[How many patients need treatment for hypercholesterolemia?]. / Cuántos pacientes precisan tratamiento para la hipercolesteremia?

OBJECTIVE: To find out the percentage of individuals from a population who need pharmacologic treatment for their hypercholesterolemia according to different guidelines. DESIGN: Descriptive transversal study. SETTING: Population from 6 areas of Lleida (province) including the city of Lleida. METHOD: The study has been done on a randomized sample of 401 individuals. First the cardiovascular risk from the equation in the Framingham study was calculated, then the percentage of individuals who should be treated with lipid-lowering medication according to the US National Cholesterol Education Program, The European Society of Atherosclerosis and The Spanish Society of Atherosclerosis. RESULTS: The prevalence of individuals with cholesterolemia > 250 mg/dl has been 16.3% among men and 22.4% in women. According to NCEP, 20.5% of men and 17.6% of women from 383 individuals older then 6 years old need pharmacologic treatment for hypercholesterolemia. The Framingham equation was applied to 281 individuals (over 30 and under 75 years old) estimating a risk higher than 20% in 10 years for 13.7% of the population under study (23.9% in men and 3.5% in women). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of patients who need pharmacologic treatment for hypercholesterolemia varies according to the different guidelines employed. We consider necessary the calculation of the cardiovascular risk with the Framingham equation to use lipid-lowering medication in order to achieve a better protection of the population at higher risk of developing a cardiovascular disease.

¿Cuántos pacientes precisan tratamiento para la hipercolesteremia? / How many patients need treatment for hypercholesterolemia?

Objetivo. Calcular el porcentaje de individuos de una población que precisa tratamiento farmacológico según las diferentes guías para el tratamiento de la hipercolesteremia. Diseño. Estudio descriptivo transversal. Emplazamiento. Población de 6 comarcas de Lleida: cinco pirenaicas y una en el llano, donde se emplaza la capital de la provincia. Método. En 401 individuos procedentes de una muestra aleatoria de 6 comarcas de Lleida se calculó el riesgo cardiovascular según la tabla de cálculo del estudio de Framingham y el porcentaje de individuos que precisan fármacos hipolipemiantes según el US National Cholesterol Education Program, la Sociedad Europea de Aterosclerosis y la Sociedad Española de Aterosclerosis. Resultados. La prevalencia de individuos con colesterol total > 250 mg/dl fue del 16,2 por ciento en los varones y del 22,4 por ciento en las mujeres. Precisaban tratamiento farmacológico para la hipercolesteremia un 20,5 por ciento de los varones y un 17,6 por ciento de las mujeres de los 383 individuos mayores de 6 años de la población, según el NCEP. La ecuación de Framingham se aplicó a 281 individuos (mayores de 30 y menores de 75 años); estima un riesgo superior al 20 por ciento en 10 años en un 13,7 por ciento de la población, siendo de un 23,9 por ciento en los varones y un 3,5 por ciento en las mujeres. Conclusiones. El porcentaje de pacientes que precisa tratamiento farmacológico para la hipercolesteremia varía según las diferentes guías utilizadas. Consideramos necesario el cálculo del riesgo cardiovascular según la ecuación de Framingham en el uso de fármacos para que éste se ajuste a la población con mayor riesgo, dado el origen multifactorial de la enfermedad cardiovascular (AU)

[The prevalence of thyroid functional disorders in the province of Lleida]. / Prevalencia de trastorno de la función tiroidea en la provincia de Lleida.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of thyroidal disorders in our area using a representative sample of the population in terms of age and distribution by sex. DESIGN: Descriptive observational transversal study. SETTING: Six areas from the province of Lleida including its capital. PARTICIPANTS: All the inhabitants older than 6 and living in the region during the time of the study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The study was carried out using a representative sample of the population. Several demographic and clinical parameters that are considered to be related to thyroidal disorders were gathered. A blood sample was performed to measure thyrotropin and thyroidal hormones (total T3, free T3 and free T4) and antithyroidal antibodies. 4 diagnostic categories were defined: overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, overt hyperthyroidism and subclinical hyperthyroidism. Blood samples from 401 individuals were analyzed. The prevalence of hyperthyroidism has been 5.6% +/- 2.3% of which 4.6% +/- 2.1% corresponds to subclinical hyperthyroidism. The prevalence of hypothyroidism has been 3.48% +/- 1.7% with 1.24% of overt condition and 2.23% of subclinical. We have not found statistical significance by sex in hyperthyroidism while the prevalence of hypothyroidism is significantly higher among women. 42.8% of hypothyroidism showed positive values for antithyroidal antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of thyroidal disorders in the studied area is similar to those other regions with an adequate iodine intake. Hypothyroidism has diminished in the last years. Hyperthyroidism has not changed. Data about prevalence of thyroidal disorders will have increased value in the future if strategies such as screening and treatment of subclinical disorders prove to be beneficial.

[An analysis of the responses to the Cage test obtained among young people from a rural area]. / Análisis de las respuestas al test de Cage obtenidas entre jóvenes del medio rural.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to detect alcoholism problems among the young population, using the CAGE test. DESIGN: Transversal descriptive study. SITE. Work developed with high school students (BUP and COU) from a rural context in Aragón. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Random sample of 1,012 students, ordered by gender and academic course (57.9% female, age average 16 +/- 1.3 years old). INTERVENTIONS: The CAGE test was answered in written and anonymous way. MAIN MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: 368 students (36.5%) obtained scores. 1. Among them, 159 (15.7%) scored 2. The prevalence of alcoholism was greater in male students (p = 0.01). The test shows false positivity in 7 sober people. Youngsters with high scores presented higher risk of suffering a traffic accident (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Because of the psychological peculiarities of the teenagers CAGE test might have some reliability disturbances. In any case, the results show the existence of an important number of young people in the rural site with problems related to alcohol (although not necessarily linked to physical dependence.