ABSTRACT
To establish a set of variables that define a predictive profile of events of maxillofacial trauma resulting from interpersonal violence, we analyzed sociodemographic variables and clinical characteristics of injuries recorded in three tertiary care hospital centers in Chile. To assess the relation between categories, we applied a multiple correspondence analysis. We identified 567 cases. Two dimensions explained 53.4% of the model. The first dimension was composed of variables related to the severity of the injury: medical-legal prognosis (.574), type of trauma (.511), and the destination of the patient (.332); the second dimension was composed of variables related to the typology of interpersonal violence: type of violence (.398) and sex of the patient (.370). Two profiles were recognized: women, victims of domestic violence, with lesions affecting mainly soft tissues and not requiring hospitalization and men, victims of community violence, with lesions involving fractures associated with greater severity and requiring hospitalization. There are two key dimensions in the diagnosis of maxillofacial trauma resulting from interpersonal violence: severity of the injury and typology of the interpersonal violence. Exploring these predictive profiles can be a useful complement to the current screening tools of violence in clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Domestic Violence , Maxillofacial Injuries , Male , Humans , Female , Watchful Waiting , Emergency Service, Hospital , Maxillofacial Injuries/epidemiology , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
RESUMEN: Objetivo: Sintetizar los resultados de estudios epidemiológicos sobre Traumatismo Dentoalveolar (TDA) en la población chilena. Material y métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura para identificar estudios poblacionales a nivel nacional, regional, provincial y comunal, además de datos de servicios dentales de atención primaria y secundaria sobre TDA en Chile. Resultados: Se incluyeron 2 estudios con representatividad nacional y 8 realizados en centros de atención en salud. A nivel nacional, la prevalencia de TDA a los 6 años fue de un 2.57%, y a los 12 años, 4.97%. En los estudios realizados en centros de salud, el diagnóstico más prevalente en dentición primaria fueron las lesiones de tejidos de soporte y en dentición permanente, la fractura coronaria. Fue más frecuente la afectación de un solo diente, y los incisivos centrales superiores fueron los dientes más afectados. Conclusiones: Los estudios representativos de la población en Chile son escasos, realizados hace más de una década y representativos sólo de la población de 6 y 12 años, lo cual pone de manifiesto la necesidad de mayor información epidemiológica sobre el TDA en la población chilena.
ABSTRACT: Aim: To summarize the evidence on epidemiological studies about traumatic dental injuries (TDI) in Chile. Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out in two databases to identify population studies at national, regional, provincial and community levels, as well as reports from primary and secondary dental care services, regarding TDI in Chile. Results: Two studies with national representation and eight studies from primary and secondary healthcare centers were included in the analysis. National prevalence for 6-year-old children was 2.57%, and 4.97% for 12-year-old children. While the most frequent diagnosis in primary dentition was traumatic injury involving tooth-supporting tissues, the most commonly reported diagnosis in permanent dentition was crown fracture. Single tooth affection was more frequent, and the upper central incisors were the most affected teeth. Conclusions: Data on representative studies about TDIs in Chile are scarce. Few studies, carried out more than a decade ago and only on 6- and 12-year-old children are available. There is a need for further epidemiological information about TDIs in Chile.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Oral Health , Tooth Injuries , Dental Health Services/statistics & numerical data , ChileABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate changes in general and oral health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with dentofacial deformity undergoing orthognathic surgery, and whether these changes vary according to type of deformity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective longitudinal multicenter study of patients with dentofacial deformities (n = 90). The Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ), Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), and Short-Form Health Survey version2 (SF-36v2) were self-completed by patients before surgery, 3 and 6 months after orthognathic surgery. Change was tested using paired t-test, and compared between Class II and Class III of dentofacial deformity by unpaired t-test. The magnitude of change was examined estimating the standardized response mean (SRM). RESULTS: The OQLQ and OHIP-14 showed statistically significant improvements 6 months after surgery, compared with the pre-surgical evaluation, but the SF-36v2 only in the physical component summary. The SRM was large in OQLQ oral function (-1.11) and dentofacial facial aesthetics (-0.76) dimensions, and moderate in most of OHIP-14 dimensions. Differences in mean change between Class II and III were statistically significant for global scores of OQLQ (-10.08 vs -20.30, p = 0.0271) and OHIP-14 (-3.79 vs -10.56, p = 0.0144). CONCLUSIONS: A significant improvement was observed in oral HRQoL and in the physical component of general health in patients with dentofacial deformities Class II and III after orthognathic surgery. Improvement was greater among Class III than in Class II patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results provide patients, oral health care professionals, and planners with valuable information to make evidence-based decisions and facilitate shared clinical decision-making, taking into account the patients' perspective.
Subject(s)
Orthognathic Surgery , Orthognathic Surgical Procedures , Humans , Prospective Studies , Quality of Life , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
INTRODUCCIÓN. Las personas mayores en Chile tienen alta carga de morbilidad oral y de déficit funcional que afecta directamente su calidad de vida. El programa universal GES Salud Oral Integral del adulto de 60 años, implementado desde el 2007, permite a las personas de 60 años acceder a tratamiento odontológico integral, aunque a la fecha se tiene pocos antecedentes de sus resultados. El objetivo de este estudio es estimar la cobertura del programa GES 60 para el año 2019 de los beneficiarios FONASA y su variabilidad territorial desagregada por Servicio de Salud (SS), sexo y tipo de prestador (público o compra de servicios). MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio observacional ecológico, utilizando fuentes de datos secundarios de uso público (DEIS, FONASA). Se estimó la cobertura nacional total y por sexo, estratificada para cada SS. RESULTADOS. La cobertura del programa en el sector público de salud fue de un 22,8% el año 2019. La menor cobertura se observó en el SS Arica (5,3%) y la mayor en el SS Arauco (37,9%). La cobertura nacional fue significativamente mayor (valor p=0,001) en mujeres (27,1%) que en hombres (17,9%). La compra de servicios a proveedores externos totalizó el 12,2% de las altas dentales, siendo esta proporción heterogénea entre SS con relación inversa entre Compra de servicios y Cobertura. DISCUSIÓN. La cobertura para el año evaluado fue baja, siendo insuficiente para poder resolver la alta carga de morbilidad de las personas mayores chilenas. Existe una amplia variabilidad territorial de la cobertura, presentando diferencias por sexo y en la compra de servicios.
INTRODUCTION. Elderly people in Chile have a high burden of oral morbidity and functional deficits that directly affect their quality of life. The universal GES program: "Comprehensive Oral Health for the 60-year-old adult", implemented since 2007, allows 60-year-olds to access comprehensive dental treatment, however there is limited evidence of its results to date.The aim of this study is to estimate the coverage of the program for the year 2019 of the public health insurance FONASA beneficiaries and their territorial variability disaggregated by Health Service (HS), sex and type of provider (public or purchase of services). MATERIALS AND METHODS. An observational ecological study was carried out, using secondary data from public sources (DEIS, FONASA). Total national coverage and by sex was estimated, stratified for each SS. Results. The coverage of the program in the public health sector was 22.8% in 2019. The lowest coverage was observed in Arica HS (5.3%) and the highest in Arauco HS (37.9%). National coverage was significantly higher (p-value = 0.001) in women (27.1%) than in men (17.9%). Purchase of services from external providers totaled 12.2% of the dental discharges, this pro-portion being heterogeneous between SS with an inverse relationship between "Purchase of services" and "Coverage". DISCUSSION. The coverage for the evaluated year was low, being insufficient to be able to solve the high burden of morbidity of Chilean elderly. There is a wide territorial variability of coverage, presenting differences by sex and in the purchase of services.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Middle Aged , Aged , Health Services Coverage , Oral Health , Dental Care for Aged/statistics & numerical data , Comprehensive Dental Care/statistics & numerical data , Chile , Public Sector , Sex Distribution , Ecological Studies , Universal Health Coverage , Health Policy , Health Services for the Aged/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
RESUMEN: Este artículo realiza una revisión y síntesis de las principales encuestas poblacionales de salud en Chile. Se describen sus principales características y hallazgos con el objetivo de orientar a los profesionales odontólogos en el conocimiento de material existente para el diagnóstico odontológico objetivo, así como el impacto de la salud oral en la calidad de vida, a nivel poblacional.
ABSTRACT: This article makes a brief review and synthesis of national health surveys in Chile. The article describes the main characteristics and findings in order to guide dental professionals with the knowledge of the existing material for an objective population oral health diagnosis, as well as the impact of oral health on quality of life of the population.
Subject(s)
Humans , Oral Health , Health Surveys , Mouth Diseases/epidemiology , Quality of Life , Chile/epidemiology , Prevalence , Dental Care/statistics & numerical data , Mouth Diseases/psychologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a Spanish version of the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) that is conceptually equivalent to the original questionnaire, as well as acceptable, reliable, valid, and responsive for use in Chilean patients with dentofacial deformities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The recommended standard methodology, with direct and back-translation, was used. A prospective longitudinal multicenter study of adult patients diagnosed with dentofacial deformity was carried out, self-administrating OQLQ, OHIP-14 (Oral Health Impact Profile), and SF-36 (Short Form 36 Health Survey) during the presurgery visit in order to examine construct validity. To evaluate reproducibility, questionnaires were re-administered 4 weeks later to subjects with a stable dental condition. Responsiveness was assessed among subjects followed up until 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: Of the 230 patients under presurgical orthodontic treatment included in the study, 216 completed the questionnaire, 142 formed the reliability sub-sample, and 30 were evaluated 3 months after surgery. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.78 to 0.94 and test-retest intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.84 to 0.91 (p = 0.001) by dimension. The correlation matrix between OQLQ dimensions and SF-36 and OHIP-14 confirmed most of the associations previously hypothesized as moderate (rs > 0.4). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the same structure as the original instrument, considering four dimensions. Responsiveness was demonstrated by the large improvement observed in the global score 3 months after surgery: mean change ±SD = -15.1 ± 18.05 and standard response mean = -0.84 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of OQLQ has demonstrated good levels of reliability, validity, and responsiveness - similar to those of the original questionnaire.
Subject(s)
Dentofacial Deformities , Quality of Life , Adult , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Dentofacial Deformities/surgery , Humans , Prospective Studies , Psychometrics , Reproducibility of Results , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
RESUMEN: Objetivo: Sintetizar los resultados sobre los estudios epidemiológicos de caries dental, enfermedad periodontal, desdentamiento y lesiones de mucosa oral de base poblacional con representatividad nacional y regional en adultos chilenos (≥15 años). Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una revisión narrativa para identificar aquellos estudios de diagnóstico de salud bucal, a nivel nacional y/o regional, en población adulta de Chile (≥15 años), con el objetivo de establecer prevalencias para las patologías bucales de mayor relevancia nacional. Resultados: Se identificaron 6 estudios de representatividad nacional y 7 estudios de representatividad regional. Se reporta una disminución en la prevalencia de caries cavitadas y de dentición no funcional, correspondiendo a un 54.6% y 27.0%, respectivamente. La prevalencia de pérdida de inserción clínica ≥4mm., es cercana al 100%. La lesión de mucosa oral más prevalente fue la estomatitis subprotésica (22.3%). Se observaron inequidades socieconómicas y culturales en la distribución de las patologías orales en la población adulta chilena. Conclusiones: Existe una alta prevalencia de enfermedad periodontal, caries, desdentamiento y lesiones de mucosa oral en adultos y adultos mayores chilenos.
ABSTRACT Aim: To synthesize results of epidemiologic national and regional studies about dental caries, periodontal diseases, tooth loss and oral mucosa lesions in Chilean adults (≥15 years- old). Methods: A narrative revision was made in order to identify epidemiologic national or regional studies in Chilean adults (≥15 years- old). The objective was to establish the prevalence of the most common oral diseases. Results: Six national and seven regional studies were identified. The prevalence of non-treated caries and non- functional dentition was reduced to 54.6% and 27.0%, respectively. The prevalence of periodontal attachment loss ≥4mm. was almost 100%. The most frequent oral mucosa lesion was denture stomatitis (22.3%). Socioeconomic and cultural disparities were observed in the distribution of oral diseases in Chilean adults. Conclusions: The prevalence of dental caries, periodontal diseases, tooth loss and oral mucosa lesions was high in Chilean adults and elderly people.
Subject(s)
Humans , Periodontal Diseases , Oral Health , Dental Caries , Diagnosis , ChileABSTRACT
Background: Determine the behavior of the maxillofacial trauma of adults treated in 3 tertiary care centers in the central zone of Chile. Material and Methods: descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study, based on the prospective records of maxillofacial trauma cases attended between May 2016 and April 2017 by dental and maxillofacial clinical teams of Adult Emergency Units of hospitals Dr. Sótero del Río (metropolitan region), Carlos Van Buren and Dr. Gustavo Fricke (region V). Age, sex, date of occurrence, type of trauma according to ICD-10, etiology, legal medical prognosis and associated injuries were recorded, stratifying by sex and age. Chi square and unpaired Wilcoxon tests were used to compare by groups. Results: 2.485 cases and 3.285 injuries were investigated. The male: female ratio was 1.7: 1 with age under 30 predominant, followed by older adults. Variability was observed in the yearly, weekly and daily presentation The highest frequencies were in January and September, weekends and at night. The main etiologies were violence (42.3%), falls (13.1%) and road traffic crashes (12.9%) with differences by age and sex (p <0.05). 31,9% of the injuries occurred in hard tissue, being fractures in nasal bones predominant (S02.2). Conclusions: the profile of the maxillofacial trauma in Chile seems to be mixed by age, affecting young people and the elderly. The male sex predominates; the main cause, which varies by age group, is violence. Their surveillance is possible from hospital emergency records
No disponible
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Aged , Accidents, Traffic , Maxillofacial Injuries , Chile , Cross-Sectional Studies , Retrospective Studies , ViolenceABSTRACT
Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a group of enamel development disorders that alter the structure and chemical composition of the tissue. There is great variability in the clinical presentation; according to Witkop, AI can be categorized into 14 subtypes, which makes its diagnosis extremely complex. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe and determine the frequency of clinical and radiographic features and inheritance patterns found in 41 Chilean families diagnosed with diverse types of AI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed the clinical records, photographs, pedigrees and radiographs of 121 individuals recruited between 2003 and 2016. All of the information was included in a database that was analyzed using the application Stata 14. RESULTS: The 72 affected individuals had average age of 16 years, and no sex association with the presence of AI was found. The most frequent clinical subtypes were as follows: 43% hypomature, 25% hypoplastic, 21% hypomature/hypoplastic, 7% hypocalcified and 4% hypocalcified/hypoplastic. The number of severely affected teeth was 22, which occurred in the patients with hypocalcified and hypocalcified/hypoplasic AI who presented the highest number of damaged teeth. Caries and periodontal disease were found in 47 and 32% of the patients, respectively. Malocclusions were observed in 43% of the individuals with AI, with open bite being the most frequent. Radiographically, the thickness of the enamel decreased in 51% of the patients, and 80% showed decreased radiopacity of the enamel compared to that of dentin. Autosomal dominant inheritance pattern was found in 37% of the families with hypoplastic AI, and autosomal recessive pattern was present in 56% of the other clinical subtypes, but more frequently in those affected with hypomature and hypocalcified AI. CONCLUSION: Of the five clinical subtypes, autosomal recessive hypomature, autosomal dominant hypoplastic and autosomal recessive hypomature/hypoplastic AI were the most prevalent subtypes in this group.
Subject(s)
Amelogenesis Imperfecta/diagnostic imaging , Amelogenesis Imperfecta/genetics , Genealogy and Heraldry , Inheritance Patterns , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Amelogenesis Imperfecta/epidemiology , Amelogenesis Imperfecta/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Chile/epidemiology , Dental Enamel/pathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Phenotype , Sex Distribution , Statistics, Nonparametric , Young AdultABSTRACT
Abstract Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a group of enamel development disorders that alter the structure and chemical composition of the tissue. There is great variability in the clinical presentation; according to Witkop, AI can be categorized into 14 subtypes, which makes its diagnosis extremely complex. Objective: This study aimed to describe and determine the frequency of clinical and radiographic features and inheritance patterns found in 41 Chilean families diagnosed with diverse types of AI. Material and Methods: We analyzed the clinical records, photographs, pedigrees and radiographs of 121 individuals recruited between 2003 and 2016. All of the information was included in a database that was analyzed using the application Stata 14. Results: The 72 affected individuals had average age of 16 years, and no sex association with the presence of AI was found. The most frequent clinical subtypes were as follows: 43% hypomature, 25% hypoplastic, 21% hypomature/hypoplastic, 7% hypocalcified and 4% hypocalcified/hypoplastic. The number of severely affected teeth was 22, which occurred in the patients with hypocalcified and hypocalcified/hypoplasic AI who presented the highest number of damaged teeth. Caries and periodontal disease were found in 47 and 32% of the patients, respectively. Malocclusions were observed in 43% of the individuals with AI, with open bite being the most frequent. Radiographically, the thickness of the enamel decreased in 51% of the patients, and 80% showed decreased radiopacity of the enamel compared to that of dentin. Autosomal dominant inheritance pattern was found in 37% of the families with hypoplastic AI, and autosomal recessive pattern was present in 56% of the other clinical subtypes, but more frequently in those affected with hypomature and hypocalcified AI. Conclusion: Of the five clinical subtypes, autosomal recessive hypomature, autosomal dominant hypoplastic and autosomal recessive hypomature/hypoplastic AI were the most prevalent subtypes in this group.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Young Adult , Inheritance Patterns , Amelogenesis Imperfecta/genetics , Amelogenesis Imperfecta/diagnostic imaging , Genealogy and Heraldry , Phenotype , Chile/epidemiology , Sex Distribution , Statistics, Nonparametric , Dental Enamel/pathology , Amelogenesis Imperfecta/pathology , Amelogenesis Imperfecta/epidemiology , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Confusion in observational epidemiological studies distorts the relationship between exposure and event. "Step by step" regression models, diverts the decision to a statistical algorithm with little causal basis. Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs), qualitatively and visually assess the confusion. They can complement the decision on confounder control during statistical modeling. AIM: To evaluate the minimum set of confounders to be controlled in a cause-effect relationship with the use of "step-by-step regression" and DAGs, in a study of arsenic exposure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We worked with data from Cáceres et al., 2010 in 66 individuals from northern Chile. The interindividual variability in the urinary excretion of dimethyl arsenic acid attributable to the GSTT1 polymorphism was estimated. A causal DAG was constructed using DAGitty v2.3 with the list of variables. A multiple linear regression model with the step-by-step backwards methodology was carried out. RESULTS: The causal diagram included 12 non-causal open pathways. The minimum adjustment set corresponded to the variables "sex", "body mass index" and "fish and seafood ingest". Confusion retention of the multivariate model included normal and overweight status, gender and the interaction between "water intake" and GSTT1. CONCLUSIONS: The use of DAG prior to the modeling would allow a more comprehensive, coherent and biologically plausible analysis of causal relationships in public health.
Subject(s)
Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic , Epidemiologic Studies , Regression Analysis , Chile , Humans , Linear ModelsABSTRACT
RESUMEN: El presente artículo realiza una breve revisión y síntesis sobre las Garantías Explícitas en Salud Bucal vigentes en Chile y las Guías de Práctica Clínica asociadas a su ejercicio. Se muestra una breve cronología de la reforma de salud de la cual se originan, describiendo sus principales pilares de desarrollo. Esta actualización tiene como objetivo orientar a los profesionales odontólogos de los Servicios de Salud, Sociedades Científicas, Universidades y entidades públicas y privadas que desarrollan la práctica odontológica en Chile, en el conocimiento del material existente, validado y disponible a la fecha.
ABSTRACT This article makes a brief review and synthesis of the Explicit Guarantees in Oral Health in force in Chile and the Clinical Practice Guidelines associated with their practice. It shows a brief chronology of the health reform from which they originate, describing their main pillars of development. The purpose of this update is to guide the dental professionals of the Health Services, Scientific Societies, Universities and public and private services that develop the dental practice in Chile, with the knowledge of the existing material, validated and available to date.
Subject(s)
Humans , Oral Health , Practice Guideline , Health Care Reform , Dentistry , Dentists , ChileABSTRACT
Background: Confusion in observational epidemiological studies distorts the relationship between exposure and event. "Step by step" regression models, diverts the decision to a statistical algorithm with little causal basis. Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs), qualitatively and visually assess the confusion. They can complement the decision on confounder control during statistical modeling. Aim: To evaluate the minimum set of confounders to be controlled in a cause-effect relationship with the use of "step-by-step regression" and DAGs, in a study of arsenic exposure. Material and Methods: We worked with data from Cáceres et al., 2010 in 66 individuals from northern Chile. The interindividual variability in the urinary excretion of dimethyl arsenic acid attributable to the GSTT1 polymorphism was estimated. A causal DAG was constructed using DAGitty v2.3 with the list of variables. A multiple linear regression model with the step-by-step backwards methodology was carried out. Results: The causal diagram included 12 non-causal open pathways. The minimum adjustment set corresponded to the variables "sex", "body mass index" and "fish and seafood ingest". Confusion retention of the multivariate model included normal and overweight status, gender and the interaction between "water intake" and GSTT1. Conclusions: The use of DAG prior to the modeling would allow a more comprehensive, coherent and biologically plausible analysis of causal relationships in public health.
Subject(s)
Humans , Epidemiologic Studies , Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic , Regression Analysis , Linear Models , ChileABSTRACT
Las enfermedades periodontales (gingivitis y periodontitis) son un problema de salud pública debido a su alta prevalencia, su impacto en la calidad de vida y los altos costos que implica su tratamiento. Sus principales factores e indicadores de riesgo son compartidos con las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ECNT). Además, la presencia de enfermedad periodontal en un paciente con ECNT puede contribuir a su exacerbación y/o desarrollo, a través de diversos mecanismos patogénicos, y el tratamiento de la condición periodontal genera una reducción de la inflamación sistémica. Debido a lo anterior, las enfermedades periodontales deben considerarse como una ECNT, y se debe trabajar en la creación, desarrollo e implementación de medidas de promoción de la salud y de prevención de ellas y participar activamente de las propuestas ya emanadas desde aquellas ECNT que tienen como objetivo a los mismos indicadores/factores de riesgo de las enfermedades periodontales.
Periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis) are a public health problem. They are highly prevalent, they affect life quality and their treament is expensive. Their principal risk factors and indicators are shared with chronic non transsmisible diseases (NTCD). Also, the presence of periodontal disease could exacerbate or initiate the development of a NTCD. Furthemore, Periodontal treatment results in systemic inflammation reduction. According to above explained, periodontal diseases should be considered as NTCD. It is highly advisible to focus on development, building and its implementation of periodontal prevention practices and communications. Moreover, it is advisible to participate in NTCD prevention programs, which targets same periodontal diseases risk factors and indicators.
Subject(s)
Humans , Periodontal Diseases/etiology , Periodontal Diseases/epidemiology , Periodontal Diseases/prevention & control , Chronic Disease , Risk Factors , Noncommunicable Diseases/prevention & control , Noncommunicable Diseases/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Glutathione S-tranferases (GST) are multigenic enzymes that have been associated with arsenic metabolism. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between polymorphic variants of GST and urinary concentration of arsenic species in people exposed to low levels of arsenic. A cross-sectional study among 66 nonoccupationally exposed subjects, living in the city of Antofagasta, Chile. Polymorphic variants were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and arsenic species was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The effect of GST variants on arsenic concentration was evaluated using univariate and covariate-adjusted regressions. For both GSTT1 and GSTM1 there were no significant differences in detected arsenic relative species between carriers of the active and null polymorphic variants. There was nondefinitive evidence that polymorphic variants of GST play a role in arsenic metabolism in sample of the Chilean subjects studied.