Public health surveillance and the data, information, knowledge, intelligence and wisdom paradigm.

This article points out deficiencies in present-day definitions of public health surveillance, which include data collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination, but not public health action. Controlling a public health problem of concern requires a public health response that goes beyond information dissemination. It is undesirable to have public health divided into data generation processes (public health surveillance) and data use processes (public health response), managed by two separate groups (surveillance experts and policy-makers). It is time to rethink the need to modernize the definition of public health surveillance, inspired by the authors' enhanced Data, Information, Knowledge, Intelligence and Wisdom model. Our recommendations include expanding the scope of public health surveillance beyond information dissemination to comprise actionable knowledge (intelligence); mandating surveillance experts to assist policy-makers in making evidence-informed decisions; encouraging surveillance experts to become policy-makers; and incorporating public health literacy training - from data to knowledge to wisdom - into the curricula for all public health professionals. Work on modernizing the scope and definition of public health surveillance will be a good starting point.

En este artículo se señalan las deficiencias de las definiciones actuales de la vigilancia de salud pública, que incluyen la recopilación, el análisis, la interpretación y la difusión de los datos, pero no las medidas de salud pública. El control de un problema de salud pública de interés exige una respuesta de salud pública que vaya más allá de la difusión de información. No es deseable que la salud pública esté dividida por un lado en procesos de generación de datos (vigilancia de salud pública) y por otro en procesos de uso de datos (respuesta de salud pública), gestionados por dos grupos diferentes (expertos en vigilancia y responsables de la formulación de políticas). Ha llegado el momento de replantear la necesidad de modernizar la definición de la vigilancia de salud pública tomando como referencia el modelo mejorado de Datos, Información, Conocimiento, Inteligencia y Sabiduría de los autores. Entre las recomendaciones que se proponen se encuentran las de ampliar el alcance de la vigilancia de salud pública más allá de la difusión de información para que incluya también el conocimiento aplicable (inteligencia); instar a los expertos en vigilancia a que presten ayuda a los responsables de la formulación de políticas en la toma de decisiones basadas en la evidencia; alentar a los expertos en vigilancia a que se conviertan en responsables de la formulación de políticas; e incorporar la formación en conocimientos básicos de salud pública (desde los datos hasta los conocimientos y la sabiduría) en los planes de estudio de todos los profesionales de la salud pública. Un buen punto de partida será trabajar en la modernización del alcance y la definición de la vigilancia de salud pública.

Este artigo aponta deficiências nas definições atuais de vigilância em saúde pública, que incluem coleta, análise, interpretação e disseminação de dados, mas não ações de saúde pública. O controle de um problema preocupante de saúde pública exige uma resposta de saúde pública que vá além da disseminação de informações. A saúde pública não deve ser dividida em processos de geração de dados (vigilância em saúde pública) e processos de uso de dados (resposta de saúde pública) gerenciados por dois grupos distintos (especialistas em vigilância e formuladores de políticas). É hora de repensar a necessidade de modernizar a definição de vigilância em saúde pública, inspirada no modelo aprimorado de Dados, Informações, Conhecimento, Inteligência e Sabedoria dos autores. Nossas recomendações incluem: expansão do escopo da vigilância em saúde pública para além da disseminação de informações, de modo a abranger conhecimentos acionáveis (inteligência); obrigatoriedade de que os especialistas em vigilância auxiliem os formuladores de políticas na tomada de decisões baseadas em evidências; incentivo para que os especialistas em vigilância se tornem formuladores de políticas; e incorporação de capacitação em letramento em saúde pública (partindo dos dados para o conhecimento e em seguida para a sabedoria) nos currículos de todos os profissionais de saúde pública. O trabalho de modernizar o escopo e a definição de vigilância em saúde pública será um bom ponto de partida.

The availability between recreational facilities and physical activity of US adolescents.

Determining the locations where adolescents tend to accumulate greater amounts of physical activity may assist policymakers to address the built environment design and promote PA. This study evaluated the association between the availability of recreational facilities and average minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day of US adolescents in 2017 (n = 1,437). Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the 2017 Family Life, Activity, Sun, Health, and Eating study, an internet-based study collecting information on diet and PA of parent and adolescent dyads. Adolescents aged 12-17 from the US were included. Predicted daily minutes of MVPA were calculated. The exposure variables of interest were the availability of school recreational facilities, indoor recreational facilities, playing fields, bike/hiking/walking trails or paths or public parks. Participants were excluded if no information was provided for MVPA or availability of recreational facilities. Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analysis was used to calculate mean daily minutes of MVPA and their corresponding 95 % confidence intervals. In fully adjusted models, we found statistically significant associations between the type of recreational facility and differences in daily minutes of MVPA for school (p-value < 0.001) and public parks p-value < 0.001), but not for the other recreational facilities. The average daily minutes of MVPA differed by 4.4 min (95 % CI 2.6, 6.2) if participants had school recreational facilities, respectively. School recreational facilities are important for engaging adolescents in PA objectives. Features within school recreational facilities should be studied to further investigate contributions to increased PA levels.

Epidemiology of Suicide Mortality in Paraguay from 2005 to 2019: A Descriptive Study.

Suicide is an important public health problem, fundamentally affecting the younger population and responding to multiple biological, psychological, and social causes. The objective of this study was to characterize changes in suicide mortality, suicide methods, and years of potential life lost from 2005 to 2019 in Paraguay. This observational, descriptive study used data from the Vital Statistics Information Subsystem of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare. The average mortality rate from suicide was 4.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, with an increase from 4.2 between 2005 and 2009 to 5.8 from 2014 to 2019. Suicide was more common in men (75%) than in women. In men, the highest mortality rate was observed among those 20-24 years old, whereas in women, the ages most affected were the 15-19-year-old age group. The most-used method for suicide was hanging. The most frequent place of suicide occurrence was at home (73%). The seasonality of suicide occurrence showed a slight increase in the spring-summer months compared with autumn-winter (53% vs. 47%). The rate of potential years of life lost statistically significantly increased from 2005 to 2019. Public health measures need to be implemented to investigate the underlying reasons and implement interventions in the population to decrease suicide mortality in Paraguay.

The Association Between Lean-to-Fat Mass Ratio and Cardiometabolic Abnormalities: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a global health threat, significantly impacting Latin America. Cardiometabolic abnormalities (CAs), encompassing lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose, and blood pressure, contribute to CVD prevalence. Despite high CA incidence, research in Latin America has primarily focused on traditional adiposity indices, overlooking the intricate relationship between fat and lean body components. The study aimed to analyze the association between the lean-to-fat mass ratio (LFMR) and CAs in the adult Peruvian population. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study using secondary data from the PERU MIGRANT study (2007, 989 participants). The main outcome variable was CA defined as having ≥ 2 out of six metabolic components (high triglycerides, impaired fasting glucose, high blood pressure, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, insulin resistance, and high C-reactive protein). The main exposure variable LFMR was divided into tertiles. A generalized linear model was used with log link and robust variance Poisson family to calculate crude (cPR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Results: A total of 959 adults aged 30 years or older were included in the analysis (53% females). The prevalence of CA was 50.9%. Females aged 30 - 44 years old showed statistically significant inverse associations for the middle (aPR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.42 - 0.78) and highest (aPR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.14 - 0.35) LFMR categories. Similar trends were seen for females aged 45 - 59 years and ≥ 60 years, and males aged 30 - 44 years, while for males aged 45 - 59 years, only the middle LFMR category was associated. No statistically significant association between LFMR and CA was found among old males. Conclusions: LFMR was negatively associated with CA, among the Peruvian adult population. These findings underscore the relevance of LFMR in understanding cardiometabolic health disparities.

The association between race and age of diagnosis of retinoblastoma in United States children.

PURPOSE: To explore the associations between race and retinoblastoma diagnosis in United States children. METHODS: In this analytical nonconcurrent cohort study, we used 1988-2018 data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) database. Children ages 0-17 with retinoblastoma were included (n = 758); those with missing data were excluded (n = 11; final cohort: n = 747). The exposure variable was race (White, Black, Asian/Pacific Islanders, American Indian/Alaska Native), and the outcome variable was diagnosis of retinoblastoma before versus after 2 years of age. Covariates included sex, rural-urban continuum, ethnicity, decade of diagnosis, and laterality of disease. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: No statistically significant association was found between racial/ethnic groups (OR = 0.61-0.99; P = 0.92) and age at diagnosis (OR = 0.86; P = 0.66). Females were more likely to be diagnosed earlier than males (OR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44-0.88; P = 0.042). No association was found between urban versus rural subjects (OR = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.60-1.75) or between decades (OR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.54-1.22 and OR 0.96; 95% CI, 0.62-1.47). CONCLUSIONS: We found no statistically significant difference between racial/ethnic groups for diagnosis of children with retinoblastoma after 2 years of age. Future studies could explore why females are more likely than males to be diagnosed before 2 years of age.

Childhood obesity and comorbidities-related perspective and experience of parents from Black and Asian minority ethnicities in England: a qualitative study.

Background: Preventing childhood obesity and associated comorbidities is often hampered by disproportionate disparity in healthcare provision in minority ethnic populations. This study contextualized factors influencing childhood obesity and related comorbidity from the perspectives and experiences of parents of ethnic minority populations. Methods: Following ethical approval, families (n = 180) from ethnic minority populations in the Northeast of England were contacted through flyers, community social groups and online forum. Of the 180 families contacted, 22 expressed interests, of whom 12 parents were eligible to participate in the study, and one family dropped out due to time constraints. Therefore 11 parents from ethnic minority communities living with at least one child with obesity were interviewed. Each family was separately visited at home and took part in a semi-structured interview based on the study's qualitative, descriptive phenomenological design. Nine of the families had one child who was diagnosed with an obesity-related comorbidity (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, musculoskeletal problems or respiratory disorder). Semi-structured interviews were standardized around parents' perspective and experience on how their children were impacted by obesity and comorbidities, healthcare preventative interventions including lifestyle physical activity and nutrition, and views on tackling obesity impact on their lives. All interviews were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Results: Parents' perspectives revealed 11 themes centered around experience of living with a child with obesity, risks, and impact of obesity related Non-Communicable Diseases; and access to support, and barriers unique to minority ethnic groups. Parents revealed social disadvantages, fear of victimization by social services, perceptions on their cultural and religious traditions, and racial stigmatization related to their child's weight. Parents reported closer bonding with their children to protect them from the untoward consequences of overweight, and little awareness of healthcare obesity prevention programs. Work pressure, lack of time, absence of guidance from professionals were seen as barriers to healthy lifestyle, while support from friends and closer family bond in adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors were facilitators. However, there was little awareness or access to current healthcare obesity preventive offerings. Conclusion: Minority ethnic communities' perspective on childhood obesity prevention does not match the healthcare system preventative offerings. Community and family-oriented obesity preventative approaches, especially lifestyle interventions are needed beyond those administered by the primary healthcare system.

Parenting Practices Are Associated With Out-of-School Physical Activity in US Adolescents in 2014.

INTRODUCTION: Lack of physical activity (PA) is associated with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Parenting practices influence PA in young children. However, there is little evidence available for adolescents. We examined whether parenting practices were associated with out-of-school PA (OSPA) in US adolescents. METHODS: This cross-sectional 2019 study analyzed data from the 2014 FLASHE study, a web-based, quota-sampled survey of parent-adolescent dyads. Inclusion required survey completion and parents to live with their teen (ages 12-17 y old). Physically limited adolescents were excluded. Dyads were stratified by teen age. Exposures included parental modeling, monitoring, facilitation, restriction, guided choice, and pressure. The outcomes of interest were OSPA Youth Activity Profile scores. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using adjusted logistic regressions. RESULTS: A total of 1109 dyads were included. Guided choice increased odds of OSPA for 15- to 17-year-olds (OR = 2.12; 95% CI, 1.17-3.84). Facilitation increased odds of OSPA for 12- to 14-year-olds (OR = 2.21; 95% CI, 1.13-4.33). Monitoring decreased odds of OSPA for 15- to 17-year-olds (OR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.20-0.57) and 12- to 14-year-olds (OR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.27-0.74). Friend support increased odds of OSPA in 15- to 17-year-olds (OR = 4.03; 95% CI, 2.29-7.08) and 12- to 14-year-olds (OR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.69-5.51). CONCLUSION: Future interventions should prioritize (1) shared decision making for older teens, (2) access to PA opportunities for younger adolescents, and (3) promoting peer PA and friend support for everyone.

The association between sociodemographic characteristics, clinical indicators and body mass index in a population at risk of type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study in two Colombian cities.

AIMS: To assess the association between sociodemographic and clinical factors with body mass index (BMI) in a population at risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Bogotá and Barranquilla, Colombia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the PREDICOL Study. Participants with a FINDRISC ≥ 12 who underwent an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) were included in the study (n=1166). The final analytical sample size was 1101 participants. Those with missing data were excluded from the analysis (n=65). The main outcome was body mass index (BMI), which was categorized as normal, overweight, and obese. We utilized unadjusted and adjusted ordinal logistic regression analysis to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 41 % (n=449) and 47 % (n=517), respectively. Participants with a 2-hour glucose ≥139 mg/dl had 1.71 times higher odds of being overweight or obese (regarding normal weight) than participants with normal 2-hour glucose values. In addition, being a woman, waist circumference altered, and blood pressure >120/80 mmHg were statistically significantly associated with a higher BMI. CONCLUSION: Strategies to control glycemia, blood pressure, and central adiposity are needed in people at risk of T2D. Future studies should be considered with a territorial and gender focus, considering behavioral, and sociocultural patterns.

Public health surveillance and the data, information, knowledge, intelligence and wisdom paradigm / Vigilancia de salud pública y el paradigma de datos, información, conocimiento, inteligencia y sabiduría / Vigilância em saúde pública e o paradigma de dados, informações, conhecimento, inteligência e sabedoria

ABSTRACT This article points out deficiencies in present-day definitions of public health surveillance, which include data collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination, but not public health action. Controlling a public health problem of concern requires a public health response that goes beyond information dissemination. It is undesirable to have public health divided into data generation processes (public health surveillance) and data use processes (public health response), managed by two separate groups (surveillance experts and policy-makers). It is time to rethink the need to modernize the definition of public health surveillance, inspired by the authors' enhanced Data, Information, Knowledge, Intelligence and Wisdom model. Our recommendations include expanding the scope of public health surveillance beyond information dissemination to comprise actionable knowledge (intelligence); mandating surveillance experts to assist policy-makers in making evidence-informed decisions; encouraging surveillance experts to become policy-makers; and incorporating public health literacy training - from data to knowledge to wisdom - into the curricula for all public health professionals. Work on modernizing the scope and definition of public health surveillance will be a good starting point.

RESUMEN En este artículo se señalan las deficiencias de las definiciones actuales de la vigilancia de salud pública, que incluyen la recopilación, el análisis, la interpretación y la difusión de los datos, pero no las medidas de salud pública. El control de un problema de salud pública de interés exige una respuesta de salud pública que vaya más allá de la difusión de información. No es deseable que la salud pública esté dividida por un lado en procesos de generación de datos (vigilancia de salud pública) y por otro en procesos de uso de datos (respuesta de salud pública), gestionados por dos grupos diferentes (expertos en vigilancia y responsables de la formulación de políticas). Ha llegado el momento de replantear la necesidad de modernizar la definición de la vigilancia de salud pública tomando como referencia el modelo mejorado de Datos, Información, Conocimiento, Inteligencia y Sabiduría de los autores. Entre las recomendaciones que se proponen se encuentran las de ampliar el alcance de la vigilancia de salud pública más allá de la difusión de información para que incluya también el conocimiento aplicable (inteligencia); instar a los expertos en vigilancia a que presten ayuda a los responsables de la formulación de políticas en la toma de decisiones basadas en la evidencia; alentar a los expertos en vigilancia a que se conviertan en responsables de la formulación de políticas; e incorporar la formación en conocimientos básicos de salud pública (desde los datos hasta los conocimientos y la sabiduría) en los planes de estudio de todos los profesionales de la salud pública. Un buen punto de partida será trabajar en la modernización del alcance y la definición de la vigilancia de salud pública.

RESUMO Este artigo aponta deficiências nas definições atuais de vigilância em saúde pública, que incluem coleta, análise, interpretação e disseminação de dados, mas não ações de saúde pública. O controle de um problema preocupante de saúde pública exige uma resposta de saúde pública que vá além da disseminação de informações. A saúde pública não deve ser dividida em processos de geração de dados (vigilância em saúde pública) e processos de uso de dados (resposta de saúde pública) gerenciados por dois grupos distintos (especialistas em vigilância e formuladores de políticas). É hora de repensar a necessidade de modernizar a definição de vigilância em saúde pública, inspirada no modelo aprimorado de Dados, Informações, Conhecimento, Inteligência e Sabedoria dos autores. Nossas recomendações incluem: expansão do escopo da vigilância em saúde pública para além da disseminação de informações, de modo a abranger conhecimentos acionáveis (inteligência); obrigatoriedade de que os especialistas em vigilância auxiliem os formuladores de políticas na tomada de decisões baseadas em evidências; incentivo para que os especialistas em vigilância se tornem formuladores de políticas; e incorporação de capacitação em letramento em saúde pública (partindo dos dados para o conhecimento e em seguida para a sabedoria) nos currículos de todos os profissionais de saúde pública. O trabalho de modernizar o escopo e a definição de vigilância em saúde pública será um bom ponto de partida.

Determinación de sodio urinario como marcador bioquímico para estimar la ingesta de sal en trabajadores del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social, Paraguay

RESUMEN En América Latina, 13% de todas las muertes y 5,1% de los años de vida ajustados por discapacidad se deben a la hipertensión. El exceso de sodio en la dieta puede incrementar aproximadamente un 30% el riesgo de hipertensión. El objetivo fue determinar la concentración de sodio en orina de 24 de horas para estimar la ingesta de sal en trabajadores del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social (MSPBS). Estudio transversal, en trabajadores de 25 a 64 años (n = 397) del MSPBS en Asunción-Paraguay en el 2014. La información sociodemográfica y económica, así como los factores de riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares, se evaluaron mediante un cuestionario validado y desarrollado por la OMS. Los niveles de sodio y potasio en orina de 24 horas se midieron usando un protocolo estandarizado. La mediana de la ingesta diaria de sal fue de 13,7 g. La mediana de la excreción de sodio en orina de 24 horas fue de 239 mEq, superando el valor de excreción de sodio recomendado en un 20%. Los hombres tuvieron una excreción de sodio en orina de 24 horas más alta que las mujeres tanto en el grupo de 25 a 44 años (251 mEq / 24 horas frente a 218 mEq/ 24 horas) como en el grupo de 45 a 64 años (266 mEq / 24 horas frente a 233 mEq / 24 horas) de los participantes del estudio. En conclusión, la ingesta de sal fue notablemente superior a la recomendada por la OMS (<5g/d).

ABSTRACT In Latin America, 13% of all deaths and 5.1% of disability-adjusted life years are due to hypertension. An excess of sodium in the diet may increase the risk of hypertension by 30%. The objective was to determine the 24-hour urine sodium concentration to estimate salt intake in employees of the Paraguayan Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPBS). Cross-sectional study in 25-64 years-old employees (n=397) of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare in Asuncion-Paraguay in 2014. Socio-demographic and -economic information as well as risk factors of cardiovascular diseases were assessed using a questionnaire validated and developed by the WHO. Sodium and potassium levels in the 24-hour urine were measured using a standardized protocol. The median salt intake per day was 13.7 g. The median of 24-hour urine sodium excretion was 239 mEq, exceeding the recommended sodium excretion value by 20%. Men had a higher 24-hour urine sodium excretion than women in both the 25-44 years-old group (251 mEq/24 hours vs. 218 mEq/24 hours) and the 45-64 years-old segment of the study participants (266 mEq/24 hours vs. 233 mEq/24 hours). In conclusion, salt intake was remarkably higher than recommended by WHO (<5g/d).

Patrones de prescripción de medicamentos para la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en cinco departamentos de Colombia, en 2014 / Patterns of Medicine Prescriptions for Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 in five Departments of Colombia in 2014 / Padrões de prescrição de medicamento para a Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 em cinco departamentos da Colômbia em 2014

Resumen Objetivos: Describir los patrones de prescripción de los medicamentos para la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) y comorbilidades de pacientes atendidos en cinco instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud de Colombia. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo transversal, en el cual se revisaron las historias clínicas de 5098 pacientes con DM2, atendidos en centros de atención ambulatoria ubicados en cinco ciudades colombianas entre el 1.º de enero y el 31 de diciembre de 2014. Cada uno de los pacientes con DM2 tenía al menos dos consultas ambulatorias registradas durante el periodo de estudio. La recolección de la información se hizo mediante una encuesta electrónica. Para la categorización de los medicamentos se usaron las guías nacionales e internacionales para el tratamiento de la diabetes. El análisis de los datos fue realizado utilizando el programa IBM SPSS® Statistics versión 21. Resultados: El medicamento de más frecuente prescripción fueron las biguanidas (59 %) y las sulfonilureas (28 %). La prescripción de inhibidores de la dipeptidil peptidasa-4 fue 7 % y la frecuencia de prescripción de agonista del receptor del péptido similar al glucagón tipo 1 (AR GLP-1) fue de 2 %. El medicamento con mayor frecuencia de prescripción como monoterapia fueron las biguanidas (22 %). La combinación más frecuente fue biguanida y las sulfonilureas (21 %), seguida de biguanida e insulina (10 %), y otras combinaciones. El 27 % pacientes con DM2 no recibió ningún tratamiento farmacológico para la diabetes. Con respecto a los medicamentos para comorbilidades, el 52 % de los pacientes utiliza al menos un tipo de antihipertensivo, el 39 % usa al menos un tipo de hipolipemiante y el 35 % utiliza ácido acetilsalicílico. Conclusiones: Las biguanidas fueron el medicamento con mayor frecuencia de prescripción, seguido de las sulfonilureas. Uno de cada cuatro pacientes no tenía registro de prescripción de medicamentos. El uso de ácido acetilsalicílico como prevención del riesgo cardiovascular fue menor al esperado.

Abstract Objetive: to describe the patterns of medicine prescriptions for diabetes mellitus type 2 (dm2) and the comorbidity of patients in five health care institutions in Colombia. Methodology: descriptive cross-sectional study carried out checking the medical records of 5098 patients with dm2 treated at the outpatient service centers in five Colombian cities between January 1 and December 31 of 2014. Each patient with dm2 had a record of at least two outpatient appointments registered during the time of this study. The information was collected through electronic surveys. National and international guides on diabetes treatment were used to categorize the medications. The spss® 21 software was used to analyze the data. Results: the most frequently prescribed medications were biguanides (59%) and sulfonylureas (28%). The prescription of inhibitors for Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 was 7% and the frequency of prescription of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (ar glp-1) was 2%. The medication with the highest frequency of prescription as monotherapy were biguanides (22%). The most frequent combination was biguanide and sulfonylureas (21%). The second most frequent combination was biguanide with insulin (10%), and other combinations. 27% of patients with dm2 did not receive any pharmacological treatment for diabetes. Regarding the medicines for comorbidity, 52% of patients use at least one type of antihypertensive drug, 39% use at least one type of hypolipidemic drug and 35% uses acetylsalicylic acid. Conclusions: biguanides were the most frequently prescribed medication, sulfonylureas came after. One in four patients did not have a record of medicine prescription. The prescription of acetylsalicylic acid to prevent cardiovascular risk was lower than expected.

Resumo Objetivo: descrever os padrões de prescrição dos medicamen tos para a Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 (dm2) e de comorbilidades de pacientes atendidos em cinco instituições de serviço de saú de da Colômbia. Metodologia: estudo descritivo transversal, no qual revisaram-se as histórias clínicas de 5098 pacientes com dm2, atendidos em centros de atendimento ambulatorial localizados em cinco cidades colombianas, entre 1 de janeiro e 31 de dezembro de 2014. Cada paciente com dm2 tinha pelo menos duas consultas ambulatoriais registradas durante o pe ríodo do estudo. A informação coletou-se através de inquérito eletrônico. Para a categorização dos medicamentos, utiliza ram-se os guias nacionais e internacionais para o tratamento da diabete. A análise dos dados realizou-se utilizando o progra ma spss® 21. Resultados: os medicamentos de prescrição mais frequente foram biguanidas (59%) e as sulfoniluréias (28%). A prescrição de inibidores da dipeptidil peptidase IV foi 7% e a frequência de prescrição de agonista do receptor do péptido si milar ao glucagão tipo 1 (ar glp-1) foi de 2%. O medicamento com mais frequência de prescrição como monoterapia foi as biguanidas (22%). A combinação mais frequente foi biguanida e sulfoniluréias (21%). A segunda combinação mais frequente foi biguanida com insulina (10%), e outras combinações. 27% dos pacientes com dm2 não recebeu tratamento farmacológi co nenhum para a diabetes. Respeito dos medicamentos para comorbilidades, 52% dos pacientes utiliza pelo menos um tipo de anti-hipertensivo, 39% utiliza pelo menos um tipo de hi polipemiante e 35% utiliza ácido acetilsalicílico. Conclusões: as biguanidas foram o medicamento com mais frequência de prescrição, e depois as sulfoniluréias. Um de quatro pacientes não rinha registro de prescrição de medicamentos. O uso de ácido acetilsalicílico como prevenção do risco cardiovascular foi menor do que se esperava.

Prácticas y consejería de actividad física en médicos generalistas de Argentina / Argentinean general practitioners' practice and counseling regarding physical activity

Objetivo Acercamiento a la práctica de la actividad física del médico generalista, así como a la consejería en actividad física que realizan a sus pacientes. Métodos Estudio exploratorio transversal con 115 médicos generalistas (82 mujeres y 33 hombres), por medio de una encuesta en línea, auto-diligenciada, en el Congreso Anual de Médicos Generalistas del 2011. Resultados Un 76 % de las mujeres siempre ofrece la consejería en actividad física, por su parte en hombres manifestaron casi siempre con un 33 % siendo la mayor frecuencia. En la presencia de enfermedades no-transmisibles las mujeres aconsejan siempre en un 73 % y los hombres en un 27 %. En cuanto a la evaluación se muestra mayor frecuencia a realizar preguntas generales sobre la cantidad de actividad física mujeres 97 % (n=62) y hombres 93 % (n=25). La realización regular de actividad física los datos fueron mujeres un 35 % (n=23) y en hombres un 46 % (n=12). Conclusiones No se encuentran relaciones entre el nivel de actividad física con la presencia de la consejería, así como con los conocimientos. Se encontró que los médicos generalistas identifican la actividad física como importante para sus pacientes, aunque tienen estilo de vida poco activo. En cuanto a la consejería se sugiere la necesidad de capacitar los médicos generalistas en la prescripción de la actividad física.(AU)

Objective Investigating general practitioners' (GP) physical activity and to what extent their own physical activity affects counselling their patients in clinical practice. Methodology This was a cross-sectional, exploratory study; sample size was 115 (82 women and 33 men). The survey involved using a self-administered questionnaire at the GPs' annual congress in 2011, using a specially-designed, on-line questionnaire. Results This questionnaire revealed that about 76% of the female GPs did give advice concerning physical activity to their patients while the respective prevalence in men was 33 %. Regarding advice concerning physical activity to patients having non-communicable diseases, 73 % of women GPs always seemed to recommend physical activity for them while the corresponding prevalence in men was 27 %. Around 97 % (n=62) of the female GPs and 93 % (n=25) of male GPs asked their patients about their physical activity pattern; however, this study revealed that only 35 % (n=23) of male and 46 % (n=12) of female GPS were actually familiar with the latest recommendations concerning physical activity. Conclusion No relationship was found between GPs' physical activity level and their counselling in practice concerning physical activity or their current knowledge of the topic. The study showed that GPs stated that physical activity was important for their patients, although few of them engaged in types of physical activity during their leisure-time. There would thus seem to be an urgent need for training GPs in prescribing physical activity at primary healthcare level to increase their patients' involvement in some form of physical activity.(AU)