Impact of the non-contributory social pension program 70 y más on older adults' mental well-being.

BACKGROUND: In 2007, a non-contributory pension program was launched in rural areas of Mexico. The program consisted in a non-conditional cash transfer of US$40 monthly to all older adults (OA) aged 70 and over. We evaluate the effect of the program on mental well-being of its beneficiaries. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Quantitative and qualitative methods were used. For the quantitative component, we used the selection criteria established by the program (age and locality size) to form the Intervention (OA aged 70-74 residing in rural localities, <2500 inhabitants) and Control groups (OA aged 70-74, in localities with 2501-2700 inhabitants). Baseline data collection was conducted in 2007 where 5,465 OA were interviewed. The follow-up survey was conducted in 2008, and it was possible to interview 5,270 OA, with a response rate of 96%. A difference-in-difference linear probability model with individual fixed effect was used to estimate the impact of the program on mental well-being indicators. In 2009 a qualitative component was designed to explore possible causal pathways of such effect. RESULTS: After a year of exposure, the program had a significant effect on reduction of depressive symptoms (ß = -0.06, CI95% -0.12; -0.01) and an increase in empowerment indicators: OA participated in important household decisions (ß = 0.09, CI95% 0.03;0.15); and OA participated in household decisions pertaining to expenses (ß = 0.11, CI95% 0.05;0.18). Qualitative analysis found a strong trend showing a reduction of sadness, and feeling of increasing empowerment. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a non-conditional transfer in older ages have an impact beyond the economic sphere, impacting even the mental well-being. This effect could be explained because the pension produces feelings of safety and welfare. It is recommendable that governments should invest efforts towards universalizing the non-contributory pension programs in order to ensure a basic income for the elderly.

Short-Term Impact of Anemia on Mortality: Evidence From a Sample of Mexican Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the short-term (14 months) impact of anemia on mortality among Mexican older adults (OAs). METHOD: Longitudinal analyses using data from a quasi-experimental study in a non-contributory pension program in Mexico with a sample of 3,621 OAs aged 65 to 74 years. Data on health, nutrition, life conditions, and mortality were gathered at both baseline and follow-up. Logistic regression model was used to estimate the impact of anemia and hemoglobin quintiles on mortality. RESULTS: Overall mortality rate was 2.1%. Both mild anemia and moderate/severe anemia increased mortality risk at 14 months (odds ratio [OR] = 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.1, 4.1]; and OR = 6, 95% CI = [2.1, 16.9], respectively). DISCUSSION: In the short term, degree of severity of anemia is an independent predictor of mortality risk. Because anemia is a modifiable factor, further research is required to better understand this condition in terms of main causes, prevention, treatment, and impact on OAs' survival.

[Retrospective analysis of Mexican National Addictions Survey, 2008. Bias identification and correction]. / Análisis retrospectivo de la Encuesta Nacional de Adicciones 2008. Identificación y corrección de sesgo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of bias on the estimation of the consumption sometime in life of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs and inhalable substances, and to propose a correction for this in the case it is present. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mexican National Addictions Surveys (NAS) 2002, 2008, and 2011 were analyzed to compare population estimations of consumption sometime in life of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs and inhalable substances. A couple of alternative approaches for bias correction were developed. RESULTS: Estimated national prevalences of consumption sometime in life of alcohol and tobacco in the NAS 2008 are not plausible. There was no evidence of bias on the consumption sometime in life of illegal drugs and inhalable substances. New estimations for tobacco and alcohol consumption sometime in life were made, which resulted in plausible values when compared to other data available. CONCLUSION: Future analyses regarding tobacco and alcohol using NAS 2008 data will have to rely on these newly generated data weights, that are able to reproduce the new (plausible) estimations.

Análisis retrospectivo de la Encuesta Nacional de Adicciones 2008: Identificación y corrección de sesgo / Retrospective analysis of Mexican National Addictions Survey, 2008: Bias identification and correction

OBJETIVO: Investigar la existencia de sesgo en la estimación de las prevalencias de consumo "alguna vez" en la vida de alcohol, tabaco y drogas ilegales e inhalables, para luego proponer una corrección al mismo, si existiera. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se analizaron las Encuestas Nacionales de Adicciones (ENA) 2002, 2008 y 2011 para comparar estimaciones de parámetros poblacionales sobre el consumo "alguna vez" en la vida de tabaco, alcohol y drogas ilegales e inhalables. Se desarrollaron dos métodos para corregir el sesgo. RESULTADOS: Las prevalencias nacionales estimadas de consumo "alguna vez" de alcohol y tabaco de la ENA 2008 no son plausibles. En contraste, no se encontró evidencia que apoyara un subregistro o sobrerregistro del consumo "alguna vez" de drogas ilegales e inhalables. Se obtuvieron nuevas estimaciones de las prevalencias de consumo "alguna vez" de alcohol y tabaco; las nuevas estimaciones resultaron ser plausibles al contrastarse con otras fuentes de información disponibles. CONCLUSIONES: Los nuevos análisis sobre alcohol y tabaco que se realicen deberán usar los factores de expansión corregidos de la ENA 2008 para poder incorporar las nuevas estimaciones de consumo "alguna vez" de alcohol y tabaco obtenidas en este trabajo.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence of bias on the estimation of the consumption sometime in life of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drugs and inhalable substances, and to propose a correction for this in the case it is present. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mexican National Addictions Surveys (NAS) 2002, 2008, and 2011 were analyzed to compare population estimations of consumption sometime in life of tobacco, alcohol or illegal drugs and inhalable substances. A couple of alternative approaches for bias correction were developed. RESULTS: Estimated national prevalences of consumption sometime in life of alcohol and tobacco in the NAS 2008 are not plausible. There was no evidence of bias on the consumption sometime in life of illegal drugs and inhalable substances. New estimations for tobacco and alcohol consumption sometime in life were made, which resulted in plausible values when compared to other data available. CONCLUSION: Future analyses regarding tobacco and alcohol using NAS 2008 data will have to rely on these newly generated data weights, that are able to reproduce the new (plausible) estimations.

Encuesta Nacional de Cobertura de Vacunación (influenza, neumococo y tétanos) en adultos mayores de 60 años en México / National Survey of Vaccination Coverage (Influenza, pneumococcus and tetanus) in Mexican population of 60 years of age and older

OBJETIVO: Determinar la cobertura de vacunación (CV) para influenza, neumococo y tétanos, en adultos mayores (AM) de 60 años y más, heterogeneidad por entidad federativa y relación con características sociodemográficas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Análisis transversal basado en una encuesta nacional en 18 015 hogares. Se captó información general y sobre vacunación (autorreporte) en un AM por cada uno de los hogares seleccionado aleatoriamente. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia nacional de vacunación fue 56.5 por ciento (±0.97) para influenza, 44.3 por ciento (±0.98) para neumococo y 61.8 por ciento (±0.96) para tétanos. Las CV analizadas fueron significativamente menores para AM sin seguro médico y mayores en las mujeres. Casi 20 por ciento de AM reconoció no tener vacuna alguna, argumentando principalmente el hecho de desconocer la necesidad de vacunarse. CONCLUSIONES: Se muestra un avance importante en las coberturas de vacunación en AM en México; se identifican diferenciales que sugieren la necesidad de impulsar campañas de información y acciones que mejoren la accesibilidad a la vacuna por este grupo poblacional.

OBJECTIVE: Determine Vaccination Coverage (VC) among adults 60 years of age and older (EP), for influenza, pneumococcal and tetanus vaccines, association with socio-demographic characteristics and heterogeneity at state level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis based on information from 18 015 households visited in a national survey. General and vaccine information (self-report) for a randomly selected elder in each household is available. RESULTS: The national VC level was found to be 56.5 percent (±0.97) for influenza, 44.3 percent (±0.98) for pneumococcus and 61.8 percent (±0.96) for tetanus. The VC was significantly lower for EP without health social services and higher for women. Almost 20.0 percent of EP recognized not having vaccines at all, due mainly that they didn't know it was a duty. CONCLUSIONS: Important improvements are shown in vaccination coverage among elderly in Mexico. Differentials suggest the need to intensify information campaigns and actions that could improve the accessibility to vaccines for this population.

[National Survey of Vaccination Coverage (Influenza, pneumococcus and tetanus) in Mexican population of 60 years of age and older]. / Encuesta Nacional de Cobertura de Vacunación (influenza, neumococo y tétanos) en adultos mayores de 60 años en México.

OBJECTIVE: Determine Vaccination Coverage (VC) among adults 60 years of age and older (EP), for influenza, pneumococcal and tetanus vaccines, association with socio-demographic characteristics and heterogeneity at state level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis based on information from 18 015 households visited in a national survey. General and vaccine information (self-report) for a randomly selected elder in each household is available. RESULTS: The national VC level was found to be 56.5% (±0.97) for influenza, 44.3% (±0.98) for pneumococcus and 61.8% (±0.96) for tetanus. The VC was significantly lower for EP without health social services and higher for women. Almost 20.0% of EP recognized not having vaccines at all, due mainly that they didn't know it was a duty. CONCLUSIONS: Important improvements are shown in vaccination coverage among elderly in Mexico. Differentials suggest the need to intensify information campaigns and actions that could improve the accessibility to vaccines for this population.

Prediction of alterations in glucose metabolism by glucose and insulin measurements in early pregnancy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Abnormal dysglycemia during pregnancy increases morbimortality in women and newborns. This study evaluated early markers for that event. We undertook this study to estimate the incidence of dysglycemic events during pregnancy and to evaluate fasting glycemia, insulin and HOMA-IR index in early pregnancy as their predictors in order to compare their predictive capability for gestational diabetes (GD). METHODS: This was a prospective cohort that included 450 women seeking prenatal care at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Subjects were ≥19 years old, in early pregnancy, without previous dysglycemia or hypertension, and with fasting glycemia <126 mg/dL. Insulin and HOMA-IR were measured. At 24-36 weeks of gestation, a 3-h 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed, applying the modified Carpenter-Coustan criteria. Multiple logistic regression models including an offset term as indicator of time in risk allowed us to estimate the risk of developing glucose intolerance (GI), GD, or hyperglycemia 1-h after the glucose load (HG-1). Areas under the ROC curve allowed comparison of the models' predictive capability. RESULTS: Incidence of dysglycemic events was 20.7%. The risk of GD was higher for the highest glycemia (RR = 4.1, 95% CI 1.6-10.6), insulin (RR = 4.1, 95% CI 1.2-14.2), and HOMA-IR (RR = 6.4, 95% CI 1.9-21.9). A higher risk of GI was found for the highest values of glycemia (RR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.3-5.3). Higher glycemia (RR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.6-9.2), insulin (RR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.0-7.5) and HOMA-IR (RR = 3.8, 95% CI 1.4-10.2) were associated with HG-1. Areas under the ROC curve for adjusted models with glycemia, insulin, or HOMA-IR were 0.749, 0.715, and 0.747, respectively (p = 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: Fasting glycemia was the best adjusted predictor of GD in early pregnancy, having equal predictive capability compared to insulin and HOMA-IR.

[Air pollution, bronchial asthma, and acute respiratory infections in minors, Habana City]. / Contaminación atmosférica, asma bronquial e infecciones respiratorias agudas en menores de edad, de la Habana.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the relationship between emergency visits for acute respiratory illnesses, acute bronchial asthma crisis (ABAC) and acute respiratory infections (ARI), in children less than 14 years of age, and the daily changes of air pollutant levels, in two central hospitals of Havana City, between October 1st 1996 and March 16 1998. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An ecological time series study was conducted. We assessed the relationship between the presence of acute respiratory illnesses, ABAC, and IRA, and exposure to levels of particles less than 10 microg/m3 (PM10), smoke, and sulfur dioxide (SO2); negative binomial regression models were used to assess latency periods of one to five days as well as the cumulative effect of seven days before the emergency visit. RESULTS: The levels of atmospheric pollutants were low, in general. The 24-hour mean values for PM10 levels, smoke, and SO2, were 59.2 microg/m3 (SD=29.2), 27.7 microg/m3 (SD=21.2), and 21.1 microg/m3 (SD=20.1), respectively. An increase of 20 microg/m3 in the daily average of black smoke was associated with a 2.2% increase (95% CI 0.9-3.6) in the number of emergency visits for ABAC. A 20 microg/m3 increase in the daily average of black smoke and SO was associated with an increase in ARI of 2.4% (95% CI 1.2-3.6), and 5% (95% CI 1.3-5.3), respectively, with a 5-day lag. We also observed a cumulative effect for all the contaminants studied. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that air pollution levels in Havana City affect children's respiratory health; therefore implementation of control measures is necessary, especially those aimed at decreasing motor vehicle exhaust fumes. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.

Predictors of bone mineral density in female workers in Morelos State, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have identified factors associated with bone mineral density (BMD), little research is available on Mexican women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1,622 female workers between 20 and 80 years of age at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), an integral part of the Mexican health system. It was carried out in Morelos, a Mexican state that borders Mexico City. Women were recruited to participate in this study from their workplaces. Body mass index (BMI) was measured and BMD was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry of dominant forearm. Predictors of BMD (age, reproductive factors, BMI, diet, and physical activity) in pre- and postmenopausal women were assessed by questionnaire and analyzed using generalized additive models. RESULTS: In premenopausal women, older age, higher BMI, younger age at menarche, and greater vitamin D intake were associated with higher BMD (R(2)=0.06, null deviance reduction=6.9%). In postmenopausal women, determinants of BMD were older age, higher BMI, greater height, later initiation of menopause, longer time of use of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), and greater calcium intake from dairy products (R(2)=0.39, null deviance reduction=40.7%). CONCLUSIONS: As observed in other populations, age, BMI, height, age at menopause, time of use of HRT, and calcium intake derived from dairy products in these Mexican women are factors associated with higher forearm BMD during postmenopausal period. Age, BMI, age at menarche, and vitamin D are associated with higher forearm BMD in premenopausal women. Some of these factors are not linearly associated with BMD. This was a limited population study carried out in a large group of female healthcare workers whose reproductive and lifestyle factors potentially agreed with those of female workers from urban areas of Mexico.