Risk Factors and Current Health-Seeking Patterns of Migrants in Northeastern Mexico: Healthcare Needs for a Socially Vulnerable Population.

This study identified risk factors for health and access to healthcare services of migrants during their journey across Mexico to the United States. Data were collected in shelters located in Monterrey, the largest city of northeastern Mexico, through a basic clinical examination and a survey completed by 75 migrants; 92% of them were undocumented Central Americans. During their transit, they are at a high risk of contracting, developing, and transmitting diseases. The need of working to survive affects health-seeking behavior and a constant fear of being traced keeps migrants away from public health services, which delays diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Negligent lifestyles, such as smoking, drinking (31.8% of men and 11.1% of women), and drug abuse (13% of men and 11% of women), were found. Regarding tuberculosis (TB), undocumented migrants are usually not screened, even though they come from countries with a high TB burden. Besides, they might be overexposed to TB because of their living conditions in overcrowded places with deficient hygiene, protection, and malnutrition (54.7% of the sample). Possible comorbidities like acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS; 4%) and diabetes (2.7%, but probably under-diagnosed) were referred. Migrants have little TB knowledge, which is independent of their level of education or a previous experience of deportation. About one-third of the migrants were totally unfamiliar with TB-related symptoms, while 36% had correct knowledge of basic TB symptoms. We conclude that a shortage of information on the highly vulnerable migratory population combined with a lack of social support and health education among migrants may play a significant role in the spread of communicable diseases. We recommend that health authorities address this urgent, binational, public health concern in order to prevent outbreaks of emerging infections.

Análisis de las características clínicas, ecocardiográficas, microbiológicas y citopatológicas de derrames pericárdicos en un hospital de tercer nivel de atención / Analysis of clinical, echocardiographic, microbiological and cytopathological characteristics of pericardial effusions in a tertiary hospital care

Objetivo: Conocer la prevalencia, las causas, los hallazgos clínicos, ecocardiográficos, microbiológicos y citopatológicos de pacientes con derrame pericárdico. Métodos: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo, transversal y analítico. Se analizaron expedientes clínicos de pacientes que reciben pericardiocentesis durante un periodo de 5 años. Se empleó estadística descriptiva, con medidas de tendencia central y de dispersión para el análisis. Resultados: La prevalencia de derrame pericárdico fue del 1.1%. Predominó en mujeres (60.4%) y se observó una media de edad de 49 años. La principal causa asociada fue neoplásica, con un 32.1%, seguida de la idiopática y reumatológica con un 27.4 y 10.4%, respectivamente. Se presentó taponamiento cardiaco en un 27.1%, siendo la disnea y la presencia de tonos cardiacos apagados los datos clínicos más comunes. El colapso auricular y ventricular derechos se presentaron en el 84.9 y 75.5%, respectivamente. El estudio citopatológico de líquido pericárdico presentó un mayor rendimiento diagnóstico en el estudio de derrames asociados a neoplasias, mostrando una sensibilidad del 54%, una especificidad del 95%, un valor predictivo positivo del 85% y un valor predictivo negativo del 81%. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de derrame pericárdico en un hospital de tercer nivel fue del 1.1%, predominando la etiología neoplásica. El colapso auricular y ventricular derechos son los hallazgos ecocardiográficos más comunes en la presencia de derrame pericárdico moderado o severo. El estudio citopatológico tiene una alta especificidad ante la sospecha de causa neoplásica.

Objective: To determine the prevalence, etiology, clinical, echocardiographic, microbiological and cytopathological characteristics of patients with pericardial effusion. Methods: Observational, retrospective, cross-sectional analytical study. We reviewed medical records of patients undergoing pericardiocentesis for a 5 years period. We used descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion for analysis. Results: The prevalence of pericardial effusion was 1.1%. Predominant in women (60.4%) and there was a mean age of 49 years. The main causes were neoplastic 32.1%, idiopathic 27.4% and rheumatological 10.4%. A percentage of 27.1 had cardiac tamponade whereas dyspnea and muffled heart sounds were the most common clinical data. The right atrial and ventricular collapse occurred in 84.9 and 75.5%, respectively. The pericardial fluid cytology yielded better in neoplastic causes a sensitivity of 54%, specificity 95%, positive predictive value 85% and negative predictive value 81%. Conclusions: The prevalence of pericardial effusion in a tertiary care hospital was 1.1%, the main cause was neoplastic. In the evaluation of moderate or severe pericardial effusion we found that right atrial and ventricular collapses were the most common echocardiographic findings. The cytopathological study had a high specificity for the diagnosis of neoplasia.

[Analysis of clinical, echocardiographic, microbiological and cytopathological characteristics of pericardial effusions in a tertiary hospital care]. / Análisis de las características clínicas, ecocardiográficas, microbiológicas y citopatológicas de derrames pericárdicos en un hospital de tercer nivel de atención.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, etiology, clinical, echocardiographic, microbiological and cytopathological characteristics of patients with pericardial effusion. METHODS: Observational, retrospective, cross-sectional analytical study. We reviewed medical records of patients undergoing pericardiocentesis for a 5 years period. We used descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion for analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of pericardial effusion was 1.1%. Predominant in women (60.4%) and there was a mean age of 49 years. The main causes were neoplastic 32.1%, idiopathic 27.4% and rheumatological 10.4%. A percentage of 27.1 had cardiac tamponade whereas dyspnea and muffled heart sounds were the most common clinical data. The right atrial and ventricular collapse occurred in 84.9 and 75.5%, respectively. The pericardial fluid cytology yielded better in neoplastic causes a sensitivity of 54%, specificity 95%, positive predictive value 85% and negative predictive value 81%. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of pericardial effusion in a tertiary care hospital was 1.1%, the main cause was neoplastic. In the evaluation of moderate or severe pericardial effusion we found that right atrial and ventricular collapses were the most common echocardiographic findings. The cytopathological study had a high specificity for the diagnosis of neoplasia.