Carolina Santamaría Ulloa
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Examinando Carolina Santamaría Ulloa por Autor "Méndez Chacón, Ericka"
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Ítem Factors associated with hypertension prevalence, unawareness and treatment among Costa Rican elderly(BMC Public Health 8(275), 2008) Méndez Chacón, Ericka; Santamaría Ulloa, Carolina; Rosero Bixby, LuisBackground: Reliable information on the prevalence of hypertension is crucial in the development of health policies for prevention, control, and early diagnosis of this condition. This study describes the prevalence of hypertension among Costa Rican elderly, and identifies co-factors associated with its prevalence, unawareness and treatment. Methods: The prevalence of hypertension is estimated for the Costa Rican elderly. Measurement error is assessed, and factors associated with high blood pressure are explored. Data for this study came from a nationally representative sample of about 2,800 individuals from CRELES (Costa Rica: Longevity and Healthy Aging Study). Two blood pressure measures were collected using digital monitors. Self reprts of previous diagnosis, and medications taken were also recorded as part of the study. Results: No evidence of information bias was found among interviewers, or over time. Hypertension prevalence in elderly Costa Ricans was found to be 65% (Males = 60%, Females = 69%). Twenty-five percent of the studied population did not reprt previous diagnoses of hypertension, but according to our measurement they had high blood pressure. The proportion of unaware men is higher than the proportion of unaware women (32% vs. 20%). The main factors associated with hypertension are: age, being overweight or obese, and family history of hypertension. For men, current smokers are 3 times more likely to be unaware of their condition than non smokers. Both men and women are less likely to be unaware of their condition if they have a family history of hypertension. Those women who are obese, diabetic, have suffered heart disease or stroke, or have been home visited by community health workers are less likely to be unaware of their hypertension. The odds of being treated are higher in educated individuals, those with a family history of hypertension, elderly with diabetes or those who have had heart disease. Conclusion: Sex differences in terms of hypertension prevalence, unawareness, and treatment in elderly people have been found. Despite national programs for hypertension detection and education, unawareness of hypertension remains high, particularly among elderly men. Modifiable factors identified to be associated with prevalence such as obesity and alcohol intake could be used in educational programs aimed at the detection and treatment of those individuals who have the conditionÍtem Frailty as a predictor of mortality: a comparative cohort study of older adults in Costa Rica and the United States(BMC Public Health, Volumen 23, número 1960, 2023) Santamaría Ulloa, Carolina; Lehning, Amanda J.; Cortés Ortiz, Mónica; Méndez Chacón, ErickaFrailty is a syndrome that results from aging-related declines in multiple systems and leads to an increased vulnerability to adverse health outcomes [1]. Because of its age-dependent nature, frailty is common in older adults [2, 3]. A systematic review and meta-analysis estimated an incidence rate of frailty of 40 cases per 1000 person-years in community-dwelling older adults 60 years or older from developed countries [4]. From a biological standpoint, this syndrome results from decreased reserves in multiple physiological systems, which leads to loss of homeostatic capability to cope with stressors. From a clinical standpoint, this condition becomes clinically visible above a threshold of severity [5]. Adverse health outcomes associated with frailty include loss of mobility, falls, hospitalization, and mortality. Furthermore, this syndrome also poses challenges for families, caregivers, and social support institutions [6]. Several scales have been developed to operationalize the measurement of frailty in older adults [7]. In 2001, Fried and colleagues proposed their landmark frailty phenotype measurement called Fried’s Physical Frailty Phenotype (PFP), which has become the most widely used frailty screening tool in population studies. The PFP scale consists of five components: (1) shrinking, (2) exhaustion, (3) low physical activity level, (4) muscle weakness, and (5) slow gait [8]. These five frailty-identifying characteristics measure the negative energy balance, sarcopenia, and diminished strength and tolerance for exertion resulting from multiple systems decline [5].