Consumo de tabaco y uso del consejo médico estructurado como estrategia preventiva del tabaquismo en médicos chilenos / The influence of smoking habits of Chilean physicians on the use of the structured medical advice about smoking

Background: Structured medical advice on smoking is the prevention strategy with better cost-effectiveness ratio. Aim: To evaluate smoking among health care providers affect the application of this preventive strategy. Material and Methods: We surveyed 235physicians working in public and private hospitals in different cities over the country, about their smoking habits, their views on smoking as cardiovascular risk factor and the implementation of three key points of the structured medical advice about smoking. Results: Physicians aged less than 44 years had the lower frequency of smoking and the higher frequency of ex-smokers concentrated among those aged 60 years or more. All surveyed physicians agreed that smoking is a cardiovascular risk factor. However, 21% considered that this risk appears only among those that smoke more than three cigarettes per day. Independent of their smoking habits, 18% of physicians not always ask their patients about smoking, 25% do not warn about the risk of smoking and 22% not always give advice about quitting. This last action is carried out with a significantly lower frequency by smoking physicians. Conclusions: To improve physician's compliance with their preventive role in clinical practice, it is essential to consider their own smoking habits, and the information and attitudes that they have towards smoking as a cardiovascular risk factor.

Impacto de la occidentalización sobre factores de riesgo cardiovascular en inmigrantes asiáticos residentes en el Norte Grande de Chile / Cardiovascular risk factors in Asian populations migrating to the north of Chile

Antecedentes: Existen pocos estudios clínicos que muestren la relación entre la migración de poblaciones y el aumento en enfermedades cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Comparar factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV) entre colonias chinas (CHI) e indias (IND) residentes en Chile. Metodología: Estudio analítico-descriptivo, transversal. Se analizó a la colonia china (n=43) e india (n=41), incluyendo a los residentes en Chile por más de dos años. Se rnidió: peso, talla, perímetro de cintura (PC), indice de masa corporal (IMC), presión arterial, sedentarismo, hábitos alimentarios, trastornos depresivo y ansiosos, y adicción a! tabaco, además de examen psiquiátrico según DMS-IV Se midieron niveles plasmáticos de triglicéridos, colesterol, hormonas tiroideas, glicemia en ayunas y post-prandial, insulinemia basal y post -sobre carga de glucosa. Análisis Estadístico: T de student, Chi cuadrado. Resultados: Encontramos un peso promedio de 71 +/- 10 en IND v/s 66 +/- 14 kg en CHI, PC 89 +/- 11 v/s 79 +/- 12 cm, IMC 27 +/- 4 v/s 24 4, colesterol total 201 +/- 41 v/s 180 +/-35 mg/dl, colesterol HDL 43 +/- 11 v/s48 +/- 13 mg/dl, Colesterol LDL 125 +/- 33 v/s 107 29 mg/dl, TSH 7.3 +/- 6 v/s 1.8 +/- 1.2 uUl +/-ml, Insulinemia post-prandial 93 +/- 89 v/s 39 +/- 34 Ul/mI, respectivame+/-nte, además de sedentarismo 11 en IND v/s 2 en CHI, hábitos alimentarios sanos 26 v/s 39, beber problema 20 v/s 34, adicción al tabaco 8 v/s 17, Síndrome Metabólico 14 v/s 6, siendo todas estas diferencias significativas. En ambos grupos no se encontraron trastornos depresivos ni ansiosos. Conclusiones: Encontramos un serio impacto del fenómeno migratorio en FRCV de IND, lo que impulse a fomentar cambios en estilos de vida de esa población. Es notable la ausencia de patologías depresivas y ansiosas en ambos grupos.

Background: few clinical studies show a relation between migration and an increase prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Aim: to study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, including the metabolic syndrome, in Indian and Chinese natives flying in Chile for more than 2 years. Methods: Subjects from either Indian or Chinese origin living in Chile for more than 2 years were evaluated for the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. Wight. height, girth index, body mass index, blood pressure. degree of sedentarism, type of foods and pattern of eating and smoking habits were determined. Plasma lipid, thyroid hormone, fasting and post glucose load (75g) sugar and insulin levels were determined. DSM IV was used to evaluate subjects for the presence of depression or anxiety. Students t test and chi square tests at and alpha level of 5 percent were used to determine statistical significance, as appropriate. Results: Significant differences between the Indian and Chinese groups were, respectively: weight (71.4 vs 66.5, p<0.04); girth index (89.1 vs 79.2, p<0.002); BMI (26.9 vs 23.9 p<0.002); total cholesterol (201.6 vs 180.1 (p<0.05); HOL cholesterol (43.4 vs 47.9, p<0.04); LOL cholesterol (125 vs 107, p<0.004); TSH (7.3 vs 1.8, p<0.036),’ post glucose load insulin level (93.1 vs 39.1, p<0.002). A comparison of the Indian vs the Chinese group also showed relevant differences in presence of sedentarism (11 percent vs 2 percent, p<0.02); healthy eating habits (26 vs 39 percent, p<0.02); excessive alcohol consumption (20 vs 34 percent, p<0.03); tobacco addiction (8 vs 17 percent, p<0. 046) and presence of metabolic syndrome (14 vs 6 percent, p<0. 029). Psycho social problems like presence of depression or anxiety disorders were not detected in any group. Conclusion: The original Indian subjects had a high prevalence of several cardiovascular risk factors, making necessary the promotion of healthy life styles in that population.