Educational inequalities and premature mortality: the Cuba Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Although socioeconomic status is a major determinant of premature mortality in many populations, the impact of social inequalities on premature mortality in Cuba, a country with universal education and health care, remains unclear. We aimed to assess the association between educational level and premature adult mortality in Cuba. METHODS: The Cuba Prospective Study (a cohort study) enrolled 146 556 adults aged 30 years and older from the general population in five provinces from Jan 1, 1996, to Nov 24, 2002. Participants were followed up until Jan 1, 2017, for cause-specific mortality. Deaths were identified through linkage to the Cuban Public Health Ministry's national mortality records. Cox regression models yielded rate ratios (RRs) for the effect of educational level (a commonly used measure for social status) on mortality at ages 35-74 years, with assessment for the mediating effects of smoking, alcohol consumption, and BMI. FINDINGS: A total of 127 273 participants aged 35-74 years were included in the analyses. There was a strong inverse association between educational level and premature mortality. Compared with a university education, men who did not complete primary education had an approximately 60% higher risk of premature mortality (RR 1·55, 95% CI 1·40-1·72), while the risk was approximately doubled in women (1·96, 1·81-2·13). Overall, 28% of premature deaths could be attributed to lower education levels. Excess mortality in women was primarily due to vascular disease, while vascular disease and cancer were equally important in men. 31% of the association with education in men and 18% in women could be explained by common modifiable risk factors, with smoking having the largest effect. INTERPRETATION: This study highlights the value of understanding the determinants of health inequalities in different populations. Although many major determinants lie outside the health system in Cuba, this study has identified the diseases and risk factors that require targeted public health interventions, particularly smoking. FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, CDC Foundation (with support from Amgen).

Body-mass index, blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular mortality in Cuba: prospective study of 146,556 participants.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease accounts for about one-third of all premature deaths (ie, age < 70) in Cuba. Yet, the relevance of major risk factors, including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diabetes, and body-mass index (BMI), to cardiovascular mortality in this population remains unclear. METHODS: In 1996-2002, 146,556 adults were recruited from the general population in five areas of Cuba. Participants were interviewed, measured (height, weight and blood pressure) and followed up by electronic linkage to national death registries until Jan 1, 2017; in 2006-08, 24,345 participants were resurveyed. After excluding all with missing data, cardiovascular disease at recruitment, and those who died in the first 5 years, Cox regression (adjusted for age, sex, education, smoking, alcohol and, where appropriate, BMI) was used to relate cardiovascular mortality rate ratios (RRs) at ages 35-79 years to SBP, diabetes and BMI; RR were corrected for regression dilution to give associations with long-term average (ie, 'usual') levels of SBP and BMI. RESULTS: After exclusions, there were 125,939 participants (mean age 53 [SD12]; 55% women). Mean SBP was 124 mmHg (SD15), 5% had diabetes, and mean BMI was 24.2 kg/m2 (SD3.6); mean SBP and diabetes prevalence at recruitment were both strongly related to BMI. During follow-up, there were 4112 cardiovascular deaths (2032 ischaemic heart disease, 832 stroke, and 1248 other). Cardiovascular mortality was positively associated with SBP (>=120 mmHg), diabetes, and BMI (>=22.5 kg/m2): 20 mmHg higher usual SBP about doubled cardiovascular mortality (RR 2.02, 95%CI 1.88-2.18]), as did diabetes (2.15, 1.95-2.37), and 10 kg/m2 higher usual BMI (1.92, 1.64-2.25). RR were similar in men and in women. The association with BMI and cardiovascular mortality was almost completely attenuated following adjustment for the mediating effect of SBP. Elevated SBP (>=120 mmHg), diabetes and raised BMI (>=22.5 kg/m2) accounted for 27%, 14%, and 16% of cardiovascular deaths, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This large prospective study provides direct evidence for the effects of these major risk factors on cardiovascular mortality in Cuba. Despite comparatively low levels of these risk factors by international standards, the strength of their association with cardiovascular death means they nevertheless exert a substantial impact on premature mortality in Cuba.

Alcohol consumption and cause-specific mortality in Cuba: prospective study of 120 623 adults.

BACKGROUND: The associations of cause-specific mortality with alcohol consumption have been studied mainly in higher-income countries. We relate alcohol consumption to mortality in Cuba. METHODS: In 1996-2002, 146 556 adults were recruited into a prospective study from the general population in five areas of Cuba. Participants were interviewed, measured and followed up by electronic linkage to national death registries until January 1, 2017. After excluding all with missing data or chronic disease at recruitment, Cox regression (adjusted for age, sex, province, education, and smoking) was used to relate mortality rate ratios (RRs) at ages 35-79 years to alcohol consumption. RRs were corrected for long-term variability in alcohol consumption using repeat measures among 20 593 participants resurveyed in 2006-08. FINDINGS: After exclusions, there were 120 623 participants aged 35-79 years (mean age 52 [SD 12]; 67 694 [56%] women). At recruitment, 22 670 (43%) men and 9490 (14%) women were current alcohol drinkers, with 15 433 (29%) men and 3054 (5%) women drinking at least weekly; most alcohol consumption was from rum. All-cause mortality was positively and continuously associated with weekly alcohol consumption: each additional 35cl bottle of rum per week (110g of pure alcohol) was associated with ∼10% higher risk of all-cause mortality (RR 1.08 [95%CI 1.05-1.11]). The major causes of excess mortality in weekly drinkers were cancer, vascular disease, and external causes. Non-drinkers had ∼10% higher risk (RR 1.11 [1.09-1.14]) of all-cause mortality than those in the lowest category of weekly alcohol consumption (<1 bottle/week), but this association was almost completely attenuated on exclusion of early follow-up. INTERPRETATION: In this large prospective study in Cuba, weekly alcohol consumption was continuously related to premature mortality. Reverse causality is likely to account for much of the apparent excess risk among non-drinkers. The findings support limits to alcohol consumption that are lower than present recommendations in Cuba. FUNDING: Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, CDC Foundation (with support from Amgen).

Association of childhood smoking and adult mortality: prospective study of 120 000 Cuban adults.

BACKGROUND: The average age at which people start smoking has been decreasing in many countries, but insufficient evidence exists on the adult hazards of having started smoking in childhood and, especially, in early childhood. We aimed to investigate the association between smoking habits (focusing on the age when smokers started) and cause-specific premature mortality in a cohort of adults in Cuba. METHODS: For this prospective study, adults were recruited from five provinces in Cuba. Participants were interviewed (data collected included socioeconomic status, medical history, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits) and had their height, weight, and blood pressure measured. Participants were followed up until Jan 1, 2017 for cause-specific mortality; a subset was resurveyed in 2006-08. We used Cox regression to calculate adjusted rate ratios (RRs) for mortality at ages 30-69 years, comparing never-smokers with current smokers by age they started smoking and number of cigarettes smoked per day and with ex-smokers by the age at which they had quit. FINDINGS: Between Jan 1, 1996, and Nov 24, 2002, 146 556 adults were recruited into the study, of whom 118 840 participants aged 30-69 years at recruitment contributed to the main analyses. 27 264 (52%) of 52 524 men and 19 313 (29%) of 66 316 women were current smokers. Most participants reported smoking cigarettes; few smoked only cigars. About a third of current cigarette smokers had started before age 15 years. Compared with never-smokers, the all-cause mortality RR was highest in participants who had started smoking at ages 5-9 years (RR 2·51, 95% CI 2·21-2·85), followed by ages 10-14 years (1·83, 1·72-1·95), 15-19 years (1·56, 1·46-1·65), and ages 20 years or older (1·50, 1·39-1·62). Smoking accounted for a quarter of all premature deaths in this population, but quitting before about age 40 years avoided almost all of the excess mortality due to smoking. INTERPRETATION: In this cohort of adults in Cuba, starting to smoke in childhood was common and quitting was not. Starting in childhood approximately doubled the rate of premature death (ie, before age 70 years). If this 2-fold mortality RR continues into old age, about half of participants who start smoking before age 15 years and do not stop will eventually die of complications from their habit. The greatest risks were found among adults who began smoking before age 10 years. FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation (with support from Amgen).

Burden of hypertension and associated risks for cardiovascular mortality in Cuba: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In Cuba, hypertension control in primary care has been prioritised as a cost-effective means of addressing premature death from cardiovascular disease. However, there is little evidence from large-scale studies on the prevalence and management of hypertension in Cuba, and no direct evidence of the expected benefit of such efforts on cardiovascular mortality. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, adults in the general population identified via local family medical practices were interviewed between Jan 1, 1996, and Nov 24, 2002, in five areas of Cuba, and a subset of participants were resurveyed between July 14, 2006, and Oct 19, 2008, in one area. During household visits, blood pressure was measured and information obtained on diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. We calculated the prevalence of hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mm Hg, or receiving treatment for hypertension) and the proportion of people with hypertension in whom it was diagnosed, treated, and controlled (systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg). Deaths were identified through linkage by national identification numbers to the Cuban Public Health Ministry records, to Dec 31, 2016. We used Cox regression analysis to compare cardiovascular mortality between participants with versus without uncontrolled hypertension. Rate ratios (RRs) were used to estimate the fraction of cardiovascular deaths attributable to hypertension. FINDINGS: 146 556 participants were interviewed in the baseline survey in 1996-2002 and 24 345 were interviewed in the resurvey in 2006-08. After exclusion for incomplete data and age outside the range of interest, 136 111 respondents aged 35-79 years (mean age 54 [SD 12] years; 75 947 [56%] women, 60 164 [44%] men) were eligible for inclusion in the analyses. 34% of participants had hypertension. Among these, 67% had a diagnosis of hypertension. 76% of participants with diagnosed hypertension were receiving treatment and blood pressure was controlled in 36% of those people. During 1·7 million person-years of follow-up there were 5707 cardiovascular deaths. In the age groups 35-59, 60-69, and 70-79 years, uncontrolled hypertension at baseline was associated with RRs of 2·15 (95% CI 1·88-2·46), 1·86 (1·69-2·05), and 1·41 (1·32-1·52), respectively, and accounted for around 20% of premature cardiovascular deaths. INTERPRETATION: In this Cuban population, a third of people had hypertension. Although levels of hypertension diagnosis and treatment were commensurate with those in some high-income countries, the proportion of participants whose blood pressure was controlled was low. As well as reducing hypertension prevalence, improvement in blood pressure control among people with diagnosed hypertension is required to prevent premature cardiovascular deaths in Cuba. FUNDING: Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK.

La REPROPED de la Educación Avanzada y su comunidad virtual para la profesionalización pedagógica

La riqueza de resultados científicos de la Educación Avanzada como teoría educativa cubana es notoria, cientos son los profesionales que se dedican a su estudio para el mejoramiento profesional y humano de los recursos laborales, en los últimos años estas cifras han crecido haciendo necesaria la creación de una Red Virtual del Proyecto Interactivo Redes de Profesionalización Pedagógica (REPROPED) , que ha devenido en una comunidad virtual "Educación Avanzada", de ahí que se haga necesaria su caracterización, objetivo hacia el cual se orienta este trabajo. El aprovechamiento de las tecnologías a partir de este proyecto ha contribuido a la profesionalización pedagógica de los docentes a través de la ampliación y el fortalecimiento del sitio Web educativo de la Educación Avanzada y la creación de un sistema de redes: la red mixta, que aglutina a integrantes de diversas áreas, la red de Ciencias Médicas que como su nombre lo indica engloba a profesionales de la salud y la red Varona, integrada por profesores de dicha Universidad. La novedad se expresa en la posibilidad que ofrece el Proyecto REPROPED a los recursos laborales de diferentes entidades e instituciones de consultar e interactuar en un entorno de Educación Avanzada para su mejoramiento profesional y humano

The wealth of scientific results of the Advanced Education as theory educational in Cuban is notorious, hundreds are professionals dedicated to the study of Advanced Education for professional development and human labor resources, in recent years the numbers have grown, under the influence of the Virtual Network for Pedagogical Professionalization (REPROPED) Interactive Project which has given birth to a Virtual Community, which calls for its characterization, that is the aim of this article. The use of the technologies from this project has contributed to the pedagogic professionalization of the teachers through enlargement and the strengthening of Advanced Education educational web site and the creation of a network: The mixed net, that unites members of various areas, the net of Medical Sciences, that as its name suggests, encompasses health-care professionals and the Varona net, integrated by professors of the aforementioned University. The novelty is expressed in the possibility offered by REPROPED Project to human resources from different organizations and institutions for interacting in an Advanced Education environment for their professional and human improvement

Cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

RA can manifest in a variety of cardiac complications, including pericarditis, valvular disease, cardiomyopathy, and amyloidosis. Subclinical involvement is higher than anticipated. CVD is also prevalent in patients with RA, with onset in early disease. Several disease-specific risk factors, like seropositivity, disease activity, and medications, are implicated in the pathogenesis of CVD in RA. Cardiovascular risk assessment in RA varies from the general population. Some traditional risk factors like BMI and lipid levels apply differently to the RA population. Statins are useful in managing dyslipidemia in RA. There is good evidence to support cardiovascular risk reduction with methotrexate and TNF-I use if good disease control is achieved.

Presentación de un paciente con tumor óseo de células gigantes / Presentation of a Patient with Giant Cell Osseous Tumor

El tumor óseo de células gigantes, es una verdadera neoplasia, común en los huesos largos, pero muy raro en los maxilares, se dice que los de cabeza y cuello constituyen sólo el 2 por ciento de todos ellos. Aparece como una masa friable, de color rojo grisáceo, acompañada de áreas hemorrágicas, sin cápsulas ni límites precisos. Su crecimiento puede ser rápido y agresivo, provoca aumento de volumen, destrucción ósea y dolor, o asintomático y puede descubrirse incidentalmente en una radiografía de rutina. Su nombre se debe al aspecto histológico pues lo conforman células gigantes que se encuentran en un estroma de células fusiformes y contienen alrededor de 40 a 50 núcleos que se disponen regularmente en la zona central con una zona de citoplasma libre en la periferia. Se presentó un paciente masculino, de 49 años de edad con una lesión asintomática de aproximadamente un año de evolución, remitido del área de salud por una masa rojo grisácea en paladar duro, cuyos exámenes complementarios y la biopsia por ponchaje dieron como resultado tumor óseo de células gigantes. Se le realizó exéresis tridimensional de la lesión y plastia. En la actualidad se sigue en consulta(AU)...

The giant cell osseous tumor, TCCG, is a true neoplasm, common in long bones, but very rare in the jaws, it is confirmed that those tumors of head and neck constitute only ,2 percent, of them. It appears as a friable mass, grayish red, accompanied by hemorrhagic areas without capsules or precise limits. Its growth can be fast and aggressive, causing increased volume, bone destruction and pain, or asymptomatic and discovered incidentally on routine radiography. Its name comes from the histological appearance, it is made as giant cells found in spindle cell stroma and contain about ,40 -50, nuclei, which are arranged regularly in the central area with a free cytoplasm at the periphery. A ,49, year old male patient was reported in this paper, with an asymptomatic lesion approximately of one year of evolution. The patient was referred from the health area with a grayish red mass in the hard palate. Complementary examinations and punch biopsy showed a TCCG. Exeresis and dimensional plasty of the lesion were performed. At present, the patient is followed up in medical consultation(AU)...

Sensibilidad y especificidad de la prueba cutánea por punción con extractos alergénicos estandarizados de Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus en adultos / Sensitivity and Specificity of Skin Prick Test with standardized allergen extracts of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in adults

La prueba cutánea por punción (PCP), que utiliza extractos alergénicos estandarizados de ácaros, es una herramienta diagnóstica sensible y confiable. La sensibilización IgE a los ácaros domésticos es una de las principales causas de enfermedades alérgicas respiratorias. En Cuba las especies de ácaros más relevantes son: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), D. siboney y Blomia tropicalis. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la eficacia diagnóstica de la PCP, utilizando un extracto alergénico estandarizado de Dp de producción nacional (VALERGEN-DP, BIOCEN) y otros dos estándares comerciales foráneos (A: ALK, Holanda y B: Stallergenes, Francia). Se realizó un estudio analítico, conducido en 50 pacientes con antecedentes de alergia al polvo doméstico y IgE sérica positiva al Dp y 50 con iguales antecedentes, pero con IgE sérica negativa. Se realizaron réplicas de las punturas en ambos brazos, con una concentración de 20 000 UB/mL. En esta prueba con VALERGEN-DP el promedio del habón fue de 43,5 mm2, un valor superior estadísticamente significativo con respecto el producto A (p=0,002). La coincidencia diagnóstica entre los tres productos fue de 98-99%. La PCP con VALERGEN-DP mostró un 98% de especificidad y 82% de sensibilidad. No fueron detectadas diferencias significativas (p>0,05) entre los productos para estos parámetros. La eficacia diagnóstica de la PCP con el VALERGEN-DP fue similar a la que se obtuvo utilizando dos extractos estándar, lo que justifica su utilización para el diagnóstico de la sensibilización a Dp en pacientes con síntomas de alergia frente al polvo doméstico(AU)

Skin Prick Test (SPT) using standardized mite allergen extracts is a sensitive and reliable diagnostic tool. IgE sensitization to domestic mites has been identified worldwide as a major cause of respiratory allergic diseases. In Cuba, the most relevant species are: Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Dp), D. siboney and Blomia tropicalis. The aim of this work was to determine the diagnostic efficacy of SPT, using an standardized allergen extract of Dp, of national production (VALERGEN-DP, BIOCEN) and two other well known foreign commercial products (A: ALK, Netherlands and B: Stallergenes, France). An analytical study involving 50 patients with allergic antecedents to domestic dust and positive serum IgE and 50 with identical antecedents, but negative serum IgE was conducted. Replicate punctures were performed in both arms of patients using a concentration of 20 000 BU/mL. SPT with VALERGEN-DP produced a wheal mean of 43.5 mm2, superior value statistically significant with respect to A product (p = 0.002). Diagnostic coincidence among the three products was 98-99 %. SPT with VALERGEN-DP showed 98% of specificity and 82% of sensibility and significant differences were not detected (p>0.05) between products for these parameters. Diagnostic efficacy of SPT using a validated allergenic extract of national production (VALERGEN-DP) was similar to SPT with the other standard extracts, what supports its use for the diagnosis from the sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in patients with allergic symptoms to domestic dust(AU)

Valor de la electrocirugía como tratamiento conservador del carcinoma in situ de cuello uterino / Value of electrosurgery as a conservative treatment of uterine cervix carcinoma in situ

El diagnóstico precoz y el tratamiento conservador del carcinoma in situ (CIS) del cuello uterino constituye la piedra angular del Programa nacional del cáncer cérvico-uterino. La necesidad de un medio diagnóstico y terapéutico que conserve la capacidad y calidad psíquica, reproductiva y sexual de la mujer, constituye la base de nuestros objetivos y la motivación para la realización de este trabajo. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo analítico de 93 pacientes con CIS a quienes se les realizó biopsia escisional con electrocirugía como terapia inicial a su afección. En ellas se evaluaron los criterios diagnóstico-terapéuticos seguidos en nuestra consulta. Fue elevado el porcentaje de correlación diagnóstica entre la citología y la colposcopia con la histología. Se destacó una vez más el valor diagnóstico del cepillado de canal; sólo el 13,9 por ciento presentó complicaciones con el proceder; la electrocirugía como tratamiento conservador se utilizó en el 100 por ciento de los casos, que resultó como definitivo hasta el momento en el 90,3 por ciento. Por los resultados valoramos de altamente satisfactorios el proceder terapéutico empleado en las pacientes portadoras de CIS(AU)

Valor de la electrocirugía como tratamiento conservador del carcinoma in situ de cuello uterino / Value of electrosurgery as a conservative treatment of uterine cervix carcinoma in situ

El diagnóstico precoz y el tratamiento conservador del carcinoma in situ (CIS) del cuello uterino constituye la piedra angular del Programa nacional del cáncer cérvico-uterino. La necesidad de un medio diagnóstico y terapéutico que conserve la capacidad y calidad psíquica, reproductiva y sexual de la mujer, constituye la base de nuestros objetivos y la motivación para la realización de este trabajo. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo analítico de 93 pacientes con CIS a quienes se les realizó biopsia escisional con electrocirugía como terapia inicial a su afección. En ellas se evaluaron los criterios diagnóstico-terapéuticos seguidos en nuestra consulta. Fue elevado el porcentaje de correlación diagnóstica entre la citología y la colposcopia con la histología. Se destacó una vez más el valor diagnóstico del cepillado de canal; sólo el 13,9 por ciento presentó complicaciones con el proceder; la electrocirugía como tratamiento conservador se utilizó en el 100 por ciento de los casos, que resultó como definitivo hasta el momento en el 90,3 por ciento. Por los resultados valoramos de altamente satisfactorios el proceder terapéutico empleado en las pacientes portadoras de CIS