ABSTRACT
Abstract The usefulness of an industrial product must be measured both in economic profitability and product safety terms, and the social benefit it represents. In the case of asbestos, due to its harmful effects on human health, its use, handling and production has been banned in high-income countries thanks to the efforts carried out by their oversight bodies. Worldwide, the industrial use of this mineral has been associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, hence the importance of denouncing the health effects of asbestos. Asbestos is a term used to refer to six naturally occurring silicate minerals that are used in the manufacture of building materials, such as asbestos-cement, and automotive components, including brake linings and brake pads; however, it has been proven that inhaling asbestos microscopic fibers can lead to the development of lung diseases (pneumoconiosis) and cancer. In many cases, these diseases are caused by a short occupational or environmental exposure to it, but their clinical manifestation occurs several years after the first time of exposure. The main objective of this paper is to reflect on the hazards related to the use of asbestos and to influence public health policies addressing this problem in Colombia, so that by means of the newly adopted law banning the use of this mineral in our country, significant progress is made in aspects such as the identification and the monitoring of people who were exposed to it, and the handling, removal and final disposal of materials containing asbestos.
Resumen La utilidad de un producto industrial se debe medir tanto por su rentabilidad económica, como por su seguridad y beneficio social. En el caso del asbesto, debido a sus efectos adversos sobre la salud, su uso, manipulación y producción se ha prohibido en países de altos ingresos gracias a esfuerzos realizados por sus respectivos entes de control. A nivel mundial, el uso industrial de este mineral se ha asociado con altas tasas de morbimortalidad, de ahí la importancia de denunciar sus efectos para la salud. El asbesto comprende un grupo de seis minerales fibrosos de origen natural que la industria utiliza en la fabricación de materiales de construcción en fibro-cemento y frenos de automóviles; sin embargo, se ha demostrado que la inhalación de sus fibras microscópicas puede producir enfermedades pulmonares (neumoconiosis) y cáncer. En muchos casos, estas enfermedades son causadas por una corta exposición laboral o ambiental al material y se manifiestan años después. El principal objetivo de este documento es reflexionar sobre los peligros del uso del asbesto e influir en las políticas de salud pública al respecto, esto para que con la recién aprobada ley que prohíbe el asbesto en Colombia se logren avances significativos en temas como la identificación y el seguimiento de las personas que estuvieron expuestas, y el manejo, remoción y eliminación de los productos que contienen el mineral.
ABSTRACT
Background: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) increases morbidity, mortality and hospital stay in critical patients units (CPU). Aim: To determine the incidence and mortality of AKI in CPU. Material and Methods: Review of electronic medical records of 1,769 patients aged 61 ± 20 years (47% males) discharged from a CPU during one year. Acute Kidney Injury diagnosis and severity was established using the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria. Results: A history of hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus was present in 44 and 22% of patients, respectively. APACHE II and SOFA scores were 14.6 ± 6.8 and 3.6 ± 2.1 respectively. AKI incidence was 28.9% (stage I, 16.7%, stage II, 5.3% and stage III, 6.9%). Mortality during the first 30 days and during the first year was 8.1 and 20.0% respectively. Patients with stage III AKI had the highest mortality (23.8 and 40.2% at 30 days and one year respectively). Compared with patients without AKI, the Odds ratio for mortality at 30 days and one year of patients with AKI stage III was 3.7 and 2.5, respectively. Conclusions: Thirty percent of patients admitted to UPC develop an AKI, which influences 30 days and one year mortality.