los fumadores actuales, pasados y de los que nunca fumaron fueron 21,6 por ciento, 14,3 por ciento y 64,1 por ciento, respectivamente. La prevalencia de tabaquismo fue significativamente mayor en los hombres que en las mujeres (31,1 por ciento frente a 12,1 por ciento; P < 0,01). La prevalencia del consumo de bebidas alcohólicas fue de 37,7 por ciento, significativamente mayor en los hombres que en las mujeres (55,5 por ciento frente a 19,7 por ciento; P < 0,01). La prevalencia del consumo excesivo de alcohol fue de 21,1 por ciento, mayor en los hombres que en las mujeres (36,1 por ciento frente a 6,4 por ciento; P < 0,01). La gran mayoría de los bebedores presentó un patrón de consumo concentrado fundamentalmente en los fines de semana y los días feriados, más que el consumo habitual con las comidas en los días laborables. La proporción de personas con insuficiente actividad fue de 57,6 por ciento, significativamente mayor en las mujeres que en los hombres (63,3 por ciento frente a 51,9 por ciento; P < 0,01). En general, 42,0 por ciento de los adultos informaron consumir dietas ricas en grasas, 34,5 por ciento dijo tener un bajo consumo de frutas y 33,3 por ciento un bajo consumo de vegetales. CONCLUSIONES: La alta prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular relacionados con el estilo de vida encontrada en esta población de los Andes es preocupante. Se deben implementar urgentemente programas preventivos para resolver este creciente problema.

Prevalence of lifestyle-related cardiovascular risk factors in Peru: the PREVENCION study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of lifestyle-related cardiovascular risk factors in the adult population of Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru. METHODS: The prevalence and patterns of smoking, alcohol drinking, lack of physical activity, high-fat diet, and low fruit and vegetable intake were evaluated among 1 878 subjects (867 men and 1 011 women) in a population-based study. RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of current smoking, former smoking, and never smoking were 21.6%, 14.3%, and 64.1%, respectively. The prevalence of current smoking was significantly higher in men than women (31.1% vs. 12.1%; P < 0.01). The prevalence of current alcohol use was 37.7% and significantly higher in men than women (55.5% vs. 19.7%; P < 0.01). Similarly, the prevalence of binge drinking was 21.2%, and the percentage of men who binge drink (36.1%) was significantly higher than for women (6.4%; P < 0.01). The vast majority of alcohol drinkers reported a pattern of alcohol consumption mainly on weekends and holidays rather than regular drinking with meals during the week. The proportion of insufficiently active people was 57.6% and was significantly higher in women than men (63.3% vs. 51.9%; P < 0.01). Overall, 42.0% of adults reported consuming high-fat diets, 34.5% reported low fruit intake, and 33.3% reported low vegetable intake. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of lifestyle-related cardiovascular risk factors found in this Andean population is of concern. Preventive programs are urgently needed to deal with this growing problem.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Peruvian Andean hispanics: the PREVENCION study.

Data regarding the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MTS) in Andean populations are limited. We evaluated the prevalence of MTS according to American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute criteria among 1878 subjects in the PREVENCION study in Peru. In women, the most common component was low HDL cholesterol (60.9%) followed by abdominal obesity (36.9%). In men, the most common component was elevated triglycerides (52.0%) followed by low HDL cholesterol (32.5%), whereas the prevalence of abdominal obesity was 14%. Abnormal fasting glucose was the least common component in men (5.4%) and women (5.0%). The prevalence of MTS was significantly higher in women compared to men (23.2% versus 14.3%) and increased steeply with age, particularly in women (p<0.0001). Using body mass index (BMI>or=30kg/m2) instead of waist circumference as a component of the MTS lead to equivalent prevalence estimates of MTS in men but significantly underestimated the prevalence in women. The MTS is highly prevalent among Peruvian Andeans, particularly in older women. The pattern of MTS components in this Andean population is characterized by a high prevalence of dyslipidemia and a relatively low prevalence of elevated fasting glucose. Further studies are required to characterize genetic and environmental determinants of these patterns.

Prevalence and patterns of hypertension in Peruvian Andean Hispanics: the PREVENCION study.

Cardiovascular disease is emerging as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Latin America. Population-based data regarding the prevalence of hypertension and hypertension subtypes in Andean Hispanic populations are scarce. The authors performed a population-based study that included 1878 Peruvian Andean adults to determine: (1) the prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension and (2) the relative frequency of hypertension subtypes (systolic vs. diastolic). The prevalence of hypertension was 15.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.0%-17.4%), did not differ by gender, and increased steeply with age, particularly in women. Awareness, treatment, and control rates were 47.9%, 39.5%, and 14%, respectively. Diastolic blood pressure increased until age 50 years and reached a plateau thereafter, whereas mean arterial pressure continued to increase with age even after age 50 years. Furthermore, in sharp contrast with the United States population, the predominant type of hypertension was systodiastolic (41.7%; 95% CI, 35.1%-48.5%). Isolated systolic hypertension accounted for only 29.3% of cases (95% CI, 23.9%-35.4%) and was responsible for a minority of cases in all age groups before age 70 years. Hypertension subtypes in this Andean population seem to differ significantly from those present in the United States population, with a much larger proportion of systodiastolic and diastolic hypertension even with advanced age. These differences result from interactions between hemodynamic and structural factors, and further studies aimed at characterizing their genetic and environmental determinants and implications in end-organ damage and prognosis in this population may contribute to understanding the pathophysiology of hypertension.

Prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en la población adulta de Arequipa Metropolitana: resultados del estudio prevención / Prevalencia of overweight and obesity in the adult population of Arequipa Metropolitan: results of the study prevention

Antecedentes: El sobrepeso y la obesidad aumentan el riesgo de padecer enfermedades cardiovasculares y otras patologías que alteran significativamente la calidad y expectativa de vida. Estudios en otras poblaciones de América Latina y el Perú muestran que la prevalencia de obesidad viene aumentando en las últimas décadas. Métodos: PREVENCION es un estudio poblacional realizado en la ciudad de Arequipa entre los años 2004-2006, en el que se obtuvo una muestra probabilística, multietápica y estratificada de adultos no institucionalizados de entre 20-80 años de edad constituida por 1878 individuos (867 varones y 1011 mujeres) pertenecientes a 626 familias. Evaluamos la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad de acuerdo al índice de masa corporal (IMC) y la prevalencia de obesidad abdominal considerando el perímetro de cintura (PC). Resultados: El valor promedio del IMC en la población fue 26.2 kg/m2 (IC al 95 por ciento = 25.9û26.5 kg/m2). Las prevalencias estandarizadas por edad de obesidad (IMC≥30) y sobrepeso (IMC = 25.0û29.9) fueron 17.6 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento=15.7û19.6 por ciento) y 41.8 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento=39.3û44.4 por ciento), respectivamente. La prevalencia de obesidad fue más alta en mujeres (20.5 por ciento; IC al 95 por ciento=17.9-23.2 por ciento) que en hombres (14.7 por ciento; IC al 95 por ciento=12.3-17.5 por ciento; p=0.001). Sin embargo, la prevalencia de sobrepeso fue mayor en hombres (47.8 por ciento; IC al 95 por ciento=44.1-51.5 por ciento) que en mujeres (35.9 por ciento; IC al 95 por ciento=32.7-39.1 por ciento ; p<0.001), de modo que el 37.4 por ciento de hombres y el 43.7 por ciento de mujeres presentaron un IMC<25.0. La prevalencia de obesidad abdominal según los criterios del ATP III fue de 15.2 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento=12.8-18.1 por ciento) en hombres y 39.7 por ciento (IC al95 por ciento=36.3-43.2 por ciento) en mujeres (p<0.0001). A su vez, las prevalencias de obesidad abdominal en hombres y mujeres...

Estimaciones del riesgo cardiovascular global en la población adulta de Arequipa Metropolitana: resultados del estudio PREVENCION / Estimations of the cardiovascular global risk in the adult population of Arequipa Metropolitan: results of the study PREVENTION

Antecedentes: Para dise±ar programas efectivos de prevención cardiovascular es necesario estimar no solamente la prevalencia y características de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular, sino también los patrones de riesgo global y la distribución poblacional de los sujetos en las diferentes categorías de riesgo absoluto. Población y Métodos: Estudiamos el riesgo cardiovascular global (calculado mediante el puntaje de riesgo de Framingham) en una muestra representativa de la población adulta de Arequipa Metropolitana de 20-80 a±os de edad constituida por 1878 adultos, seleccionados en forma probabilística, multietßpica, estratificada y por conglomerados. Resultados: Se estimó que un 83.9 por ciento de la población adulta (IC al 95 por ciento=82.3-85.5) presenta un riesgo <10 por ciento , un 10.4 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento =9.2=11.7) presenta un riesgo entre 10 y 20 por ciento y un 5.7 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento=4.8-6.7) presenta un riesgo >20 por ciento de sufrir un evento coronario en los siguientes 10 a±os. Esto significa que, sólo en la ciudad de Arequipa, existen 60,673 (IC al 95 por ciento=53,723-67,623) adultos en riesgo moderado y 33,143 (IC al 95 por ciento=27,917-38,369) adultos en riesgo alto para un evento coronario. El riesgo global se incrementó marcadamente con la edad (p<0.0001), de modo que el 15.4 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento=12.3-19.0) de mujeres y el 18.7 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento =15.1-23.1) de hombres mayores de 50 a±os demuestran se encuentran en la categoría de alto riesgo. A pesar de que sólo una minoría (<3 por ciento) de sujetos menores de 50 a±os presentan alto riesgo cardiovascular, el 27.6 por ciento (IC al 95 por ciento=19.7-37.3) de sujetos de alto riesgo son menores de 50 a±os. Conclusiones: La población adulta de Arequipa demuestra un alto riesgo cardiovascular global, particularmente en adultos mayores de 50 a±os. Aunque la categoría ...

Background: In order to design effective cardiovascular prevention programs, it is necessary not only to accurately estimate the prevalence and characteristics of cardiovascular risk factors, but also the patterns of global subjects in the different categories of absolute risk. Study Population and Methods: We studied the global cardiovacular risk (estimated by the Framingham risk score) in a representative sample of the adult population of Metropolitan Arequipa, consisting of 1878 adults aged 20-80 years. The sampling strategy was probabilistic, multistaged, stratified and clustered. Results: We estimated that 83.9 per cent of the adult population (95 per cent CI=82.3-85.5) demonstrates <10 per cent risk, 10.4 per cent (95 per cent CI=9.2-11.7) demonstrates 10-20 per cent risk and 5.7 per cent (IC al 95 per cent=4.8-6.7) demonstrates >20 per cent risk of experiencing a coronary event in the next 10 years. This means that, in Arequipa city only, there are 60,673 (95 per cent CI= 53,723-67,623) adults in moderate-risk and 33,143 (95 per cent CI=27,917-38,369) adults in high-risk for a coronary event. Global risk increased markedly with increasing age (p<0.0001), such that 15.4 per cent (95 per cent CI=12.3-19.0) of women and 18.7 per cent (95 per cent CI=15.1-23.1) of men older than 50 years of age are in the high-risk category. Depite the fact that only a minority (<3 per cent) of subjects younger than age 50 demonstrate high cardiovascular risk, 27.6 per cent (95 per cent CI=19.7-37.3) of high-risk subjects are younger than 50 years of age. Conclusions: The adult population of Arequipa demonstrates high global cardiovascular risk, particularlyamong subjects older than age 50. Although the high-risk category is unfrequent in young adults, the age distribution of our population determines that approximately 1 in 4 high-risk adults are younger than 50 years of age. This population distribution represents achallenge for the cost-effective ...