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En octubre 31 del 2021, Colombia inició la vacunación contra COVID-19 para niños de 3 a 11 años de edad, con la vacuna CoronaVac (Sinovac). Esta estrategia se implementó en ausencia de un informe técnico sobre la eficacia y seguridad de CoronaVac en niños, y sin una evaluación del costo-beneficio de esta, en comparación con otras estrategias. En este comentario se consideran aspectos fundamentales que debieron tomarse en cuenta al ponderar si los beneficios de esta estrategia eran mayores que sus riesgos. Específicamente, la eficacia y seguridad de CoronaVac en niños de 3 a 11 años, la relación riesgo/beneficio de la estrategia, el rol de los niños en la transmisión comunitaria de SARS-CoV-2, y las implicaciones éticas de la estrategia.

Background: Use of RT-qPCR pool testing in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection has been limited due to a lack of data on its sensitivity and efficiency. Methods: We mixed single specimens of extracted RNA positive for the SARS-CoV-2 E gene by RT-qPCR with negative specimens, in pools of 4 (n=89), 8 (n=92), 16 (n=102), and 32 (n=105) specimens each. We estimated the average change in Ct for each pool size and added it to the Ct values of the first 1,350 tests in our lab, to obtain dilution-corrected Ct values. We estimated pool sensitivity as the proportion of samples with dilution-corrected Ct>40, and used it in simulations of the efficiency (tests used/true case detected) of binary split pool testing. Findings: We tested 388 pools. Average Ct changes were 2.21, 2.51, 3.27, and 3.94 cycles, for pools of 4, 8, 16, and 32 specimens, respectively. Corresponding pool tests sensitivities were 91.1%, 89.6%, 85.8% and 82.5%. Pool testing was substantially more efficient than individual testing. For prevalence of 0.5% to 2.0%, the efficiency of pools of ≥8 specimens was 30% to 280% higher, and the number of people tested was 4.4 to 13.9 times higher than those of individual testing were. Interpretation: Binary split pool testing substantially increases the number of people tested and the number of true cases detected per test. This strategy is key to curtail the transmission of SAR-CoV-2, by increasing efficiency in the identification and isolation of symptomatic and asymptomatic infected individuals. Funding: Major Office of Bucaramanga, Colombia. Declaration of Interests: None. Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by both the UIS’ and the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Institutional Review Boards.

Resumen Objetivo Determinar la fiabilidad (consistencia interna, reproducibilidad interevaluador y nivel de acuerdo) del resultado de enfermeria: « Conocimiento: control de la enfermedad cardiaca (1830) » de la version publicada en espanol, en pacientes ambulatorios con insuficiencia cardiaca. Metodos Estudio de fiabilidad realizado en 116 pacientes ambulatorios con insuficiencia cardiaca. Se operacionalizaron seis indicadores del resultado de enfermeria. Todos los participantes fueron valorados simultaneamente por dos evaluadores. Se definieron tres periodos de evaluacion: inicial (al comienzo del estudio), final (al mes) y seguimiento (a los dos meses). Analisis estadistico: consistencia interna mediante el coeficiente alpha de Cronbach, reproducibilidad interevaluador con el coeficiente de correlacion intraclase de reproducibilidad o acuerdo y nivel de acuerdo a traves de los limites de acuerdo del 95% de Bland y Altman. Resultados El alpha de Cronbach fue de 0,83 IC 95% (0,77; 0,89) en la evaluacion final y para el seguimiento se encontraron valores de 0,85 IC 95% (0,82; 0,89) y 0,83 IC 95% (0,78; 0,88), para el primer y segundo evaluador, respectivamente. El coeficiente de correlacion intraclase presento valores mayores a 0,9 en los tres momentos de evaluacion tanto en el modelo aleatorio como en el mixto. Los limites de acuerdo del 95% de Bland y Altman fueron cercanos a cero en las tres evaluaciones realizadas. Conclusiones El cuestionario operacionalizado para valorar el resultado de enfermeria: « Conocimiento: control de la enfermedad cardiaca (1830) » en su version en espanol, es un metodo confiable para medir habilidades y conocimientos en pacientes ambulatorios con insuficiencia cardiaca en el contexto colombiano.

Introducción: A pesar que cerca del 40% de la variabilidad en la presión arterial es explicada por factores genéticos, la identificación de genes asociados a la hipertensión arterial esencial es difícil en poblaciones constituidas por individuos con antecedentes genéticos diferentes; en esta circunstancia se debe determinar si la población está sub-estructurada porque esto puede sesgar los estudios de asociación con esta enfermedad. Objetivo: Determinar la estructura genética de la población de Bucaramanga a partir de polimorfismos genéticos asociados con la regulación de la presión arterial: 448G>T, 679C>T y 1711C>T del gen de la quinasa 4 del receptor dopaminérgico acoplado a proteína G y Glu298Asp, -786T>C y el VNTR del intrón 4 del gen de la sintasa de óxido nítrico endotelial. Metodología: Se estudió una muestra de 552 individuos no relacionados mediante análisis de polimorfismos de longitud de fragmentos de restricción. Se calcularon las frecuencias alélicas, haplotípicas y genotípicas, se determinó el equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg y se realizó un análisis molecular de varianza para determinar la estructura genética. Resultados: Se identificaron 38 haplotipos siendo GCCTG4b el más frecuente (21.2%). El polimorfismo más diverso fue el 448G>T con una frecuencia de heterocigotos del 49.9%. Los seis polimorfismos se encontraron en equilibrio genético y no se evidenció estructura genética poblacional (F ST = 0,0038). Conclusión: La población estudiada no presenta subestructura genética y los polimorfismos analizados se encontraron en equilibrio genético, lo que indica que la población se mezcla aleatoriamente y no existen subgrupos que puedan afectar los resultados de estudios de asociación. Introduction: In spite nearly 40% of the variability in blood pressure can be explained by genetic factors, the identification of genes associated to essential high blood pressure is difficult in populations where individuals have different genetic precedents; in these circumstances it is necessary to determinate whether the population is sub-structured because this can bias studies associated with this disease. Objectives: To determine the genetic structure of the population in Bucaramanga from genetic polymorphisms asso-Received in revised form 25 november 2011 ciated with the regulation of blood pressure: 448G>T, 679C>T y 1711C>T from the gene kinase 4 of the dopaminergic receptor linked to the protein G and Glu298Asp, -786T>C and the VNTR of the intron 4 of the gene of endothelial nitric oxide. Methodology: A sample of 552 unrelated individuals was studied through analysis of Restriction fragment length polymorphism. The allelic, haplotypic and genotypic frequencies were calculated, the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was determined and a molecular analysis of variance was performed to determine the genetic structure. Results: 38 Haplotypes were identified, with GCCTG4b as the most frequent (21.2%). The most diverse polymorphism was 448G>T with a frequency of 49.9% for heterozygous. The six polymorphisms were found in genetic equilibrium and genetic structure of populations was not evidenced (F ST = 0,0038). Conclusion: The population studied does not present a genetic sub-structure and the polymorphisms analyzed were found in genetic equilibrium, this indicates that the population mixes randomly and there are no sub-groups capable of affecting the results of the association studies.

BACKGROUND: Cut points for defining obesity have been derived from mortality data among Whites from Europe and the United States and their accuracy to screen for high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in other ethnic groups has been questioned. OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy and to define ethnic and gender-specific optimal cut points for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) when they are used in screening for high risk of CHD in the Latin-American and the US populations. METHODS: We estimated the accuracy and optimal cut points for BMI, WC and WHR to screen for CHD risk in Latin Americans (n=18 976), non-Hispanic Whites (Whites; n=8956), non-Hispanic Blacks (Blacks; n=5205) and Hispanics (n=5803). High risk of CHD was defined as a 10-year risk > or =20% (Framingham equation). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) and the misclassification-cost term were used to assess accuracy and to identify optimal cut points. RESULTS: WHR had the highest AUC in all ethnic groups (from 0.75 to 0.82) and BMI had the lowest (from 0.50 to 0.59). Optimal cut point for BMI was similar across ethnic/gender groups (27 kg/m(2)). In women, cut points for WC (94 cm) and WHR (0.91) were consistent by ethnicity. In men, cut points for WC and WHR varied significantly with ethnicity: from 91 cm in Latin Americans to 102 cm in Whites, and from 0.94 in Latin Americans to 0.99 in Hispanics, respectively. CONCLUSION: WHR is the most accurate anthropometric indicator to screen for high risk of CHD, whereas BMI is almost uninformative. The same BMI cut point should be used in all men and women. Unique cut points for WC and WHR should be used in all women, but ethnic-specific cut points seem warranted among men.

The effect of polymorphisms of the RAS genes on the incidence of hypertension seems to be population-dependent. We studied the effects of the angiotensinogen T174M and M235T, angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion (ACE I/D), and angiotensin II receptor 1 (AT1R) A1166C gene polymorphisms on the risk of hypertension among Hispanics. We selected all cases (n=256) and 257 age and sex group-matched controls from a random sample of free living Colombians (n=2,989). Logistic regression was used to estimate the independent effect of each polymorphism. All polymorphisms were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls, with the exception of M235T, which showed a small excess of heterozygotes (p=0.005; disequilibrium coefficient, D=-0.0264). After adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, race, physical activity, family history of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and other polymorphisms, subjects with the ACE DD genotype were 1.56 times (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05, 2.33) more likely to be hypertensive than carriers of the I allele (p=0.03). Also, adjusted systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 4.58 (95% CI: -0.39, 9.56) and 3.32 (95% CI: 0.78, 5.86) mmHg higher in DD homozygous individuals than in carriers of the I allele, respectively. Approximately 15% of the cases of hypertension in this population could be attributed to carriage of the DD genotype. None of the other polymorphisms was associated with either hypertension or blood pressure level. In conclusion, the ACE DD genotype appears to be an independent risk factor for development of hypertension and may explain a significant fraction of incident cases among Hispanics.

Introducción: El aumento de los niveles de estrés se convirtió en un problema para la salud de la población en general. Diferentes estudios demuestran que la realización de actividad física de manera regular disminuye la percepción de estrés psicológico en el individuo. Se sugiere que la relación entre actividad física y estrés psicológico percibido varía entre los dominios de la acti­vidad física realizada y los diferentes grupos poblacionales. Objetivo: Establecer la asociación entre actividad física y estrés psicológico percibido en adultos residentes en barrios de estratos socioeconómicos 2 y 3 de Bucaramanga. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio obser­vacional analítico de corte transversal en una población de 502 adultos residentes en la ciudad de Bucaramanga. Los participantes fueron entrevistados para obtener información acerca de la actividad física realizada y el nivel de estrés psicológico percibido. Además, se incluyeron en el estudio variables sociodemográficas y patrones de comportamiento. La información fue analizada mediante análisis bivariado y multivariado empleando modelos de regresión lineal múltiple y usando el programa stata® 11.0. Resultados: Se determinó una asociación entre el cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de actividad física de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (oms) y el puntaje de estrés psicológico percibido en los participantes (β = -1,90 IC 95 % -3,73 a -0,06; P = 0,043). Conclusiones: Cumplir con las recomendaciones de actividad física, se asoció con una dis­minución en el nivel de estrés psicológico en los participantes, quienes presentaron en promedio -1,9 puntos menos en el puntaje del pss, que quienes no las cumplen. Introduction: Increased stress levels became a problem for the general population’s health. Research studies show that individuals engaging regular physical activity have a decreased percep­tion of psychological stress. The relationship between physical activity and perceived psychological stress has been suggested to vary across domains of physical activity and across population groups. Objective: To establish the association between physical activity and perceived psychological stress in adults living in neighborhoods of the 2nd and 3rd socio-economic strata of Bucaramanga. Materials and methods: This observational analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of 502 adult residents in the city of Bucaramanga. Individuals were interviewed to obtain information about physical activity and their level of perceived psychological stress. Data analysis will account for socio-demographic and behavior patterns using linear regression models, and it was performed in stata® 11.0. Results: Meeting the physical activity recommendations was associated with a decrease in psychological stress levels in study participants (β = -1,90 IC 95 % -3,73 a -0,06; P = 0,043). Conclusions: Complying with the recommendations of physical activity was associated with a decrease in the psychological stress level in the participants, who had an average -1.9 points lower PSS score than those who do not comply. Introdução: o aumento dos níveis de stress converteu-se em um problema para a saúde da popu­lação em geral. Diferentes estudos demonstram que a realização de atividade física de maneira regular diminui a percepção de stress psicológico no indivíduo. Sugerese que a relação entre ati­vidade física e stress psicológico percebido varia entre os domínios da atividade física realizada e os diferentes grupos populacionais. Objetivo: Estabelecer a associação entre atividade física e stress psicológico percebido em adultos residentes em bairros de estratos socioeconómicos 2 e 3 de Bucaramanga. Materiais e métodos: realizou-se um estudo observacional analítico de corte transversal, em uma população de 502 adultos residentes na cidade de Bucaramanga. Os partici­pantes foram entrevistados para obter informações acerca da atividade física realizada e o nível de stress psicológico percebido. Além disso, incluíram-se no estudo variáveis sócio-demográficas e patrões de comportamento. A informação foi analisada mediante análise bivariada e multivariada empregando modelos de regressão lineal múltipla e, usando o programa STATA® 11.0. Resultados: se determinou uma associação entre o cumprimento das recomendações de atividade física da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) e a pontuação de stress psicológico percebido nos partici­pantes (β = -1,90 IC 95 % -3,73 a -0,06; P = 0,043). Conclusões: cumprir com as recomendações de atividade física, associou-se com uma diminuição no nível de stress psicológico nos participantes, quem apresentaram -1,9 pontos menos em média na pontuação do PSS, que quem não as cumprem.

Although cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in the region, there are few data on the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in Latin American. We studied the distribution and impact of cardiovascular risk factors in Bucaramanga, Colombia.We conducted a cross-sectional study in a random sample of 2989 subjects 15-64 years old. Population attributable risks were estimated from Framingham risk scores.Smoking prevalence was 16.2% (men 26.3%; women 10.5%). Hypertension prevalence was 9.9% in women and 8.8% in men, but reached 50% in those 60-64 years old. After adjustment for body mass index, men were more likely to be hypertensive, but only if under 40 years old. Obesity was more frequent in women (15.7%) than in men (8.7%), even after age-adjustment. About 46% of the participants were overweight or obese. Women also had higher prevalence of high total cholesterol (19.7 versus 15.7%) and high low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (23.9 versus 19.5%), but lower prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (22.2 versus 37.6%). Only low-HDL prevalence was significantly different after body mass index and age-adjustment. The prevalence of diabetes was similar in men and women (4%), but age and body mass index-adjusted impaired fasting glucose prevalence was 60% higher in women. Population attributable risks were larger and similar for high total cholesterol, hypertension, and large waist-to-hip ratio (19%).Women had higher prevalence of all risk factors with the exception of smoking and low-HDL. Reduction in cholesterol levels, blood pressure and obesity is a priority to control the ongoing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in this population.

To determine the reliability (internal consistency, inter-rater reproducibility and level of agreement) of nursing outcome: "Knowledge: cardiac disease management (1830)" of the version published in Spanish, in outpatients with heart failure.A reliability study was conducted on 116 outpatients with heart failure. Six indicators of nursing outcome were operationalized. All participants were assessed simultaneously by two evaluators. Three evaluation periods were defined: initial (at baseline), final (a month later), and follow-up (two months later).Internal consistency by Cronbach alpha coefficient, inter-rater reproducibility with intraclass correlation coefficient of reproducibility or agreement and level agreement using the 95% limits of Bland and Altman.Cronbach's alpha was 0.83 (95% CI: 0.77 - 0.89) in the final evaluation, and follow-up values of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.82-0.89) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78 - 0.88) were found for the first and second evaluator, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient showed values greater 0.9 in the three evaluation periods in both the random and mixed model. The Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement were close to zero in the three evaluations performed.The questionnaire operationalized to assess the nursing outcome: "Knowledge: cardiac disease management (1830)" in its Spanish version, is a reliable method to measure skills and knowledge in outpatients with heart failure in the Colombian context.

An outbreak of 14 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was discovered by chance in May 1993 among hemodialysis patients at a university hospital in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The outbreak occurred in 1992. Stored sera were used to establish the probable period of infection (PPI) for 10 of the 14 cases. A nested case-control study was carried out to evaluate possible transmission mechanisms. The health care experience of each HIV-positive patient during that patient’s PPI was compared to the experience of time-matched controls. Only invasive dental procedures were significantly associated with the risk of infection. Patients upon whom invasive dental procedures were performed during their PPIs had an average risk of HIV infection 8.15 times greater than comparable controls (P = 0.006), and seven out of nine cases of HIV infection with known PPIs in 1992 had an invasive dental procedure performed one to six months before seroconversion. None of the dental care personnel were found to be infected. Based on the available evidence, it seems most likely that the infection was transmitted from patient to patient by contaminated dental instruments.En mayo de 1993 se descubrió fortuitamente un brote de 14 casos de infección por virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en pacientes sometidos a hemodiálisis en un hospital universitario de Bucaramanga, Colombia. El brote tuvo lugar en 1992. Se usaron sueros almacenados para determinar el período de infección probable (PI) de 10 de los 14 casos y se llevó a cabo un estudio de casos y controles anidado a fin de evaluar los posibles mecanismos de transmisión. La atención de salud recibida por cada paciente positivo a VIH durante su PIP se comparó con la atención recibida por controles apareados con los casos en tiempo. Solamente los procedimientos odontológicos invasores mostraron una asociación significativa con el riesgo de infección. Los pacientes sometidos a procedimientos dentales invasores durante su PIP tuvieron un riesgo promedio de infección 8,15 veces mayor que los controles de características similares (P = 0,006), y de nueve casos de infección por VIH con un PIP conocido en 1992, siete habían sido sometidos a un procedimiento dental invasor de 1 a 6 meses antes de la seroconversión. No se detectó infección en ninguno de los miembros del personal de salud dental. A juzgar por las pruebas disponibles, es más probable que la infección haya sido transmitida de un paciente a otro por instrumentos dentales contaminados.

An outbreak of 14 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was discovered by chance in May 1993 among hemodialysis patients at a university hospital in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The outbreak occurred in 1992. Stored sera were used to establish the probable period of infection (PPI) for 10 of the 14 cases. A nested case-control study was carried out to evaluate possible transmission mechanisms. The health care experience of each HIV-positive patient during that patient's PPI was compared to the experience of time-matched controls. Only invasive dental procedures were significantly associated with the risk of infection. Patients upon whom invasive dental procedures were performed during their PPIs had an average risk of HIV infection 8.15 times greater than comparable controls (P = 0.006), and seven out of nine cases of HIV infection with known PPIs in 1992 had an invasive dental procedure performed one to six months before seroconversion. None of the dental care personnel were found to be infected. Based on the available evidence, it seems most likely that the infection was transmitted from patient to patient by contaminated dental instruments.

En mayo de 1993 se descubrió fortuitamente un brote de 14 casos de infección por virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) en pacientes sometidos a hemodiálisis en un hospital universitario de Bucaramanga, Colombia. El brote tuvo lugar en 1992. Se usaron sueros almacenados para determinar el período de infección probable (PIP) de 10 de los 14 casos y se llevó a cabo un estudio de casos y controles anidado a fin de evaluar los posibles mecanismos de transmisión. La atención de salud recibida por cada paciente positivo a VIH durante su PIP se comparó con la atención recibida por controles apareados con los casos en tiempo. Solamente los procedimientos odontológicos invasores mostraron una asociación significativa con el riesgo de infección. Los pacientes sometidos a procedimientos dentales invasores durante su PIP tuvieron un riesgo promedio de infección 8,15 veces mayor que los controles de características similares (P = 0,006), y de nueve casos de infección por VIH con PIP conocidos en 1992, siete habían sido sometidos a un procedimiento dental invasor 1 a 6 meses antes de la seroconversión. No se detectó infección en ninguno de los miembros del personal de salud dental. A juzgar por las pruebas disponibles, lo más probable es que la infección haya sido transmitida de un paciente a otro por instrumentos dentales contaminados.An outbreak of 14 cases of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was discovered by chance in May 1993 among hemodyalisis patients at a university hospital in Bucaramanga, Colombia. The outbreak occurred in 1992. Stored sera were used to establish the probable period of infection (PPI) for 10 of the 14 cases. A nested case-control study was carried out to evaluate possible transmission mechanisms. The health care experience of each HIV-positive patient during that patient's PPI was compared to the experience of time-matched controls. Only invasive dental procedures were significantly associated with the risk of infection. Patients upon whom invasive dental procedures were performed during their PPIs had an average risk of HIV infection 8.15 times greater than comparable controls (P = 0,006), and seven out of nine cases of HIV infection with known PPIs in 1992 had an invasive dental procedure performed one to 6 months before seroconversion. None of the dental care personnel were found to be infected. Based on the available evidence, it seems most likely that the infection was transmitted from patient to patient by contaminated dental instruments.

Limited knowledge on the prevalence and distribution of risk factors impairs the planning and implementation of cardiovascular prevention programs in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. For the last two decades cardiovascular diseases have been the main cause of death in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). [1] Cardiovascular mortality rates continue to increase in most LAC countries, and in those countries where rates have declined the blunting of the trend has been considerably lower than in the United Sates (US). [2]. Data on the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors in LAC region are limited, and the few studies available show significant variation in the levels of prevalence. For instance, the CARMELA study, [3] conducted in seven major urban cities from LAC, reported markedly different hypertension levels. For instance, hypertension prevalence in Santiago (Chile), Buenos Aires (Argentina), and Barquisimeto (Venezuela), ranged from 24% to 29%, whereas in Quito (Ecuador), Bogotá (Colombia), Mexico City (Mexico), and Lima (Peru) varied from 9% to 13%. Yet, diabetes prevalence in these cities was similar to world’s estimates, around 7%. [3] Differences in rural-urban residence, socioeconomic development, and internal migration patterns could partly explain the contrasting profiles of cardiovascular risk factors, but knowledge on this regard is also very limited. This scarcity of data on the distribution of risk factors and, in turn, on their impact on incidence and mortality hampers efforts to curtail the growing epidemic of cardiovascular disease in LAC. In fact, national and regional health policies have been customarily based on estimates of the burden of risk factors and disease that rely heavily on demographic profiles. [4]. Here we report the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors using data from population-based studies from eight LAC countries. We also compare the distribution of cardiovascular risk factors in LAC and the US, as a way to illustrate the current stage of LAC in the process of the epidemiological transition. Insight into the specific differences in the distribution of risk factors in the LAC and US populations is important to foresee future trends in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the region. UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Centro Centroamericano de Población (CCP)

We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of administering a daily "polypill" consisting of three antihypertensive drugs, a statin, and aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease among high-risk patients in Latin America. We found that the lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease could be reduced by 15 percent in women and by 21 percent in men if the polypill were used by people with a risk of cardiovascular disease equal to or greater than 15 percent over ten years. Attaining this goal would require treating 26 percent of the population at a cost of $34-$36 per quality-adjusted life-year. Offering the polypill to women at high risk and to men age fifty-five or older would be the best approach and would yield acceptable incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. The polypill would be very cost-effective even in the country with the lowest gross national income in our study. However, policy makers must weigh the value of intervention with the polypill against other interventions, as well as their country's willingness and ability to pay for the intervention.

In spite of nearly 40% of variability in blood pressure being explained by genetic factors, the identification of genes associated with essential high blood pressure is difficult to determine in populations where individuals have different genetic backgrounds. In these circumstances it is necessary to determinate whether the population is sub-structured because this can bias studies associated with this disease.TO DETERMINE THE GENETIC STRUCTURE OF THE POPULATION IN BUCARAMANGA FROM GENETIC POLYMORPHISMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REGULATION OF BLOOD PRESSURE: 448GT, 679CT y 1711CT from the gene kinase 4 of the dopaminergic receptor linked to the protein G and Glu298Asp, -786TC and the VNTR of the intron 4 of the gene of endothelial nitric oxide.A sample of 552 unrelated individuals was studied through analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphism. The allelic, haplotypic and genotypic frequencies were calculated, the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was determined and a molecular analysis of variance was performed to determine the genetic structure.Thirty-eight (38) Haplotypes were identified with GCCTG4b being the most frequent (21.2%). The most diverse polymorphism was 448GT with a frequency of 49.9% for heterozygous. The six polymorphisms were found in genetic equilibrium and a genetic structure of populations was not evidenced (FST= 0.0038).The population studied does not present a genetic sub-structure and the polymorphisms analyzed were found in genetic equilibrium. This indicates that the population mixes randomly and there are no sub-groups capable of affecting the results of the association studies.A pesar que cerca del 40% de la variabilidad en la presión arterial es explicada por factores genéticos, la identificación de genes asociados a la hipertensión arterial esencial es difícil en poblaciones constituidas por individuos con antecedentes genéticos diferentes; en esta circunstancia se debe determinar si la población está sub-estructurada porque esto puede sesgar los estudios de asociación con esta enfermedad.Determinar la estructura genética de la población de Bucaramanga a partir de polimorfismos genéticos asociados con la regulación de la presión arterial: 448GT, 679CT y 1711CT del gen de la quinasa 4 del receptor dopaminérgico acoplado a proteína G y Glu298Asp, -786TC y el VNTR del intrón 4 del gen de la sintasa de óxido nítrico endotelial.Se estudió una muestra de 552 individuos no relacionados mediante análisis de polimorfismos de longitud de fragmentos de restricción. Se calcularon las frecuencias alélicas, haplotípicas y genotípicas, se determinó el equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg y se realizó un análisis molecular de varianza para determinar la estructura genética.Se identificaron 38 haplotipos siendo GCCTG4b el más frecuente (21.2%). El polimorfismo más diverso fue el 448GT con una frecuencia de heterocigotos del 49.9%. Los seis polimorfismos se encontraron en equilibrio genético y no se evidenció estructura genética poblacional (FLa población estudiada no presenta subestructura genética y los polimorfismos analizados se encontraron en equilibrio genético, lo que indica que la población se mezcla aleatoriamente y no existen subgrupos que puedan afectar los resultados de estudios de asociación.

FUNDAMENTO: A medida precisa da pressão arterial (PA) é de grande importância na pesquisa da hipertensão. No contexto de estudos clínicos e epidemiológicos, dispositivos oscilométricos frequentemente oferecem importantes vantagens para superar algumas das limitações do método auscultatório. Embora sua acurácia tenha sido avaliada em estudos múltiplos no ambiente clínico, há pouca evidência de seu desempenho em grandes estudos epidemiológicos. OBJETIVO: Avaliamos a precisão do Omron HEM-705-CP, um dispositivo automático para medida de PA, quando comparado com o método padrão auscultatório com esfigmomanômetro de mercúrio em um grande estudo de coorte. MÉTODOS: Três medidas auscultatórias foram obtidas, seguidas por duas mensurações com o dispositivo Omron em 1.084 indivíduos. O viés foi estimado como a média de duas medidas pelo dispositivo Omron menos a média das duas últimas medidas auscultatórias, com seus correspondentes limites de concordância (LC) de 95%. RESULTADOS: O dispositivo Omron superestimou a pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) por 1,8 mmHg (LC:-10,1, 13,7) e subestimou a pressão arterial diastólica (PAD) por 1,6 mmHg (LC:-12,3, 9,2). O viés foi significantemente maior em homens. O viés na PAS aumentou com a idade e diminuiu com o nível da PA, enquanto o viés na PAD diminuiu com a idade e aumentou com o nível da PA. A sensibilidade e a especificidade do dispositivo Omron para detectar hipertensão foram 88,2% e 98,6%, respectivamente. O uso das medidas do dispositivo Omron resultou em viés mínimo na estimativa dos efeitos de vários fatores. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados demonstraram que o dispositivo Omron HEM-705-CP pode ser utilizado para medir a PA em grandes estudos epidemiológicos sem comprometer a validade do estudo ou sua precisão. BACKGROUND: Accurate measurement of blood pressure is of utmost importance in hypertension research. In the context of epidemiologic and clinical studies, oscillometric devices offer important advantages to overcome some of the limitations of the auscultatory method. Even though their accuracy has been evaluated in multiple studies in the clinical setting, there is little evidence of their performance in large epidemiologic studies. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the accuracy of the Omron HEM-705-CP, an automatic device for blood pressure (BP) measurement, as compared to the standard auscultatory method with a mercury sphygmomanometer in a large cohort study. METHODS: We made three auscultatory measurements, followed by two measurements with the Omron device in 1,084 subjects. Bias was estimated as the average of the two Omron minus the average of the last two auscultatory measurements, with its corresponding 95% limits of agreement (LA). RESULTS: The Omron overestimated systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 1.8 mmHg (LA:-10.1, 13.7) and underestimated diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 1.6 mmHg (LA:-12.3, 9.2). Bias was significantly larger in men. Bias in SBP increased with age and decreased with BP level, while bias in DBP decreased with age and increased with BP level. The sensitivity and specificity of the Omron to detect hypertension were 88.2% and 98.6%, respectively. Minimum bias in the estimates of the effects of several factors resulted from the use of Omron measurements. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that the Omron HEM-705-CP could be used for measuring BP in large epidemiology studies without compromising study validity or precision. FUNDAMENTO: La medida precisa de la presión arterial (PA) es de gran importancia en la investigación de la hipertensión. En el contexto de estudios clínicos y epidemiológicos, dispositivos oscilométricos frecuentemente ofrecen importantes ventajas para superar algunas de las limitaciones del método auscultatorio. Aunque su precisión haya sido evaluada en estudios múltiples en el ambiente clínico, hay poca evidencia de su desempeño en grandes estudios epidemiológicos. OBJETIVO: Evaluamos la precisión del Omron HEM-705-CP, un dispositivo automático para medida de PA, cuando fue comparado con el método estándar auscultatorio con esfigmomanómetro de mercurio, en un gran estudio de cohorte. MÉTODOS: Tres medidas auscultatorias fueron obtenidas, seguidas por dos mediciones con el dispositivo Omron en 1.084 individuos. El sesgo fue estimado como la media de dos medidas por el dispositivo Omron menos la media de las dos últimas medidas auscultatorias, con sus correspondientes límites de concordancia (LC) de 95%. RESULTADOS: El dispositivo Omron superestimó la presión arterial sistólica (PAS) por 1,8 mmHg (LC:-10,1, 13,7) y subestimó la presión arterial diastólica (PAD) por 1,6 mmHg (LC:-12,3, 9,2). El sesgo fue significantemente mayor en hombres. El sesgo en la PAS aumentó con la edad y disminuyó con el nivel de la PA, mientras que el sesgo en la PAD disminuyó con la edad y aumentó con el nivel de la PA. La sensibilidad y la especificidad del dispositivo Omron para detectar hipertensión fueron 88,2% y 98,6%, respectivamente. El uso de las medidas del dispositivo Omron resultó en sesgo mínimo en los estimados de los efectos de varios factores. CONCLUSIÓN: Nuestros resultados demostraron que el dispositivo Omron HEM-705-CP puede ser utilizado para medir la PA en grandes estudios epidemiológicos sin comprometer la validez del estudio o su precisión. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2011;96(5):393-398)

Current, high-quality data are needed to evaluate the health impact of the epidemic of obesity in Latin America. The Latin American Consortium of Studies of Obesity (LASO) has been established, with the objectives of (i) Accurately estimating the prevalence of obesity and its distribution by sociodemographic characteristics; (ii) Identifying ethnic, socioeconomic and behavioural determinants of obesity; (iii) Estimating the association between various anthropometric indicators or obesity and major cardiovascular risk factors and (iv) Quantifying the validity of standard definitions of the various indexes of obesity in Latin American population. To achieve these objectives, LASO makes use of individual data from existing studies. To date, the LASO consortium includes data from 11 studies from eight countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela), including a total of 32 462 subjects. This article describes the overall organization of LASO, the individual studies involved and the overall strategy for data analysis. LASO will foster the development of collaborative obesity research among Latin American investigators. More important, results from LASO will be instrumental to inform health policies aiming to curtail the epidemic of obesity in the region. Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellowship/[GR074833MA]//Perú National Center for Research Resources/[G12RR03051]/NCRR/Estados Unidos National Institutes of Health/[G12RR03051]/NIH/Estados Unidos National Center for Research Resources/[P20RR011126]/NCRR/Estados Unidos National Institutes of Health/[P20RR011126]/NIH/Estados Unidos UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Centro Centroamericano de Población (CCP)