Fuerza de prensión manual. Un sencillo, pero fuerte predictor de salud en población adulta y personas mayores / Handgrip strength as a predictor of adverse health outcomes

Muscle strength can be measured through different methods and handgrip strength is one of the most used techniques in epidemiological studies. Given its easy application, high reliability, and low cost, it is considered an important health biomarker. Handgrip strength is associated with adverse health outcomes such as mortality and risk of developing chronic diseases, cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer and dementia. There is a paucity of evidence in Chile about the association of handgrip strength with these health outcomes limiting its visibility and implementation in clinical settings. Therefore, this narrative review summarizes the scientific evidence about the association of grip strength with non-communicable chronic diseases and mortality in middle age and older adults.

[Handgrip strength as a predictor of adverse health outcomes]. / Fuerza de prensión manual. Un sencillo, pero fuerte predictor de salud en población adulta y personas mayores.

Muscle strength can be measured through different methods and handgrip strength is one of the most used techniques in epidemiological studies. Given its easy application, high reliability, and low cost, it is considered an important health biomarker. Handgrip strength is associated with adverse health outcomes such as mortality and risk of developing chronic diseases, cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer and dementia. There is a paucity of evidence in Chile about the association of handgrip strength with these health outcomes limiting its visibility and implementation in clinical settings. Therefore, this narrative review summarizes the scientific evidence about the association of grip strength with non-communicable chronic diseases and mortality in middle age and older adults.

Calidad de vida en personas mayores con depresión y dependencia funcional: validez del cuestionario SF-12 / Quality of life of older people with depression and dependence: validity of the SF-12 (short form health survey) questionnaire

Background: Depression and dependence have a great impact on the quality of life of older people. Aim: To validate the SF-12 (short-form) health related quality of care questionnaire (HRQOL) as an alternative of the SF-36 to estimate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its association with depression and dependence in Chilean older people living in the community. Material and Methods: The questionnaire was answered by 4,124 Chilean older people (61% women). HRQoL was evaluated with the SF-36 questionnaire. The SF-12 questionnaire includes 12 items from the SF-36. Results: The internal consistency of the SF-12 questionnaire was high (0.88). The effect size of the differences in the averages of the SF-12 and SF-36 scales was small (0.06-0.41). Good agreement was found between the physical and mental components of the SF-12 and SF-36 (0.94 and 0.89). Logistic regressions determined that people with dependence and depression have a higher risk of poor HRQoL. The figures for the physical component were, mild depression: odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence intervals (CI) = 3.28 (2.74-3.93), severe depression: OR (IC95%CI) = 4.66 (3.55-6.11), mild to moderate dependence: OR (95CI%) = 3.67 (2.97-4.54), severe dependence: OR (95%CI) = 13.06 (7.23-23.61). For the mental component, the figures were: mild depression: OR (95CI%) = 6.11(5.05-7.38), severe depression: OR (95CI%) = 22.01(14.47-33.49), mild to moderate dependence: OR (95CI%) = 1.59 (1.28-1.97), severe dependence: OR (95CI%) = 1.60 (1.04-2.47), adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related variables. Conclusions: The validity of the SF-12 for measuring HRQoL was demonstrated. People with depression and dependence have a worse physical and mental quality of life.

Genome-wide association study identifying novel variant for fasting insulin and allelic heterogeneity in known glycemic loci in Chilean adolescents: The Santiago Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: The genetic underpinnings of glycemic traits have been understudied in adolescent and Hispanic/Latino (H/L) populations in comparison to adults and populations of European ancestry. OBJECTIVE: To identify genetic factors underlying glycemic traits in an adolescent H/L population. METHODS: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of fasting glucose (FG) and fasting insulin (FI) in H/L adolescents from the Santiago Longitudinal Study. RESULTS: We identified one novel variant positioned in the CSMD1 gene on chromosome 8 (rs77465890, effect allele frequency = 0.10) that was associated with FI (ß = -0.299, SE = 0.054, p = 2.72×10-8 ) and was only slightly attenuated after adjusting for body mass index z-scores (ß = -0.252, SE = 0.047, p = 1.03×10-7 ). We demonstrated directionally consistent, but not statistically significant results in African and Hispanic adults of the Population Architecture Using Genomics and Epidemiology Consortium. We also identified secondary signals for two FG loci after conditioning on known variants, which demonstrate allelic heterogeneity in well-known glucose loci. CONCLUSION: Our results exemplify the importance of including populations with diverse ancestral origin and adolescent participants in GWAS of glycemic traits to uncover novel risk loci and expand our understanding of disease aetiology.

Prevalencia de fragilidad en personas mayores de Chile: resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2016-2017

Background: The assessment of frailty among older people could help to reduce its social and health burden. Aim: To determine and characterize the prevalence of frailty in Chilean older adults. Material and Methods: We studied 233 participants, aged > 60 years, participating in the Chilean National Health Survey 2016-2017. Frailty was assessed using modified Fried criteria. Thus, people classified as frail should meet at least 3 out of the 5 criteria (low strength, low physical activity, low body mass index, slow walking pace and tiredness). Results: The prevalence of frailty was 10.9% (7.7% for men and 14.1% for women). The prevalence of pre-frailty was 59.0% whereas 30.1% of participants were classified as robust. At the age of 80 years 58 and 62% of men and women were frail, respectively. These figures increased to 90 and 87% at the age of 90 years. The prevalence of pre-frailty increased from 43 to 92.1% among men and from 76% and 78% among women from the ages of 60 to 90 years, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of frailty increased markedly with age. It is important to implement prevention strategies to allow an early identification of high-risk individuals.

El envejecimiento de la población chilena y los desafíos para la salud y el bienestar de las personas mayores / The aging of the chilean population and the challenges for health and wellbeing of older people

El envejecimiento de la población es un fenómeno global. El proceso ha adquirido mayor velocidad en países en desarrollo que la que tuvo en países desarrollados, los que enfrentan el proceso en un contexto de desarrollo socio-económico muy inferior. Chile es el país que ha aumentado más rápidamente la expectativa de vida al nacer (EVN) en la región, constituyéndose en el país con la mayor expectativa de vida de Sudamérica, con 79,5 años. Los logros económicos y socio-sanitarios alcanzados colocan a Chile entre los países de altos ingresos, sin embargo, persisten importantes desigualdades en la distribución del ingreso, lo que impacta negativamente en los indicadores de salud de los adultos mayores. En el estudio Alexandros se observó que, si bien la expectativa de vida es superior en las mujeres que en los hombres, la diferencia corresponde a expectativa de vida con discapacidad. El seguimiento de la cohorte SABE Chile mostró además importantes diferencias en la prevalencia e incidencia de limitación funcional entre los niveles socioeconómicos alto, medio y bajo en desmedro de estos últimos CONCLUSIONES Chile enfrenta un rápido envejecimiento poblacional en un contexto de profunda desigualdad socioeconómica, de género y urbano-rural en los adultos mayores, lo que plantea a la sociedad múltiples desafíos que deben ser enfrentados a la brevedad. La disminución de la brecha entre expectativa de vida total y expectativa de vida saludable, es posible a través de estilos de vida saludable y participación social sumado a un cuidado de la salud integrado y centrado en la persona.

The aging of the population is a global phenomenon. The process has gained greater speed in developing countries than it had in developed countries, which face the process in a much lower socio-economic development context. In the regional context, Chile is the country that has most rapidly increased life expectancy at birth (LEB), becoming the country with the highest life expectancy in South America, which currently reaches 79,5 years. The economic and socio-sanitary achievements of the country place Chile among the high-income countries, however important inequalities persist in the distribution of income, which negatively impacts the health indicators of older adults. In the Alexandros study, it was observed that although LE is higher in women than in men, life expectancy with disabilities is higher in women than in men. The follow-up of the SABE Chile cohort also showed important differences in the prevalence and incidence of functional limitation between high, medium and low socioeconomic levels at the expense of the latter CONCLUSIONS Chile faces rapid population aging in a context of profound socioeconomic, gender and urban-rural inequality in older people, which poses to society multiple challenges that must be addressed shortly. The reduction of the gap between total life expectancy and healthy life expectancy is possible promoting healthy lifestyles and social participation and providing a people centred, integrated health care.

Calidad de Vida Relacionada con Salud Oral y Autopercepción de Salud: Encuesta Nacional de Calidad de Vida y Salud 2015-2016 en Chile / Quality of Life Related to Oral Health and Self-Perception of Health: National Survey of Quality of Life and Health 2015-2016 in Chile

RESUMEN: La calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral permite evaluar como los problemas bucodentales pueden ser determinantes el estado de su salud, relaciones sociales, trabajo y bienestar. El objetivo del estudio es determinar la asociación entre la percepción de calidad de vida relacionada a salud oral y la autopercepción de la salud. Estudio transversal de datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Calidad de Vida y Salud (ENCAVI 2015-2016) del Ministerio de Salud, de personas mayores de 15 años de las 15 regiones de Chile. La calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral se midió a través de la versión abreviada del instrumento Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-7). La autopercepción de salud se midió con una pregunta única. Se ajustaron modelos de regresión logística para identificar la asociación en términos de Odds Ratio utilizando STATA v15.0. De 7041 encuestas el 50,8 % son mujeres, la media de edad fue de 42,3 años (d.t. 0,41), el 60,3 % tiene menos de 12 años de educación, el 36 % declara tener alguna enfermedad crónica. El 18,5 % percibe que sus problemas de salud oral impactan en su calidad de vida. Los factores que se asociaron significativamente con una mala percepción de calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral fueron mala autopercepción de salud general OR=4,84 (IC95 % 3,51; 6,67), edad (45-54 años) OR=1,98 (IC95 % 1,26;3,12) y uso frecuente de medicamentos (>3) OR=3,67 (IC95 % 2,17;6,). La calidad de vida relacionada con salud oral está asociada con la autopercepción en salud, es decir que una mala autopercepción de salud tiene probablemente más riesgo de tener una peor calidad de vida asociada a salud oral, siendo más fuerte a medida que avanza la edad y con el uso frecuente de medicamentos.

ABSTRACT: Quality of life related to oral health assessment oral problems affect an individual´s health, social relations, work and well-being. The objective of the study is to determine the association between the perception of the quality of life related with oral health and self-perception of health. A cross-sectional study of data from the National Survey of Quality of Life and Health (2015-2016) of the Ministry of Health was carried out, for people older than 15 years of age, reported from the 15 regions of Chile. Impact profile in oral health (OHIP-7) used to measure Quality of life related to oral health. The self-perception of health was measured with one question. Logistic regression models were adjusted to identify the association in terms of Odds Ratio using STATA v15.0. Out of 7041 surveys, 50.8 % were women, the average age was 42.3 years (d.s., 0.41), 60.3 % had less than 12 years of education, 36 % reported having a chronic disease. 18.5 % perceive that their oral health problems impact on their quality of life. Factors that are associated with poor perception of the quality of life related to oral health, were a poor self-perception of health OR = 4.84 (95 % CI 3.51, 6.67), age (45-54) years) OR = 1.98 (95 % CI 1.26, 3.12) and frequent use of medications (> 3) OR = 3.67 (95 % CI 2.17, 6,). In conclusion, quality of life related to oral health, is directly related to poor selfperception of health and becomes significantly worse with age, as well as with the frequent use of medications.

Considerations for the Development of Innovative Foods to Improve Nutrition in Older Adults.

The population of older adults is growing globally. This increase has led to an accumulation of chronic illnesses, so-called age-related diseases. Diet and nutrition are considered the main drivers of the global burden of diseases, and this situation applies especially to this population segment. It relates directly to the development of coronary heart disease, hypertension, some types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes, among other diseases, while age-associated changes in body composition (bone and muscle mass, fat, sarcopenia) constitute risk factors for functional limitations affecting health status and the quality of life. Older adults present eating and swallowing problems, dry mouth, taste loss, and anorexia among other problems causing "anorexia of aging" that affects their nutritional status. The strategies to overcome these situations are described in this study. The impact of oral food processing on nutrition is discussed, as well as approaches to improve food acceptance through the design of innovative foods. These foods should supply a growing demand as this group represents an increasing segment of the consumer market globally, whose needs must be fulfilled.

Validez y confiabilidad del cuestionario Eating Assessment Tool 10 (EAT-10) para detectar disfagia en adultos mayores chilenos / Validation of the eat-10 score to detect dysphagia in older people

Background: In Chile, comprehensive geriatric assessment does not include the identification of dysphagia, despite being considered a geriatric syndrome. The Eating Assessment Tool 10 (EAT-10) questionnaire is a 10-question instrument that specifically describes the perception of dysphagia and has a Spanish translation. Aim: To validate and test the reliability of the EAT-10 questionnaire in Chilean older people living in the community. Material and Methods: The EAT-10 score was applied to 80 participants aged 75 ± 14 years (51 women). Other observer, blinded to the result of the score, performed the volume-viscosity swallow test as the gold standard to assess dysphagia. Results: The translated version of the EAT-10 had a strong internal consistency (Cronbach alfa =0.89) and interobserver consistency (100%). Using a score of seven as cutoff point, the EAT-10 had a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 86% to detect dysphagia, when compared with the volume-viscosity swallow test. Conclusions: The EAT-10 questionnaire is valid and reliable and can be used as a clinical instrument in primary care in our country to identify older people with dysphagia.

High levels of circulating folate concentrations are associated with DNA methylation of tumor suppressor and repair genes p16, MLH1, and MGMT in elderly Chileans.

BACKGROUND: Changes in DNA methylation, one of the most studied epigenetic mechanisms, are considered an initial marker for early cancer detection. We evaluated how availability of dietary factors (folates and vitamin B12) involved in one-carbon metabolism may contribute to DNA methylation changes of cancer-related genes in human subjects. METHODS: We studied, by pyrosequencing, the methylation of tumor suppressor gene p16, DNA repair genes MLH1 and MGMT, and the repetitive element LINE-1 (as a surrogate for global DNA methylation), in blood of elderly individuals (n = 249) who had been exposed to folic acid (FA) through FA-fortified wheat flour during the last 12 years. RESULTS: We found that serum folate and to a lesser extent, vitamin B12 concentrations, were significantly correlated with DNA methylation of p16, MLH1, and MGMT, but not with LINE-1. High serum folate concentrations (>45.3 nmol/L) were present in 31.1% of the participants. Although the methylated fraction of CpG sites in p16, MLH1, and MGMT was low (1.17-3.8%), high folate concentrations were significantly associated with methylation at the 3rd tertile of specific CpG sites in all genes with OR between 1.97 and 4.17. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a public policy, like food fortification with FA that increases circulating serum folate levels, could affect methylation levels of specific genes linked to cancer risk. Our present results deserve additional studies to clarify the real impact of high FA levels for risk of cancer in a whole population chronically exposed to a fortified food such as wheat flour. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 48153354 and ISRCTN 02694183.

Impact of a school-based intervention on nutritional education and physical activity in primary public schools in Chile (KIND) programme study protocol: cluster randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chile has suffered a fast increase in childhood obesity in the last 10 years. As a result, several school programmes have been implemented, however the effectiveness of these needs to be evaluated to identify and prioritize strategies to curve this trend. METHODS: Cluster randomized controlled trial. Twelve primary public schools chosen at random over three regions of the country will take part in this study. The sample size consisted of a total of 1,655 children. For each region one school will be selected for each of the three nutritional intervention modes and one school will be selected as the control group. The intervention modes consist of the following: Healthy Kiosk and nutritional education (KSEAN); Optimized physical activity (AFSO); Healthy Kiosk and nutritional education (KSEAN) + optimized physical activity (AFSO); Control group. The effectiveness of each intervention will be evaluated by determining the nutritional condition of each child by measuring percentage of body fat, BMI and the z-score of the BMI. This study will also identify the eating behaviours, nutritional knowledge and fitness of each child, along with the effective time of moderate activity during physical education classes. DISCUSSION: A protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of a school based intervention to control and/or reduce the rates of childhood obesity for children between 6 and 10 years of age was developed. The protocol was developed in line with the Declaration of Helsinski, the Nüremberg Code and the University of Chile Guidelines for ethical committees, and was approved by the INTA, Universidad de Chile ethical committee on Wednesday 12 March 2014. There is consensus among researchers and health and education personnel that schools are a favourable environment for actions to prevent and/or control childhood obesity. However a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to date has led some to question the wisdom of allocating resources to programmes. This is the first study of this kind in Chile and could be an important first step to provide guidance to political authorities in relation to which food and nutrition strategies to prioritize to curve this alarming trend. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN32136790 , registered retrospectively on 05 September 2014.

Effect of summer holidays on anthropometric measures and body composition of older adults, inadequacy of body mass index to detect changes during a critical period: a pilot study / Efecto de las vacaciones de verano en la composición corporal de adultos mayores, insuficiencia del índice de masa corporal para detectar cambios durante un período crítico: un estudio piloto

Obesity is a major health problem worldwide. Obesity prevalence in Chilean older adults (OA) is increasing, associated with several negative health outcomes. Therefore, determining critical periods of adiposity increase is relevant in OA. The aim of the study was to assess body composition changes in OA during summer holidays. This observational study involved two test visits, without a control group. Twelve OA (9 females) with an average age of 71.92±6.97 years participated in an initial evaluation (E1) and final evaluation (E2) at the beginning and at the end of the summer in 2015. Weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were assessed; fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), and muscular mass (MM) data were collected through foot-to-foot bioimpedance analysis. No significant variations were reported in weight and BMI between E1 and E2. This prevalence was maintained between E1 and E2. The FM significantly increased between E1 (27.63±10.91) and E2 (28.64±11.39) (p= 0.007), while the FFM significantly decreased between E1 (45.38±5.89) and E2 (44.33±5.36) (P= 0.006), also the MM between E1 (43.08±5.62) and E2 (42.07±5.10). Both, weight and BMI are insufficient measures for detecting changes during this critical summer holiday period. However, the body composition measures identified significant changes in the OA during the study.

La obesidad es el principal problema de salud en todo el mundo. La prevalencia de obesidad en adultos mayores (AM) chilenos es cada vez mayor, lo que se ha asociado con varios efectos negativos para la salud. Por lo tanto, la determinación de períodos críticos de aumento de la adiposidad es relevante en AM. El objetivo fue evaluar los cambios de la composición corporal en adultos mayores AM durante las vacaciones de verano. Doce AM participaron en una evaluación inicial (E1) y final (E2) del verano 2015. Se evaluó: peso, talla, índice de masa corporal (IMC), masa libre de grasa (MLG), masa grasa (MG) y masa muscular (MM). No hubo diferencias significativas en peso e IMC. La MG aumentó entre E1 (27,63±10,91) y E2 (28,64±11,39) (p= 0,007), la MLG disminuyó significativamente entre E1 (45,38±5,89) y E2 (44,33±5,36), como también la MM entre E1 (43,08±5,62) y E2 (42,07±5,10). Tanto el peso como el IMC son medidas insuficientes para detectar cambios durante este período crítico de vacaciones de verano. Sin embargo, las medidas de la composición corporal identificaron cambios significativos en AM durante el estudio.

High cardiometabolic risk in healthy Chilean adolescents: associations with anthropometric, biological and lifestyle factors.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in healthy adolescents of low to middle socio-economic status and to study the influence of anthropometric, biological and lifestyle factors on the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fat and lean mass (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), TAG, HDL-cholesterol, glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), food intake and physical activity were measured. Cardiovascular risk factors were defined using the International Diabetes Federation criteria and insulin resistance using HOMA-IR ≥2.6. Bivariate and multivariate regressions examined the associations between MetS and anthropometric, biological and lifestyle factors. SETTING: Observational cohort study including Chilean adolescents, who were part of a follow-up study beginning in infancy. SUBJECTS: Adolescents aged 16-17 years (n 667). RESULTS: In the sample, 16.2% had obesity and 9.5% had MetS. Low HDL-cholesterol (69.9%), abdominal obesity (33.3%) and fasting hyperglycaemia (8.7%) were the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors. In males, obesity (OR=3.7; 95% CI 1.2, 10.8), insulin resistance (OR=3.0; 95% CI 1.1, 8.2), physical inactivity (OR=2.9; 95% CI 1.1, 7.7) and sarcopenia (OR=21.2; 95% CI 4.2, 107.5) significantly increased the risk of MetS. In females, insulin resistance (OR=4.9; 95% CI 1.9, 12.6) and sarcopenia (OR=3.6; 95% CI 1.1, 11.9) were significantly associated with MetS. CONCLUSIONS: High prevalences of obesity, abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, fasting hyperglycaemia and MetS were found in healthy adolescents. In both sexes, sarcopenia and insulin resistance were important risk factors of MetS. Promotion of active lifestyles at the school level and regulation of the sale of energy-dense foods are needed.

An update on aging and dementia in Chile / Atualização em envelhecimento e demência no Chile

Chile is in an advanced demographic transition stage with the population over 60 years of age representing 15% of the total population and whose number of elderly has more than doubled between 1990 and 2014. Rapid economic advancement has promoted significant changes in social organization to which the country is not accustomed. The mental health problems of the elderly are particularly challenging to the countrys present social and health structures. The prevalence of dementia in people over 60 years exceeds 8% and is even higher in the rural population. There is more training on dementia in the local medical and scientific community, increased awareness within the civilian community but insufficientresponsiveness from the state to the broad diagnostic and therapeutic requirements of patients and caregivers. The objective of the present study was to provide an update of the information on dementia in the context of the ageing process in Chile.

O Chile está num avançado estágio de transição epidemiológica, com a população de 60 anos ou mais representando 15% da população total e o número de idosos tem mais que dobrado entre 1990 e 2014. O rápido avanço econômico tem promovido significantes mudanças na organização social para as quais o país não está habituado. Os problemas de saúde mental em idosos são particularmente desafiadores para as estruturas sociais e de saúde atuais do país. A prevalência de demência entre aqueles com idade superior a 60 anos excede 8% e é mais elevada na população rural. Há mais treinamento em demência na população médica e comunidade científica locais, aumentando o conhecimento dentro da comunidade civil, porém, com insuficiente resposta do estado às necessidades diagnósticas e terapêuticas de pacientes e cuidadores. O objetivo deste estudo foi providenciar uma atualização da informação sobre demência no contexto de envelhecimento cerebral do Chile.

[Vitamin B12 deficiency associated with high doses od metformin in older people diabetic]. / Déficit de vitamina B12 asociado con altas dosis de metformina en adultos mayores diabéticos.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to estimate if B12 deficiency is associated with the use of metformin in the elderly diabetics. METHODS: Case-control study in diabetic OP. Cases (n = 137) were defined as elderly with B12 < 221 pmol/L and controls (n = 279) elderly with B12 > 221 pmol/L. Four categories of metformin use were defined: non-users, ≤850 mg/day, > 850 and < 2,550 mg/day and ≥2,550 mg/day. Metformin ≥2,550 mg/day was high doses considered. The crude OR for B12 deficiency and consumption of Metformin were calculated. Logistic regression models were developed to explore the association between B12 deficiency and metformin dose. The research protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of INTA. RESULTS: The age of cases and controls was (70.2 years vs 68.6 years (p < 0.05). The 62% were women in cases vs 74.9% in controls (p < 0.05). The 73% of cases and 76% of controls used metformin (p < 0.05) the average consumption of metformin was de 1,954.3 mg/day (SD: 1,063.2) in cases and 1,696.6 mg/day (SD: 1,074.4) in controls (p < 0.05). The use of 2,550 mg/day was observed in 29.2% of cases and 19.3% for controls (p < 0.05). It was observed that OP who consumed high doses of metformin had 1.9 times the risk of B12 deficiency (OR: 1.9; 95%CI: 1,08- 3,30). CONCLUSION: These results show a strong association between high doses of metformin and low levels of vitamin B12 in diabetic elderly. This project was funded by FONIS SA11I2092.

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio es estimar si el déficit de B12 se asocia con el uso de la metformina en adultos mayores (AM) diabéticos. Métodos: Estudio de casos y controles en AM diabéticos. Los casos (n = 137) se definieron como AM con B12 < 221 pmol/L y los controles(n = 279) como AM con B12 > 221 pmol/L. Se definieron 4 categorías de uso de metformina: no usuarios, ≤850 mg/día; > 850 y < 2.550 mg/día; ≥2.550 mg/día. Se consideró altas dosis de metformina (≥2.550 mg/día). Se calcularon los OR crudos para déficit de B12 y consumo de Metformina. Se elaboraron modelos de regresión logística para explorar la asociación entre déficit B12 y dosis de metformina. El protocolo de investigación fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética deI INTA. Resultados: La edad de casos y controles fue (70,2 años vs 68,6 años (p < 0,05); 62% fueron mujeres en los casos vs 74,9% en los controles (p < 0,05). El 73% de los casos y el 76% de los controles usaban metformina (p < 0,05). El promedio de uso de metformina fue de 1.954,3 mg/día (DS: 1.063,2) en los casos y 1696.6 mg/día (DS: 1.074,4) en los controles(p < 0,05). La dosis de 2.550 mg/día se observó en el 29,2% de los casos y en 19,3 de los controles (p < 0,05). Se observó que los adultos mayores que consumían altas dosis de metformina presentaban 1,9 veces más riesgo de déficit de B12 (OR:1,9; 95%IC: 1,08-3,30). Conclusión: Estos resultados muestran una fuerte asociación entre altas dosis de metformina y niveles bajos de vitamina B12. Este proyecto fue financiado por FONIS SA11I2092.

[Socioeconomic inequalities in the onset and progression of disability in a cohort of older people in Santiago (Chile)]. / Desigualdades socioeconómicas en el proceso de discapacidad en una cohorte de adultos mayores de Santiago de Chile.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare socioeconomic inequalities in the onset and progression of disability in a cohort of Chilean community-dwelling older people that provides unprecedented information about this process in Chile. METHODS: The data were drawn from a 10-year longitudinal study (2000-2010) that followed a probabilistic and representative sample of the SABE (Health, Welfare and Aging) cohort. The present study was based on 78% (1019) of the baseline sample of adults aged 60 years or more living in Santiago, Chile. Functional limitation was defined on the basis of a combination of six basic activities of daily living, seven instrumental activities, and seven mobility activities (limited, no limited). Socioeconomic position (high, medium and low) was assessed by combining measures of household equipment, wealth, and education. RESULTS: The initial prevalence of functional limitation was 47.3% (95%CI: 44.2-50.4) with a clear socioeconomic gradient (60.1% low, 47.5% medium, and 28.7% high; p<0.001). At the end of the follow-up, older adults with low socioeconomic status remained functionally limited while those with high socioeconomic status remained non-limited. The incidence density of functional limitation also followed a socioeconomic gradient (5.33, 6.59 and 7.73 per 100 years-person for low, medium and high socioeconomic status). Social inequalities were also observed for mortality. CONCLUSION: This study corroborates the social stratification of functional status and mortality, suggesting that aging is not a leveler of inequalities. In Latin-American countries, policies should aim to reduce inequalities by attempting to limit exposure to risk factors and to compensate for deficiencies (especially among the poorest older people) in order to prevent the progression of functional impairment to disability.

[Factors associated with life satisfaction in a cohort of older people in Santiago, Chile]. / Factores asociados a satisfacción vital en una cohorte de adultos mayores de Santiago, Chile.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between life satisfaction and socioeconomic status and self-reported health in a cohort of older people in Santiago, Chile, in 2005 and 2006. METHODS: We interviewed 2002 individuals aged 65 to 67.9 years registered in 20 primary care centers in the city of Santiago. Participants were living independently with no cognitive impairment, suspected cancer or terminal diseases. We assessed life satisfaction using an abbreviated adaptation of a life satisfaction scale (scored from 0 to 11), and collected self-reported information on income, education, social support, and self-reported health and memory. We used a log-binomial model to analyze the association between life satisfaction scores (fourth quartile compared with the first) and socioeconomic and health variables. RESULTS: There was a significant association (bivariate and multivariate analyses) between life satisfaction and income in men and with social support, self-reported health, memory, and diagnosis of joint problems, diabetes and hypertension in both sexes. CONCLUSION: Social support, income and health status were independently associated with life satisfaction in older people aged 65-67.9 years in Santiago. Further studies are required to assess the temporal direction of the effect and the implications of these findings for public health policies in this population.

Hypertension and the risk of breast cancer in Chilean women: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Although different metabolic factors have been implicated in breast cancer development, the relationship between hypertension and breast cancer has not been elucidated. AIM: To evaluate hypertension as a risk factor for breast cancer in Chilean women of low and middle socio-economic status. METHODS: We conducted an age-matched (1:1) case-control study in 3 hospitals in Santiago, Chile. Breast cancer cases (n=170) were histopathologically confirmed. Controls had been classified as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System I (negative) or II (benign findings) within 6 months of recruitment. Blood pressure was measured using a mercury sphygmomanometer and standardized procedures. We used 2 hypertension cut-off points: blood pressures of ≥140/90 mmHg and ≥130/85 mmHg. Fasting insulin and glucose levels were assessed, and anthropometric, sociodemographic, and behavioral information were collected. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for the entire sample and restricted to postmenopausal women using multivariable conditional logistic regression models. RESULTS: Hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) was significantly higher in cases (37.1%) than controls (17.1%) for the entire sample and in postmenopausal pairs (44.0% compared to 23.8%). In crude and adjusted models, hypertensive women had a 4-fold increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted odds ratio: 4.2; 95% confidence interval: 1.8; 9.6) compared to non-hypertensive women in the entire sample. We found a similar association in the postmenopausal group (adjusted odds ratio: 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.1; 7.4). A significant effect was also observed when hypertension was defined as blood pressure of ≥130/85 mmHg. CONCLUSION: A significant association was found between hypertension and breast cancer over the entire sample and when restricted to postmenopausal women. Hypertension is highly prevalent in Latin America and may be a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer; therefore, a small association between hypertension and breast cancer may have broad implications.