Caracterización de ancianos frágiles con diagnóstico de diabetes tipo 2 y sus cuidadores / Characterization of physically weak old people suffering from type-2 diabetes mellitus and their caregivers

Fundamento: El envejecimiento de la población constituye la transformación demográfica más importante de la sociedad actual, y la diabetes mellitus se ha convertido en un problema de la salud pública en el adulto mayor. Objetivo: Caracterizar a los ancianos frágiles con diagnóstico de diabetes tipo 2 y sus cuidadores. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en el Policlínico Universitario Hermanos Cruz en la provincia de Pinar del Río que incluyó como universo todos los adultos mayores (1369) del Consejo Popular Hermanos Cruz, quedó la muestra conformada por 52 ancianos con diagnóstico de diabetes tipo 2, clasificados previamente como frágiles según la escala de evaluación funcional, y a 52 cuidadores. En los ancianos se analizaron las variables: edad, sexo, comorbilidades, clasificación según estado funcional global; en los cuidadores se analizaron: edad, sexo, categoría ocupacional y nivel de información. Resultados: En los ancianos predominó el grupo entre 70-79 años (48,2 %), prevalecieron el déficit visual (88,5 %), la hipertensión arterial (86,5 %) como comorbilidades más frecuentes; más de la mitad de los pacientes estaba en la categoría dos de la escala geriátrica de evaluación funcional (55,8 %). En los cuidadores el mayor porcentaje está en edades entre 40-59 años (40,4 %), con predominio del sexo femenino (34,6 %), la mayor parte son amas de casa (40,4%) y el nivel de información sobre cuidados del anciano no es adecuado (61,5 %). Conclusiones: A pesar de los avances en los Programas de Atención al Adulto Mayor y diabetes mellitus, se evidencian necesidades de adiestramiento en familiares cuidadores para brindar una atención adecuada y con mayor calidad a sus ancianos.

Background: The aging population constitutes the most important demographic transformation in the current society, and the diabetes mellitus has become a problem of the public health in the biggest adult. Objective: To characterize the fragile old people with diagnostic of diabetes type 2 and their caretakers. Methodology: Descriptive traverse study was carried out in the clinic University Hermanos Cruz in the province of Pinar del Rio that included as universe all the bigger adults (1369) of the Popular Council Hermanos Cruz, where the sample was formed by 52 old men with diagnostic of diabetes type 2, classified previously as fragile according to the scale of functional evaluation, and to 52 caretakers. In the old men the variables were analyzed: age, sex, coexistence of two or more diseases in the same individual usually related , and classification according to global functional state; in the caretakers were analyzed: age, sex, occupational category and level of information. Results: In old people prevailed the group among 70-79 years (48,2%), prevailed the visual deficit (88,5 %), the arterial hypertension (86,5 %) as the more frequent comorbidity ; more than half of the patients were in the category number two of the geriatric scale of functional evaluation (55,8%). In the caretakers the biggest percentage is in ages among 40-59 years (40,4 %), with prevalence of the feminine sex (34,6 %), most are housewives (40,4 %) and the level of information about the old man's cares is not adapted (61,5 %). Conclusions: In spite of the advances in the Programs of Attention to the biggest Adult and diabetes mellitus, training necessities are evidenced in family caretakers to offer an appropriate attention and with more quality to their old men.

Cortical, brainstem and autonomic nervous system dysfunction in infants with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of central and autonomic dysfunction by means of electroencephalographic (EEG) and cardio-pneumographic recording (CPGR) in infants with Post-Hemorrhagic Hydrocephalus (PHH). METHODS: Nineteen infants with PHH were studied, born from October 1998 to January 2000. Clinical diagnosis was confirmed by cephalic perimeter measurement and ultrasonographic study. Eight channel bipolar EEG and CPGR were performed after sleep deprivation, EEG features studied were: Temporal organization, symmetry, synchrony, frequency of normal and abnormal patterns. CPGR features studied were: Frequency of apnea and temporal organization by means of beat to beat variability. RESULTS: Averages of birth's age and weight, Apgar scores at one and five minutes, and cephalic perimeter showed lower values in PHH infants. PHH infants showed abnormalities in EEG and CPGR such as: Higher discontinuous activity (63), asymmetry (73), asynchrony (89), abnormal EEG patterns (89), apnea (26) and absence of heart rate variability (63). CONCLUSIONS: EEG and CPGR recordings are a useful tools in the examination of infants with PHH. These findings suggest cortical-subcortical, and brainstem dysfunction with severe encephalopathy and autonomic nervous dysfunction related to ventricular dilatation in infants with PHH.