Caracterización de la prevalencia de la hipertensión arterial en Cuba en 2019 / Characterization of Arterial Hypertension Prevalence in Cuba in 2019

Introducción: La hipertensión arterial pudiera ser un elemento clave para la prevención de las enfermedades cardiovasculares, pues constituye su principal denominador común. Es el principal factor de riesgo, para la carga mundial de morbilidad y mortalidad. Objetivo: Caracterizar la prevalencia de hipertensión arterial en Cuba en el año 2019. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio ecológico. Se compararon las prevalencias de hipertensión arterial en las encuestas nacionales de factores de riesgo en los años 1995, 2001 y 2010 respecto a las de la dispensarización de esos años. Se tuvieron en cuenta las prevalencias totales de hipertensión arterial por grupos de edad y sexo, las de cada provincia y del municipio especial Isla de la Juventud. Los datos se procesaron de forma automatizada. Los resultados se expresaron en una tabla y gráficos. Resultados: Las prevalencias de hipertensión arterial encontradas en las encuestas nacionales de factores de riesgo superaron a las de la dispensarización en esos años. La prevalencia de hipertensión arterial se incrementó en la medida que lo hizo la edad. En el grupo de edad de 60 a 64 años, más del 75 por ciento de las personas resultaron hipertensas. En los de 25 a 59, de 65 y más y en el total predominaron las mujeres hipertensas. Conclusiones: Es preciso reducir la brecha entre los pacientes conocidos como hipertensos, dentro del sistema de salud y los que realmente son portadores de la enfermedad, conseguir el manejo adecuado de esta y con eso influir favorablemente en la morbilidad y mortalidad por enfermedades vasculares(AU)

Introduction: Hypertension could be a key element for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, since it constitutes its main common denominator. It is the main risk factor for the global burden of morbidity and mortality. Objective: To characterize the prevalence of arterial hypertension in Cuba in 2019. Methods: An ecological study was carried out. The prevalence rates of arterial hypertension in the national surveys of risk factors in the years 1995, 2001 and 2010 were compared to those of the dispensarization carried out in those years. The total prevalence rates of arterial hypertension were taken into account by age groups and sex, considering also those of each province and of the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud. The data was processed automatically. The results were expressed in a table and in graphs. Results: The prevalence rates of arterial hypertension found in the national surveys of risk factors exceeded those of dispensarization in those years. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age. In the age group 60-64 years, more than 75 percent of people were hypertensive. In those aged 25-59, 65 and over, as well as in the total, hypertensive women predominated. Conclusions: It is necessary to reduce, within the health system, the gap between patients known as hypertensive and those who really are carriers of the disease, to achieve proper management of this and, thus, to have a favorable influence on morbidity and mortality from vascular diseases(AU)

Water-borne protozoa parasites: The Latin American perspective.

Health systems, sanitation and water access have certain limitations in nations of Latin America (LA): typical matters of developing countries. Water is often contaminated and therefore unhealthy for the consumers and users. Information on prevalence and detection of waterborne parasitic protozoa are limited or not available in LA. Only few reports have documented in this field during the last forty years and Brazil leads the list, including countries in South America and Mexico within Central America region and Caribbean islands. From 1979 to 2015, 16 outbreaks of waterborne-protozoa, were reported in Latin American countries. T. gondii and C. cayetanensis were the protozoa, which caused more outbreaks and Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. were the most frequently found protozoa in water samples. On the other hand, Latin America countries have not got a coherent methodology for detection of protozoa in water samples despite whole LA is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events related to waterborne-infections; although Brazil and Colombia have some implemented laws in their surveillance systems. It would be important to coordinate all surveillance systems in between all countries for early detection and measures against waterborne-protozoan and to establish effective and suitable diagnosis tools according to the country's economic strength and particular needs.