Concentraciones de vitamina D en ginecoobstetras, internistas y médicos generales en tres países latinoamericanos / Vitamin D concentrations in obstetricians, gynecologists, internists, and general practitioners in three Latin American countries

Resumen OBJETIVO: Determinar las concentraciones de 25(OH)D en ginecoobstetras y otros especialistas latinoamericanos y conocer la prevalencia de su deficiencia. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal y observacional efectuado para determinar las concentraciones de 25(OH)D en médicos voluntarios, sobre todo ginecoobstetras, que acudieron a diferentes congresos en distintos países latinoamericanos. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 643 determinaciones. El 19.4% tenían déficit (media 16.58 ng/mL), 72% insuficiencia (media 24.6 ng/mL) y 36.9% concentraciones normales (media 40.34 ng/mL). Los hombres tuvieron mayor déficit-insuficiencia (62.8%) que las mujeres (59.5%), pero sin diferencias significativas (p < 0.058). Las personas de piel clara tuvieron concentraciones deficitarias e insuficientes, menores que las de piel oscura (p < 0.001). Quienes tomaban suplementos de vitamina D tuvieron menor riesgo de déficit. CONCLUSIONES: El 60% de los ginecoobstetras, médicos internistas y generales de Latinoamérica tienen bajas concentraciones de 25(OH)D. La piel clara puede ser un factor de riesgo de mayor déficit-insuficiencia. En los grupos de médicos estudiados la suplementación con vitamina D parece incrementar las concentraciones de 25(OH)D.

OBJECTIVE: To determine 25(OH)D concentrations in obstetrician-gynecologists and other Latin American specialists and to know the prevalence of its deficiency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional and observational study to determine 25(OH)D concentrations in volunteer physicians, mainly gynecologists, attending different congresses in different Latin American countries. RESULTS: A total of 643 determinations were analysed. 19.4% had deficiency (mean 16.58 ng/mL), 72% insufficiency (mean 24.6 ng/mL), and 36.9% normal concentrations (mean 40.34 ng/mL). Men had higher deficiency-insufficiency (62.8%) than women (59.5%), but no significant differences (p < 0.058). Light-skinned people had lower insufficiency levels than darker-skinned people (p < 0.001). Those taking vitamin D supplements had a lower risk of deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Sixty percent of obstetrician-gynecologists, internists, and general practitioners in Latin America have low 25(OH)D concentrations. Caucasian skin may be a risk factor for increased deficiency. Vitamin D supplementation appears to improve 25(OH)D concentrations in the physician groups studied.

Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in middle-aged women.

Musculoskeletal pain (MSP) has been recently linked with high plasma leptin levels. Our objective was to study if obese women, who have higher leptin levels, could have a higher frequency of MSP. We studied 6079 Latin-American women, 40-59 years old. Their epidemiological data were recorded and the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), Golberg Anxiety and Depression Scale and Insomnia Scale were applied. MSP was defined as a score ≥2 on MRS11. Women with MSP were slightly older, had fewer years of schooling and were more sedentary. They also complained of more severe menopausal symptoms (29.2% versus. 4.4%, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, they had a higher abdominal perimeter (87.2 ± 12.0 cm versus 84.6 ± 11.6 cm, p < 0.0001) and a higher prevalence of obesity (23.1% versus 15.2%, p < 0.0001). Compared to normal weight women, those with low body weight (IMC <18.5) showed a lower risk of MSP (OR 0.71; 95%CI, 0.42-1.17), overweight women had a higher risk (OR 1.64; 95%CI, 1.44-1.87) and obese women the highest risk (OR 2.06; 95%CI, 1.76-2.40). Logistic regression analysis showed that obesity is independently associated to MSP (OR 1.34; 95%CI, 1.16-1.55). We conclude that obesity is one identifiable risk factor for MSP in middle-aged women.

Personal and professional use of menopausal hormone therapy among gynecologists: A multinational study (REDLINC VII).

BACKGROUND: Previously, the REDLINC VI study showed that the main reason for the low use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) was its low rate of prescription by doctors. OBJECTIVE: To determine the use of MHT and perceived related risks among gynecologists. METHODS: A self-administered and anonymous questionnaire was delivered to certified gynecologists in 11 Latin American countries. RESULTS: A total of 2154 gynecologists were contacted, of whom 85.3% responded to the survey (n = 1837). Mean age was 48.1 ± 11.4 years; 55.5% were male, 20.3% were faculty members and 85% had a partner. Overall, 85.4% of gynecologists responded that they would use MHT if they had menopausal symptoms (81.8% in the case of female gynecologists) or prescribe it to their partner (88.2% in the case of male gynecologists; p < 0.001). Perceived risk related to MHT use (on a scale from 0 to 10) was higher among female than among male gynecologists (4.06 ± 2.09 vs. 3.83 ± 2.11, p < 0.02). The top two perceived reported risks were thromboembolism (women 33.6% vs. men 41.4%, p < 0.009) and breast cancer (women 38.5% vs. men 33.9%, p < 0.03). Overall, gynecologists reported prescribing MHT to 48.9% of their symptomatic patients (women 47.3% vs. men 50.2%, p < 0.03) and 86.8% currently prescribed non-hormonal remedies and 83.8% alternative therapies for the management of the menopause. Gynecologists who were older and academic professionals prescribed MHT more often. CONCLUSION: Although this Latin American survey showed that gynecologists are mostly supporters of MHT use (for themselves or their partners), this is not necessarily reflected in their clinical practice.

Treatment for the menopause in Central America: use, knowledge, perceptions and attitudes among urban living middle-aged women.

BACKGROUND: Data on social and personal aspects of Central America are lacking in relation to hormone therapy (HT) and other treatments for the menopause. OBJECTIVE: To gain information regarding the treatment of the menopause (HT/alternative): use, knowledge, perceptions and attitudes among middle-aged Central American women. METHODS: A total of 720 urban living women (35-65 years) from six Central American countries (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama) were surveyed with a structured questionnaire that included socio-demographic data and information regarding the menopause and its treatment. RESULTS: Participating countries displayed significant socio-demographic differences. Forty-one percent of all women were postmenopausal and 5.8% had no education at all. Knowledge regarding menopausal treatment options varied; while 27.2% (196/720) indicated HT as an option a higher rate (36.3%) either did not respond or answered not knowing anything. HT use for the whole sample was rather low 2.7% with differences seen among countries. 13.8% (27/196) indicated to have been on HT but abandoned treatment because of medical indication (51.9%), undesired side effects (29.6%) and costs (11.1%). While more than 50% considered HT served to replace hormones a smaller percentage (<14%) referred HT as bad for health, reduces cancer risk or has many side effects. 9.3% (67/720) acknowledged the existence of phytoestrogens as a menopausal treatment option, considering them as natural estrogens and good for health in 38.8% and 25.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HT use in this mid-aged series was rather low in which the demography of Central America may be related factors. Education to women and physicians should be encouraged.

La andropausia y el envejecimiento en el varón / Andropause and aging

Por muchos años la andropausia ha sido comparada con el climaterio femenino. La información con que se cuenta demuestra que los síntomas tienen que ver más con un proceso de identificación con la esposa climatérica. La función sexual disminuye con la edad pero los cambios hormonales no son el factor determinante de esta disminución. Existe evidencia histológica de un testículo que envejece, cuyas células de Leydig y de Sertoli son más escasas. Los niveles de testosterona tambiém descienden, en una tercera parte, así como dehidroepiandrosterna, sulfato de dehidro epiandrosterona, prolactina, hormona de crecimiento y factor-1 de crecimiento dependiente de insulina. No hay cambio de dehidrotestosterona y estrógenos y sí un incremento de las hormonas luteinizantes y estimulante del folículo. La información más reciente no permite recomendar la terapia hormonal de reemplazo con andrógenos debido a sus efectos colaterales potenciales y a la falta de datos sobre sus efectos a largo plazo