High blood pressure in Panama: prevalence, sociodemographic and biologic profile, treatment, and control (STROBE).

The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence, treatment, and control of high blood pressure, hypertension (HBP) in Panama and assess its associations with sociodemographic and biologic factors.A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted in Panama by administering a survey on cardiovascular risk factors to 3590 adults and measuring their blood pressure 3 times. A single-stage, probabilistic, and randomized sampling strategy with a multivariate stratification was used. The average blood pressure, confidence intervals (CIs), odds ratio (OR), and a value of P ≤ 0.05 were used for the analysis.The estimated prevalence of HBP was 29.6% (95% CI, 28.0-31.1); it was more prevalent in men than in women, OR = 1.37 (95% CI, 1.17-1.61); it increased with age and was more frequent among Afro-Panamanians (33.8%). HBP was associated with a family history of HBP with being physically inactive and a body mass index ≥25.0 kg/m or a waist circumference >90 cm in men and >88 cm in women (P < 0.001). Of those found to have HBP, 65.6% were aware of having HBP and taking medications, and of these, 47.2% had achieved control (<140/90 mm Hg).HBP is the most common cardiovascular risk factor among Panamanians and consequently an important public health problem in Panama. The health care system needs to give a high priority to HBP prevention programs and integrated care programs aimed at treating HBP, taking into consideration the changes in behavior that have been brought about by alterations in nutrition and sedentary lifestyles.

Radioiodine treatment in autoimmune hyperthyroidism: analysis of outcomes in relation to dosage.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists regarding the optimal dose of radioiodine ((131)I) therapy in autoimmune hyperthyroidism (i.e., Graves' Disease). METHODS: In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of high dose (131)I therapy in autoimmune hyperthyroidism, a retrospective review of patients who received (131)I therapy for Graves' disease from 1980 to 2000 in the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City was carried out. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 596 autoimmune hyperthyroid patients with a mean age of 35 years. The mean follow-up period was 10.31 +/- 2.37 years. Remission of hyperthyroidism occurred in 81.9%, persistent hyperthyroidism was recorded in 14.4% and recurrence in 3.7%. (131)I doses of 5-9 mCi (185-333 MBq) and > or =20 mCi (> or =740 MBq) were associated with remission rates of 65.5% and 87.7% respectively. Remission occurred earlier and more often with high doses of (131)I. The high-dose group (20-30 mCi [740-1110 MBq]) had the lowest rate of persistence (9.7, 27.5 and 34.3%, for 20-30 [740-1110 MBq], 10-14 [370-518 MBq] and 5-9 [185-333 MBq] mCi, respectively p <0.05) and hypothyroidism occurred earlier in this group (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Remission of autoimmune hyperthyroidism is more likely with doses of 20-30 mCi (740-1110 MBq).