Revista médica de Chile
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In the last decades, there has been an increase in life expectancy in the world, with the consequent modification in the proportion of adults over 60 years. This is accompanied by an increase in pathologies for which aging is the main risk factor, such as dementia and hearing loss, which profoundly affect the quality of life of individuals and their family and impact health system costs. Given the lack of disease-modifying treatments for dementia, the study of mechanisms to prevent its occurrence has become a world priority. ⋯ This result undoubtedly has important consequences for the understanding the multifactorial nature of dementia, our daily clinical practice and public policies aimed at its prevention and treatment. In this article, we review the current evidence supporting the association between dementia and hearing loss, discussing the available strategies for prevention, detection and treatment of hearing loss and its possible impact on the natural course of dementia. A flow chart for the clinical management of different subgroups of patients is proposed.
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Revista médica de Chile · Aug 2020
[COVID-19 and psychological behavior: a systematic review of the psychological effects of 21st century pandemics].
The aim of this work was to conduct a systematic review on psychological behavior in the context of pandemic scenarios during the twenty-first century. We focused on empirical works and brief case reports of H1N1 flu and COVID-19. Our review included 32 papers published both in English or Spanish. ⋯ In addition, we found that certain social groups experienced a critical psychosocial impact likely due to the pandemic. Psychosocial factors affecting adherence were also identified, which allow us to better understand how health strategies are followed by the population. Different psychosocial suggestions, which emerged from the papers reviewed, were systematized and should be considered as possible pandemic strategies to be implemented.
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Revista médica de Chile · Aug 2020
Review[Risk of infections associated with the use of biological medications; a review].
Biological medications are effective for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this review is to summarize the available evidence in systematic reviews or meta-analyses about the risk of infection in patients with cancer, arthritis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease who use biological medications. We included systematic reviews or meta-analyses of controlled clinical trials and case/control studies that analyze infections during and after treatment with FDA-approved biological medications for the treatment of cancer, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, both in adults and children. ⋯ In inflammatory bowel disease there is a risk for opportunistic infections. In conclusion, in patients with cancer and inflammatory diseases use biological medications entails a risk of infection. The evidence is different depending on the underlying disease of each patient.