Caracterización del desarrollo psicomotor de niños y niñas con cáncer / Psychomotor development characterization of children with cancer

Antecedentes: El desarrollo psicomotor (DPSM) es una condicionante social de la salud, por lo que sus alteraciones pueden perpetuar otras desigualdades hasta la adultez. Los menores con cáncer se ven expuestos a una serie de factores que pueden poner en riesgo su DPSM. Metodología: Se evalúa el DPSM de 35 niños y niñas con cáncer de 0 a 5 años de dos hospitales, con los test EEDP y TEPSI, estandarizados para población chilena. Se excluyen los niños/as con características o patologías de base que pudiesen explicar el retraso del desarrollo psicomotor (tumores cerebrales, discapacidad visual, síndrome de Down o hemiparesia.). Las evaluaciones se realizan en período ambulatorio estando los niños y niñas en buenas condiciones generales, sin infecciones activas y con parámetros hematológicos estables. Es decir, en igualdad de condiciones de salud, salvo por el diagnóstico oncológico de base. Resultados: El promedio nacional de rezago es 5,5 por ciento, el de riesgo 5,64 y el retraso alcanza un 1,3 por ciento. Sumando las tres categorías alcanza un 12,44 por ciento. Los niños/as evaluados arrojan un 28,52 por ciento, 14,29 por ciento y 2,86 por ciento respectivamente, con un total de 45,67 por ciento, es decir 3,67 veces más alteraciones del DPSM que los niños sin cáncer. Conclusiones: Los niños y niñas con cáncer evaluados presentan más alteraciones del DPSM que aquellos que no tuvieron cáncer antes de los 5 años de edad. Existen iniciativas ya implementadas desde el 2007 por el Sistema de Protección Integral de la infancia para prevenir e intervenir las alteraciones del DPSM, pero parecen no se suficientes para esta población específica.

Background: Psychomotor development (PD) is known to be a social determinant of health which means that a development delay or disorder can perpetuate other inequalities into adulthood. Children with cancer are exposed to a number of factors that may jeopardize their PD. Methodology: All eligible children with cancer under 5 years were evaluated in two hospitals of Santiago, with a total n° of 35. Children with underlying conditions that may explain a developmental delay were excluded (brain tumors, visually impaired, Down Syndrome). Evaluations were performed on outpatient period, in good general conditions, meaning in equal terms than children in the general population, except for the cancer. Results: The average national lag is 5.5 percent, the risk 5.64 and the retardation reaches 1.3 percent. Adding the three categories of delay, it reaches a 12.44 percent. Children evaluated presented 28.52 percent, 14.29 percent and 2.86 percent respectively, with a total of 45.67 percent that means 3.67 times more developmental delays than children without cancer. Conclusions: Children with cancer have more PD disorders than those who did not have cancer before age 5. There are initiatives already implemented since 2007 by the System of Integral Protection of Children, with protocols to prevent and attend PD disorders, but seem to be insufficient for this specific population.

Prevalence and risk factors of lens opacities in the elderly in Cuenca, Spain.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of lens opacities in a group of elderly people and evaluate their relation with diverse risk factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study of the cohort of all persons over the age of 64 years from an urban area and a rural nucleus of the province of Cuenca, Spain. Information on sociodemographic parameters and smoking was compiled using a structured questionnaire. A physical examination was made in which weight, height, and waist circumference were measured, and an ophthalmologic examination was made of visual acuity and lens opacities. Cataracts were classified using the method of the WHO cataract group. RESULTS: The study included 1155 subjects out of 1435 elderly persons who were invited to participate (response rate 80.5%). The prevalence of cataract in men was 69.2% and in women, 65.5% (p>0.05). The percentage of persons with aphakia/pseudophakia was 17.8% in men and 17.5% in women (p>0.05). In a logistic regression model, age, obesity of more than 35 kg/m2, and low educational level were associated with the presence of cataract or aphakia/pseudophakia. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of cataract in people over 64 years is similar to that of other countries, but the prevalence of subjects with previous surgery for cataracts is the highest reported in the literature. Age, body mass index of more than 35 kg/m2, and low educational level were associated with the probability of having cataracts or undergoing surgery for cataracts.