Los problemas auditivos aumentan el riesgo de deterioro cognitivo en adultos mayores chilenos / Hearing impairments increase the risk of cognitive impairment in older Chilean adults

RESUMEN Introducción: Estudios previos han asociado la pérdida auditiva con un acelerado deterioro cognitivo durante el envejecimiento; no obstante, esta asociación no ha sido estudiada en adultos mayores chilenos. Objetivo: Investigar la asociación entre la discapacidad auditiva y la sospecha de deterioro cognitivo a través del cuestionario Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE, versión abreviada) en esta población. Material y método: Se incluyeron 1.384 adultos mayores de 60 años de la encuesta nacional de salud 2009-2010. Un puntaje <13 puntos en el MMSE se consideró sospecha de deterioro cognitivo. La discapacidad auditiva se determinó a través de un cuestionario de tamizaje autorreportado de tres preguntas. La asociación entre estas dos variables se investigó mediante análisis de regresión logística. Resultados: Se identificó una asociación significativa entre el MMSE alterado y cada una de las discapacidades auditivas estudiadas. A su vez, existió una tendencia a aumentar en 59% la probabilidad de desarrollar deterioro cognitivo en la medida que aumentaron las discapacidades auditivas (OR: 1,59 [95% IC: 1,38 a 1,82], p <0,0001). Conclusión: La disminución de la percepción auditiva es un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de deterioro cognitivo y posteriormente demencia. La creación de políticas públicas, orientadas al tamizaje temprano en población de riesgo, podría ser una solución efectiva para prevenir las consecuencias asociadas con esta condición.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Hearing loss has been associated with an accelerated cognitive impairment during ageing. However, this association has not been investigated in older Chilean adults. Aim: To investigate the association between hearing impairment and cognitive impairment, using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE, abridged version), in the Chilean population. Material and methods: 1,384 older adults aged ≥60 years, from 2009-2010 Chilean national health survey, were included. <13 points in the MMSE were considered suspicion of cognitive impairment. Hearing impairment was determined through a questionnaire including 3 domains. The association between cognitive and hearing loss was investigated using logistic regression. Results: An association between MMSE and each hearing disabilities studied was identified. As hearing impairments increased, the odd for cognitive impairment incremented by 59% (OR: 1.59 [95% IC: 1.38 a 1.82], p <0.0001). Conclusion: Hearing loss is a risk factor to develop cognitive impairment, which could translate into a high risk of dementia. Public politics implementation, focused in an early screening, could be an effective approach to prevent the complications associated with this hearing loss in older adults.

Prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en trabajadores de la Universidad Austral de Chile / Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in workers from Universidad Austral de Chile

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the first cause of death worldwide. Latin American countries including Chile has experience an increment in the prevalence of risk factors for CVDs. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in workers from Universidad Austral de Chile and to evaluate its relation with age and sex. Subjects and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2012 in 258 participants (55% males). Lifestyle and socio-economic questionnaire were applied and anthropometric (body mass index and waist circumference) and metabolic markers (glucose, lipid profile, and blood pressure) were measured in all participants. Results: Overall, 31.8% were obese, 38.9% had central obesity, 31.6% had high total cholesterol, 45.2% had lower HDL cholesterol, 34.4% had higher triglycerides, 7.4% had diabetes, 29.6% had hypertension, 35.6% had metabolic syndrome and 23.6% were physically inactive. Conclusions: The study population shows a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. These cardiovascular risk factors increase with age, however this increase did not differ by sex.

Antecedentes: Las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) constituyen la principal causa de muerte a nivel mundial. En Chile, al igual que en otros países latinoamericanos, se han observado incrementos en las prevalencias de los principales factores de riesgo para estas enfermedades en la población general. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV) en funcionarios de la Universidad Austral de Chile y evaluar su relación con la edad y sexo. Sujetos y métodos: Estudio de corte transversal realizado el año 2012. Se aplicó un cuestionario de estilos de vida y caracterización socio-económica. Se determinaron las características antropométricas (índice de masa corporal y circunferencia de cintura) y metabólicas (glicemia, perfil lipídico y presión arterial). Resultados: Se evaluaron 258 participantes (55,4% hombres). Se observó 31,8% de obesidad, 38,9% obesidad abdominal, 31,6% colesterol total elevado, 45,2% colesterol HDL disminuido, 34,4% triglicéridos elevados, 7,4% diabetes, 29,6% hipertensión, 35,6% síndrome metabólico, 23,6% actividad física insuficiente. Conclusiones: La población estudiada presenta alta prevalencia de los principales FRCV, los que aumentan con la edad, siendo esta asociación similar para ambos sexos.

Efecto de una intervención centrada en la reducción de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en estudiantes universitarios / Effects of an intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk factors in university students

Background: Interventions aiming to reduce obesity and sedentary behaviors in young adults could be a feasible and effective approach to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Aim: To evaluate the effect of a lifestyle-based intervention on reducing cardiovascular risk factors in university students. Material and Methods: Sixty university students aged 21 ± 1 years (n = 44 females) took part on a 17 weeks lifestyle intervention consisting in education about healthy lifestyles and physical training, during a curricular course about health promotion and healthy lifestyles. At baseline and at the end of the intervention participants completed a lifestyles questionnaire and provided fasting blood samples to quantify glucose and lipids profile. Results: After the intervention significant reductions in the prevalence of hyperglycemia (-10.0%), high blood pressure (-16.7%) and physical inactivity (-26.7%) were observed. Moreover, a significant reduction in body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides and an increase in HDL cholesterol were observed after intervention. Conclusions: The implementation of an intervention to promote healthy lifestyles is an effective way of reducing cardiovascular risk factors in university students.

Factores de riesgo cardiovascular en estudiantes de la Universidad Austral de Chile / Cardiovascular risk factors among university students

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are related to particular lifestyle patterns and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF). Aim: To evaluate the presence of CVRF in students from Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh). Material and Methods: CVRF were evaluated in 385 university students aged 17 to 26years (63% women). Personal background, lifestyle, anthropometry, blood pressure, serum lipids and blood glucose were evaluated. Results: Eighty eight percent of evaluated students had sedentary habits, 19% had high LDL cholesterol levels, 40% had high blood pressure, 28% smoked, 29% were overweight or obese and 20% had some stress level. Conclusions: There is a high frequency of non-healthy lifestyles and cardiovascular risk factors in this sample of university students.