Realidad de médicos especialistas en el sistema público no municipalizado: Chile 2012 / Reality of medical specialties in the Chilean public health system, not municipalized (2012)

En los últimos años, en el país se ha observado una falencia de médicos especialistas en el sistema público de salud no municipalizado. Probablemente ello se ha debido a una lenta formación de especialistas por las universidades, a una reducción del número de cargos en relación a la demanda y a un éxodo de especialistas hacia el área privada. El objetivo del trabajo, es analizar el número y características de los médicos especialistas registrado en un corte en el año 2012, en base a los datos suministrados por el Ministerio de Salud, CONACEM, Universidades Nacionales y Superintendencia de Salud. Se comprobó un aumento significativo del total de especialistas en el país al comparar las cifras con las correspondientes al año 2004, en el que tenemos también registros confiables, especialmente a las correspondientes al sistema público, que creció al doble. De igual manera observamos crecimiento significativo de los especialistas en Medicina Interna, Cirugía General y Psiquiatría en las Especialidades básicas y de Anestesiología, Traumatología y Ortopedia, Radiología y Oftalmología en las especialidades primarias. Sin embargo, la distribución regional sigue mostrando brechas de atención, especialmente en las zonas de menor población. El incremento de especialistas se ha debido a las medidas adoptadas en conjunto por el Ministerio de Salud y las Universidades, en base a comisiones de estudio y becas de formación. Dado el crecimiento socio-económico y cultural del país proyectado para el 2020/2030, parece necesario mantener un ritmo adecuado de crecimiento de especialistas, merced a la acción mancomunada de las instituciones comprometidas, incluyendo a la función catalizadora del Colegio Médico, en representación de los profesionales en formación.

In the last years, in the country has been observed a deficit of medical specialists in the Chilean public system of health, not municipalized. Probably this deficit is due to the slow formation of specialists from the universities, to a reduction of the “post offers”, in relation to the demand and to a specialists’ exodus towards the private area. The aim of this study, is to analyze the number and main characteristics of medical specialists registered in a period of the year 2012, according the existing dates of Ministry of Health, (*) CONACEM, the National Universities and the Superintendence of Health. It was observed a significant increase of the number of specialists in this year in comparison to the registered data on 2004, mainly oriented to the public sector, which grew doubly, according to reliable sources. Similarly we see significant growth in the specialists in Internal Medicine, General Surgery and Psychiatry in the basic skills and anesthesiology, Traumatology and orthopedics, radiology, and Ophthalmology in the primary specialty. Nevertheless, the regional distribution continues showing deficit of attention, especially in the zones with minor population. The increase number of specialists has been due to joined efforts of Universities and Health Ministry, based in financial support and qualifications studies. According to standard socioeconomic and human development of the country, the goals of WHO (World Health Organization), must be achieved by coordinated efforts of national institutions: Ministry of Health, Universities and Medical College.

Formación de médicos especialistas en el Sistema de Servicios de Salud de Chile: Su evolución en el período 2007-2010 / Training of specialists in the Chilean national health services

Several institutions, such as the Ministry of Health, Universities, the Chilean Medical Association, Scientific societies and public opinion, recognize that there is a deficiency of specialized physicians in Chile. To overcome this shortage of specialists, the Ministry of Health, along with universities, is developing diverse initiatives to train specialists and cope with the requirements of the country. Seventy five percent of posts offered were filled by physicians. The number of positions increased from 173 in 2007 to 576 in 2010, with a cumulative total of 1582 physicians in four years. Fifty two percent are being trained in Basic Primary Specialties and 48 percent in primary specialties. Thirty three percent of graduates have the obligation to continue working in the public service during a certain lapse. This figure will increase to 50 percent in the following years. These specialists are mainly working in the more densely populated regions of the country. The universities that offer the higher number of training positions are the University of Chile, The Catholic University of Chile and the University of Santiago.

La hipertensión arterial, ¿Sólo un biomarcador de la enfermedad ateroesclerótica sistémica? / Hypertension as a biological marker of systemic atherosclerotic disease

There is a close link between hypertension and atherosderosis. Hypertension causes atherosclerotic damage of several organs, called target organs and the risk factors for hypertension and atherosderosis are very similar. The risk of mortality associated to hypertension increases with blood pressure values below the cutoff point of normality (140/90 mm Hg), even below 130/85 mm Hg, and includes a stage called pre hypertension. Moreover, the initial damage of the arterial walls and target organs are present before there is a significant elevation of blood pressure. Therefore, hypertension could become a biological marker of the evolution of an underlying atherosclerotic process. A new pathophysiological paradigm has been proposed in which the severity of hypertension is not classified according to blood pressure values, but rather on the initiation and progression of vascular damage among target organs. These alterations determine the prognosis and management of systemic vascular damage that can be called "hypertensive atherosclerotic disease" or simply systemic atherosclerotic disease.

Evolución de la oferta de médicos. Chile 1993-2008 / Evolution of the availability of physicians in Chile

There is a significant increase in the physician availability in Chile in the last 15 years, due to the immigration of foreign physicians, but mainly due to the increasing number of graduates from private universities with medical schools. In the last four years, the number of physicians increased from 25.542 to 29.996 and the number of graduates, from 918 to 1.136. These figures show a nearly exponential growth. The number of physicians/number of beneficiaries' ratio increased from 1/630 to 1/569 in the last four years, due to the greater increase in the number of physicians than in the number of inhabitants. The future will show a similar trend in this ratio. The specialist/general practitioner ratio remains practically the same, as the number of physicians/beneficiaries ratio in the public system. The oversupply of physicians should alert authorities about the inconvenience in creating new medical schools and a careful plan of relationship between the offer and demand of medical services.

Daño cardiovascular por material particulado del aire. Puesta al día 2008 / Association between air pollution and cardiovascular risk

A clear cut relationship between particulate matter air contamination and the mortality and morbidity due to respiratory disease has been observed in the last decades. However there is also a relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular diseases. In big cities, a big or small particle concentration increase of 10 ¡xg/m³ is associated with a significantly higher risk of ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, both when acute or chronic exposures are considered. The risk is higher for small particles. Similar risk increases are observed in patients with hypertension, stroke or severe arrhythmias. This association is independent of environmental distracters such as weather, temperature or humidity and of classical cardiovascular risk factors such as age, diabetes, dyslipidemia and obesity. Physicians should be aware of the problem and explain their patients the increased risk that they are facing due to air pollution (Rev Méd Chile 2009; 137: 1217-24).

Actualización de las recomendaciones sobre el uso de la monitorización ambulatoria de presión arterial. Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Chilena de Hipertensión / Update of consensus reccomendations of the Chilean Hypertension Society about ambulatory blood pressure monitoring

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a valuable tool to evaluate the blood pressure pattern, to identify hypertensive patients, to diagnose white coat and masked hypertension and in situations in which a tight control of hypertension is crucial. This is an update of 1999 consensus recommendations about the use to ABPM, considering that there is new evidence concerning its benefits, and the clinical experience with its application has increased. Equipment programming, its installation, the interpretation and analysis of the data are described, and a report sheet for patients is included. New recommendations have been added to the accepted indications. Normal blood pressure ranges for children and pregnant women have been replaced by new data (Rev Méd Chile 2009; 137:1235-47).

Aumento del riesgo de consultas cardiovasculares por contaminación atmosférica por partículas: estudio en la ciudad de Santiago / Increased risk of consultation for cardiovascular problems related to particle atmospheric pollution: a study in Santiago, Chile

Introducción: En la literatura se reconoce que la contaminación del aire por partículas en diversas ciudades determina un exceso del riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares. Santiago es una de las urbes con mayor polución de partículas MP 10 y MP 2,5 en el mundo. Objetivo: Estudiar la asociación entre la concentración diaria de partículas y la morbilidad cardiovascular en los 6 Servicios de Urgencia de la ciudad. Métodos: Se consideraron el número total de consultas cardiovasculares en el año 2007, el Infarto miocárdico, accidente cerebro-vascular y crisis hipertensiva. La concentración de partículas se obtuvo de los registros de 7 centros de la red de Monitoreo de la Calidad del Aire de la Región Metropolitana (MACAM) y lasvariables temperatura y humedad, del Instituto de Meteorología de Chile. Estadísticamente se implementó un modelo de regresión múltiple GAM. Resultados: Se observó que para todo el año 2007 las concentraciones de partículas ambientales MP 10 estuvieron altas, sobre la norma recomendada por la OMS. Ello se asoció a un incrementó del 10% del riesgo de consultas cardiovasculares durante todo el año 2007. Para las partículas MP 2,5 el riesgo aumentó en un 17 por ciento. En los meses invernales Junio y Julio, el riesgo aumentó en 15 por ciento y 28 por ciento respectivamente. Todas las cifras resultaron altamente significativas (p< 0.001). Para la crisis hipertensiva, los aumentos del riesgo fueron 4 y 13 por ciento, también significativos. Conclusión: Se concluye que la contaminación por partículas se asocia significativamente a un mayor riesgo de consultas por enfermedades cardiovasculares en la ciudad de Santiago y que el riesgo es mayor en presencia de partículas MP 2,5.

Background: Atmospheric contamination due to particles is recognized as a factor related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Santiago has one of the greatest concentrations of MP 10 and MP 2.5 particles in the world.Aim: to determine the association of daily changes in particle concentration and cardiovascular morbidity in 6 emergency consultation centers in Santiago. Methods: Total number of consults, myocardial infarction, stroke and hypertensive crisis were included as endpoints. Concentration of particles was obtained from registries routinely made in 7 centers of a city based environmental agency (“Monitoring quality of air in the Metropolitan Region”, MACAM). Air temperature and humidity were obtained from the Chilean Meteorology Institute. Data were analyzed using a multiple regression model (GAM). Results: Throughout 2007, concentration of MP 10 was above the norm recommended by WHO. This was associated to a 10 percent increase in CV related consultations. In relation to MP 2.5 the risk was increased 17 percent. The CV risk peaked at 15 percent and 28 percent in June and July, respectively. All relations were highly significant (p<0.001) including the 4 and 13 percent increase in hypertension emergencies. Conclusion: Increased particle concentration in the air is significantly associated to a higher risk of cardiovascular consultation in Santiago. The risk is higher in relation to increased MP 2.5 particle concentration.

Las nuevas escuelas de medicina en el panorama médico actual / The new medical schools in Chile and their influence on the medical scenario

There is concern about the possible consequences caused by the proliferation of private Medical Schools in Chile. Most of these schools have consolidated as health professional training centers, but its presence is changing the scenario of public health and medical profession. The most important consequence is the increase in the number of physicians that will occur, that may exceed the demand of the Chilean population and generate medical unemployment or emigration. There is also concern about the quality of the training process and the preparation and experience of teachers, that derives in the need for accreditation of medical schools. Private Universities are aware of these problems and are working on them. The struggle for clinical fields in the Public Health System has been regulated by an administrative norm of the Ministry of Health.

Una mirada crítica en torno al plan AUGE: algunos aspectos generales y valóricos / A critical appraisal to AUGE health plan in Chile

The health reform in Chile established a health plan callee! AUGE that guarantees an access to diagnosis and treatment of certain specifie diseases within a time frame that must be respected. This article reviews and analyzes the general provisions of this plan and its management of values. Aspects that were implemented by the reform are discussed, especially those that refer to direct care of the population. The positive and negative aspects of the reform are balancea and are contrasted with eventual changes that should be made from an ethicalpointofview.

Incorporación de médicos especialistas a la atención primaria ¿una paradoja nacional? / Incorporation ofspecialists to primary health care to increase its efficieney

In the last decade, the number of general practitioners has decreased in Chile and there is a lack ofinterest among new doctors to work in Primary Care. The low number ofpositions for primary care physicians in the national publie and community health services are one cause, among others, for this decrease. On top, there is a lack of incentives and continuous training in community health services. This situation lead to reinforce primary care with internists, gynecologist, surgeons and psychiatrists in training. During their residence, part of the working journey of these trainees will be carried out in general medical outpatients clinics. This solution has been criticized by university authorities. The other solution is to incorpórate certified basic specialists in teams of three to five, in outpatient clinics of communities with high number of beneficiarles. This initiative is supported by the great number of specialists available in Chile, but is hampered by the lack of working positions and financing. It would increase the problem solving capacity at the primary level, decreasing the number of specialist derivations, that collapse secondary levels of health care.

Sobrevida de la disfunción sistólica severa del ventrículo izquierdo con la terapia farmacológica actual / Survival of patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction under current medication

Antecedentes: La disfunción sistólica severa del ventrículo izquierdo, con su secuela de insuficiencia cardiaca(IC) ha aumentado en las dos últimas décadas, pero su mortalidad ha disminuido con la introducción delos inhibidores de la enzima convertidora y beta-bloqueadores de tercera generación. Objetivo: Evaluar la sobrevida de un grupo de pacientes con IC desde su primera crisis Métodos: Seguimiento de una cohorte de 24 pacientes con IC de diversas etiologías (hipertensiva, alcohólica e idiopática), pero con predominio de arterioesclerosis coronaria (16 pac) durante 11 años. Los pacientes fueron tratados con terapia asociada de enalapril y carvedilol en dosis bajas, además del tratamiento clásico de la IC. Resultados: La mortalidad global fue de 8 pac (33 por ciento) y, expresada en años de seguimiento, fue de 1.8 pac/año. Las crisis de descompensación alcanzaron el 54 por ciento y las hospitalizaciones el 46 por ciento. Conclusiones: En nuestra experiencia, el tratamiento con inhibidores de la enzima convertidora y beta-bloqueadores de tercera generación, asociados a la terapia clásica de la IC, permitió una sobrevida satisfactoria a largo plazo.

Background: Severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction leading to congestive heart failure (CHF) has become more prevalent in the last decades, but mortality from this condition has decreased following the introduction of convertingenzymeinhibitors (ACE) and third generation beta blockers. Aim: To evaluate survival in a group of patients with CHF Methods: Twenty-four patients with congestive heart failure secondary to coronary artery disease (n=16), hypertension, alcoholic or idiopathic cardiomyopathy were followed during 11 years. Patients were treated with combined therapy of enalapril and low dose carvedilol, along with other conventional drugs. Results: Eight patients died during follow up (33 percent or 1.8 patients per year). Decompensation of heart failure occurred in 54 percent and rehospitalization in 46 percent of patients. Conclusion: Treatment with an ACE inhibitor and a third generation beta blocker along with conventional drugs was associated to a satisfactory long term survival in patients with CHF.

Perfil y número de médicos generales que requiere el país / The profile and number of primary care physicians required in Chile

Medical schools curricular planning aim to obtain a physician trained to work as general practitioner and the Chilean health reform, considers ambulatory primary care as the main axis of health care. However there is still a low interest among physicians to work in primary health care, where there are problems related to a low level of clinical resolution, clinical and administrative management deficiencies and a low level of leadership in health promotion. The causes of these deficiencies stem from university training, government policies and the great attraction that exerts the technological and specialized model of secondary and tertiary health care. We analyze the ideal profe that the general practitioner should have in our health care system and the possible solutions to primary health care problems. We also emphasize the need to coordinate the professional resource needs with university training, to reduce the existing gaps between medical training and professional practice.

Exceso de morbilidad respiratoria en niños y adultos mayores en una comuna de Santiago con alta contaminación atmosférica por partículas / Excess respiratory diseases in children and elderly people in a community of Santiago with high particulate air pollution

Background: The relationship between air pollution and health damage has been sufficiently documented. In station "R" of the air quality monitoring system, located in a community of Metropolitan Santiago (Cerro Navia), the Chilean standard of 150 æg/m³, averaged in 24 hours, for particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less (PM10), has been exceeded more days than in the rest of the city stations. Aim: To investigate if the population living near that station has a higher proportion of lower respiratory infections than the Metropolitan Region (MR) as a whole. Material and methods: An outpatient clinic located near station "R" (Centro Albertz), was implemented as a sentinel center according to UNICEF methodology, used since 1992 by the Acute Respiratory Infections National Program. Daily information was collected between May and December 2004. Monitoring data included total number of consults by children less than 15 years old for lower respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, obstructive bronchitis syndrome in children and by adults over 64 years old for lower airway disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pneumonia. Results were compared with those of the rest of MR. Results: Compared with the MR, children from the sentinel clinic had a significantly higher proportion of consults for obstructive bronchial syndrome (20.1 percent and 26.4 percent respectively, in p <0.01) and pneumonia (1.3 and 2.7 percent respectively, p <0.01). In the elderly, the average consults for lower airway disease were 17 percent in the sentinel clinic and 12.2 percent in MR (p <0.04). Conclusions: Children and elderly subjects at the sentinel clinic had a significantly higher proportion of respiratory infections (pneumonia and obstructive bronchial syndrome in children and lower airway disease in the elderly) as compared to the Metropolitan Region.

La relación docente-asistencial en el nuevo contexto que establece la reforma de salud / The relationship between health care and teaching activities in the context of the Health Care Reform

The new laws of the health reform in Chile, modified the pre-existent relationship between teaching and health care activities. This relationship allows the training of health care professionals by Universities, in the clinical services of the National System of Health Services that is dependent of the Ministry of Health. The new law established new requirements for specialization and quality of care accreditation. Up to the moment, the relationship between Health Care Services and the Universities was based on harmonic and consensual agreements between both counterparts. With the new law, such relationship becomes more relative and is based on new norms. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to establish a regulated and equilibrated relationship between both institutions, to assure the best possible training of health care professionals, in terms of skills and competences, to adequately satisfy the health needs of the population.

Disponibilidad de médicos en Chile al año 2004 / Availability of physicians in Chile at the year 2004

Background: The number of physicians available in a given country, their efficiency, quality and specialization is of utmost epidemiological importance. Aim: To evaluate the availability of physicians in Chile. Material and methods: The information about the number of physicians in Chile up to the year 2004, was obtained from the Ministry of Health, national universities and the register of immigrant physicians since 1950. Results: The total number of physicians licensed to practice was 25,542, of whom 2,700 are immigrants. The physician/inhabitant ratio increased from 1/921 in 1998 to 1/612 in 2004. The greater impact in the increment of available physicians was given by the immigration of professionals and by the increase in the number of physicians graduated from national universities, mainly from the new private universities. Forty two percent of physicians work at public services and 61 percent of these are certified specialists. The regional distribution of general practitioners and basic specialists is adequate. Along the country, the mean physician/beneficiary ratio is 8.45/10,000, the specialist/beneficiary ratio is 4.9/10,000 and the general practitioner/beneficiary ratio is 2.3/10,000. Conclusions: The national information of available physicians, especially in the private sector, should be improved. Immigration of physicians should be regulated, maintaining validation examinations and a National Medical Test to assess medical proficiency should be instituted.

Morbi-mortalidad de la hipertensión arterial según magnitud del cambio de los factores de riesgo: seguimiento a 30 años / Morbimortality of arterial systemic hypertension according to risk factor control: a 30 years follow up study

Antecedentes: El tratamiento integral de la hipertensión arterial esencial involucra el tratamiento farmacológico y el control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Objetivo: Estudiar a largo plazo la magnitud y frecuencia del cambio de los factores de riesgo, incluida la presión arterial, sobre la morbi-mortalidad de la hipertensión. Método: Estudio observacional durante 30 años de una cohorte de 1.360 hipertensos esenciales tratados con fármacos habituales (tiazidicos, B-bloqueadores, antagonistas del Ca++ e inhibidores ECA) y medidas dietéticas, educacionales y farmacológicas tendientes a mejorar el estilo de vida (cigarrillo, alcohol y sedentarismo) y controlar adecuadamente las enfermedades concomitantes (diabetes, dislipidemia, obesidad, gota). Se analizó el cambio individual de los 8 factores de riesgo fijando como éxito: PA <140/90 mmHg, cero consumo de cigarrillos, alcohol > 2 vasos de vino al día, colesterol total <200 mg por ciento, glicemia < 120mg por ciento e índice de masa corporal <30 peso/talla². De acuerdo al éxito individual, se separaron dos grupos: B con cambio adecuado de 4 o más FR y M, sin ese resultado. Se comparó la morbi-mortalidad entre ellos, en total y en forma separada para pacientes complicados y no complicados al ingreso. Estadística según tasas acumulativas y diferencias según método de Cox. Resultados: mortalidad general 0.91 por ciento/año y morbilidades comparables a las de la literatura reciente. Cambio de los factores de riesgo inferior al 50 por ciento, en especial diabetes (26 por ciento) obesidad (18 por ciento) y sedentarismo (15 por ciento). El grupo B con control adecuado de más de 4 factores de riesgo presentó significativamente una menor mortalidad, menor morbilidad total y menor incidencia de Infarto miocárdico, tanto en pacientes previamente complicados como sin ellas al ingreso. Conclusión: Este resultado positivo, a pesar del moderado control de los FR, enfatiza la necesidad de realizar no solo prevención primaria sino también secundaria en forma más intensa y agresiva.

Contaminación atmosférica y daño cardiovascular / Atmospheric pollution and cardiovascular damage

The damaging effect of atmospheric pollution with particulate matter and toxic gases on the respiratory system and its effect in the incidence and severity of respiratory diseases, is well known. A similar effect on the cardiovascular system is currently under investigation. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the inhalation of particulate matter can increase cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality, specially ischemic heart disease. The damage would be mediated by alterations in the autonomic nervous system, inflammation, infections and free radicals. In human studies, environmental pollution is associated with alterations in cardiac frequency variability and blood pressure and with changes in ventricular repolarization. Experimentally, an enhancement of ischemia, due to coronary obstruction, has been demonstrated. The study of the toxic effects of environmental pollution over the cardiovascualr system, is an open field, specially in Chile, were the big cities have serious contamination problems (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 761-7).

Insulinemia en ayunas como marcador simple de resistencia a la insulina en hipertensos / Fasting insulinemia as simple marker of insulin resistance in hypertensive patients

Insulin resistance is associated to hypertension, obesity and diabetes and may be an independent cardiovascular risk factor. The exact assessment of insulin resistance requires complex metabolic studies. However, there is a good correlation between this parameter and fasting serum insulin levels. The aim of this work was to study fasting serum insulin levels by ratio immuno analysis in 43 hypertensive patients aged 56 ñ 5.5 years old (27 male, 17 obese and 8 diabetics) and 20 normotensive controls aged 50 ñ 4.8 years old (13 male). Insulin levels were 3.8 UI/L in controls, 12.1 UI/L in normal weight, 15.5 UI/L in obese and 18.3 UI/L in diabetic hypertensives (ANOVA p<0.001). These levels were above two standard deviation of control values in 50 percent of normal weigth, 66 percent of obese and 62 percent diabetic hypertensives. It is conclude that normal weigth, obese and diabetic hypertensive subjects have high fasting insulin levels