Enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

La Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica (EPOC) es una patología que se caracteriza por una limitación progresiva al flujo aéreo y es producida, principalmente, por el tabaco. Su prevalencia ha ido aumentando; en 10 años será la 3a causa de muerte en el mundo. Si no se trata precozmente, los pacientes desarrollan, en forma progresiva, disnea, intolerancia al ejercicio y compromiso de su calidad de vida, falleciendo de insuficiencia respiratoria, cáncer pulmonar o enfermedad coronaria. La espirometría es el examen indicado para la pesquisa y diagnóstico de pacientes con EPOC. Sin embargo, es fundamental una evaluación integral multidimensional. El enfrentamiento moderno del paciente con EPOC incluye aspectos nutricionales, evaluación de percepción de síntomas y calidad de vida, de limitación de actividad física y seguimiento de mediciones de función pulmonar y estudios de imágenes pulmonares. La intervención más costo efectiva en los pacientes con EPOC es el cese del tabaquismo. La vacunación contra influenza, la farmacoterapia inhalada y la rehabilitación pulmonar logran aliviar síntomas y mejorar la calidad de vida, permitiendo estabilización y retardo en la indicación de oxigenoterapia, ventilación no invasiva, cirugía reductora de volumen pulmonar o trasplante pulmonar.

[Risk factors for non communicable chronic diseases among workers of a financial company]. / Factores de riesgo de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en funcionarios de una empresa de servicios financieros de la Región Metropolitana.

BACKGROUND: The epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in Chile, requires the development of strategies in health promotion and prevention. AIM: To assess the prevalence of risk factors for chronic non communicable diseases among workers of a financial company in Metropolitan Santiago. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Assessment of 2,225 workers (1,383 males with a median age of 49 years and 842 females with a median age of 43 years). All answered an enquiry about education, medical history, smoking habits and physical activity. Body mass index and blood pressure were measured and a blood sample was obtained to measure blood glucose and lipid levels. Logistic repression models were used to determine the main risk factors for hypertension, diabetes, obesity, hypercholesterolemia and hyperuricemia. RESULTS: Sixteen percent of studied subjects were obese, 49% had overweight, 57% had hypercholesterolemia, 28% had high blood pressure, 4% were diabetic, 4% had hyperuricemia, 45% smoked and 83% were sedentary. Each worker had a mean of 2.4+/-1.1 risk factors. This figure was significantly higher among men, obese subjects, those older than 40 years and those with a lower educational level. CONCLUSIONS: There is an important disease burden among the studied subjects, specially among obese and older individuals. Healthy lifestyles should be promoted in this population.

Prevalencia de factores de riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular en una población de empleados chilenos / Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factor among chilean employees

Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of death in Chile and there is a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the population. Aim: To assess the prevalence of those risk factors in a group of employees. Subjects and methods: We studied 2,219 individuals, 1,378 males with a mean age of 46.2ñ10.4 years and 841 females with a median age of 41.9ñ10.3 years. Results: High blood pressure was observed in 39.7 percent of men and in 21.8 percent of women. A serum cholesterol between 200 and 239 mg/dl was observed in 38 percent of men and 31.3 percent of women. A cholesterol over this value was seen in 23.7 percent of men and 18.8 percent of women. A low proportion of those with high blood pressure, or elevated cholesterol, were under treatment. Prevalence of smoking was high in men and women: 43.5 and 48.9.2 percent, respectively. Eighty four percent of men and 61.3 percent of women over 54 years were overweight or obese. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 4.5 percent. Twenty percent of men and 13 percent of women exercised regularly, at least 3 times a week. Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of untreated cardiovascular risk factors in this population