[Tobacco consumption in the population insured by Mexican Institute of Social Security]. / Consumo de tabaco en la población derechohabiente del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of tobacco consumption among the active insured population of the Mexican Social Security Institute. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study in which the active insured population from the 36 political delegations was interviewed by means of a structured and self-applicable questionnaire on tobacco consumption, age of initiation, amount of cigarettes consumed and suspension. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 45 117 subjects, of which approximately half were men and half women. Smoking prevalence in men was 40% and in women, 17.6%. Prevalence was highest in the north of the country. There is an effect of age on tobacco consumption and more than half started smoking during adolescence. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking prevalence was found to be high, however, the average number of cigarettes is low. Suspension index is low. Public health measures are necessary to diminish this addiction.

[Epidemiologic aspects of the aged at the Mexican Institute of Social Security]. / Aspectos epidemiológicos del adulto mayor en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to present dynamic changes within the population over 65 years of age who are covered by the Mexican Institute of Social Security (MISS), through morbidity and mortality analysis, during the last 6 and 10 years respectively. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Based on data from the Epidemiologic Bulletins from 1990 to 1995 and from 1985 to 1994, the morbidity and mortality rates, respectively, were calculated for the Mexican population over 65 who are covered by the MISS. Incidence of diseases was used as a measure of occurrence and the ratio of morbidity and mortality rates was calculated as the measure of effect. RESULTS: An epidemiological transition exists, with a tendency towards aging among this population. In terms of morbidity, infectious and chronic diseases coexist; as for mortality, chronic-degenerative diseases predominate. CONCLUSIONS: This represents a challenge for health care within institutional services, as this population group begins to compete with other priority groups and emergency needs. Epidemiological surveillance and research is essential to support decision-making.

[Epidemiology of cervical cancer at the Mexican Institute of Social Security]. / Epidemiología del cáncer cervicouterino en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

In order to study the secular trend and age and geographic distribution of cervical cancer at the Mexican Institute for Social Security, an ecologic study was carried on. During the last 10 years cervical cancer has been the second most common neoplasia, being the leading one in women. For those between 30 and 44 years old it is the third cause of death, and one of the first ten in all age groups until 64. Mortality has shown a stable trend for the last 15 years, in a range from 3.3 to 4.5 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. Mortality rates increase with age. There is a fine-fold increase in the risk of death for women 40 to 49 years old (CI 95% 4.2-6.4%) and a tenfold increase for those over 80, (CI 95% 7.3-12.6) when taking those under 40 years old as a reference group. In 1989, the cervical cancer incidence was 9.7 cases for each 100,000 person-years. Morbidity and mortality are unequally distributed along the country. There is a need for the development of research in order to know better the occurrence of this disease as well as how known risk factors affect it.