Development and rollout of a national plan on cardiovascular health. Spain's cardiovascular health strategy (ESCAV).

Introduction And Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in most countries; however, few specific political actions have been implemented to improve cardiovascular health at both national and international levels. We aimed to describe the methodology used for the development and initial rollout of Spain's Cardiovascular Health Strategy of the National Health System (ESCAV, Estrategia en Salud Cardiovascular del Sistema Nacional de Salud).

Methods: A multidisciplinary team comprising diverse stakeholders developed a national strategy to reduce the burden of CVD in Spain.

[Estimation of the global burden of disease in Colombia-2012: new methodological aspects].

The new methodology applying for burden of disease study (GBD 2010) is difficult to completely reproduce in Colombia. This paper presents the results of partial use of this methodology to estimate the components years lost due to premature death (YLLs) and lived with disability (YLDs). Redistribution of useless codes produces significant increases in some causes of death, which are preferable to deal with an analysis of causes of death with 15,6 % of useless codes that would provide little or no statistical information.

Sequential Atrioventricular Pacing in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: An 18-year Experience.

Introduction And Objectives: Controversy persists regarding the role of sequential atrioventricular pacing in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and disabling symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pacing on symptoms, dynamic gradient, and left ventricular function in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: From 1991 to 2009, dual-chamber pacemakers were implanted in 82 patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and disabling symptoms despite optimal medical therapy.

The public health impact of economic fluctuations in a Latin American country: mortality and the business cycle in Colombia in the period 1980-2010.

Introduction: Studies in high-income countries suggest that mortality is related to economic cycles, but few studies have examined how fluctuations in the economy influence mortality in low- and middle-income countries. We exploit regional variations in gross domestic product per capita (GDPpc) over the period 1980-2010 in Colombia to examine how changes in economic output relate to adult mortality.

Methods: Data on the number of annual deaths at ages 20 years and older (n = 3,506,600) from mortality registries, disaggregated by age groups, sex and region, were linked to population counts for the period 1980-2010.

[The burden of disease for cancer in Santander, Colombia, 2005].

Objectives: Determining the burden of cancer in Santander using disability adjusted life years (DALY).

Methods: This was a descriptive study of the disease burden for determining DALYs caused by cancer in Santander. The unit of analysis consisted of the Autonomous University of Bucaramanga- Population-Based Cancer Centre records and National Bureau of Statistics- mortality records for 2005.

[Burden of disease in Latin America].

Objective: To describe the burden of disease studies made in the region, identify the main priorities in health from the indicator Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).

Material And Methods: By the use of DALYs identify the burden of disease in the countries in the network.

Results: DALYs emphasize the emergency of mental disorders, diabetes mellitus in women and the disorders associated with alcohol consumption and injuries in men.

[Factors affecting how long exclusive breastfeeding lasts].

Objective: Identifying factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding by poor urban women in Colombia .

Methodology: A random sample of women living in poor neighborhoods from four Colombian cities ( Cali , Cartagena , Medellín and Ibague ) was made (survey method), using a cross-sectional design; survival analysis techniques were applied.

Results: Bivariate analysis identified hospital bottle use, the women's marital status, and relationship with the head of household as having had a significant effect on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding.

[Socioeconomic inequality and its association with mortality indicators in the departments of Colombia in 2000].

Objectives: To study the inequalities in various mortality indicators for the departments of Colombia with respect to national figures, and to identify associations between the departmental mortality indicators and departmental socioeconomic indicators.

Methods: To determine mortality rates and the Gini coefficient for mortality for the departments, data from the death registry were adjusted by the estimated registry coverage for each of the departments. Five socioeconomic indicators were selected: Gini coefficient for income distribution, Human Development Index, per capita gross domestic product, per capita social investment (in health care, etc.

[Inequity in infant vaccination coverage in Colombia 2000 and 2003].

Objective: Identifying inequity in childhood vaccination coverage in towns throughout Colombia for both immunisations scheme and type of vaccine.

Methods: An ecological study using secondary information for 2000 and 2003. Three indicators were measured: (1) gaps in coverage (understood as being the differences between municipal coverage and that at national level), (2) Gini coefficient and (3) Lorenz's curve.