RESUMO
Introducción: La hipopotasemia es un trastorno hidroelectrolítico frecuente, asociado a enfermedades sistémicas y multifactoriales, cuya forma aguda puede complicarse y causar la muerte, pero en su presentación crónica puede ser un marcador de nefropatía. Objetivo: Caracterizar el perfil del paciente con hipopotasemia no medicamentosa atendidos de emergencia. Métodos: Se revisaron los registros de pacientes mayores de 18 años con diagnóstico de hipopotasemia, ingresados en el hospital en el período de junio 2018 a diciembre de 2019. Se colectaron datos demográficos, antecedentes médicos y evolución postratamiento. Se comparó con 108 pacientes sin hipopotasemia atendidos en el período de estudio. Resultados: Se encontraron 87 casos con edad media de 38,5 años. El 90,8 % eran hombres menores de 50 años, de oficio agricultor (29,9 %), con historia de exposición a plaguicidas y a altas temperaturas ambientales. La mayoría de ellos no tenía historia de enfermedad cardiometabólicas o renal previa. El 48,3 % de todos los pacientes con hipopotasemia (n = 42) tenía creatinina mayor a 1,2 mg/dL y 63 % tenía hiponatremia. La hipopotasemia fue moderada en 39 % y severa en 12 %, los hombres 4,7 veces más afectados que las mujeres. Respecto al grupo sin hipopotasemia y creatinina anormal, tenían mayor frecuencia de enfermedad crónica (92,5 % versus 8 %). Conclusiones: Se encontró hipopotasemia no medicamentosa en varones agricultores, sin enfermedad crónica, pero con datos de nefropatía temprana e hiponatremia, se sugirió la posibilidad de nefropatía mesoamericana. Debe establecerse una alerta epidemiológica regional y un programa de prevención y control.
Introduction: Hypokalemia is a frequent hydroelectrolytic disorder, associated with systemic and multifactorial diseases, whose acute form can be complicated and cause death, but in its chronic presentation it can be a marker of nephropathy. Objective: To characterize the profile of the patient with non-drug hypokalemia seen in an emergency. Methods: The records of patients older than 18 years diagnosed with hypokalemia, admitted to the hospital from June 2018 to December 2019, were reviewed. Demographic data, medical history, and post-treatment evolution were collected. It was compared with 108 patients without hypokalemia seen in the same period. Results: 87 cases with mean age of 38.5 years were studied. 90.8% were men under 50 years of age, who worked as farmers (29.9%), with history of exposure to pesticides and high ambient temperatures. Most of them had no history of previous cardiometabolic or renal disease. 48.3% of all patients with hypokalemia (n = 42) had creatinine higher than 1.2 mg/dL and 63% had hyponatremia. Hypokalemia was moderate in 39% and severe in 12%, and it was found that men were affected 4.7 times more than women. Regarding the group without hypokalemia and abnormal creatinine, they had higher frequency of chronic disease (92.5% versus 8%). Conclusions: Non-drug hypokalemia was found in male farmers, without chronic disease, but with evidence of early nephropathy and hyponatremia. The possibility of Mesoamerican nephropathy was suggested. A regional epidemiological alert and a prevention and control program should be established.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Adherence to medication is a worldwide problem and deserves country-specific attention. Honduras, like many other countries, has allopathic providers, traditional medicine (TM), and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Understanding a population's health behaviors is essential to satisfactory integration of these systems and successful patient care. STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective was to identify factors that influence medication adherence in Honduras. DESIGN: The research team administered a cross-sectional, 25-item questionnaire to various neighborhoods based on national demographic statistics in order to obtain a quota sample. Setting ⢠The survey took place in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Central America. PARTICIPANTS: The research team surveyed 614 Hondurans, aged ≥ 18 y, within the general population of Tegucigalpa, the largest and capital city of Honduras, in neighborhoods representing areas where primarily the lower and middle classes lived. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measure was a modified Medication Adherence Report Scale (MARS). Results ⢠The research team collected 610 surveys that had complete answers to questions about adherence (610/614, 99.3%) total complete responses to other items varied. The prevalence of use of TM was 62.8% (381/607). Nearly one-half, 47.3% (287/607), of all the respondents had used herbs or teas for health in the prior year, and 26.1% (159/607) of all respondents had received a sobada (therapeutic rubbing). Respondents with daily private spiritual devotions (OR = 0.610, P = .018) and diabetes (OR = 0.154, P = .004) were less likely to report low adherence. Receiving a sobada and a history of fever were independently associated with low adherence (OR = 1.718, P = .017 and OR = 2.226, P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Hondurans use both allopathic and TM. Although private spiritual devotion may help improve adherence to medication, only use of traditional massage therapy, the sobada, was associated with decreased adherence. Effective integration of alternative therapies in Central America will require proper counseling on how to combine multiple therapies to maximize the health benefits.
