ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The vitamin D deficiency is high in the elderly population. Calcium and vitamin D supplements is a frequently used measure in individuals at risk for falls and/or fractures. However, this practice has achieved a low level of compliance. The aim is to assess the adherence to treatment with calcium and vitamin D in elders with hypovitaminosis D in an urban area of Madrid. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Intervention study performed on 438 individuals ≥65years from the 'Peñagrande Cohort' with hypovitaminosis D that were treated with calcium and vitamin D. Adherence at 3 and 12 months was assessed using the Morisky-Green and counting of prescriptions written. RESULTS: A total of 413 of the 438 individuals with hypovitaminosis D were analysed (18 patients were not treated because of contraindications, and 7 were considered lost). At 3 and 12 months, 63.9% and 47.2%, respectively, were adherents. After a brief educational intervention, 19.3% of individuals without adherence at 3 months became good compliers when measured at one year. Comorbidity was associated with lower rates of adherence to treatment after one year (46.3% versus 35.2%, P=.027). The main cause of non-adherence to calcium was digestive intolerance, and due to oversights for vitamin D. Concordance between adherence assessed by the Morisky test and counting of prescriptions written was high (Kappa index=69.8%). CONCLUSIONS: Non-adherence to chronic treatment with calcium and vitamin D is a relevant problem in elderly. It is important to assess adherence and implement health education strategies in clinical practice.
Subject(s)
Calcium/therapeutic use , Vitamin D Deficiency/drug therapy , Vitamin D/therapeutic use , Vitamins/therapeutic use , Accidental Falls , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cohort Studies , Dietary Supplements , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We pretend to improve the knowledge and management of pityriasis rosea by family practitioners. DESIGN: A retrospective qualitative study by the review of the registry in a outpatient Dermatology clinic. SETTING: This work is made in the Dermatology clinic attending to San Sebastián de los Reyes population (Madrid) that's situated in the V Centenario Center. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 46 patients (28 females) were diagnosticated (mean age 25 +/- 13). Incidence was 85/100,000 hab; 12 patients were derivated urgently; 38 cases showed herald patch (82.6%). Lesions had characteristical distribution in 36 patients (78.3%); 43 cases had a clinic diagnosis (93.5%). Treatment wasn't necessary in 20 patients (43.5%). Most usual General Practitioner's presumption diagnosis was pityriasis rosea (21.7%); there was no diagnosis in 36.9%. CONCLUSIONS: We find inexperience in general practitioners about pityriasis rosea. It's necessary a correct knowledge and management of this pathology in Primary Care.
Subject(s)
Pityriasis/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Primary Health Care , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To review the clinical, histological, evolutive and therapeutical characteristics of basal cell carcinoma and the pigmented subtype. DESIGN: Descriptive transversal study. LOCATION: Primary Care; Clinic of Dermatology in a Primary Care of Madrid. PARTICIPANTS: Seven patients (4 males, 3 females) over 60 years old with pigmented lesions and skin little pigmented. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Medical records and the histological examination were reviewed in all the cases. The clinical evolution had been the same in all the patients starting with an asymptomatic papular lesion of dark pigmentation growing slowly. Finally the lesions were transformed to a plaque or a shining nodule. Prolonged exposure to sunlight was present in five cases. All the patients were referred to the Dermatology Clinic with the presumptive diagnosis of melanoma. The lesion histological examination was diagnostic. CONCLUSIONS: It is very important the knowledge of basal cell carcinoma in Primary Care due the elevated incidence mainly among the geriatric population and the immunosupressed subjects. We must think in this type of neoplasia, doing the differential diagnosis with the other pigmented lesions. It is necessary to perform the histological examination of the suspects lesions.