Liria Yamamoto-Kimura

Incidence of malignant neoplasms in children attending social security hospitals in Mexico City

An increase in neoplasms in Mexican children has been reported. In 1991, the incidence in children from Mexico City (MC) was 70 (x 10(6) child/year), although this rate might be underestimated. The aim of the present study was to estimate the incidence of malignant neoplasms in children resident in MC attending Social Security (SS) hospitals. This study was a retrospective hospital survey. All records of childhood malignant neoplasms diagnosed between 1992 and 1993 in the two SS hospitals which attend childhood neoplasms in MC were reviewed. Histopathological diagnoses were reevaluated and incidence rates (x 10(6) child/ year) in terms of age, sex, and place of residence were estimated. A total of 667 cases were found for the period of study, of which 199 corresponded to residents of MC. The neoplasms with highest prevalence were leukemias (39.2%), lymphomas (17.6%), and central nervous system tumors (12.6%). A general incidence of 94.3 was found, which was highest in children under 5 years of age. Leukemias had an incidence of 36.4, lymphomas of 15.2, and central nervous system tumors of 12.0. Prevalence was higher in boys (male/female ratio of 1.6). As for the place of residence, the highest incidence corresponded to children living in the southern areas of MC. Eighty percent of the leukemias were acute lymphoblastic, while 54% of solid neoplasms were classified as stages III and IV. In conclusion, the incidence of malignant neoplasms in children resident in MC treated at SS hospitals is consistent with that found worldwide, and also with the Latin American pattern.

The Prevalence of NIDDM and Associated Coronary Risk Factors in Mexico City

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of diabetes and associated coronary risk factors in the Mexico City population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A sample of 805 adults was selected from Mexico City. The participants, 20–90 years of age and living in the city, were selected by the method of multistage cluster sampling with proportional allocation. Diabetes was diagnosed by previous history or if fasting blood glucose was ≥ 7.8 mmol/l (≥ 140 mg/dl). RESULTS The crude rate prevalence of NIDDM was 8.7%, with an age-adjusted rate of 10.6% for women and 6.0% for men. Age strongly influenced diabetes prevalence, with a χ2 of risk tendency of 39.1 (P < 0.00005). A significant proportion (5.9%) of younger individuals (35–44 years of age) was affected by the disease. Diabetes was associated with advanced age, had a greater impact in the low-income group, and showed increased odds ratio for hypertension, dyslipidemias, and myocardial infarction in men and women and for obesity only in women. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of NIDDM in Mexico City that also strikes a significant group of younger individuals. Associated coronary risk factors are also common and more prevalent in diabetic individuals. Current epidemiological data in Mexico and Mexican-Americans in the U.S. suggest that we may be on the ascending limb for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. There is a critical need for resources to be allocated to programs for primary and secondary prevention, which must be well structured and organized so that proper standards of care are followed to prevent progression of the disease.