Chronic urticaria in a health maintenance organization of Buenos Aires, Argentina - new data that increase global knowledge of this disease

Abstract: Background: In spite of the frequency of chronic urticaria, there are no epidemiological studies on its prevalence in Argentina. Objective: The objective of this study was to define the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of chronic urticaria patients in Buenos Aires. Methods: The population studied were the members of the Italian Hospital Medical Care Program, a prepaid health maintenance organization located in the urban areas around the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. All patients with diagnosis of chronic urticaria members of the Italian Hospital Medical Care Program, and with at least 12 months of follow up were included in the study. All medical records obtained between January 1st, 2012 and December 31, 2014 were analyzed. The prevalence ratio for chronic urticaria per 100,000 population with 95% CI for December 31, 2014 was calculated. The prevalence rate for the entire population and then discriminated for adults and pediatric patients (less than 18 years old at diagnosis) was assessed. Results: 158,926 members were analyzed. A total of 463 cases of chronic urticaria were identified on prevalence date (68 in pediatrics, 395 in adults), yielding a crude point prevalence ratio of 0.29% (CI 95% 0.26-0.31%). The observed prevalence of chronic urticaria in the adult population was 0.34 % (95% CI 0.31-0.38%), while in pediatrics it was 0.15 % (95% CI 0.11-0.20%). Study limitations: the main weakness is that the results were obtained from an HMO and therefore the possibility of selection bias. Conclusions: chronic urticaria is a global condition. Its prevalence in Buenos Aires is comparable with other countries.

Beneficiários de uma cooperativa médica: perfil sociodemográfico e assistencial / Beneficiaries of a medical cooperative service: their sociodemographic and care profile

Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil sócio-demográfico e assistencial de pacientes hospitalizados. Métodos: pesquisa descritiva com abordagem quantitativa realizada em unidades de internação de um hospital de ensino de capacidade extra, no interior do estado de São Paulo. Os sujeitos do estudo foram 172 beneficiários de uma cooperativa médica internados no período de novembro de 2007 a março de 2008. Eles foram classificados aplicando-se o instrumento de Perroca. Resultados: Os resultados revelaram predomínio do gênero feminino (54,1%), idade média de 45 ± 15 anos. Destacaram-se maiores percentuais na modalidade de tratamento clínico 121 (70,3%) e nas especialidades de cirurgia geral 40 (23,3%) e ginecologia/obstetrícia 19 (11%). Houve maior incidência de pacientes na categoria de cuidados mínimos (43,7%). Conclusão: O conhecimento do perfil da clientela favorece ao planejamento de ações assistenciais, educativas e preventivas pelo gerente de enfermagem e intervenções no processo de trabalho.

Objective: To characterize the sociodemographic and care profile of hospitalized patients. Methods: Descriptive research with quantitative approach performed in hospitalization units of a school hospital of large capacity, located in the state of São Paulo. The subjects of the study were 172 beneficiaries of a medical cooperative service hospitalized in the period from November 2007 to March 2008. Perroca's instrument was used to classify them. Results: The results showed prevalence of the female gender (54.1%), mean age 45± 15 years old. The highest hospitalization percentages were observed on the modality of clinical treatment 121 (70.3%) and in the specialties of General surgery 40 (23.3%), Gynecology/Obstetritics 19(11%). Higher incidence of patients in the category of minimum care (43.4%) was observed. Conclusion: The knowledge of the clientele’s profile provides an adequate planning of care, educational and preventive actions to the nursing manager and also interventions in the working process.

El gasto de Argentina en salud / Health expenditure in Argentina

El propósito de este artículo es presentar el financiamiento y gasto del sector salud en Argentina, tema que adquiere actualmente relevancia y constituye la base para discutir las cuestiones sanitarias y un elemento útil para la decisión de los agentes públicos y privados. Los gastos y el financiamiento del sector salud son analizados en la primera sección, en la que se hace hincapié en los cambios operados en los últimos años. En la sección siguiente se estudian los gastos y el financiamiento público que abarca los ámbitos nacional, provincia y municipal. Por último se presentan los gastos y financiamiento del sistema de seguridad social

Utilización de servicios de salud en la provincia de Santiago / Useful of health services in Santiago

Se examinan las características más relevantes de la utilización que la población adulta de Santiago hace de los servicios de salud general y de salud mental que se le ofrecen. La información se obtuvo con la aplicación, por entrevistadores legos, de un instrumento especialmente diseñado para medir patrones de utilización y niveles de satisfacción, a una muestra probabilística de 1363 sujetos, representativa de la población mayor de 15 años de la provincia de Santiago, la que también fue evaluada psiquiátricamente. Destaca que las consultas y hospitalizaciones por enfermedad física son, a diferencia de otros estudios, similares en el grupo con algún trastorno psiquiátrico y en la población general. La mayoría de las consultas de salud mental son hechas a amigos y sacerdotes o ministros, comparativamente con especialistas o médicos generales. Sin embargo, el nivel de satisfacción es muy alto tanto con los servicios de salud general como con los de salud mental