Prevalence and disease burden of peripheral neuropathy in the general population in Mexico city: a cross-sectional epidemiological study.

OBJECTIVE: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is one of the most common diseases of the peripheral nervous system. Symptoms range from mild sensory signs to severe neuropathic pain. Untreated PN is progressive and can lead to complications and impair quality of life (QoL). However, PN prevalence is underestimated in the general population and affected individuals often remain undiagnosed. This study aimed to contribute to the global generation of prevalence data and determine sociodemographic and disease-related characteristics of PN sufferers. METHODS: This cross-sectional study collected information on PN prevalence and associated factors in the adult population (40-65 years) of the Mexico City area. Participants were recruited in public places and screened for PN using the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). Subjects with PN answered the Neuropathy Total Symptom Score-6 (NTSS-6), the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and the QoL Pharmacoeconomic Questionnaire. Statistical analysis included descriptive methods and calculation of PN prevalence with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Of 3066 participants, 448 had PN based on the MNSI physical examination. The overall PN prevalence was 14.6%, with the highest (18.9%) seen in subjects aged 61-65 years. PN was undiagnosed in 82.6%, and 62.9% had never heard of PN. Although half of all subjects had only mild PN symptoms, QoL was impacted in 91.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that PN prevalence in the general population is high. Despite the disease burden, most affected persons are undiagnosed and unaware of the disease. Almost all felt their QoL was impacted. The data highlight the need to raise awareness and identify undiagnosed individuals to prevent complications.

Real-World Evidence Evaluation on the Lipid Profile, Therapeutic Goals, and Safety of the Fixed-Dose Combination of Rosuvastatin/Ezetimibe (Trezete®) in Dyslipidemia Patients.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. The combination of statins and cholesterol-absorption inhibitors promotes the decrease in risk factors, such as high concentrations of LDL (low-density lipoproteins). The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the lipid profile and the effect on therapeutic goals, as well as the safety of dyslipidemia patients treated with Rosuvastatin/Ezetimibe (Trezete®). Materials and Methods: A real-world evidence study was conducted with retrospective data collection through a review of clinical records from dyslipidemia patients treated with Trezete® in routine medical practice. Clinical records included results of biochemical markers before treatment and at least one follow up between weeks 8 and 16. Results: The study included 103 patients' clinical records (55.4% men) with a mean age of 56.0 ± 13.0 years. More than 57% of the patients had mixed dyslipidemia and a median disease progression of 3.1 (IQR, 1.5; 9.1) years. Regarding LDL concentrations, 72.8% of the patients achieved therapeutic goals according to cardiovascular risk (CVR), which was statistically significant. Similarly, 94.1% achieved goals for total cholesterol (<200 mg/dL) and 56.0% for triglycerides (<150 mg/dL), a p value <0.001. No cardiovascular events were observed. Conclusion: Trezete® shows an important clinical impact on CVR-related target markers during the treatment of dyslipidemia patients. It is relevant to mention that a significant percentage of patients achieved therapeutic goals during the first months of treatment. Fixed-dose combination therapy has shown to be as safe as monotherapy treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04862962.

Diabetes care innovation in the Mexican Institute for Social Insurance: Scaling up the preventive chronic disease care model to address critical coverage constraints.

BACKGROUND: With diabetes prevalence in Mexico at 11.3% of adults, the Mexican Institute of Social Insurance (IMSS) is piloting the Chronic Disease Preventive Model (CDPM). CDPM includes intensive patient education, care by multidisciplinary teams and risk management in primary care. The objective of this article is to determine CDPM coverage bottlenecks and to explore facilitators and barriers to implementation. METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018 was processed to identify key diabetes prevalence, coverage, quality and outcome indicators. Key IMSS informant interviews and document content analyses were undertaken following the Tanahashi coverage decay model and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). RESULTS: IMSS screens 49% of adult beneficiaries for diabetes but only 26% with presumptive diagnosis proceed to confirmation. Out of 4.1 million adults with diabetes, IMSS diagnoses 94% and treats 85%. Medications are received by 90% of patients but only 63% of those requiring insulin receive it. The overall quality of care indicator attains 37% of potential. Coverage of diabetes education, monitoring with HbA1c and interdisciplinary care are 20%, 15% and 3%, respectively. Among IMSS beneficiaries treated by the institute 38.1% have HbA1c levels below 7% and 26.1% have levels above 9%. CDPM facilitators are the perceived threat of uncontrolled diabetes, compatibility of innovation values and willingness for institutional learning. Barriers are centralized decision making, functional differentiation across managers and practitioners and lack of incentives, resource shortages and the lack of measures to ensure fidelity. CONCLUSIONS: CDPM scale-up has to address organizational and process barriers while ensuring the necessary resources for sustainability.

A pathological study of the epidemiology of atherosclerosis in Mexico city.

Objective. To examine the frequency and patterns of association of cardiovascular risk factors with atherosclerosis in five different arterial territories at post-mortem in Mexico City. Methods. We obtained five arterial territories arteries (circle of Willis, coronary, carotid, renal, and aorta) of 185 men and women 0 to 90 years of age who underwent autopsy at the Medical Forensic Service of Mexico City. We determined the prevalence and extent of atherosclerotic lesions by histopathology according to the classification of the American Heart Association as early (types I-III) and advanced (types IV-VI), and according to the degree of stenosis and correlated with cardiovascular risk factors. Results. Atherosclerotic lesions were identified in at least one arterial territory in 181 subjects (97.8%), with involvement of two ore more territories in 178 subjects (92.2%). Advanced lesions were observed in 36% and 67% of subjects under 15 and between 16 and 35 years, respectively. Any degree of atherosclerosis was associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, overweight, obesity, and smoking, and to a greater extent with the presence of two or more risk factors (P < 0.001). However, emerging and advanced athersoclerosis was observed in 53% and 20% people with no risk factors. Conclusions. The study shows a high prevalence of atherosclerosis in all age groups and both sexes. There is considerable development of atherosclerotic disease in subjects without known risk factors.

Spanish-speaking patients' engagement in interactive voice response (IVR) support calls for chronic disease self-management: data from three countries.

We measured Spanish-speaking patients' engagement in Interactive Voice Response (IVR) calls using data from self-management support studies in Honduras, Mexico and the US. A total of 268 patients with diabetes or hypertension participated in 6-12 weeks of weekly IVR follow-up. Participants had an average of 6.1 years of education, and 73% of them were women. After 2443 person-weeks of follow-up, patients had completed 1494 IVR assessments. The call completion rates were higher in the US (75%) than in Honduras (59%) or Mexico (61%; P < 0.001). Patients participating with an informal caregiver were more likely to complete calls (adjusted odds ratio 1.5; P = 0.03) while patients reporting fair or poor health at enrolment were less likely (adjusted odds ratio 0.59; P = 0.02). Satisfaction rates were high, with 98% of patients reporting that the system was easy to use, and 86% reporting that the calls helped them a great deal in managing their health problems. IVR self-management support is feasible among Spanish-speaking patients with chronic disease, including those living in less-developed countries. Involving informal caregivers may increase patient engagement.

Prevalence and severity of atherosclerosis in different arterial territories and its relation with obesity.

BACKGROUND: There is uneven association between obesity, traditional risk factors, and cardiovascular events. We aimed to analyze the relation between cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, with the severity of atherosclerosis in different arterial territories. METHODS: Arteries from five territories (circle of Willis, carotids, coronaries, aorta, and renal) were taken from 185 persons, newborn to 90 years undergoing autopsy in the Forensic Medical Service in Mexico City, to determine atherosclerotic lesions by histopathological study. Lesions were classified according to the American Heart Association grading system as early (types I-III) and advanced (types IV-VI). The degree of atherosclerosis was correlated with arterial territories and risk factors. RESULTS: Frequencies of advanced lesions according to arterial territories were as follows: circle of Willis, 28%; right carotid, 36%; left carotid, 25%; right coronary, 71%; left coronary, 85%; right renal, 26%; left renal, 29%; and aorta, 52%; P=.0001, for all analyses. There was a higher risk for advanced lesions with increasing body mass index (BMI) (P=.004). However, after adjusting for age, gender, smoking status, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, BMI was not independently associated with advanced lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary arteries are significantly more affected than other arterial territories regardless of risk factors, showing the effect of local and systemic factors in the severity of atherosclerosis. We did not find an independent association between advanced atherosclerotic lesions and obesity.

Hypertension management using mobile technology and home blood pressure monitoring: results of a randomized trial in two low/middle-income countries.

OBJECTIVE: Hypertension and other noncommunicable diseases represent a growing threat to low/middle-income countries (LMICs). Mobile health technologies may improve noncommunicable disease outcomes, but LMICs lack resources to provide these services. We evaluated the efficacy of a cloud computing model using automated self-management calls plus home blood pressure (BP) monitoring as a strategy for improving systolic BPs (SBPs) and other outcomes of hypertensive patients in two LMICs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a randomized trial with a 6-week follow-up. Participants with high SBPs (≥140 mm Hg if nondiabetic and ≥130 mm Hg if diabetic) were enrolled from clinics in Honduras and Mexico. Intervention patients received weekly automated monitoring and behavior change telephone calls sent from a server in the United States, plus a home BP monitor. At baseline, control patients received BP results, hypertension information, and usual healthcare. The primary outcome, SBP, was examined for all patients in addition to a preplanned subgroup with low literacy or high hypertension information needs. Secondary outcomes included perceived health status and medication-related problems. RESULTS: Of the 200 patients recruited, 181 (90%) completed follow-up, and 117 of 181 had low literacy or high hypertension information needs. The median annual income was $2,900 USD, and average educational attainment was 6.5 years. At follow-up intervention patients' SBPs decreased 4.2 mm Hg relative to controls (95% confidence interval -9.1, 0.7; p=0.09). In the subgroup with high information needs, intervention patients' average SBPs decreased 8.8 mm Hg (-14.2, -3.4, p=0.002). Compared with controls, intervention patients at follow-up reported fewer depressive symptoms (p=0.004), fewer medication problems (p<0.0001), better general health (p<0.0001), and greater satisfaction with care (p≤0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Automated telephone care management plus home BP monitors can improve outcomes for hypertensive patients in LMICs. A cloud computing model within regional telecommunication centers could make these services available in areas with limited infrastructure for patient-focused informatics support.

Report on Honduras: ripples in the pond--the financial crisis and remittances to chronically ill patients in Honduras.

The U.S. financial crisis has affected employment opportunities for Latino immigrants, and this could affect their ability to send financial assistance, or "remittances", to chronically ill family members in their home country. In a cross-sectional survey of 624 chronically ill adults conducted in Honduras between June and August 2009, respondents reported their receipt of remittances, health service use, and cost-related access barriers. Fifty-four percent of respondents reported relatives living outside the country, and of this group, 66 percent (37% of the overall sample) received remittances. Seventy-four percent of respondents receiving remittances reported a decrease over the prior year, mostly due to job losses among their relatives abroad. Respondents reporting reductions in remittances received significantly less per month, on average, than those without a reduction (US $170 vs. $234; p = 0.01). In multivariate models, respondents experiencing a reduction in remittances used fewer health services and medications due to cost concerns. Remittance payments from relatives resident in the United States are a major source of income for chronically ill individuals in Latin America. Most recipients of remittances reported a reduction during the financial downturn that affected their access to care.

Quality of previous diabetes care among patients receiving services at ophthalmology hospitals in Mexico / Calidad de la atención previa de los pacientes diabéticos atendidos en hospitales de oftalmología en México

OBJECTIVE: To survey a large sample of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Mexico City to determine if patient experience, access to basic services, treatment, and outcomes differed between those with social security coverage and those without. METHODS: From 2001-2007 a total of 1 000 individuals with T2DM were surveyed in outpatient clinics of the three largest public ophthalmology hospitals in Mexico City. Patients reported information about their health status and receipt of basic diabetes services, such as laboratory glycemic monitoring and diabetes education. Rates were compared between those with (n = 461) and without (n = 539) social security. RESULTS: Almost half of the patients (46 percent) in these public facilities were social security patients that were unable to access other services and had to pay out-of-pocket for care. Half of respondents were originally identified as potentially diabetic based on symptom complaints (51 percent), including 11 percent with visual impairment. Most patients (87.9 percent) reported that their glycemic level was being monitored exclusively via fasting blood glucose testing or random capillary blood glucose tests; only 5.3 percent reported ever having a glycated hemoglobin test. While nearly all respondents reported an individual physician encounter ever, only 39 percent reported ever receiving nutrition counseling and only 21 percent reported attending one or more sessions of diabetes education in their lifetime. Processes of care and outcomes were no different in patients with and those without social security coverage. CONCLUSIONS: In Mexico, the quality of diabetes care is poor. Despite receiving social security, many patients still have to pay out-of-pocket to access needed care. Without policy changes that address these barriers to comprehensive diabetes management, scientific achievements in diagnosis and pharmacotherapy will have limited impact.

OBJETIVO: Determinar si hay diferencias en cuanto a las experiencias de atención de la diabetes, el acceso a los servicios básicos, el tratamiento y la evolución clínica entre las personas que disponen o no de seguro social de salud mediante la encuesta de una muestra amplia de pacientes que padecen diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en la Ciudad de México. MÉTODOS: Se encuestó a 1 000 pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 en la consulta externa de los tres hospitales públicos de oftalmología más importantes de la Ciudad de México. Los pacientes proporcionaron información acerca de su estado de salud y su experiencia respecto de la atención básica de diabetes; por ejemplo, el control de la glucemia mediante análisis de laboratorio y la información que recibieron acerca de la enfermedad. Se compararon los datos estadísticos entre quienes disponían de un seguro social de salud (n = 461) y quienes carecían de este tipo de seguro (n = 539). RESULTADOS: Casi la mitad de los pacientes (46 por ciento) que se atienden en estos hospitales públicos disponen de seguro social de salud, pero no pudieron acceder a otros servicios y debieron pagar de su bolsillo para recibir atención. La mitad de los entrevistados (51 por ciento) eran pacientes que habían sido considerados presuntos diabéticos a partir de los síntomas que habían referido, de los cuales 11 por ciento presentaron discapacidad visual. La mayoría de los pacientes (87,9 por ciento) refirieron que solo se controlaban mediante análisis glucemia en ayunas o análisis aleatorios (sin ayunar) de una muestra de sangre capilar; solo 5,3 por ciento refirieron que alguna vez se habían efectuado el análisis de glucohemoglobina (HbA1c). Si bien prácticamente la totalidad de los encuestados refirieron haber tenido alguna consulta médica, solo 39 por ciento informaron haber recibido orientación nutricional en alguna ocasión y solo 21 por ciento refirieron haber asistido a una o más sesiones informativas sobre la diabetes. ...

Quality of previous diabetes care among patients receiving services at ophthalmology hospitals in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To survey a large sample of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Mexico City to determine if patient experience, access to basic services, treatment, and outcomes differed between those with social security coverage and those without. METHODS: From 2001-2007 a total of 1 000 individuals with T2DM were surveyed in outpatient clinics of the three largest public ophthalmology hospitals in Mexico City. Patients reported information about their health status and receipt of basic diabetes services, such as laboratory glycemic monitoring and diabetes education. Rates were compared between those with (n = 461) and without (n = 539) social security. RESULTS: Almost half of the patients (46%) in these public facilities were social security patients that were unable to access other services and had to pay out-of-pocket for care. Half of respondents were originally identified as potentially diabetic based on symptom complaints (51%), including 11% with visual impairment. Most patients (87.9%) reported that their glycemic level was being monitored exclusively via fasting blood glucose testing or random capillary blood glucose tests; only 5.3% reported ever having a glycated hemoglobin test. While nearly all respondents reported an individual physician encounter ever, only 39% reported ever receiving nutrition counseling and only 21% reported attending one or more sessions of diabetes education in their lifetime. Processes of care and outcomes were no different in patients with and those without social security coverage. CONCLUSIONS: In Mexico, the quality of diabetes care is poor. Despite receiving social security, many patients still have to pay out-of-pocket to access needed care. Without policy changes that address these barriers to comprehensive diabetes management, scientific achievements in diagnosis and pharmacotherapy will have limited impact.

Cognitive impairment and mortality in older healthy Mexican subjects: a population-based 10-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of cognitive impairment (CI) among cognitively healthy, Mexican subjects, and to evaluate the impact of demographic and vascular factors on the conversion to CI and mortality. METHODS: 734 eligible subjects (aged 55 to >90 years) from a population-based sample were examined. The cognitive function of participants was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) every 2 years. The subjects were followed for an average of 3.2 years. The CI was defined using two sets of criteria: (i) moderate CI, as a drop to 25-21 on the MMSE at 2-year follow-up or a decrease of at least four points and (ii) severe CI, defined as a drop of 21 or less in MMES at follow-up. The incidence density and period prevalence were determined as epidemiological measures as well as the cumulative incidence as a risk measure. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyse the main points of interest: CI, dementia and mortality. RESULTS: The period prevalence of moderate CI was 20%, and 10% for severe CI. During 1959 person-years of follow-up, severe CI developed in 33 of the 361 participants. While during 2096 person-years of follow-up; 80 of 361 participants developed moderate CI. The rate of progression to severe CI in moderate CI subjects gradually increases with follow-up. Both, moderate and severe CI were associated with low educational level, higher age and higher mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly people with moderate CI have an increased risk of severe CI. Moderate and severe CI are both predictive of higher mortality in Mexican subjects.

Diabetes mellitus in a subgroup of older Mexicans: prevalence, association with cardiovascular risk factors, functional and cognitive impairment, and mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence and effects of diabetes mellitus in a subgroup of older Mexicans to allow comparisons to older persons of Mexican origin living in the United States. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTING: High-rise retirement housing in Mexico City. PARTICIPANTS: Seven hundred eighty-five public servants and their family members aged 65 and older. MEASUREMENTS: Geriatric survey of function; mental status and depression; a physical examination; and blood samples for glucose and cholesterol. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in this population was 15.1%, substantially lower than the prevalence reported in people of Mexican origin living in the United States. Nondiabetics were more obese than diabetics. Diabetes mellitus was more common in men than women. The mortality rate was greater in diabetics than nondiabetics (relative risk=1.73, P <.05). Diabetics had more coronary artery disease and were more likely to die from myocardial infarction and neoplasms than nondiabetics. Diabetics were more likely to be functionally impaired (P <.0001) but no more likely to fall or to have fractures. Diabetics did not differ from nondiabetics in cognitive impairment or level of dysphoria. CONCLUSION: These studies highlight some important similarities and differences in comparing a middle class subgroup of older diabetics in Mexico City with diabetics of Mexican origin living in the United States.

Factores de riesgo cardiovascular y aterosclerosis carotídea detectada por ultrasonografía / Cardiovascular risk factors and carotid atherosclerosis detected by ultrasonography

Objetivo. Evaluar la frecuencia y los factores determinantes de aterosclerosis carotídea en una comunidad de la ciudad de México. Material y métodos. Se realizó, de julio de 1993 a enero de 1996, una ultrasonografía carotídea en 145 participantes del proyecto CUPA, que consiste en un estudio de vigilancia epidemiológica. Se investigó la presencia de aterosclerosis carotídea y su relación con factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Resultados. La prevalencia de aterosclerosis carotídea detectada por ultrasonografía fue de 64.8 por ciento. En 64 personas (44. por ciento) se documentó engrosamiento del complejo íntima-media de la pared arterial y en 82 sujetos (56.5 por ciento) se observaron placas de ateroma (concomitante con engrosamiento íntima-media en 52 individuos). En sólo ocho personas (5.5 por ciento) las placas de ateroma se asociaron a estenosis hemidámicamente significativa. No se encontraron diferencias en la prevalencia de aterosclerosis en relación con el sexo (hombres, 61.9 por ciento y mujeres, 66.0 por ciento). Los factores de riesgo asociados con aterosclerosis fueron: edad (p<0.001), hipertensión arterial sistémica (p<0.001=), hipertensión sistólica aislada (p=0.01), hipercolesterolemia (p=0.04) y diabetes mellitus (p=0.06). La prevalencia de aterosclerosis carotídea aumentó progresivamente al incrementarse el número de factores de riesgo vascular. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de aterosclerosis carotídea fue elevada en una comunidad de edad avanzada de la ciudad de México y similar a la observada en países occidentales. Se asoció principalmente con la edad, la hipertensión arterial, la hipercolesterolemia y la diabetes mellitus

Diversidad en los estudios de prevalencia de hipertensión arterial sistémica / Difrering results prevelence studier of arterial hypertension

Se revisó la información sobre prevalancia de hipertensión arterial para evaluar sus resultados a nivel nacional. Se tomaron datos publicados en revistas nacionales y extranjeras sobre estudios epidemiológicos efectuados en México entre 1933 y 1995. Se consideraron los resultados y las variables reportadas: criterios diagnósticos (punto de corte), metodología para medir cifras tensionales y la forma de reportar resultados. Se encontraron 30 trabajos de siete entidades federativas, 16 llevadas a cabo en el Distrito Federal, 3 en Jalisco, 3 en Yucatán, 2 en Tamaulipas, 1 en el Estado de México, 1 en Veracruz, 1 en Michoacán y 1 en mexicanos de EU; Hubo dos estudios más de población entera, una efectuada por la Secretaria de Salud y otra por el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Se nota escasez de información en mujeres, ancianos y se descubren notables diferencias en la prevalencia reportadada (0.04 a 30.9 por ciento) Es atribuible a la falta de control se sesgos, introducidos por: diferente metodología en la obtención de datos, universo considerado, método de muestreo y la forma de reportar los resultados. Los cambios globales muestran discreta tendencia a subir; congruente con la expectativa, juzgada por otros parámetros poblaciones; no obstante, la verdad sobre tales cambios está enmascarada. Lo que importa es consignar el problema generalizable y trascendente, pues puede no ser privativo de este país. Lo publicado hasta ahora ha cumplido su objetivo: orientar sobre niveles de prevalancia, pero no alcanzan calidad científica para sentar las bases de una evaluacinón después de aplicar medidas preventivas. Los autores destacan que tal problema no va a controlarse sólo haciendo más encuestas, pues hacen falta estudios que sigan las recomendaciones para obtener los datos y además promover la modalidad uniforme de reportar los estudios epidemiologicos

Prevalencia de aterosclerosis carotídea en una población de la ciudad de México / Prevalance of carotid atherosclerosis in a cohort of Mexico City

Para conocer la prevalencia de aterosclerosis en personas mayores de 60 años, se realizó ultrasonografía de alta resolución y Doppler con imagen de flujo codificada a color, de las arterias carótidas a participantes del proyecto CUPA (estudio de vigilancia epidemiológica iniciado en 1989 en el Distrito Federal). En cada participante se evaluó la presencia de las siguientes lesiones ateroscleróticas: 1) engrosamiento de la última y la media; 2) acodamientos y tortuosidades; 3) placas de ateroma no estenosantes y 4) estenosis carotídea significativa (50 por ciento). El análisis de 198 estudios llevados a cabo en 56 hombres y 142 mujeres mostró que 130 personas presentaron alguna de las lesiones investigadas (65.6 por ciento) y que su frecuencia aumenta con la edad, de tal forma que en menores de 65 años fue de 38 por ciento, en los sujetos de 65 a 74 años de 71 por ciento y en mayores de 75 años de 88 por ciento. La frecuencias de lesiones estenóticas avanzadas fue más bien baja (6 por ciento), mientras que la frecuencia global de las placas de ateroma no estenosante y el engrosamiento de la íntima y la media fue mayor del 60 por ciento. Este último fue mas usual en hombres, mientras que las placas no estenosantes y la estenosis de mayor grado, se observaron con más frecuencia en las mujeres. Sin embargo, no hubo diferencias significativas entre hombres y mujeres al analizarse las lesiones por grupos de edad. Es el primer estudio sobre la prevalencia de aterosclerosis carotídea en México basado en evaluación ultrasonográfica. Los hallazgos de la investigación documentan una elevada frecuencia de ateroclerosis entre residentes de 60 años de la ciudad de México

Epidemiología de la hipertensión arterial en México. Aspectos históricos / Epidemiology of arterial hypertension in Mexico. Historical aspects

Con objeto de investigar la historia de la hipertensión arterial, las modificaciones en los criterios diagnósticos, la metodología para mediarla y el conocimiento de esta enfermedad en México, se llevó a cabo un estudio bibliomédico en busca de todas las publicaciones relacionadas con la epidemiología de esta enfermedad en nuestro país, en revistas nacionales y extranjeras, incluyendo artículos en extenso y resúmenes. En total, se encontraron 29 trabajos; el primero data de 1933 y el último se publicó en 1995; las investigaciones se llevaron a cabo en siete entidades federativas: 16 en el Distrito Federal, 3 en Jalisco, 3 en Yucatán, 2 en Tamaulipas, 1 en el estado de México, 1 en Veracruz y 1 en Michoacán. Las dos publicaciones restantes son nacionales, una auspiciada por la Secretaría de Salud, y otra por el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). Las investigaciones identificadas muestran diferencias notables en el tamaño de la muestra (de 250 a 15,607 personas); variedad en la población seleccionada (rural, urbana) y en los grupos de edad (desde recién nacidos hasta adultos), destacando la escasez de información en mujeres y ancianos. La falta de uniformidad en los métodos para medir la presión arterial y en los criterios para establecer el diagnóstico de enfermedad hipertensiva da como resultado que en los estudios realizados en el grupo de edad más examinado (hombres de edad adulta) se informen prevalancias de 8.6 por ciento hasta 29.2 por ciento; estos se manifiesta por la diversidad en los puntos de corte que se aplicaron a las cifras de presión sistólica y diastólica en los diferentes estudios. El presente trabajo demuestra la importancia de la hipertensión arterial y la ubica como la enfermedad crónica-degenerativa más frecuente en México. Las publicaciones analizadas confirman la magnitud del problema, pero también demuestran que los estudios se han concentrado en seis de las 32 entidades federativas, al igual que en otras partes del mundo, poco se ha realizado para conocer las características de la enfermedad en ancianos y mujeres, y no existen estudios longitudinales

Estudio comparativo de la eficacia de Ispaghula Husk contra plántago-senósidos en el tratamiento de la constipación en personas de edad avanzada / Comparative study on the therapeutical efficacy of Ispaghula Husk against plantago-sennoside in treating constipation in the elderly

Se realizó un estudio comparativo, cruzado, para valorar la eficacia de la administración de Ispaghula Husk, un laxante de volumen presentado como polvo efervecente, contra una combinación de plantago-senósidos (laxante de volumen y laxante de contacto) en el tratamiento de la constipación en sujetos de edad avanzada. En este estudio participaron setenta pacientes con edades entre 57 y 95 años. En forma aleatoria se administraron dos sobre diarios de Ispaghula Husk (IH) o dos sobre de la combinación de plantago-senósidos (PS), anotando los síntomas previos y las modificaciones en los mismos con cada esq1uema. Des'pués de seis semanas, se administró el esquema complementario a cada uno de los pacientes. En total, 66 pacientes informaron algún tipo de mejoría con la administración de Ispaghula Husk (94 por ciento), contra 64 casos que mejoraron con el esquema de PS (91 por ciento); sin embargo, al comparar la frecuencia de efectos secundarios y su intensidad, se observaron diferencias significativas, en vista de que se registraton 49 efectos en el periodo de administración de PS contra 31 efectos con la administración de Ispaghula. Asimismo, la preferencia por la preparación de Ispaghula fue mayor (51 pacientes, 73 por ciento) que por la combinación de PS (ocho pacientes, 11 por ciento) y 11 enfermos no mostraron preferencia (17 por ciento). Los resultados indican que la administración de Ispaghula Husk es un recurso eficaz, aceptado y con pocos efectos secundarios en el tratamiento de la constipación en personas de edad avanzada, y que compite favorablemente contra la combinación de laxantes de volumen y contacto.