Urbanization, mainly rurality, but not altitude is associated with dyslipidemia profiles.

BACKGROUND: Geographical and environmental features such as urbanization and altitude may influence individual's lipid profiles because of the diversity of human-environment interactions including lifestyles. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the association between altitude and urbanization and lipid profile among Peruvian adults aged ≥35 years. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the CRONICAS Cohort Study. The outcomes of interest were 6 dyslipidemia traits: hypertriglyceridemia, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), nonisolated low HDL-c, isolated low HDL-c, and high non-HDL-c. The exposures of interest were urbanization level (highly urban, urban, semi-urban, and rural) and altitude (high altitude vs sea level). Prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated using Poisson regression models with robust variance adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Data from 3037 individuals, 48.5% males, mean age of 55.6 (standard deviation ±12.7) years, were analyzed. The most common dyslipidemia pattern was high non-HDL-c with a prevalence of 88.0% (95% CI: 84.9%-90.7%) in the rural area and 96.0% (95% CI: 94.5%-97.1%) in the semi-urban area. Relative to the highly urban area, living in rural areas was associated with a lower prevalence of hypertriglyceridemia (PR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.56-0.99) and high non-HDL-c (PR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93-0.99), whereas living in semi-urban areas was associated with higher prevalence high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (PR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.11-1.67). Compared with sea level areas, high-altitude areas had lower prevalence of high non-HDL-c (PR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95-0.99). CONCLUSION: Urbanization but not altitude was associated to several dyslipidemia traits, with the exception of high non-HDL-c in high altitude settings

Strategies to promote health literacy from primary care: a perspective that considers the realities of low and middle-income countries

La alfabetización en salud se asocia con mejores resultados de salud. Los profesionales de salud de atención primaria generalmente brindan la mayor parte de la atención a los pacientes y también suelen ser el primer punto de contacto para los pacientes dentro de un sistema de salud. En este artículo se discuten cuatro estrategias para promover la alfabetización en salud en el entorno de atención primaria: 1) Mejorar las habilidades de comunicación del clínico, 2) Usar herramientas de e-Salud, 3) Promover el autocuidado del paciente, y 4) Desarrollar sistemas de apoyo y entornos de cuidado. Estas estrategias se discuten en el contexto de las realidades de los países de ingresos medios y bajos, como el caso de Perú.Health literacy is associated with better health outcomes. Primary care professionals generally provide most of the care to patients and are also often the first point of contact for patients within a health system. This article discusses four strategies to promote health literacy in the primary care setting: 1) Improve the clinician’s communication skills, 2) Use e-Health tools, 3) Promote patient self-care, and 4) Develop support systems and care environments. These strategies are discussed in the context of the realities of low and middle income countries, as in the case of Peru

Cognitive impairment and hypertension in older adults living in extreme poverty: a cross-sectional study in Peru.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that hypertension is a risk factor for cognitive impairment, but whether this association is also present in extremely poor populations in Low Middle Income Countries settings remains to be studied. Understanding other drivers of cognitive impairment in this unique population also merits attention. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis using data from the "Encuesta de Salud y Bienestar del Adulto Mayor", a regional survey conducted in an extremely poor population of people older than 65 years old from 12 Peruvian cities in 2012. The outcome variable was cognitive impairment, determined by a score of ≤7 in the modified Mini-Mental State Examination. The exposure was self-reported hypertension status. Variables such as age, gender, controlled hypertension, education level, occupation, depression and area of living (rural/urban) were included in the adjusted analysis. We used Poisson regression with robust variance to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: Data from 3842 participants was analyzed, 51.8% were older than 70 years, and 45.6% were females. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 1.7% (95% CI 1.3%-2.1%). There was no significant difference on the prevalence of cognitive impairment between the group of individuals with hypertension in comparison with those without hypertension (PR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.33-1.23). CONCLUSIONS: The association described between hypertension and cognitive impairment was not found in a sample of extremely poor Peruvian older adults

Regression from prediabetes to normal glucose levels is more frequent than progression towards diabetes: The CRONICAS Cohort Study.

AIMS: This study aimed to (1) estimate the prevalence of prediabetes according to different definitions, (2) evaluate regression to normal glucose levels and progression towards T2DM, and (3) determine factors associated with regression and progression across four diverse geographical settings in a Latin American country. METHODS: The CRONICAS Cohort Study was conducted in four different areas in Peru. Enrollment started in September 2010 and follow-up was conducted in 2013. Prediabetes, T2DM and normal glucose levels were determined according to definitions from the World Health Organization (WHO), American Diabetes Association (ADA), and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The main outcomes were regression to normal glucose levels and incidence of T2DM. Prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Crude and adjusted models using Poisson regression were performed and relative risk ratios (RRR) and 95% CI were calculated. RESULTS: At baseline, the prevalence of prediabetes varied markedly by definition used: 6.5%(95% CI 5.6-7.6%), 53.6% (95% CI 51.6-55.6%), and 24.6% (95% CI 22.8-26.4%) according to WHO, ADA and NICE criteria, respectively. After 2.2  years of follow-up, in those with prediabetes, the cumulative incidence of regression to euglycemia ranged between 31.4% and 68.9%, whereas the incidence of T2DM varied from 5.5% to 28.8%. Factors associated with regression to normal glucose levels and progression to diabetes were age, body mass index, and insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Regression from pre-diabetes back to euglycemia was much more common than progression to diabetes

Actividad física global de pacientes con factores de riesgo cardiovascular aplicando el “International Physical Activity Questionaire (IPAQ).

Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de actividad física global de los pacientes con factores de riesgo cardiovascular, mediante el cuestionario IPAQ. Material y métodos: Estudio tipo serie de casos. La población estuvo compuesta por pacientes con hipertensión arterial, obesidad y diabetes mellitus entre 35 y 69 años de edad. Se utilizó el IPAQ para medir el nivel de actividad física. Resultados: De 180 entrevistados, 122 (67,8%) fueron del sexo femenino. La edad media fue 56,9 ± 8,8 años, el IMC promedio fue 29,0 ± 5,2 (18,6 - 48,5). Ciento nueve (60,5%) pacientes tenían un solo factor de riesgo cardiovascular modificable por medio de actividad física, 59 (32,8%) dos factores y 12 (6,7%) tres factores. El tiempo promedio de diagnóstico en meses fue 34,6 (hipertensos) y 51,1 (diabéticos). El nivel de actividad física fue trabajo en 30 (16,7%) pacientes, en 80 (44,4%) moderado y en 70 (38,9%) alto. No hubo diferencias en el nivel de actividad física según la edad y sexo. Se encontró diferencia significativa en los pacientes con hipertensión quienes tenían actividad moderada (p=0,02) en los hipertensos obesos quienes tenían actividad físca alta (p=0,07). Conclusión: El nivel de actividad física global de los pacientes con factores de riesgo cardiovascular seleccionados fue predominantemente moderado y alto.(Rev Med Hered 2011;22:115-120)

Actividad física global de pacientes con factores de riesgo cardiovascular aplicando el "International Physical Activity Questionaire (IPAQ).

Objetivo: Determinar el nivel de actividad física global de los pacientes con factores de riesgo cardiovascular, mediante el cuestionario IPAQ. Material y métodos: Estudio tipo serie de casos. La población estuvo compuesta por pacientes con hipertensión arterial, obesidad y diabetes mellitus entre 35 y 69 años de edad. Se utilizó el IPAQ para medir el nivel de actividad física. Resultados: De 180 entrevistados, 122 (67,8%) fueron del sexo femenino. La edad media fue 56,9 ± 8,8 años, el IMC promedio fue 29,0 ± 5,2 (18,6 - 48,5). Ciento nueve (60,5%) pacientes tenían un solo factor de riesgo cardiovascular modificable por medio de actividad física, 59 (32,8%) dos factores y 12 (6,7%) tres factores. El tiempo promedio de diagnóstico en meses fue 34,6 (hipertensos) y 51,1 (diabéticos). El nivel de actividad física fue trabajo en 30 (16,7%) pacientes, en 80 (44,4%) moderado y en 70 (38,9%) alto. No hubo diferencias en el nivel de actividad física según la edad y sexo. Se encontró diferencia significativa en los pacientes con hipertensión quienes tenían actividad moderada (p=0,02) en los hipertensos obesos quienes tenían actividad físca alta (p=0,07). Conclusión: El nivel de actividad física global de los pacientes con factores de riesgo cardiovascular seleccionados fue predominantemente moderado y alto.(Rev Med Hered 2011;22:115-120)

Self-Knowledge, adherence to treatment, and control of arterial hypertension in Peru: a narrative review

This non-systematic bibliographic review examines the published Peruvian medical literature on arterial hypertension (HTN) as of December 2016. The results were divided into three thematic areas: self-knowledge, adherence to treatment, and control. We identified 197 articles, although only 15 were used for the analysis. Despite improvement in recent years, we found that the level of self-knowledge about HTN is poor. The level is better in urban areas, but is generally worse than in other Latin American cities. Moreover, despite improvement, HTN control is insufficient and worse than in other Latin American countries. Finally, adherence to treatment may be worse in the provinces

Regression from prediabetes to normal glucose levels is more frequent than progression towards diabetes: The CRONICAS Cohort Study.

AIMS: This study aimed to (1) estimate the prevalence of prediabetes according to different definitions, (2) evaluate regression to normal glucose levels and progression towards T2DM, and (3) determine factors associated with regression and progression across four diverse geographical settings in a Latin American country. METHODS: The CRONICAS Cohort Study was conducted in four different areas in Peru. Enrollment started in September 2010 and follow-up was conducted in 2013. Prediabetes, T2DM and normal glucose levels were determined according to definitions from the World Health Organization (WHO), American Diabetes Association (ADA), and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The main outcomes were regression to normal glucose levels and incidence of T2DM. Prevalence estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Crude and adjusted models using Poisson regression were performed and relative risk ratios (RRR) and 95% CI were calculated. RESULTS: At baseline, the prevalence of prediabetes varied markedly by definition used: 6.5%(95% CI 5.6-7.6%), 53.6% (95% CI 51.6-55.6%), and 24.6% (95% CI 22.8-26.4%) according to WHO, ADA and NICE criteria, respectively. After 2.2  years of follow-up, in those with prediabetes, the cumulative incidence of regression to euglycemia ranged between 31.4% and 68.9%, whereas the incidence of T2DM varied from 5.5% to 28.8%. Factors associated with regression to normal glucose levels and progression to diabetes were age, body mass index, and insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Regression from pre-diabetes back to euglycemia was much more common than progression to diabetes

A measure of tourist experience quality: the case of inland tourism in Malaga

Although Malaga is a major tourist destination, research focused on the coastal area. However, the interior of the province has a growing tourism industry, so this tourism industry needs to be studied. The goal of this study was to analyse the attractiveness of this destination through the perceived quality of tourists’ experiences, measuring the effect of each agent involved in tourists’ overall assessment of the destination. Using a two-step factorial analysis of data gathered with 660 valid questionnaires collected through an on-the-ground survey, the composition structure and relationships of satisfaction factors in the destination were identified. Subsequently, the relationships between each agent with tourists’ overall assessment of the destination were extracted. The results suggest that tourism businesses are primarily responsible for the final quality of this destination, followed by organisations responsible of the management of tourism resources. Further, the results also show that there is room for improvement in quality. The worst ratings were given for the quality of leisure facilities and restaurants, while the aspects most valued by users have a low capacity for differentiation (i.e. climate, courtesy and value for money). Therefore, this tourist destination would benefit from implementing a system of integrated quality management