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Background: We determined the incidence, probable risk factors, causes, and long-term survival of delirium in patients hospitalized in a medical specialty teaching hospital in Mexico City.Method: From June to December 1995, 667 elderly patients 60 years and older were hospitalized and assessed within 48 hours, excluding those with delirium at admission, those sedated, on respiratory support, or unable to speak.Results: Twelve percent of the population developed delirium, identified by means of the daily application of the Confusion Assessment Method; its appearance was attributed in 50% to two or more causes, in 10% to an insufficient control of pain, in 7.5% to a preceding surgical event, and in the rest to other causes. Each case was compared randomly with three nonpaired control patients of the same cohort who did not develop delirium. There was a significant increase in the number of cases of delirium in patients older than 75 years (p < .001), those with low schooling (p = .04), those with greater comorbidity (p < .001), those with a hematocrit lower than 30% (relative risk [RR] 2.1, confidence interval [CI] 1.2-4.1), and those with a glucose level greater than 140 mg/dl (RR 2.1, CI 1.2-3.6). Patients with delirium remained hospitalized longer than controls (p = .02). There was no significant difference in the intrahospital mortality of both groups, although during 5 years' follow-up, survivors demonstrated a significant increase in mortality (p = .03) in the group of individuals with delirium during the hospital stay when compared to controls.Conclusion: In this geriatric population of Mexican patients, delirium incidence was similar to that previously reported in the worldwide literature. Its incidence is associated with longer hospital stay and greater mortality. Age, low level of schooling, greater comorbidity, high glucose levels, poor pain control, and hematocrit lower than 30% were independently associated with a greater incidence of delirium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental fading measurements were performed in Cadiz Bay, Spain, for a variety of operational scenarios over the sea at the unlicensed 5.8 GHz frequency band. Measurements are based on continuous wave (CW) transmissions with both the transmitter and the receiver installed in typical low-height maritime platforms, such as oceanographic buoys, military ships and boats. Based on the measurements, large-scale and small-scale fading statistics are characterised by cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) and key wireless channel parameters are estimated and discussed. Results show, first, that large-scale fading can be modelled using classical log-normal path-loss models and, secondly, that small-scale fading statistics fits the extreme value distribution (EVD) function when they are expressed in decibel units. This study can be used for practical planning of wireless communications in maritime applications and as an experimental basis for further simulation works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: To validate a Spanish language version of the Screen for Caregiver Burden, the full-length or long (25-item) and short (seven-item) versions in Mexican caregivers of patients with mixed, vascular and Alzheimer's dementia., Background: Patients with dementia display impaired executive function and neuropsychiatric symptoms such as behavioural changes and sleep disturbances. These symptoms can make patients become more dependent. The experience of caregiving for patients under these conditions is burdensome. It is important to detect this burden to protect both the caregiver and the patient from negative outcomes., Design: Survey., Methods: Participants were 143 primary caregivers of patients with dementia and 30 caregivers of older adults without dementia in two hospitals in Mexico City., Results: The internal reliability was Cronbach's α=0·89 and 0·82 for the 25-item and the seven-item versions, respectively. The item-total correlations for two Screen for Caregiver Burden versions were significant from r=0·26 to r=0·77 p<0·001. The test-retest was ICC=0·78 p<0·001; CI 95% (0·55-0·89) and ICC=0·72 p<0·001; CI 95% (0·41-0·86) for the 25-item and the seven-item, respectively. We found from non-significant to highly significant correlations between two Screen for Caregiver Burden versions and other measures ranged. Validity of known groups showed that the caregivers of demented patients experienced more burden than those caring for non-demented patients., Conclusions: Given these psychometric properties, both versions of the Screen for Caregiver Burden are valid tools and can be reliably used to assess the presence and level of caregiver burden in caregivers of demented patients., Relevance to Clinical Practice: The Screen for Caregiver Burden in the Spanish Language can be used in clinical practice to detect caregiver burden in family members. We recommend using the long or full-length version when the objective is to assess the caregiver burden carefully and the short version (seven-item) as a screening method of caregiver burden that requires attention., (© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Objective: To determine the prevalence of the consumption of alcohol and cigarette smoking and their association with cognitive impairment among older Mexican adults., Material and Methods: A total of 4,872 people over 65 years of age included in the sample of the National Mexican Health and Aging Study carried out in 2001 were questioned about their consumption of alcohol and cigarette smoking. For the classification of those subjects with cognitive impairment, the total scale of the different cognitive domains was used. The chi-square, Mann-Whitney U test, and logistical regression were used in order to find associations., Results: The prevalence of alcoholism according to CAGE was 2.8% and the prevalence of the consumption of cigarette smoking was 14%. Factors associated with the consumption of alcohol were:age 65-69 (p <0.001), men (RR 3.17, p <0.001), and high level of education (p <0.001). The association between the consumption of alcohol and cognitive impairment (chi2=6.59, p <0.01) was statistically significant., Conclusions: The prevalence of consumption of alcohol and cigarette smoking in older Mexican adults are similar to that reported in other countries; the consumption of alcohol and its association with cognitive impairment was significant.