Inequidades en la detección temprana del cáncer de cérvix: una realidad en la población costarricense / Inequalities in the early detection of cervical cancer: a reality in the Costa Rica

Resumen Introducción: el cáncer de cérvix es una de las enfermedades neoplásicas más frecuentes que afecta la salud de las mujeres en el mundo. Objetivo: determinar si existen diferencias entre regiones de Costa Rica en el uso del papanicoláu, con el fin de visualizar las inequidades relacionadas con la detección temprana del cáncer cérvico-uterino. Metodología: este estudio se realizó a partir de la Encuesta Nacional de Hogares de 2014, la cual es representativa en el ámbito nacional. Se utilizó R-Studio para estimar dos modelos de regresión multinomial que explican el tiempo transcurrido desde el último papanicoláu y las razones por las que las mujeres nunca se habían realizado uno. Se recurrió a datos del Registro Nacional de Tumores del Ministerio de Salud para evaluar la razón in-situ/invasor. Resultados: en comparación con las residentes de la región Central, las mujeres de las regiones Chorotega, Pacífico Central y Huetar Caribe son respectivamente un 80 % (OR=1,80; p<0,01), un 52 % (OR=1,52; p=0,031) y un 58 % (OR=1,58; p<0,01) más propensas a haberse realizado la citología vaginal por última vez hace 5 años o más que hace 1 o 2 años. Discusión: de acuerdo con los resultados de la presente investigación, la Región Chorotega presenta las condiciones más desventajosas en cuanto a la práctica de PAP, esto implica un mayor riesgo de desarrollar lesiones y cáncer de cérvix. Conclusiones: en busca de reducir las brechas y mejorar las condiciones de acceso, es necesario coordinar y articular esfuerzos institucionales tanto gubernamentales como no gubernamentales, incluyendo la participación y el protagonismo de las mujeres.

Abstract Introduction. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancer types that affects the health of women worldwide. Objective: To determine if there are differences in the use of Pap smears at the regional level in Costa Rica, in order to visualize the inequalities related to the early detection of cervical-uterine cancer. Methodology. This study was conducted based on information from the 2014 National Household Survey. This survey is representative at the national level. R-Studio was used to estimate two multinomial regression models. The first one was used to explain the time that has elapsed since the last time women had a Pap smear. The second one was used to explain the reasons why women had never had a Pap smear. Data on the incidence of cervical cancer, from the National Tumor Registry of the Ministry of Health, were used in order to estimate the in-situ/invasive ratio. Results: Women who participate less regularly in screening are those residing in the Chorotega, Central Pacific and Huetar Caribbean regions. Compared to women in the Central region, women in these three regions are 80% (OR=1.80; p<0.01), 52% (OR=1.52; p=0.031) and 58% (OR=1.58; p<0.01) respectively more likely to have had a Pap screening 5 or more years ago, as compared to 1 to 2 years ago. Discussion: According to the results of this research, the Chorotega Region presents the most disadvantageous conditions in terms of the use of PAP, which represents a higher risk for women to develop lesions and cervical cancer. Conclusions: In order to reduce gaps and improve conditions of access to prevention, it is necessary to coordinate institutional efforts, both governmental and non-governmental, as well as the participation and protagonism of women.

Women's Participation in Pap Smear Screening in a Developing Country: Evidence for Improving Health Systems.

INTRODUCTION: Every year about 83,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the Americas. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates from cervical cancer in the world. Although incidence has decreased by half in the last 30 years, cervical cancer remains a public health concern. The detection of precursor lesions through Papanicolaou (Pap) smear remains a critical tool in the context of prevention in Costa Rica and many other LAC countries. OBJECTIVE: To determine predictors of participation in Pap smear screening among Costa Rican women, with a special focus on women who have never had a Pap smear or have had a smear 5 or more years ago. METHODS: The data source for this study is the Costa Rican Households National Survey conducted in 2014. This survey is representative at the national, urban/rural zone, and administrative region level. A subsample of women aged 20 to 69 years who responded to the survey's Papanicolaou Module were included in this study (n = 11,709). Statistical analyses were conducted in R-Studio. Statistical significance level was set at 5%. Two multinomial regression models were estimated. The first model aimed to explain the five different categories of cytology use, which were defined according to the last time women had a Pap smear. The second model aimed to explain the five different categories of reasons why women had never had a Pap smear. Both models controlled for age, educational attainment, and marital status. RESULTS: Young women with high educational attainment were more likely to have never had a cytology. Women with a lower educational attainment, married, or in domestic relationship and of older age had greater odds of having had a cytology 5 or more years ago. Each year increment in age was significantly associated with an increase in the odds of never having a Pap smear because of health care access issues or because of cultural reasons as compared to not having an active sexual life. CONCLUSIONS: Findings can inform public policy targeted to higher risk female populations where access to health services can be improved.

The cervical cancer prevention programme in Costa Rica.

Cervical and uterine cancer continues to be an important issue for women around the world, although neoplasia has the greatest demonstrated potential for prevention. Costa Rica has achieved important advances in the reduction of the incidence and mortality of these cancers since the last century. This is the result of a series of policies, programmes, and plans, not only at the level of the health care system, but also in other areas. Increased access for women to care in health centres, fundamentally at the primary level, has been vital, as has ensuring the quality of cytology readings and access to diagnosis and treatment for precursor lesions for in situ and invasive cancers. Despite all of these achievements, there are still challenges to be overcome, which are widespread in many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is important to learn from the experiences of other countries in order to improve women's health not only as a health objective, but also as an ethical imperative to promote the exercise of women's rights to life and health.

Síndrome metabólico y alteraciones ergométricas en pacientes adultos no diabéticos / Metabolic syndrome and ergometric alterations in non-diabetic adult patient

La Cardiopatía isquémica es la primera causa de morbimortalidad en Cuba y el síndrome metabólico emerge como un importante factor de riesgo de ésta. La aterosclerosis coronaria puede cursar asintomáticamente, y la realización de una ergometría ayuda a definir los factores asociados con la progresión de enfermedad oculta a eventos clínicos manifiestos; objetivo: determinar asociación entre síndrome metabólico y alteraciones ergométricas; material y método: se estudiaron 107 pacientes no diabéticos asintomáticos del Policlínico Moncada; 61 con síndrome metabólico y 46 no metabólicos según criterios del ATP III, estos últimos pertenecientes al mismo rango de edad y a la misma composición por sexo que los pacientes con SM seleccionados. Se emplearon estadísticas descriptivas y para el análisis de asociación se aplicaron modelos de correlación y regresión logística. El nivel de significación estadística se estableció con valores de p 0.05 ; resultados: el 63,9 por ciento de los metabólicos tuvieron ergometría positiva comparado con el solo 28,3 por ciento de los pacientes sin síndrome metabólico (p 0.000). Los hallazgos ergométricos más frecuentes para ambos grupos fueron: capacidad funcional baja (92,3 por ciento) y respuesta hipertensiva anormal (61,5 por ciento), sin embargo, la arritmia (19,2 por ciento) e isquemia (17,3 por ciento) fueron respuestas ergométricas exclusivas de los pacientes con síndrome metabólico. Conclusiones: el síndrome metabólico se asoció con alteraciones ergométricas predictoras de riesgo de desarrollar enfermedad coronaria. La edad con un punto de corte en los 58 años optimizó la indicación de ergometría en estos pacientes.

Ischemic Heart disease is the first cause of morbimortality in Cuba and metabolic syndrome emerge as a risk factor of this. The coronary atherosclerosis can course asymptomatic and exercise test helps to define associated factors with the progression from hidden illness to overt clinical events; Objective: determine the association between metabolic syndrome and ergometric alterations; Method and material: 107 asymptomatic non - diabetic patients of Moncada Policlinic were studied; 61 patients with metabolic syndrome and 46 non metabolics according to ATP III. The last group had the same age and sex composition than the first one. Descriptive statistics were used and for the association analysis we applied correlation models and logistical regression. Statistical significance were established with values of p < 0.05; results that 63,9 percent of the metabolic ones had positive exercise test (p = o.ooo). the most frequent findings in both groups were: low functional capacity (92, 3 percent) and abnormal hypertensive responses (61,5 percent) nevertheless the arrhythmia (19,2 percent) and ischemia (17,3 percent) were exclusive ergometric test results in patients with the metabolic syndrome; conclusions: There is an association between metabolic syndrome and ergometric alterations The age with cutting point at 58 years optimizes the exercise test indication in this patients.

Síndrome metabólico y alteraciones ergométricas en pacientes adultos no diabéticos / Metabolic syndrome and ergometric alterations in non-diabetic adult patient

La Cardiopatía isquémica es la primera causa de morbimortalidad en Cuba y el síndrome metabólico emerge como un importante factor de riesgo de ésta. La aterosclerosis coronaria puede cursar asintomáticamente, y la realización de una ergometría ayuda a definir los factores asociados con la progresión de enfermedad oculta a eventos clínicos manifiestos; objetivo: determinar asociación entre síndrome metabólico y alteraciones ergométricas; material y método: se estudiaron 107 pacientes no diabéticos asintomáticos del Policlínico Moncada; 61 con síndrome metabólico y 46 no metabólicos según criterios del ATP III, estos últimos pertenecientes al mismo rango de edad y a la misma composición por sexo que los pacientes con SM seleccionados. Se emplearon estadísticas descriptivas y para el análisis de asociación se aplicaron modelos de correlación y regresión logística. El nivel de significación estadística se estableció con valores de p 0.05 ; resultados: el 63,9 por ciento de los metabólicos tuvieron ergometría positiva comparado con el solo 28,3 por ciento de los pacientes sin síndrome metabólico (p 0.000). Los hallazgos ergométricos más frecuentes para ambos grupos fueron: capacidad funcional baja (92,3 por ciento) y respuesta hipertensiva anormal (61,5 por ciento), sin embargo, la arritmia (19,2 por ciento) e isquemia (17,3 por ciento) fueron respuestas ergométricas exclusivas de los pacientes con síndrome metabólico. Conclusiones: el síndrome metabólico se asoció con alteraciones ergométricas predictoras de riesgo de desarrollar enfermedad coronaria. La edad con un punto de corte en los 58 años optimizó la indicación de ergometría en estos pacientes(AU)

Ischemic Heart disease is the first cause of morbimortality in Cuba and metabolic syndrome emerge as a risk factor of this. The coronary atherosclerosis can course asymptomatic and exercise test helps to define associated factors with the progression from hidden illness to overt clinical events; Objective: determine the association between metabolic syndrome and ergometric alterations; Method and material: 107 asymptomatic non - diabetic patients of Moncada Policlinic were studied; 61 patients with metabolic syndrome and 46 non metabolics according to ATP III. The last group had the same age and sex composition than the first one. Descriptive statistics were used and for the association analysis we applied correlation models and logistical regression. Statistical significance were established with values of p < 0.05; results that 63,9 percent of the metabolic ones had positive exercise test (p = o.ooo). the most frequent findings in both groups were: low functional capacity (92, 3 percent) and abnormal hypertensive responses (61,5 percent) nevertheless the arrhythmia (19,2 percent) and ischemia (17,3 percent) were exclusive ergometric test results in patients with the metabolic syndrome; conclusions: There is an association between metabolic syndrome and ergometric alterations The age with cutting point at 58 years optimizes the exercise test indication in this patients(AU)

Síndrome de sweet idiopático: a propósito de un caso / Idiopathic sweet syndrome: a case study

Se describe el caso de un paciente de 4 años de edad, con antecedente de infección respiratoria, que desarrollo un síndrome de Sweet no asociado a patología subyacente, siendo tratado exitosamente con terapia esteroidea. La dermatosis netrofílica aguda febril (síndrome de Sweet) es un trastorno que se caracteriza por la aparición aguda en la piel de lesiones papulo-nodulares, inflamatorias, con clínica de afectación sistémica incluyendo malestar, fiebre y neutrofília. Se han identificado diversos factores desencadenantes y distintos trastornos asociados a este síndrome, siendo el más importante en su relación con las enfermedades hematológicas. Destacamos nuestro caso como uno de los primeros reportes comprobados de esta patología en niños en nuestro medio.