The prevalence of latent tuberculous infection at nursing homes in the San Juan metropolitan area

We sought to establish the Tuberculin skin status of a representative sample of subjects residing in Nursing Homes in the metropolitan San Juan area. In comparison with similar populations previously described in the medical literature, no difference was found in Tuberculin skin test reactivity in the studied sample.

Continuous positive airway pressure and obstructive sleep apnea in an Hispanic population.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to explore the relationship between the diagnosis of hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a Hispanic population, describe the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on blood pressure regulation, and assess the effect of CPAP on quality of life. DESIGN: A retrospective, recall interview study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients enrolled at the Home Oxygen Program of the San Juan V.A. Medical Center with the diagnosis of OSA and treatment with CPAP. MEASUREMENTS: The Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life Index was administered to all patients after informed consent. Information regarding co-morbid conditions and fluctuations in blood pressure and anthropometric variables were obtained on a follow-up evaluation. RESULTS: After excluding for the use of antihypertensive medications, weight, and age, a 10% decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) from 100 mm Hg to 92 mm Hg was observed in an average of 40 months of therapy (p < 0.05). With the Calgary Quality of Life Index, 67% of the patients reported an extreme improvement in their quality of life. Compliance with CPAP therapy correlated with improved quality of life (r = 0.33, p < 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, there appears to be a correlation between our intervention and decline of blood pressure, independent of body weight, age, or medication usage. CPAP treatment is an effective modality in improving symptoms and quality of life.

Level of education, lifestyle, and morbidity in two groups of white collar workers.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the relationship between level of education, lifestyle, and morbidity in two groups of male white collar workers, and to determine whether any differences found could be related to objective differences in working conditions. DESIGN: The study was a survey of a random sample of commercial travellers and a sample of men with sedentary occupations, representing two different groups of white collar workers. Survey interviews were conducted during the annual compulsory medical examination. Subjects were classified into three levels of education and differences according to level of education were studied in relation to 40 frequent health problems, lifestyle variables, body mass index, height, and working conditions. SUBJECTS: There were 1364 men in the commercial traveller group, mean age 39.5 years, and 525 men in the sedentary group, mean age 36.2 years. There were 22 exclusions because of unclassifiable levels of education and four refused to be interviewed. SETTING: The study took place in 11 towns in France. MAIN RESULTS: When age was taken into account there were only minor differences in the prevalence of health disorders. Lifestyle variables and height were clearly related to the level of education. Observed differences could not be explained by constraints or declared difficulties in working conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in health practices related to level of education are observed even in groups that are relatively homogeneous socially. Lifestyle may be important as an intermediate determinant of health disorders among less educated people.

Low-back pain in commercial travelers.

The role of occupational environment in the occurrence of low-back pain was analyzed for 1719 commercial travelers (1376 men and 343 women). At the beginning of the study (T0) the group was interviewed to determine current lifestyle and occupational factors associated with low-back pain during the previous 12 months. Twelve months later (at T1), a subsample of 1118 persons (893 men, 225 women) was reinterviewed to study the association between the incidence of low-back pain during the year of follow-up and the risk factors at T0. At T0 low-back pain was significantly related with time spent driving a car at work, comfort of the car seat, carrying loads during work, standing for long periods at work, smoking, and psychosomatic factors. At T1 driving 10 h/week or more, seat comfort, and psychosomatic factors were associated with first occurrence of low-back pain.