Background: Dengue fever, widely distributed throughout the world, has reemerged in Argentina after more than 70 years of absence, with an endemic behaviour in the northern provinces of the country. During the year 2016 an epidemic spread to the Province of Buenos Aires was experienced. Objective: To characterize the outbreak of dengue fever occurred in the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, during the period of beginning and expansion between January and May of the year 2016. Methods: The National Health Surveillance system provided weekly data, also using ArcGis for spatial localization. Knox test was used to establish spatial-temporal coordinates and the epidemiological curve was designed calculating the diffusion coefficient. Results: The relative risk and rates confirmed the epidemiological outbreak characterized by a rapid increase in propagation, with defined conglomerates. Towards week 17 the outbreak falls having the lowest diffusion values. Discussion: The information evaluated through different systems of information and analysis allowed to identify weaknesses of the same ones as well as to visualize “hot spots” of circulation of the virus in order to determine actions aimed at concentrating the efforts of control of potential breeding grounds for immature mosquitoes in winter times.

Resumen Introducción: El dengue, de amplia distribución mundial, ha resurgido en Argentina tras más de 70 años de ausencia, con un comportamiento endémico en las provincias norteñas del país; durante el año 2016 se experimentó una diseminación epidémica a la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Objetivos: Caracterizar el brote de fiebre de dengue ocurrido en la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, durante el período de inicio y expansión del mismo entre enero y mayo del año 2016. Métodos: El Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia de la Salud proveyó los datos semanales, utilizándose, además, ArcGis para la localización espacial. Se empleó test de Knox para establecer relaciones de coordenadas temporo-espaciales y se diseñó la curva epidemiológica calculando el coeficiente de difusión. Resultados: El riesgo relativo y razones de tasas para casos confirmados y la razón infección fue caracterizada por un aumento rápido en su propagación, con conglomerados definidos acompañado de la modificación sostenida entre las razones de tasas de casos infectados provenientes de zonas endémicas y aquellos autóctonos. Hacia la semana 17, el brote cae teniendo los valores más bajos de difusión. Discusión: La información evaluada mediante diferentes sistemas de información y análisis permitió identificar debilidades de los mismos, así como visualizar “zonas calientes” de circulación del virus para determinar acciones tendientes a concentrar los esfuerzos de control de potenciales criaderos de estados inmaduros del mosquito en épocas invernales.

Introduction. It is necessary to use health indicators describing the conditions of all individuals in a population, not just of those who have a disease or die. Objectives. To introduce a method to collect population indicators of psychomotor development in children younger than 6 years old and show its results. Population and methods. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional assessment regarding compliance with 13 developmental milestones (selected from the national reference) conducted in5465 children using five surveys administered by the Matanza-Riachuelo River Basin Authority in areas of this basin where a high proportion of families with unmet basic needs live. For each survey, a logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the median age at attainment of the 13 developmental milestones. A linear regression model between the estimated age at attainment of the 13 milestones was adjusted for each survey based on the corresponding age at attainment of the national reference. Based on this model, three indicators were defined: overall developmental quotient, developmental quotient at 4 years old, and developmental trend. Results. Results from the five surveys ranged between 0.74 and 0.85, 0.88 and 0.81, and -0.15 and -0.26 for the overall developmental quotient, developmental quotient at 4 years old, and developmental trend, respectively. A distinct developmental delay and an increasing trend in delay with age were observed. Conclusions. Indicators are easily interpreted and related to social indicators (unmet basic needs, etc.). Collecting the information necessary to make estimations takes little time and can be applied to population groups, but not on an individual level.

Introducción. Resulta necesario utilizar indicadores de salud que expresen las condiciones de todos los individuos de una población y no solo de aquellos enfermos o que mueren. Objetivos. Presentar un método para obtener indicadores poblacionales de desarrollo psicomotor en niños menores de seis años y mostrar sus resultados. Población y métodos. Los datos provienen de la evaluación transversal del cumplimiento de 13 ítems de desarrollo (seleccionados de la referencia nacional) de 5465 niños en cinco encuestas realizadas por la Autoridad de Cuenca Matanza Riachuelo en dicha cuenca en áreas con alta proporción de familias con necesidades básicas insatisfechas. Para cada encuesta, se estimó, por regresión logística, la edad mediana de cumplimiento de los 13 ítems de desarrollo. Se ajustó un modelo de regresión lineal entre la edad de cumplimiento estimada de los 13 ítems de cada encuesta en función de las correspondientes edades de la referencia nacional. A partir de este modelo, se definieron tres indicadores: el cociente global de desarrollo, el cociente a los 4 años y la tendencia del desarrollo. Resultados. Los resultados para las cinco encuestas variaron entre 0,74 y 0,85; 0,88 y 0,81 y -0,15 y -0,26 para el cociente global de desarrollo, cociente global a los 4 años y la tendencia del desarrollo, respectivamente. Se expresó un marcado retraso en el desarrollo y una tendencia progresiva del retraso con la edad. Conclusiones. Los indicadores sondeinterpretación sencilla y se relacionan con indicadores sociales (necesidades básicas insatisfechas, etc.). La obtención de la informaciónnecesaria para realizar los cálculos toma poco tiempo y es aplicable a grupos de población, pero no a individuos.

O envelhecimento da população idosa tem aumentado mundialmente, mesmo em países em desenvolvimento. Estes países têm grupos populacionais de poucos recursos, com necessidades básicas não satisfatórias, frequentemente omitidas nos estudos epidemiológicos. OBJETIVO: O propósito deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência de comprometimento cognitivo (CC) e demência em uma população socioeconomicamente vulnerável na Argentina. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada pesquisa observacional de base populacional porta-a-porta entre adultos acima de 60 anos numa área de vulnerabilidade social em Matanza Riachuelo, no subúrbio de Buenos Aires, Argentina. Psicólogos treinados entrevistaram o sujeito e um acompanhante. Um protocolo estandardizado que incluiu um questionário sociodemográfico, o MEEM, a escala de depressão geriátrica e um inventário funcional para ABVD e AIVD foram administrados. Os diagnósticos foram divididos em três categorias: função cognitiva normal, comprometimento cognitivo sem demência (CCSD) e demência. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados um total de 2437 de idosos, dos quais 73,6% preencheram os critérios de inclusão. A prevalência de CC entre aqueles acima de 60 anos foi de 26,4% (18,1% CCSD e 8,3% de demência) com maiores prevalência de demência em indivíduos mais jovens do que os reportados em países desenvolvidos, provavelmente devido a controle inadequado dos fatores de risco vasculares. CONCLUSÃO: Esta informação pode contribuir para tomada de decisões em saúde pública para geração de programas e planos que apontem para a prevenção, diagnóstico e tratamento de CC neste tipo de população em vulnerabilidade social.

Population aging has taken place intensively worldwide, even in developing countries. These countries have population groups with low resources and basic unmet needs that are frequently omitted from epidemiological studies. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) and dementia in an economic and socially vulnerable population from Argentina. METHODS: A door-to-door observational population-based survey among adults over 60 years of cognitive impairment and dementia in the social vulnerable area of the Matanza Riachuelo Basin, in the suburban area of Buenos Aires, Argentina was conducted. Trained psychologists interviewed subjects and a proxy informant. A standardized protocol including a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Geriatric Depression Scale and a functional inventory for IADL and ADL was administered. Diagnoses were divided into three general categories: normal cognitive function, cognitive impairment-no dementia (CIND) and dementia. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of 2437 elderly persons were assessed, of which 73.6% fulfilled inclusion criteria. The prevalence of CI among those over 60 was 26.4% (18.1% CIND and 8.3% dementia) with higher prevalence of dementia in younger individuals than rates reported in developed counties, probably due to low control of vascular risk factors. This information can help inform health public decisions in the generation of programs and plans for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment in this type of socially vulnerable population.