[Epidemiologic monitoring system for the diabetic patient; use of computerized technology in the quality of medical care]. / Sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica para el paciente diabético; el uso de tecnología computacional en la calidad de la atención médica.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an instrument for epidemiologic surveillance of diabetes mellitus and evaluating the quality of care in primary health care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted from January 1, 1998, to June 30, 1999, at the Epidemiology and Health Services Research Unit of the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS), in Hermosillo, Sonora. A single data collection form was designed, which contains items included in the diabetes care clinic of the Unit of Family Medicine of the Mexican Institute of Social Security. RESULTS: We developed and implemented a software program to enter data from the paper format and to generate individual and group reports on attendance to scheduled medical visits, medical history, evolution of signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and medication. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic data systems allow the availability of reliable and continuing information for surveillance of the comprehensive care of the diabetic patient.

[Mortality ranking in the norwest of Mexico according to the years of productive life lost index]. / Reordenación de la mortalidad en el noroeste de México, según el índice de años de vida productivos perdidos.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the order of death causes in the Northwestern states of Mexico using the years of potential life lost (YPLL) index. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 1995 INEGI mortality data base for the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sinaloa and Sonora was used to estimate the YPLL index. The method by Bustamante et al. was followed to calculate the cause of death, with ponderation of the potential investment, production and consumption of each individual, according to the age of death. RESULTS: A ranking of cause of death resulted from the application of the YPLL index. At present, in the four states, the group with the greatest potential loss is that between 5 and 14 years of age, and the rate is higher in Baja California than in Sonora. The group of "Perinatal problems as a cause of death" ranked first in three states and in the fourth, Sinaloa, the group of "Homicide and lesions caused intentionally by another person" ranked first. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the importance of the YLPP with economic loss ponderation index to discriminate death causes among states in a region with apparently homogeneous mortality.