Intervención educativa a cuidadores de enfermos con síndrome demencial en zonas rurales. GBT No. 1 / Educational intervention for caregivers of patients with dementia syndrome in rural areas GBT No. 1 / Intervenção educacional para cuidadores de pacientes com síndrome de demência em áreas rurais GBT No. 1

RESUMEN Las personas, en el proceso de desarrollo, requieren alcanzar habilidades específicas para satisfacer las necesidades cotidianas, de tal manera que puedan vincularse a los distintos roles sociales de acuerdo con la etapa del proceso vital humano en el cual se encuentren. Con el objetivo de identificar el nivel de conocimientos y las habilidades de los cuidadores sobre las necesidades básicas para la atención a pacientes con síndrome demencial. Se diseñó una estrategia de intervención capacitante para elevar los conocimientos y las habilidades de los cuidadores. Se realizó una intervención donde se preparó a los 22 cuidadores de adultos mayores con síndrome demencial existentes en el periodo a evaluar en las habilidades de interés por parte de ellos, el estudio se dividió en cinco etapas, diagnóstica, intervención, evaluación, evaluación del impacto y comparación de los resultados de los cuidadores pertenecientes al área urbana y los del área rural. Antes de la preparación se obtuvo una evaluación de Mal (88,41%) de los casos evaluados, luego de realizar la intervención capacitante, el 88,23% de los cuidadores se evaluaron de bien. Se logró modificar el nivel de conocimientos y las habilidades de los cuidadores sobre las necesidades básicas para la atención a sus pacientes y se diseñó un programa de intervención educativa para los cuidadores del estudio.

ABSTRACT People, in the development process, require attaining specific skills to satisfy daily needs, so that they can be linked to different social roles according to the stage of the human life process in which they are. With the aim of identifying the level of knowledge and skills of caregivers about the basic needs for caring for patients with dementia syndrome. A training intervention strategy was designed to raise caregivers' knowledge and skills. A training intervention was carried out where the 22 caregivers of older adults with dementia syndrome existing in the period to be evaluated in the skills of interest by them were prepared, the study was divided into five stages, diagnostic, intervention, evaluation, evaluation of the impact and comparison of the results of the caregivers belonging to the urban area and those of the rural area. Before preparation, an evaluation of Mal (88.41%) of the cases evaluated was obtained. After performing the training intervention, 88.23% of the caregivers were evaluated well. It was possible to modify the level of knowledge and skills of the caregivers on the basic needs for the care of their patients and an educational intervention program was designed for the caregivers of the study.

RESUMO As pessoas, no processo de desenvolvimento, precisen adquirir habilidades específicas para satisfazer as necessidades diárias, de forma que possam ser ligadas a diferentes papéis sociais de acordo com o estágio do processo da vida humana em que se encontram. Com o objetivo de identificar o nível de conhecimento e habilidades dos cuidadores sobre as necessidades básicas de atendimento de pacientes com síndrome de demência. Uma estratégia de intervenção de treinamento foi projetada para aumentar o conhecimento e as habilidades dos cuidadores. Foi realizada uma intervenção de treinamento em que os 22 cuidadores de idosos com síndrome de demência existentes no período foram preparados para avaliar suas habilidades de interesse; o estudo foi dividido em cinco etapas: diagnóstico, intervenção, avaliação, avaliação da impacto e comparação dos resultados dos cuidadores pertencentes à área urbana e à área rural. Antes do preparo, obteve-se uma avaliação de Mal (88,41%) dos casos avaliados e, após a intervenção do treinamento, 88,23% dos cuidadores foram bem avaliados. Foi possível modificar o nível de conhecimento e habilidades dos cuidadores sobre as necessidades básicas de atendimento de seus pacientes e um programa de intervenção educacional foi elaborado para os cuidadores do estudo.

Prevalencia y factores de riesgo del síndrome demencial en personas mayores / Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dementia Syndrome in Elderly People

Introducción: En Cuba se han realizado estudios de base poblacional que resaltan las elevadas cifras de enfermedades demenciales (entre el 6,4 por ciento y el 10,8 por ciento) que afectan cada vez más la vida cotidiana de muchas personas y sus familias. Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia y los factores de riesgo del síndrome demencial en personas mayores. Métodos: Estudio observacional, analítico de corte transversal, en 249 personas mayores de 65 años o más y sus cuidadores, pertenecientes al policlínico 27 de noviembre del municipio Marianao, en el periodo de 2016-2018, seleccionados a partir de un muestreo intencional. Se aplicaron pruebas neuropsicológicas y encuesta sociodemográfica y de factores de riesgo a participantes e informantes. Se estimó la prevalencia de demencia según variables estudiadas (edad, sexo, escolaridad, vínculo conyugal, historia familiar de demencia y vida social activa) y se utilizó la regresión de Poisson en la búsqueda de asociaciones entre los factores de riesgo y el síndrome demencial. Resultados: De la población en estudio, 12,1 por ciento presentó síndrome demencial, la demencia Alzheimer fue la más frecuente en 70 por ciento de los casos. La prevalencia fue superior en el grupo de 80 años y más (23,3 por ciento), en el sexo femenino (12,7 vs. 10,6 por ciento), en los participantes sin vínculo conyugal (15,7 por ciento vs. 9,5 por ciento) y disminuyó con el aumento del nivel de escolaridad (0 por ciento en universitarios y 33.3 por ciento en iletrados). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de demencia fue elevada en la población estudiada. La mayor edad, el sexo femenino, el bajo nivel de escolaridad y no presentar vínculo conyugal fueron factores de riesgo asociados a esta enfermedad(AU)

Introduction: Population-based studies carried out in Cuba have permitted to evidence the high numbers of dementia diseases (between 6.4 percent and 10.8 percent) that increasingly affect the daily lives of many people and their families. Objective: To estimate prevalence and risk factors of dementia syndrome in elderly people. Methods: Observational, analytical and cross-sectional study carried out, in the period 2016-2018, with 249 people aged 65 years or older and their caregivers, who belonged to 27 de Noviembre Polyclinic of Marianao Municipality and selected through intentional sampling. Neuropsychological tests were applied to participants and respondents, as well as a sociodemographic and risk factor survey. The prevalence of dementia was estimated according to the variables studied (age, sex, education level, marital relationship, family history of dementia and active social life) and Poisson regression was used to search for associations between risk factors and dementia syndrome. Results: 12.1 percent of the study population had dementia syndrome; Alzheimer's dementia was the most frequent, accounting for 70 percent of the cases. The prevalence was higher in the group aged 80 years and older (23.3 percent), in females (12.7 percent vs. 10.6 percent), as well as in participants without a marital relationship (15.7 percent vs. 9, 5 percent), and decreased with the increase in education level (0 percent in university students and 33.3 percent in non-university students). Conclusions: The prevalence of dementia was high in the studied population. Older ages, the female sex, a low education level and not having a marital relationship were risk factors associated with the disease(AU)

Cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory activity among centenarians with and without dementia.

A better knowledge of the differences existing between individuals who maintain cognition up to 100 years of age or more and those of the same age who present dementia syndrome may be of help in understanding the dementia of the very elderly people. The aim of this study was to assess cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers among centenarians with and without dementia. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted on centenarians residing in a middle-size city. Volunteers were evaluated by comprehensive geriatric assessment at home. General laboratory examinations were performed and cardiovascular risk and inflammatory activity markers were determined. Mean subject age was 101 ± 2 years, and 82 % were women. Assessment of dementia syndrome revealed that 36.4 % of the centenarians had preserved cognition. Centenarians with dementia had lower schooling (p < 0.01), lower body mass index (p = 0.02) and higher homocysteine levels (p < 0.01) and tended to have a lower systolic blood pressure (p = 0.05). Regarding the markers of inflammatory activity, demented subjects had high levels of interleukin-6 (p < 0.01), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.02), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.01) and lower albumin levels (p = 0.02) compared to centenarians without dementia. Concluding, centenarians with preserved cognition had better nutritional status, lower homocysteinemia, tendency to higher blood pressure and lower inflammatory activity compared to demented subjects.

Aspergillosis of the central nervous system in a previously healthy patient that simulated Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

BACKGROUND: The presence of Aspergillus in the central nervous system (CNS) is rare in immunocompetent patients but not in immunocompromised patients who may have a more common infection. This article describes a case of an adult immunocompetent patient with a diagnosis of cerebral aspergillosis and with a clinical process of rapidly progressive dementia which simulated a Creutzfeldt-Jakob syndrome. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 34-year-old adult was previously healthy and had no medical history of any significance. The patient had suffered only facial trauma 8 months before admission. One month prior to admission, he showed rapidly progressing changes in his behavior and higher mental functions. He was admitted to the emergency room with an occipital headache with 2 months of history. By the time he arrived, he suffered from total disability and was prostrate. He was diagnosed with meningeal and demential syndrome in the process of being studied. After starting the diagnostic approach by investigating cerebrospinal fluid, a magnetic resonance of the skull, an electroencephalogram, a brain biopsy was indicated. The histopathological study reported the presence of the hyphae characteristics of Aspergillus. The patient died 7 days after the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Cerebral aspergillosis is a common aggressive disease in immunosuppressed patients. However, the disease is rare in individuals with respected immunity and in individuals with neurological impairment and a rapid and progressive deterioration of mental functions. The suspected diagnosis should always be considered given its poor prognosis and the encouraging efficacy of antifungal treatment administered in a timely manner.