[Reported prevalence of family history of colorectal cancer in the city of Gijon (Spain)]. / Prevalencia declarada de antecedentes familiares de cáncer colorrectal en la población de Gijón.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) in a population between 40 and 75 years-old, as well as acceptability and early diagnosis tests made. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study. LOCATION: El Coto and El Llano (Gijon) primary care health centres. A total of 800 individuals aged between 40 and 75 years participated, selected by simple random sampling. Key measurements: questionnaire conducted by telephone with previous notice by newsletter. The variables studied were: family history (FH) of CRC, age at diagnosis, performance of faecal occult blood test (FOBT)/colonoscopy, reason for doing it or refusing it, and sociodemographic data. RESULTS: A total of 664 questionnaires were valid. The prevalence of FH was 15.8% (confidence interval 12.9 to 18.6), with 8.8% with at least one first degree relative. An FOBT screening had been performed on 7.1%, and 17.9% had undergone colonoscopies, mostly on clinical grounds. Acceptability was 90.7% for FOBT and 65.2% for colonoscopy. Main reason for the refusal of an FOBT was the belief that early diagnosis would not alter prognosis. Main reason for rejection of colonoscopy was discomfort or fear of the test. CONCLUSIONS: There was a low rate of testing for FH, and a high acceptability for FOBT and a low acceptability for colonoscopy. Aspects affecting the general population (causes for rejection, need for clear information), as well as a correct coordination between Primary Care, specialized care, and public health, need to be reviewed.

Estudio de prevalencia de isquemia crónica de miembros inferiores y de aneurisma de aorta abdominal en mayores de 65 años / A study of the prevalence of chronic ischaemia in the lower limbs and abdominal aortic aneurysms in persons over the age of 65

Introducción. El aumento de la expectativa de vida ha conducido a que patologías vasculares, especialmente prevalentes en el segmento de población con más edad, se hayan constituido en problemas de salud. Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia de la isquemia crónica (IC) y de los aneurismas de aorta abdominal (AAA) infrarrenal en la población mayor de 65 años del Área Sanitaria V (Gijón) del Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias. Pacientes y métodos. Se diseña un estudio descriptivo transversal, incluyendo finalmente 232 pacientes, 114 hombres y 118 mujeres, seleccionados aleatoriamente a partir de los datos de la tarjeta sanitaria. Se les explora, se realiza un eco-Doppler de la aorta abdominal y se calcula el índice tobillo-brazo. Resultados. La prevalencia de la IC es del 9,9% y de un 2,6% para el AAA. Se desagregan los resultados por sexos y dos grupos de edad, de 65-74 años y mayores de 75. La prevalencia de la IC está seis puntos por encima en el grupo de los mayores de 75 años (13,4%) y la del AAA es más de siete veces superior (5,2%). Conclusión. La prevalencia es más elevada en los mayores de 75 años y los varones para la IC y el AAA, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Este estudio abre las puertas a un seguimiento de los integrantes de la muestra, que permita determinar la incidencia de las diversas patologías

Introduction. As life expectancy has increased, vascular pathologies, which are especially prevalent in the most elderly segment of the population, have become a health problem. Aim. To determine the prevalence of chronic ischaemia (CI) and infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) in a population of persons over 65 years of age from Health Care District V (Gijón) of the Principality of Asturias Health Service. Patients and methods. A cross-sectional descriptive study was designed, which finally included 232 patients (114 males and 118 females) who were selected at random from the data contained in their health card. They were examined, submitted to a Doppler ultrasound scan of the abdominal aorta and their ankle-brachial index was calculated. Results. The prevalence of CI was found to be 9.9% and 2.6% for AAA. Results were broken down by sexes and two age groups: 65-74 years and over 75 years of age. The prevalence of CI was six points higher in the group of over 75s (13.4%) and that of AAA was seven times higher (5.2%). Conclusions. For CI and AAA, prevalence was higher in persons over 75 years old and males, with statistically significant differences. This study opens the way to a follow-up of the participants in the sample, which would allow us to determine the incidence of several different pathologies

[The short-term effects of air pollution on mortality: the results of the EMECAM project in 2 cities of Asturias. Estudio Multicéntrico Español sobre la Relación entre la Contaminación Atmosférica y la Mortalidad]. / Efectos a corto plazo de la contaminación atmosférica sobre la mortalidad: resultados del proyecto EMECAM en dos ciudades de Asturias.

BACKGROUND: The studies conducted to date regarding the possibility that air pollutants, at levels considered safe to date, are capable of having impact are capable of having impact on human health have not led to homogeneous findings. This study is aimed at estimating the degrees of relationship between the daily levels of the pollutants and the death rate on a short-terms basis in the two most populated cities in Austria (Gijón and Oviedo), as well as contributing to increasing the statistical importance and the representative nature of the EMECAM Project, within which this study is comprised. METHODS: Ecological time series study, Estimate of degrees of group exposure based on the readings taken at the pollution control stations. Modeling of the death rate series, including control variables, by means of Poisson regression. Estimating risks related to each pollutant for the death rate, controlling the series-based autocorrelation. RESULTS: Throughout the 1993-1996 period, the pollution by means of particles in suspension and CO was greater in Gijón, that involving SO2 and NO2 having been greater in Oviedo. In these two cities, the levels can be considered to be low and to fall within what is considered admissible under the laws currently in impact. Most of the relative risk forecasts neared the zero impact point, although significant positive (especially for NO2) as well as negative relationships have been found to exist. The significant relationships found were not proven to be consistent in these two cities for the periods studied. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of this study, the conclusion cannot be drawn that a clear-cut relationship exists between the pollutants studied (particles, SO2, NO2, CO) and the death rate on a short-term basis, at least at the levels detected in Gijón and Oviedo.

[An evaluation of the feasibility and validity of a scale of social assessment of the elderly]. / Evaluación de la fiabilidad y validez de una escala de valoración social en el anciano.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the reliability and validity of a scale of social evaluation of the elderly. DESIGN: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary care. PATIENTS: Sample of 1062 people from the over-65 population. INTERVENTIONS: The scale evaluated has five items (family situation, economic situation, housing, relationships and social support), and an overall score is obtained. Its reliability was evaluated by an interview with two observers, and validity by contrasting the score obtained on the scale with a reference criterion of an independent, blind assessment by a social work expert. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient (inter-observer reliability) was 0.957. The Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.4467, which denoted moderate to low internal consistency. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for the validity of the criterion. Nevertheless, to detect social problems in care practice, probability proportions for different levels on the scale were more useful. These ranged from 1 to 23, while in the detection of social risk they ranged from 1 to infinity. CONCLUSIONS: The scale studied by us as a measuring instrument enables risk situations and social problems to be detected with good reliability and acceptable validity. It should be introduced into the care practice of professionals working in the social or health care of the elderly.