Effects of a long-term lifestyle intervention program with Mediterranean diet and exercise for the management of patients with metabolic syndrome in a primary care setting.

BACKGROUND: The impact of a lifestyle intervention (LSI) program for the long-term management of subjects with metabolic syndrome in a primary care setting is not known. METHODS: This 3-year prospective controlled trial randomized adult subjects with metabolic syndrome to receive intensive LSI or to usual care in a community health centre in Malaga, Spain. LSI subjects received instruction on Mediterranean diet and a regular aerobic exercise program by their primary care professionals. Primary outcome included changes from baseline on different components of metabolic syndrome (abdominal circumference, blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose and triglycerides). RESULTS: Among the 2,492 subjects screened, 601 subjects with metabolic syndrome (24.1%) were randomized to LSI (n = 298) or to usual care (n = 303); of them, a 77% and a 58%, respectively, completed the study. At the end of the study period, LSI resulted in significant differences vs. usual care in abdominal circumference (-0.4 ± 6 cm vs. + 2.1 ± 6.7 cm, p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (-5.5 ± 15 mmHg vs. -0.6 ± 19 mmHg, p = 0.004), diastolic blood pressure (-4.6 ± 10 mmHg vs. -0.2 ± 13 mmHg, p < 0.001) and HDL-cholesterol (+4 ± 12 mg/dL vs. + 2 ± 12 mg/dL, p = 0.05); however, there were no differences in fasting plasma glucose and triglyceride concentration (-4 ± 35 mg/dl vs. -1 ± 32 mg/dl, p = 0.43 and -0.4 ± 83 mg/dl vs. +6 ± 113 mg/dl, p = 0.28). CONCLUSION: Intensive LSI counseling provided by primary care professionals resulted in significant improvements in abdominal circumference, blood pressure and HDL-cholesterol but had limited effects on glucose and triglyceride levels in patients with metabolic syndrome.

[Use of glucose-lowering drugs in a primary care setting in Malaga during the years 2008-2012]. / Utilización de fármacos hipoglucemiantes en el ámbito de la atención primaria de Málaga durante los años 2008-2012.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study is to describe the pattern of use of hypoglycemic agents in a primary health care district of Málaga between the years 2008-2012. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Málaga health district. Population of 609,781 inhabitants; 42,060 people in the diabetes process. Therapeutic sub-group A10 (drugs used in diabetes). Data is presented as defined daily dose (DDD). Years 2008-2012. Measures of frequency. RESULTS: The population grew by 0.4% and the people included in the diabetes process, by 19%. The hypoglycemic agents have increased from 12,453,443 to 14,144,817 DDD (13.5%). Oral antidiabetics increased by 13.8% and insulin by 9.7%. Metformin is the most used oral antidiabetic (6,655,923 DDD) and the iDDP4 was the one that had increased more (from 63,882 DDD to 1,482,574). The growth in insulin use was mainly due to the long-acting (38%) and the shorter-acting one (40%). The most used insulin doses are the long-acting ones, followed by the pre-mixed. The proportion of insulin use as regards the use of ADOs has remained stable (31%)., Long-acting (36%) insulin has become the most used, followed by pre-mixed (34%), shorter-acting (16%), and the intermediate-acting (12%). CONCLUSIONS: There is an increase in the use of hypoglycemic agents., Metformin and iDPP4 are the antidiabetics oral with the greatest growth., There is an increase in shorter-acting and long-acting insulins with a decrease in intermediate-acting and pre-mixed., The proportion of oral antidiabetics/insulins has remained stable.

Compliance with cardiovascular drug prevention measures in a general population: the Multidisciplinary Intervention in Primary Care (IMAP) study.

AIMS: To evaluate adherence to guideline-recommended drug therapies for primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention in a general Mediterranean population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a random sample of 2270 individuals (18-80 years) assigned to a health centre in Malaga (Spain). The appropriate use was analysed of statins, antithrombotics, beta-blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin II type 1 receptor blockers (ARB), based on the criteria of the European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Prevention and the European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology. RESULTS: The prescription rate of statins, antithrombotics, beta-blockers, and ACEI/ARB was 7.8%, 5.1%, 3.3%, and 11%, respectively. The prescription of these drugs was inappropriate in 36.2%, 22.4%, 64.5%, and 0%, respectively. Overtreatment was more frequent in subjects with greater comorbidity or ≥ 2 vascular risk factors (p < 0.001). The percentage of individuals with prescription criteria but who did not receive the treatment was 19.5%, 4.7%, 2%, and 9.3%, respectively, increasing significantly with age, Charlson index, and the presence of ≥ 2 risk factors (p < 0.001). Only 11% of patients in secondary prevention received combination therapy with statins, antithrombotics, and ACEI/ARB. Patients with ischaemic heart disease, as compared to non-coronary vascular patients, more frequently received statins (56.1% vs. 25.6%; p = 0.0001) and antithrombotic drugs (66.7% vs. 56.4%; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: We detected a low adherence to existing pharmacological guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. A priority is to establish appropriate training and dissemination of cardiovascular prevention guidelines in the field of primary care.

HbA(1c) in adults without known diabetes from southern Europe. Impact of the new diagnostic criteria in clinical practice.

AIMS: To analyse the differences in the prevalence of diabetes and dysglycaemia using fasting plasma glucose and HbA(1c) criteria. METHODS: Analytical cross-sectional study undertaken in a random sample of 2144 individuals (age 18-80 years) without known diabetes from the primary care setting in Malaga (Spain). Dysglycaemia was defined as fasting plasma glucose 5.6-6.9 mmol/l or HbA(1c) 39-46 mmol/mol (5.7-6.4%) and diabetes as fasting plasma glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/l or HbA(1c)≥ 48 mmol/mol (≥ 6.5%). RESULTS: The proportion of subjects who were normoglycaemic was significantly higher using fasting plasma glucose than HbA(1c) (83.5 vs. 65%) (P < 0.0001). Compared with fasting plasma glucose, HbA(1c) detects more cases of dysglycaemia (32 vs. 14.8%) (P < 0.0001) and diabetes (3 vs. 1.7%) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In our environment, using HbA(1c) for the diagnosis of pre-diabetes and diabetes could increase the target population for preventive and therapeutic measures. Further cost-effectiveness studies are needed before the widespread diagnostic use of HbA(1c) can be recommended.

Utilización de la sanidad privada por las embarazadas seguidas en un centro de salud público / Use of private health services by pregnant women followed up in a public health centre

Introducción. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer y analizar los motivos que conducen a las embarazadas, con cobertura sanitaria pública y seguidas en nuestro centro de salud, para utilizar además los servicios sanitarios privados durante el embarazo. Pacientes y métodos. Estudio cualitativo mediante cuestionario autoadministrado. Ámbito de atención primaria, centro de salud urbano. Embarazadas que parieron durante el año 2005 y que realizaron sesiones de educación maternal con la matrona (20 grupos). Se utilizaron las respuestas obtenidas de los cuestionarios cumplimentados. La saturación de la información se garantizó con el análisis por separado de los 20 grupos de participantes. Se realizó un análisis de contenido de las diferentes categorías. Resultados. Se construyeron 6 categorías (ecografías, tranquilidad y seguridad, seguimiento por el ginecólogo privado, el trato recibido, la comodidad y aspectos relacionados con el centro de salud). Los temas relacionados con las ecografías (número y calidad) y con el número de visitas subyacen en la mayoría de las respuestas. Las embarazadas consideran que deben realizarse más ecografías durante el seguimiento del embarazo. La atención recibida en el centro de salud es considerada de manera satisfactoria. Conclusiones. El número y la calidad de las ecografías son los principales motivos que inducen a las embarazadas a utilizar los servicios sanitarios privados. La seguridad y tranquilidad aparecen como motivos recurrentes. El seguimiento del embarazo por el médico de familia en atención primaria no aparece como motivo para utilizar la sanidad privada (AU)

Introduction. The objective of the study is to identify and analyse the reasons that lead pregnant women with public health cover and followed up in our public health clinic, to use private health services during pregnancy. Patients and methods. A qualitative study using a self-administered questionnaire completed during the year 2005. Setting: Urban Primary Care Health Centre. Pregnant women who delivered during 2005 and had maternal education sessions with the midwife (twenty groups). The responses from the questionnaires were analysed. Information saturation was ensured by the separate analysis of the 20 groups of participants. A content analysis was made of the different categories. Results. Six categories were constructed (ultrasound, tranquillity and safety, monitored by the private gynaecologist, the treatment, comfort and aspects relating to the ¿private? health centre). Issues related to ultrasound (number and quality) and the number of visits underlie most of the responses. Pregnant women believe there should be more follow-up ultrasound examinations during pregnancy. The care provided at the public health centre is considered satisfactory. Conclusions. The number and quality of the scans are the main reasons that lead pregnant women to use private health services. Safety and tranquillity appear as recurring themes. The monitoring of pregnancy by the family physician in primary care is not listed as a reason for using private healthcare (AU)

Hypertriglyceridemic waist: an alternative to the metabolic syndrome? Results of the IMAP Study (multidisciplinary intervention in primary care).

AIM: To study the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) in an urban adult Spanish population and its association with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: We undertook a cross-sectional analysis in a random sample of 2270 individuals (18-80 years of age). All participants provided a clinical history and underwent a physical examination. Blood and urine analyses were conducted. HTGW was diagnosed using anthropometric criteria for the European population (waist circumference: for men, ≥ 94 cm; for women, ≥ 80 cm) and fasting plasma triglycerides (TGs) ≥ 1.71 mmol l(-1) (≥ 150 mg per 100 ml). RESULTS: The prevalence of HTGW was 14.5% (men: 18.2%, women: 10.8%) and was significantly greater in men <59 years (P<0.001). HTGW was associated with older individuals, a low educational level and, in men, with a sedentary lifestyle (P<0.001). Subjects with HTGW had higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) and uric acid, lower levels of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, a higher blood pressure, a greater degree of obesity and a higher prevalence of T2DM (20.00 vs 6.4%, P<0.001) (odds ratio (OR) 3.61; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.60-5.01) and CVD (8.5 vs 3.4%, P<0.001) (OR 2.63; 95% CI, 1.66-4.16). The association of HTGW with T2DM and CVD disappeared after adjusting for age. The degree of concordance between HTGW and the metabolic syndrome (MS) was moderate, with both the Adult Treatment Panel III Report (ATP-III) and the International Diabetes Federation criteria (κ=0.51 and κ=0.58, respectively). Subjects with isolated HTGW as compared with those with isolated MS (ATP-III) were younger, had greater levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c and TGs and a lower prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure and dysglycemia. CONCLUSION: HTGW is a phenotype of cardiometabolic risk prevalent in the adult population in our environment. HTGW may be an alternative to MS to detect the population at risk for T2DM and CVD, especially in young individuals who do not fulfill the criteria for MS.

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in an urban adult population from southern Spain. IMAP Study.

AIMS: To study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in an urban population of Malaga, Spain and its relationship with educational level. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with a random representative sample of 2270 individuals from the adult population (18­80 years) from a specific Health-Care Centre in Malaga City. All participants underwent a clinical interview, including social-demographical information and a physical examination. A blood sample was also drawn. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 43.6 ± 15.6 years and 57.6% had a low educational level. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors was: smoking 27.7%, hypertension 33.1%, diabetes 7.1% and dyslipidaemia 65.4%. Over 60% were either overweight or obese, and 76.7% had a sedentary lifestyle. Except for smoking and a low-HDL cholesterol, the prevalence of the other cardiovascular risk factors increased with age. A low educational level was associated with a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, and this association was significant with regard to smoking, obesity, abdominal obesity and hypertriglyceridaemia. CONCLUSIONS: The population studied presents a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, especially dyslipidaemia and obesity. The low academic level was associated with an increased prevalence of smoking, obesity and dyslipidaemia. People with a low socio-cultural level are a priority target for introducing policies to prevent and control cardiovascular disease.