May Measurement Month 2017: analysis of the blood pressure screening results in Argentina-Americas.

Hypertension is a growing concern worldwide, causing over 10 million deaths each year. The prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) in Argentina is 36.3% and 38% of these are unaware of their disease. Half of the hypertensive patients are on pharmacological treatment and only a quarter of them are controlled. The International Society of Hypertension initiated the May Measurement Month (MMM) as a global campaign to raise awareness on high BP that may also serve as a temporary solution to the lack of global screening programs worldwide. A volunteer cross-sectional survey was carried out in May 2017 across 56 health centres. Blood pressure measurement, definition of hypertension and statistical analysis followed the MMM protocol. For this awareness campaign, the Argentine Society of Hypertension coined the slogan: 'Know and control your blood pressure'. A total of 32 346 individuals aged at least 18 years were screened during MMM17. After imputation, 16 263 (50.4%) were hypertensive. Of the 12 156 receiving antihypertensive medication 5400 (44.4%) still had uncontrolled BP. MMM17, called in our country 'Know and control your blood pressure', was the largest BP screening campaign done in Argentina. Almost 6 out of 10 hypertensive patients were either not on treatment or were not controlled to the BP goal. These results suggest that appropriate screening can help to identify a significant number of people with high BP.

Health perception in menopausal women.

AIM: The aim of this study is to find whether the worsening of health perception was related to the menopausal (MNP) state or to its negative consequences on cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) and the presence of depression/anxiety. METHODS: In this study, 2,562 women, 1,357 (53%) MNP and 1,205 (47%) non-MNP, were analyzed. Blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index, waist circumference, and depression/anxiety screening using the Hospital Depression/Anxiety Scale (HADS) were measured. We collected a blood sample in fasting state for glycemia, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Logistic regression models were fitted with a backward method from the potentially confusing variables of the menopause study groups. RESULTS: Age 49.4 (±15.9) years; 10.1% belonged to semi-rural population; 87.5% had children. Regarding the educational level, 22.1% had <5 years of education, 31.3% had between 6 and 7 years, 33.4% had between 8 and 12 years, and 13.2% had >12 years of education. The prevalence of CMRF was significantly higher in MNP women, except for smoking. We did not find any differences in the prevalence of depression or anxiety between MNP and non-MNP women. Health was perceived as worse among MNP women (P<0.05) and patients over 45 years of age than patients younger than 45 years. We found a relationship between the negative health perception with metabolic syndrome, depression, and anxiety, having children, smoking, residing in rural area, and low educational level; nevertheless, it is not correlative with MNP status. CONCLUSION: Perceived health should be viewed as a multifaceted condition related to social circumstances, and various symptoms in women, including menopause symptoms, but not with MNP state itself.

Association Between Hypertension, Menopause, and Cognition in Women.

The aim of this study was to investigate the cognitive state in women and its relation to menopause and hypertension (HTN). The authors included 1034 women aged 47.13±15.71 years. The prevalence of HTN was 47.1%, with 67.8% of patients treated and 48.6% controlled. Cognitive impairment was higher among hypertensive menopausal (mini-Boston Naming Test: 7.4±3.1 vs 8.5±2.4, P<.001; Clock-Drawing Test: 5.2±2 vs 5.6±1.6, P<.01). Using logistic regression adjusted by age and education level, statistical differences were found in the results from the mini-Boston Naming Test between menopausal hypertensive vs menopausal normotensive women (odds ratio, 1.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-2.07; P=.021), and no difference between nonmenopausal hypertensive vs menopausal normotensive women (odds ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-1.57; P=.697). The P interaction between both groups was significant (P=.038). The possibility of alteration in cortical functions in menopausal hypertensive woman showed a relative increment of 48% (P=.021). The association between HTN and menopause increases the possibility of compromising the semantic memory by 50%.

Resultados de un estudio multicéntrico, no controlado, de seguimiento sobre factores de riesgo cardiovascular: A Multicenter Uncontrolled Follow-Up Study / Cardiovascular Risk Factors / Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Multicenter Uncontrolled Follow-Up Study Background

Introducción La enfermedad cardiovascular sigue siendo una de las principales causas de muerte en nuestro país y está bien documentado que cambios adecuados en el estilo de vida son favorables tanto en términos de prevención primaria como secundaria. Sin embargo, en el mundo real, estas medidas no son de fácil instrumentación o mantenimiento. Esto llevó al desarrollo del estudio ENASE, que se concibió como un programa de entrenamiento del médico en el conocimiento de buenos hábitos de alimentación y ejercicio y en cómo ayudar al paciente a que pueda incorporarlos en forma metódica en la vida cotidiana. Objetivo Evaluar si un plan de educación del médico asistencial puede producir cambios en los pacientes. Material y métodos Estudio prospectivo, no controlado, multicéntrico, con seguimiento a 3 años en 17 provincias y en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, que incluyó 508 pacientes. Para el análisis estadístico se emplearon la prueba de la t de Student para muestras apareadas y la prueba de Wilcoxon. Resultados Con la guía del médico de cabecera, esta población en estudio incrementó la actividad física y realizó cambios significativos en la alimentación. A partir del primer año y con progreso adicional hasta los 3 años, se observó una reducción significativa de la presión arterial, los triglicéridos, el colesterol LDL y de la glucemia respecto de los datos basales. El colesterol HDL se incrementó en forma significativa, en tanto que el peso sólo mostró un leve descenso, no significativo. No hubo cambios en la prescripción de fármacos durante los 3 años, con excepción de un incremento en el uso de estatinas, acorde al mayor espectro de indicaciones sugeridas por las normativas nacionales. Conclusiones Este estudio demuestra que un plan de educación y entrenamiento del médico para actuar en el paciente produce beneficios significativos en la salud cardiovascular.

Cardiovascular disease is still one of the leading causes of mortality in our country. It has been well documented that adequate changes in lifestyle are beneficial for primary and secondary prevention. However, it is difficult to apply or maintain these measures in the real world. The ENASE study was developed as a program to train physicians in the knowledge of good dietary habits and exercise to help patients to incorporate healthy behaviors in everyday life. Objective To evaluate if a plan designed to train attending physicians can produce changes in the patients. Material and Methods We conducted a prospective, multicenter and uncontrolled study on 508 patients with a follow-up of three years in 17 provinces and in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired Student's t test and the Wilcoxon test. Results With the help of primary physicians, this population increased physical activity and made significant changes in eating habits. Blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and blood sugar levels decreased significantly and progressively from the first to the third year of follow-up. HDL-cholesterol increased significantly while body weight showed a slight and non-significant reduction. The prescription of medical treatment did not change during the three years, except for a greater use of statins in accordance with the recommendations suggested by national guidelines. Conclusions This study demonstrates that a plan focused on educating and training physicians produces significant benefits on the cardiovascular health of patients.

Resultados de un estudio multicéntrico, no controlado, de seguimiento sobre factores de riesgo cardiovascular: A Multicenter Uncontrolled Follow-Up Study / Cardiovascular Risk Factors / Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Multicenter Uncontrolled Follow-Up Study Background

Introducción La enfermedad cardiovascular sigue siendo una de las principales causas de muerte en nuestro país y está bien documentado que cambios adecuados en el estilo de vida son favorables tanto en términos de prevención primaria como secundaria. Sin embargo, en el mundo real, estas medidas no son de fácil instrumentación o mantenimiento. Esto llevó al desarrollo del estudio ENASE, que se concibió como un programa de entrenamiento del médico en el conocimiento de buenos hábitos de alimentación y ejercicio y en cómo ayudar al paciente a que pueda incorporarlos en forma metódica en la vida cotidiana. Objetivo Evaluar si un plan de educación del médico asistencial puede producir cambios en los pacientes. Material y métodos Estudio prospectivo, no controlado, multicéntrico, con seguimiento a 3 años en 17 provincias y en la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, que incluyó 508 pacientes. Para el análisis estadístico se emplearon la prueba de la t de Student para muestras apareadas y la prueba de Wilcoxon. Resultados Con la guía del médico de cabecera, esta población en estudio incrementó la actividad física y realizó cambios significativos en la alimentación. A partir del primer año y con progreso adicional hasta los 3 años, se observó una reducción significativa de la presión arterial, los triglicéridos, el colesterol LDL y de la glucemia respecto de los datos basales. El colesterol HDL se incrementó en forma significativa, en tanto que el peso sólo mostró un leve descenso, no significativo. No hubo cambios en la prescripción de fármacos durante los 3 años, con excepción de un incremento en el uso de estatinas, acorde al mayor espectro de indicaciones sugeridas por las normativas nacionales. Conclusiones Este estudio demuestra que un plan de educación y entrenamiento del médico para actuar en el paciente produce beneficios significativos en la salud cardiovascular.(AU)

Cardiovascular disease is still one of the leading causes of mortality in our country. It has been well documented that adequate changes in lifestyle are beneficial for primary and secondary prevention. However, it is difficult to apply or maintain these measures in the real world. The ENASE study was developed as a program to train physicians in the knowledge of good dietary habits and exercise to help patients to incorporate healthy behaviors in everyday life. Objective To evaluate if a plan designed to train attending physicians can produce changes in the patients. Material and Methods We conducted a prospective, multicenter and uncontrolled study on 508 patients with a follow-up of three years in 17 provinces and in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Statistical analysis was performed using the paired Students t test and the Wilcoxon test. Results With the help of primary physicians, this population increased physical activity and made significant changes in eating habits. Blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol and blood sugar levels decreased significantly and progressively from the first to the third year of follow-up. HDL-cholesterol increased significantly while body weight showed a slight and non-significant reduction. The prescription of medical treatment did not change during the three years, except for a greater use of statins in accordance with the recommendations suggested by national guidelines. Conclusions This study demonstrates that a plan focused on educating and training physicians produces significant benefits on the cardiovascular health of patients.(AU)

Cognitive evolution in hypertensive patients: a six-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have examined the links between hypertension, vascular damage, and cognitive impairment. The functions most commonly involved seem to be those associated with memory and executive function. AIMS: 1) to report the cognitive evolution in a cohort of hypertensive patients, 2) to identify the affected domains, and 3) to correlate the results obtained with blood pressure measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational 6-year follow-up cohort study including both males and females aged≥65 and ≤80 years, and hypertensive patients under treatment. Patients with a history of any of the following conditions were excluded: stroke, transient ischemic attack, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation, cardiac surgery, dementia, or depression. Four neurocognitive evaluations were performed (at baseline and every 2 years). The tests used evaluated memory and executive function domain. Blood pressure was measured on every cognitive evaluation. RESULTS: Sixty patients were followed for 76.4±2.8 months. The average age at baseline was 72.5±4.2 and 77.9±4.6 at 6 years (65% were women). Two patients were lost to follow up (3.3%) and 8 patients died (13.3%).The density incidence for dementia was 0.6% patients per year (pt/y) (n=3) and for depression was 1.6% pt/y (n=12). No changes were observed in either memory impairment or the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) results (p=ns) during follow-up. A progressive impairment of the executive function was shown regardless of the blood pressure measurements. CONCLUSION: 1) the incidence of dementia doubled to general population, 2) the initial memory impairment did not change during the evaluation period, 3) cognitive impairment worsened in the areas related to executive function (prefrontal cortex) regardless of the adequacy of anti-hypertensive treatment and blood pressure values.

Los manguitos del esfigmomanómetro son reservorio de bacterias potencialmente patógenas / Sphygmomanometer´s pressure cuffs are potentially pathogenical bacterial reservoirs

Este estudio se diseño para evaluar si los manguitos para la medición de la presión arterial pueden ser un reservorio de bacterias con potencial patogenicidad. Material y métodos: En condiciones asépticas, se obtuvo la cobertura de tela de 11 manguitos (seleccionados aleatoriamente) provenientes de consultorios externos o salas de internación de un hospital público. Resultados: El cultivo de los manguitos mostró en todos los casos desarrollo bacteriano, que abarcó 27 aislamientos: 12 Staphylococcus coagulasa negativo (4 de ellos meticilinorresistentes), 6 Staphylococcus aureus (2 meticilinorresistentes), 3 Acinetobacter spp (1 multirresistente), 1 Corynebacterium spp, 1 Streptococcus viridans, 1 Micrococcus spp, y 3 bacilos gramnegativos no fermentadores (diferentes de Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Acinetobacter spp). Conclusiones: Los manguitos de los esfigmomanómetros constituyen un reservorio de bacterias potencialmente patógenas.

Los manguitos del esfigmomanómetro son reservorio de bacterias potencialmente patógenas / Sphygmomanometer s pressure cuffs are potentially pathogenical bacterial reservoirs

Este estudio se diseño para evaluar si los manguitos para la medición de la presión arterial pueden ser un reservorio de bacterias con potencial patogenicidad. Material y métodos: En condiciones asépticas, se obtuvo la cobertura de tela de 11 manguitos (seleccionados aleatoriamente) provenientes de consultorios externos o salas de internación de un hospital público. Resultados: El cultivo de los manguitos mostró en todos los casos desarrollo bacteriano, que abarcó 27 aislamientos: 12 Staphylococcus coagulasa negativo (4 de ellos meticilinorresistentes), 6 Staphylococcus aureus (2 meticilinorresistentes), 3 Acinetobacter spp (1 multirresistente), 1 Corynebacterium spp, 1 Streptococcus viridans, 1 Micrococcus spp, y 3 bacilos gramnegativos no fermentadores (diferentes de Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Acinetobacter spp). Conclusiones: Los manguitos de los esfigmomanómetros constituyen un reservorio de bacterias potencialmente patógenas. (AU)