Calidad de vida en cuidadores informales de personas con demencia: una revisión sistemática de intervenciones psicosociales / Quality of life in informal caregivers of persons with dementia: a systematic review of psychosocial interventions

Background: Caring for a person with dementia has frequently negative consequences that impact on the informal caregivers' quality of life. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of different psychosocial interventions that address quality of life of caregivers of persons with dementia. Methods: Systematic review including randomized clinical trials from 2004 to 2014. Target population was informal caregivers of persons with dementia who received psychosocial interventions addressing quality of life as main outcome. Results: Nine studies were selected. Psychosocial interventions included group therapy, software use, and home visits. Home visits were the more frequent intervention and obtained better results in quality of life. Conclusions: The home visit with a person centred approaches was the more effective intervention in improve of quality of life in people with dementia caregivers. More research is needed regarding interventions and to analyze the rationalities for quality of life in this target group allowing a more comprehensive evaluation and intervention.

Introducción: Cuidar a una persona con demencia implica con frecuencia consecuencias negativas que impactan en la calidad de vida del cuidador informal. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer y evaluar el impacto que tienen diferentes modalidades de intervención psicosocial en la calidad de vida de los cuidadores de personas con demencia. Material y Métodos: Se realizó una revisión sistemática donde se incluyeron ensayos clínicos aleatorizados publicados entre 2004 y 2014. Los participantes fueron cuidadores de personas con demencia, que recibieron intervenciones psicosociales y evaluaron como resultado la calidad de vida. Resultados: Nueve estudios fueron seleccionados. Las intervenciones incluyeron trabajo grupal, uso de software, y visita domiciliaria. Esta última resultó ser la intervención más frecuente y la que mostró mejores resultados en calidad de vida. Conclusiones: La visita domiciliaria con un enfoque personalizado fue la intervención que mostró mejores resultados en la mejora de la calidad de vida del cuidador de una persona con demencia. Existe necesidad de realizar mayor investigación en este campo y la evaluación de la pertinencia de los conceptos actuales de calidad de vida en este grupo particular.

Estudio multivariado de la evolución de las dimensiones corporales en chilenas mayores de 60 años / Multivariate study of the evolution of body dimensions in elderly Chilean women

Con frecuencia en las investigaciones médicas se requiere analizar datos de tipo longitudinal que no pueden ser analizados por los métodos estadísticos clásicos de series cronológicas. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la factibilidad del uso del método exploratorio multivariado STATIS (Structuration des Tableaux A Trois Indices de la Statistique) en un estudio antropométrico de una muestra de 57 mujeres adultas mayores de 60 años (rango: 69-82 años) del Gran Santiago, Chile, que fueron estudiadas en 5 ocasiones durante un período de 30 meses. Las variables de interés son las mediciones antropométricas: peso, talla, circunferencia brazo, circunferencia pantorrilla, circunferencia cintura, circunferencia cadera, altura rodilla; medidas cada 6 meses. Las variables peso, circunferencia de brazo, circunferencia de pantorrilla, circunferencia de cintura y circunferencia de cadera, fueron las más correlacionadas con el primer eje de compromiso y responden fundamentalmente a medidas de composición corporal como adiposidad y masa muscular. El eje 2, caracterizado por la talla y la altura de rodilla, responde al tamaño del esqueleto. Los resultados obtenidos sugieren una evolución cronológica regular en los primeros 24 meses de observación, con un cambio de estructura a los 30 meses del estudio, así como una clasificación de grupos con diferente composición corporal.

Although in medical research the use of longitudinal data to analyze short time periods is frequently required, it does not permit the use of classic statistical methods for chronological series. The objective of this study is to present the possibility and plausibility of using the STATIS method (Structuration des Tableaux A Trois Indices de la Statistique), an explorative method for data analysis, in a study of the body composition of a sample of 57 women over 68 years of age in Santiago, Chile who were observed over a period of 30 months. The variables analyzed (measured every 6 months) were the following anthropometric measurements: weight, height, arm circumference, calf circumference, waist circumference, hip circumference and knee height. The results obtained suggested a regular chronological evolution during the first 24 months of observation with a change in structure after 30 months of the study, thereby classifying subjects according to body composition.

Síndrome metabólico en niños y adolescentes: asociación con sensibilidad insulínica y con magnitud y distribución de la obesidad / Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a sample of Chilean children consulting in an obesity clinic

Background: In Chile between 1986 and 1998, the prevalence of obesity has increased from 4.6 percent to 24 percent in prepuberal and from 2.3 percent to 17 percent in puberal children. Aim: To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in a sample of obese and overweight Chilean children. Patients and methods: Descriptive study in 489 children (273 females), aged from 6 to 16 years, consulting in an obesity program. Body mass index, Tanner puberal development, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, insulin and lipid levels were measured. Insulin sensitivity was calculated using the mathematical models QUICKI and HOMA. MS was diagnosed when three or more of the following criteria were met: a waist circumference over percentile 90, a blood pressure over percentile 90, serum triglycerides over 110 mg/dl, HDL cholesterol of less than 40 mg/dl or a fasting blood glucose level over 100 mg/dl. Results: MS was present in 4 percent of children with overweight and 30 percent of obese children. No differences in prevalence were observed for sex or puberal development. The most prevalent cardiovascular risk factors were abdominal obesity, present in 76 percent of the sample and high triclycerides levels in 39 percent. The less prevalent risk factor was a fasting blood glucose over 100 mg/dl in 3.7 percent. The risk for MS increased ten fold in children with severe obesity, compared with those with overweight. Those with abdominal obesity had a 17 times higher risk of MS. Basal insulin sensitivity was significantly associated with the number of cardiovascular risk factors and the presence of MS. Conclusions: In this sample of children, fat distribution and the severity of obesity were strong determinants of MS. Waist circumference had a higher impact on MS than body mass index.

Sensibilidad insulínica en niños de 6 a 15 años: asociación con estado nutricional y pubertad / Insulin sensitivity in children aged 6 to 16 years: Association with nutritional status and pubertal development

Backgrounds: There is a high prevalence of obesity and hyperinsulinism among Chilean prepuberal children. Aim: To evaluate insulin sensitivity (IS) using fasting insulin, the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) and quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (QUICKI) in Chilean children. Material and Methods: Body mass index (BMI), total body fat percentage ( percentTBF) using the sum of 4 skin folds, abdominal obesity determined through waist circumference (WC), pubertal maturation using five Tanner stages, fasting glucose (Glu) and insulin (Ins), were measured in 354 children aged 6 to 15 years (173 males). IS was evaluated using HOMA and QUICKI. Results: IS was strongly associated with percentTBF and WC. Ins, HOMA and QUICKI were significantly correlated with BMI (r =0.412; 0.405 y -0.442, respectively), percentTBF (r =0.370; 0.367 y -0.394, respectively), and WC (r =0.452; 0.446 y -0.481, respectively). Ins and HOMA increased and QUICKI decreased significantly (p <0.0001) with age. Children in a similar Tanner stage did not have differences in Ins, HOMA and QUICKI. No differences in Ins, HOMA and QUICKI were observed between children in Tanner stages 1 and 2. However, children in Tanner stages 1 and 2, had significantly lower Ins and HOMA and higher QUICKI than those in Tanner 3 to 5 stages. The highest Ins quartile for Tanner stages 1 and 2 was 10.0 æUI/dl; for Tanner stages 3 to five, the figure was 15.6 æUI/dl. Conclusions: These results confirm the relationship of IS with BMI, percentTBF, WC and pubertal maturation. IS decreases significantly and fasting Ins levels increase approximately 50 percent with puberty. This fact must be considered for the diagnosis of hyperinsulinism and insulin resistance in children.

Asociación entre polimorfismos de la región promotora del gen del factor de necrosis tumoral alfa (TNF-alfa) con obesidad y diabetes en mujeres chilenas / Association between tumor necrosis factor-alpha promoter polymorphisms and type 2 diabetes and obesity in Chilean elderly women

Background : Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has an increased expression in the adipose tissue of obese subjects and is involved in insulin resistance. Aim: To screen for associations between -308G/A, -238G/A, -376G/A and -163G/A genetic variants of the TNF-alpha gene, diabetes and obesity-related variables. Material and methods: A group of 263 elderly women aged 60-90 years were recruited. Among them, an oral glucose tolerance test was performed and serum lipids measured in 100 women. TNF-alpha genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analysis of restriction fragment lenght polymorphisms. Results: No significant differences were found when comparing allele frequencies in TNF-alpha polymorphisms of normal subjects with those having impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes. After excluding patients with previous diagnosis of diabetes, no significant differences by polymorphism carrier status were found for plasma levels of lipids, glucose and insulin. Additionally, no significant differences were found for the association between variables related to adiposity and the ¡308G/A polymorphisms. Conclusions: It is unlikely that polymorphisms in the promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene have a major influence in obesity and diabetes phenotypes in Chilean elderly women.

Polimorfismo de la proteína ligante de ácidos grasos intestinal (FABP2), obesidad e insulina resistencia / Fatty acid binding protein 2 (FABP-2) polymorphism, obesity and insulin resistance

The genetic components of insulin-resistance, diabetes and obesity have been largely studied. These conditions are determined by multiple polygenic and environmental factors. Certain candidate genes, that have common functional variants in the general population, may be important determinants of inter-individual differences in the response to dietary changes. This review focuses in one of the major candidate genes, the gene encoding for the FABP2, an intracellular protein expressed only in the intestine, involved in the absorption and intracellular transport of dietary long chain fatty acids. Carriers of the Thr54 allele in FABP2 have a 2-fold greater affinity for long chain fatty acids than Ala54 carriers. The increased flux of dietary fatty acids (FA) into the circulation, among carriers of FABP2 Ala54Thr, supports a role of the polymorphism of this allele in the etiology of metabolic disorders. The frequencies of the polymorphism in different populations fluctuate between 18% and 40%. FABP2 Ala54Thr variant has been associated with an increased fasting insulin concentration, fasting fatty acid oxidation and reduced glucose uptake. This evidence, although not conclusive, sustains an association between FABP-2 genotype and metabolic abnormalities.

Evolución del estado del estado nutricional de escolares chilenos de 6 años (1987- 2003) / Evolution of the nutritional status of six years old Chilean children (1987-2003)

Background: As a consequence of the epidemiological transition in Chile, the nutritional status of the population has changed notoriously. Aim: To study the changes in the nutritional status of six years-old Chilean children from 1987 to 2003. Material and Methods: The computer data base of a government institution in charge of the School Lunch Program (JUNAEB) was used. It contains data on weight, height, sex and date of birth of six years old children, in the years 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Results: The data of approximately 80,000 children was analyzed. Both weight and height increased over the study years. There was a significant reduction in the number of children with weight deficit but also an increase in the proportion of children with obesity. Stunting was also reduced. The proportion of children with HAZ over 2 SD increased from 0.76 in 1987 to 2.2 percent in 2003. The prevalence of obesity has not increased since the year 2000. Conclusion: The stabilization in the prevalence of obesity is a positive finding, considering its adverse consequences for health.

Estrategia de promoción de la salud en escolares de educación básica municipalizada de la comuna de Casablanca, Chile / School-based health promotion intervention for primary school children from Casablanca, Chile

Se diseñó, implementó durante tres años (de 2002 a 2004) y evaluó una intervención en alimentación/nutrición y actividad física en escolares de educación básica de Casablanca. El objetivo general fue determinar la evolución en la prevalencia de obesidad en los mismos niños durante los tres años del estudio. La muestra incluyó 1103 escolares que en el 2002 estaban entre 1º a 6º básico en las tres escuelas municipales de la ciudad y que contaban con mediciones durante el período completo. Los componentes más importantes de la intervención incluyeron la aplicación de programa educativo FAO/INTA, charlas a los padres, aumento de las clases de educación física y un programa motivacional de actividad física. Los resultados muestran que la prevalencia de obesidad fue muy alta al inicio y que disminuyó de 21,6 por ciento a 12,2 por ciento en hombres y de 19,4 por ciento a 8,7 por ciento en mujeres. Este mismo análisis según categoría de edad al inicio y sexo, mostró una disminución a un tercio de la prevalencia original en mujeres que tuvieron entre 8 y 10 años y hombres entre 10 y 12 años al comienzo del estudio. Esta intervención fue exitosa en reducir significativamente la obesidad en escolares.

We designed, implemented during three years (from 2002 to 2004) and evaluated a school-based food/nutrition and physical activity intervention for primary school children from Casablanca, Chile. The general objective was to determine the trend in obesity prevalence during the three years of study of children followed longitudinally. The sample included 1103 children that attended 1st to 6th grade in 2002 in the three existing public primary schools of the city. The most important components of the intervention included the application of a educational program for primary school children developed by FAO/INTA, educational sessions for parents, increase in the number of physical (PE) education classes and a motivational PE program. Results showed that the baseline obesity prevalence was very high and decreased from 21.6 percent to 12.2 percent in boys and from 19.4 percent to 8.7 percent in girls. This same analysis done by age category at baseline and sex, showed that the prevalence was one third of the initial one in girls aged 8 to 10 years and boys aged 10 to 12 years at baseline. This intervention proved to decrease significantly the obesity prevalence among school children.

Perfil metabólico de riesgo cardiovascular en niños y adolescentes obesos con menor sensibilidad insulínica / Cardiovascular risk and metabolic profile in obese children and adolescents with low insulin sensitivity

Background:Infantile obesity is associated with metabolic disturbances (hiperinsulinism, impaired glucose, dislypidemia) that determine a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and atherosclerotic vascular disease in adulthood. Insulin resistance is a central mechanism of complications of obesity and is associated to body fat mass. Aim: To investigate insulin sensitivity and its association with anthropometric and metabolic variables in obese children. Patients and methods: We studied 314 children aged 6 to 15 years. Of these, 235 had a body mass index (BMI) over the 95 percentile for age and sex (classified as obese) and 79 had a normal body mass index; 161 were pre-pubescent and 153 were pubescent. Weight, height, percentage of total body fat (% TBF) using the sum of 4 skinfolds, blood pressure (BP), waist circumference (WC), basal glucose (Glu) and insulin (Ins) were measured. Insulin sensitivity (IS) was calculated with the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and QUICKI index. Serum lipids, postprandial Glu and Ins were measured only in obese children. Results: BMI, WC and % TBF had an inverse and significant correlation with basal IS (p <0.001). Obese children had higher BP, basal Ins, and HOMA and a lower QUICKI index, compared to normal weight children. A low basal IS was present in 58% of obese children. Obese children with low IS had higher WC, % TBF, triglycerides, total/HDL-cholesterol ratio, basal and 2-h post glucose Gli and Ins and lower HDL-cholesterol than obese children with normal IS. In prepubescent children, the risk of a low IS was 2.43 times higher with a TBF over 33%. In pubescent children, it was 2.92 times higher with a TBF over 37%. Conclusions: Low IS in prepubescent and pubescent obese children is associated with central obesity and a higher cardiovascular risk.

Años de vida perdidos por muerte prematura (AVPP) en adultos del Gran Santiago: ¿Hemos ganado con equidad? / Potentially productive years of life lost among adults in Metropolitan Santiago: Is there an improvement in equality?

Background: Potentially productive years of life lost (PPYLL) is an impact measure that illustrates the lost that a society suffers as a consequence of deaths of young people or premature deaths. Aim: To study the evolution of PPYLL in adults in the periods 1994-1996 and 1999-2001, according to sex, income quintiles and main diagnostic groups in the communities of Metropolitan Santiago. Material and methods: Ecological study analyzing the population of Metropolitan Santiago, that represents 36% of the national population. A total of 87,969 deaths in people aged 20 to 79 years were analyzed. Results: There is a greater amount of PPYLL among the poorest quintiles and men represent the higher number of PPYLL. In the different analyzed periods, all quintiles experienced a reduction in PPYLL. According to diagnosis, endocrine diseases experienced the greater decrease between periods, followed by respiratory disease. Noteworthy was the increase of PPYLL due to infectious diseases. PPYLL due to digestive diseases was 2.3 higher in the poorest quintile, as compared with the wealthiest quintile (20/20 ratio). The ratio for traumatic disease was 1.8. Conclusions: When comparing both periods, there is a net gain of potentially productive years of life in all income quintiles and in both genders.

Epidemiología genética de la obesidad: estudios familiares / Genetic epidemiology of obesity: Family studies

This review focuses on methodological aspects and main results of different family studies that have been conducted to assess the existence of a genetic contribution in human obesity. A genetic component in the etiology of obesity has been elucidated through specific study designs answering different research questions such as: a) Do obesity aggregate in families? b) Is there a genetic contribution to familial clustering? c) Is it possible to localize chromosomal regions that contain susceptibility genes to obesity? d) Is it possible to estimate the risk for developing obesity depending on the genotype profile in candidate genes? There are sufficient evidences indicating the existence of a moderate familial clustering of obesity defined as body mass index 30 with a stronger aggregation with more extreme values of body mass index. Twin studies have demonstrated that the familial aggregation of obesity has a genetic component and is not only due to cultural or environmental factors clustered in families. Linkage studies have identified markers and genes related to obesity in virtually all human chromosomes. However, some of these linkage studies have produced conflicting results. Discordant results are even more pronounced in case-control studies that evaluate the association between alleles at candidate genes and obesity. Topics related to study design will acquire increasing importance in order to avoid methodological problems related to trait definition, sample sizes, population stratification by ethnicity and other confounding factors.

Estado nutricional y resistencia aeróbica en escolares de educación básica: línea base de un Proyecto de Promoción de la Salud / Nutritional status and aerobic capacity among children attending public elementary schools in Chile

Background: The Chilean Ministry of Health has developed a health promotion program called «Vida Chile¼, whose aim is to target risk factors for chronic diseases. To achieve this, school-based initiatives in nutrition and physical activity have been implemented. The evaluation of these initiatives includes a baseline assessment of these two variables. Aim: Baseline assessment of the nutritional status and aerobic capacity of elementary school children (1st to 8th grade). Material and methods: Children from seven public schools were studied. Weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness and waist circumference were measured. To test the aerobic capacity, the 20-m Shuttle Run Test (Navette) was utilized. Results: The assessment included 4,271 children, mean age was 10.2 years. The percentile of body mass index, as compared to the CDC 2000 Reference was 67.8±26.7 and 68±26.7 for boys and girls, respectively. The prevalence of obesity among children from 6 to 8 years, was 20.3 and 17.7% for boys and girls, respectively. Approximately 30% of males and 15% of females with normal weight had a good aerobic resistance, compared to 15 and 4% of their overweight counterparts. Aerobic capacity decreased with increasing age. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of obesity and a deficient level of aerobic capacity among children attending public schools in Chile.

Prevalencia de diabetes tipo 2 y obesidad en dos poblaciones aborígenes de Chile en ambiente urbano / Prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity in two Chilean aboriginal populations living in urban zones

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is increasing in aboriginal populations in Chile. AIM: To study the prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes and serum lipids in two aboriginal populations, Mapuche and Aymara, that were transferred from a rural to a urban environment. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two groups of subjects over 20 years were analyzed, Mapuche and Aymara. The Mapuche group was formed by 42 men and 105 women, living in four urban communities of Santiago, and an Aymara group formed by 42 men and 118 women, living in Arica, in Northern Chile. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, lipid profile, oral glucose tolerance test, fasting insulin and serum leptin were determined. RESULTS: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes was 6.9% in Aymara and 8.2% in Mapuche subjects. The frequency of glucose intolerance was similar in both groups, but greater among men. A total blood cholesterol over 200 mg/dl was observed in 43.1% of Aymara and 27.9% of Mapuche subjects (p <0.008). Serum triglycerides over 150 mg/dl were observed in 16.9 and 23.1% of Aymara and Mapuche individuals, respectively (p= NS). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia in turban aboriginal populations is higher than that of their rural counterparts. A possible explanation for these results are changes in lifestyles that come along with urbanization, characterized by a high consumption of saturated fat and refined sugars and a low level of physical activity.

Niveles plasmáticos de citoquinas IL-1ß, IL2 e IL-4 en niños diabéticos tipo 1 de diagnóstico reciente y su asociación con anticuerpos ß pancreáticos / Plasma levels of interleukin-1, interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in recently diagnosed type 1 diabetic children and their association with ß-pancreatic autoantibodies

Background: Type 1 diabetes is an organ specifc autoimmune disease whose incidence is increasing worldwide. A functional imbalance in cytokine production resulting in dominance of T helper (Th1) over Th2-type response has been suggested to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Aim: To measure serum concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2 and IL-4 in children with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes and to evaluate the autoimmune response measuring glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD65) and tyrosine phosphatase like (IA-2) autoantibodies. Patients and Methods: 120 diabetic children and 118 age and gender matched control children, were recruited for this study. Circulating levels of IL-1ß, IL-2 and IL-4 were measured by ELISA. GAD65 and IA-2 were measured by RIA. Results: Circulating levels of IL-1ß were elevated in type 1 diabetic children as compared to the control group (9.3±7.3 and 4.9±3.8 pg/ml respectively, p=0,01). Serum concentration of IL-2 was also higher in diabetic patients (19.8±13.1 and 11.3±9.1 pg/ml respectively, p=0,01). No differences in serum IL-4 were observed between diabetics and control. Diabetic children with one or two positive autoantibodies (IA-2 and/or GAD65) had significantly higher levels of IL-1ß and IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 than diabetic children without positive autoantibodies. High concentrations of IL-1ß were associated with an early onset of the disease. Conclusions: High levels of IL-1ß and IL-2 were found in diabetic children with recent diagnosis of the disease. Diabetics with positive antibodies against GAD65 and IA-2 had higher levels of IL-1ß and IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 than their counterparts without positive antibodies.

Desigualdades en salud: adulto en comunas del Gran Santiago / Inequalities in health: adult mortality in communities of Metropolitan Santiago

Background: In the last decade, Chile achieved a significant reduction in poverty, however income distribution still shows inequalities. The richest 10 per cent of the population perceived 46 per cent of total income. Aim: To study the relationship between territorial socioeconomic segregation and adult mortality in the Metropolitan area of Santiago de Chile. Material and methods: Data from the 34 districts of Metropolitan Santiago were analyzed. Adjusted community mortality rates, during 2000, among adults aged 20 years or more, including specific rates per sex and age group, were analyzed. Results: There was a negative correlation between income and mortality, specially among men (rS -0.42 p <0.005). The highest correlation coefficient was observed among subjects aged 45-64 years old (rS -0.42 p <0.005). There was a high degree of inequality in mortality among males aged 20-44 years old (Gini 0.54) and in the age group 45-64 years old in both sexes (Gini 0.50). Mortality rates decreased along with increasing incomes in both sexes. 20/20 ratio shows the higher values for mortality of men aged 20-44 years (20/20 ratio 1.7 95 per cent CI 1.4-2.0), followed by mortality of men aged 45-64 years. Conclusions: There is a relationship between economic segregation (expressed by income) and mortality. The higher mortality rates are observed in districts of Metropolitan Santiago with the lower income.

Validación de un test de tamizaje para el diagnóstico de demencia asociada a edad, en Chile / Validation of a screening test for age associated cognitive impairment, in Chile

Background: The real prevalence of dementia in a given population must be determined through prevalence studies, using validated screening tests. Aim: To validate and determine cutoff points for a cognitive impairment screening test composed by the Folstein Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (PFAQ). Material and methods: Validation of the diagnostic test in a sample of 100 subjects over 65 years old (85 from the project ½Age associated dementias¼ and 15 with a confirmed diagnosis of dementia). All were subjected to a complete neuropsychological test by a trained neurologist, that constituted the ½gold standard¼ for the diagnosis of dementia. An independent interviewer applied the MMSE to the subjects and the PFAQ to a next of kin informer. Cutoff points were calculated using ROC curves. The points with the better equilibrium between sensitivity and specificity were selected, considering differences in results between groups with low and high educational level. Results: The cutoff point for MMSE was 21/22, with a sensitivity of 93.6 per cent (95 per cent CI 70.6-99.7per cent) and a specificity of 46.1per cent (95per cent CI 34.7-57.8 per cent). The figure for PFAQ was 5/6, with a sensitivity of 89.2per cent (95per cent CI 70.6-99.7per cent) and a specificity of 70.7per cent (95 per cent CI 58.9-80.3 per cent). The combination of both instruments gave a sensitivity of 94.4per cent (95 per cent CI 58.9-80.3 per cent) and a specificity of 83.3 per cent (95 per cent CI 72.3-90.7per cent). Conclusions: This screening test, using MMSE and PFAQ, has a good sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of dementia in Chile. Being simple and of low cost, it can be applied in primary health care.

Algunos determinantes recientes de la lactancia materna en Chile / Some reecent breast-feeding determinants in Chile

Se analizan 4 factores que actualmente explicarían en parte importante las dificultades para producir leche de las madres atendidas por el Ministerio de Salud de Chile. El estado nutricional de la embarazada, medido por antropometría, influye la duración de la lactancia materna y el volumen de leche producido, indicando la necesidad de que la madre tenga un adecuado incremento de peso durante la gestación. El trabajo materno ha sido correlacionado negativamente con la duración de la lactancia materna en diversos estudios. Cuando la madre trabajadora tiene reposo postparto, o cuida directamente al niño en el trabajo, presenta una duración mayor de la lactancia natural. Las madres que fuman durante el embarazo y los seis meses postparto presentan una duración de la lactancia materna menor que las no fumadoras, mientras que los hijos de estas últimas presentan menos desnutrición peso-edad. Los cambios en las prácticas del equipo de salud que interfieren con el proceso de succión pueden influir positivamente en la duración de la lactancia materna según diversos estudios locales, por lo que se recomienda realizar nuevos programas. Se señalan algunos datos disponibles sobre la cantidad de mujeres afectadas por los diferentes factores de riesgo