Factores de riesgo cardiovascular en una cohorte de mujeres de edad media / Cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of middle-age women

Background: It is generally accepted that menopause significantly modifies cardiovascular risk. The effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on this risk remain controversial. Aim: To study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (RF) in middle-aged women and their changes with aging, menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Material and methods: cardiovascular risk factors were assessed in 576 women aged 40 to 59 years in 1991-92. Five years later, 467 of these women were reassessed. Results: Sedentarism (87.2 percent), dyslipidemias (71.5 percent), high blood pressure (13.5 percent), obesity (13.1 percent), smoking (12.4 percent) and diabetes (2.8 percent) were the most prevalent RF. Five years later, the prevalence of hypertension increased to 20.9 percent, the prevalence of obesity increased to 27.3 percent, smoking increased to 20.8 percent and diabetes to 5.9 percent. The prevalence of dyslipidemia did not change, although triglycerides levels rose from 125.9Ý56.4 to 136.8Ý63.5 mg/dl (p <0.001). Sedentarism dropped to 58.8 percent. Menopause did not deteriorate any of these RF. The use of HRT increased during the 5 years follow-up from 3.8 percent to 35 percent. Women on HRT experienced 3 percent decrease in LDL-cholesterol and 9 percent increase in HDL-cholesterol levels. Conclusions: Middle aged women included in this cohort have a high prevalence of RF. There is a deterioration with age, but not with menopause. HRT improves the lipid profile

Homenaje póstumo al Profesor Dr. Luis Hervé Lelievre / Professor Luis Hervé, MD: a tribute

Revista Médica de Chile pays a well-deserved tribute in memory of a distinguished physician, an eminent Professor of Medicine and a true scholar. Co-founder of the specialty of Cardiology and of Angiology in Chile, former President of the Chilean Society of Internal Medicine and the role-model of several generations of disciples, he will be remembered as an outstanding teacher and clinician

Aparato digestivo senil / The elderly's digestive system

Con el envejecimiento se producen alteraciones fisiológicas en todo el aparato digestivo, con atrofia y disminución de la capacidad funcional de manera más o menos intensa, con modificación de sus características preservándose la capacidad de adaptación a las nuevas condiciones fisiológicas que acompañan al viejo hasta la muerte. Se analizan las principales patologías digestivas que se asocian con el envejecimiento y los diferentes factores que inciden en ellas. Se describen las consecuencias clínicas de estas alteraciones y la prevalencia clínica de determinadas patologías haciendo notar las dificultades diagnósticas y los medios diagnósticos utilizados en algunas de ellas

La patología senil desde el punto de vista clínico / The semile pathology from a clinical paint of view

As a consequence of age and the series of diseases, traumatisms and degenerative afrections impinging on all the organs of the economics it is mandatory to satisfactorily evaluate the elderly patient so to detect his shortcomings, treat and modify them. The concept of aging, geriatrics and gerontology is analysed, focussing on the disadvantages and psycho-organic third age modifications in their physical, mental and social aspects. One must be aware of the elderly's multiple pathology, his symptoms and signs and senility's most frequent diseases, amny of wich are chronic or invalidaing, and keep in mind the elderly's integration into his home and family enviroment this offering the best from the clinical and cultural point of view