[Measurement, monitoring and knowledge of blood pressure: May Measurement Month, Colombia 2017]. / Medición, control y conocimiento de la presión arterial: Iniciativa Mayo Mes de la Medición Colombia 2017.

AIM: To describe the findings of implementing May Measurement Month 2017 in the adult Colombian population to raise awareness of the importance of blood pressure measuring, monitoring, and awareness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: May Measurement Month is a cross-sectional survey that follows the directives of the International Society of Hypertension and the World Hypertension League, which gathers information on cardiovascular risk factors and blood pressure readings. Its implementation in Colombia was lead by the Santander Ophthalmological Foundation (FOSCAL) and the Latin American Society of Hypertension (LASH) with the support of the Colombian Network for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes (RECARDI). RESULTS: Data was collected from 11 departments on 21,797 people, 58.7% of whom were female, with an average age of 40.5±17.7 years. The overall prevalence of high blood pressure (HBP) was 20.8% (self-reported antihypertensive treatment or systolic blood pressure reading [systolic blood pressure≥140mmHg]). Of the total number of hypertensives, 46.5% had systolic blood pressure readings classified as uncontrolled (systolic blood pressure<140mmHg), and 26.4% were unaware that they were hypertensive who, in this report, we consider to be new cases of HBP. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of (elevated) blood pressure is high in this young adult population, whose lack of awareness of HBP is also high, and HBP in those aware of their condition is poorly controlled. These results highlight the need to implement effective detection programmes for hypertensive patients and to establish standardised treatments to improve HBP control as a strategy to reduce cardiovascular events.

[Dysautonomic features in patients with Cuban type 2 spinocerebellar ataxia]. / Manifestaciones disautonómicas en pacientes de ataxia espinocerebelosa tipo 2 cubana.

INTRODUCTION: Dysautonomic features are the clinical signs and symptoms derived from anomalous functioning of the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous systems in either the peripheral or central parts. OBJECTIVE: To identify the clinical features related to dysautonomia in a patient with spinocerebellar ataxia with severe functional disability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied a series of cases, including 21 patients with severe disability (confirmed to their bed or wheelchair, unable to walk and totally or partly dependent on other people for essential everyday activities). The patients and their families were closely questioned, and full clinical examination included a test for orthostasia. RESULTS: All patients had some signs of peripheral dysautonomia: all had vasomotor disorders (orthostasia, distal pallor and coldness, Raynaud s phenomenon, etc.), 95.2% (constipation, urinary and rectal incontinence, polachuria, palpitations, tachycardia at rest, etc.), exocrine gland disorders in 71.4% (increased lachrymation, reduced sweating, increased or reduced salivation), 87.5% peripheral tissue nutrition disorders. Similarly, in all patients studied there was evidence of central dysautonomic disorder, with a syndrome of cachexia with bulimia, sleep disorders together with dysregulation of thirst and body temperature. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia with severe disability there was involvement of the peripheral and central nervous system regulating autonomic function.

Manifestaciones disautonómicas en pacientes con ataxia espinocerebelosa tipo 2 cubana / Dysautonomic features in patients with cuban type 2 spinocerebellar ataxia

Introducción. Las manifestaciones disautonómicas son todos aquellos síntomas o signos clínicos que se derivan de un funcionamiento anómalo del sistema nervioso simpático o parasimpático, tanto en sus porciones periféricas como centrales. Objetivo. Identificar las manifestaciones clínicas relacionadas con disautonomías en el paciente de ataxia espinocerebelosa tipo 2 con discapacidad funcional severa. Pacientes y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de serie de casos en 21 enfermos con discapacidad severa (confinados a la cama o silla de ruedas, que no pueden deambular y dependen total o parcialmente de otra persona para realizar las actividades vitales). Se efectuó un minucioso interrogatorio clínico a enfermos y familiares, así como un examen físico exhaustivo que incluyó la prueba de ortostatismo. Resultados. El 100 por ciento de la muestra presentaron alguna manifestación disautonómica periférica: trastornos vasomotores en el 100 por ciento (ortostatismo, frialdad y palidez distal, fenómeno de Raynaud, etc.), trastornos viscerales en el 95,2 por ciento (constipación, incontinencia vesical y rectal, polaquiuria, palpitaciones, taquicardia en reposo, etc.), glandular exocrino en el 71,4 por ciento (aumento lagrimal, sudoración disminuida, aumento o disminución salival), nutritivo tisular periférico en el 87,5 por ciento. Por otro lado, en el 100 por ciento de los enfermos estudiados se detectaron manifestaciones disautonómicas centrales dadas por un síndrome con predominio de caquexia asociada a bulimia, trastornos del sueño, disregulación de la sed y temperatura corporal. Conclusión. En los enfermos de ataxia espinocerebelosa hereditaria tipo 2 con discapacidad grave se detectó afectación del sistema nervioso central y periférico regulador de la función autónoma (AU)