Correa-Rotter Ricardo, Cusumano Ana María
Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico.
Blood Purif. 2008;26(1):90-4. doi: 10.1159/000110572. Epub 2008 Jan 10.
In recent decades, Latin America (LA) has experienced profound demographic and epidemiologic changes conditioning an enormous increase in prevalence and incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases. End-stage renal disease has steadily increased in prevalence and incidence (478.2 and 168.7 pmp, respectively) and is emerging as a devastating medical, social, and economic problem for patients, families, and national health systems. The development of successful renal replacement treatment modalities has emphasized the wide breach in healthcare between developed and emerging nations. LA is composed of many nations that have a common social and cultural background yet exhibit significant variations in socioeconomic status, ethnicities, and human development. In addition, the region is experiencing a type 2 diabetes mellitus epidemic and a constant growth of related end-stage renal disease which at present is not sustainable and will be unaffordable in most countries, unless changes in public health policy and a new focus on the problem is generated. Renal transplantation, though increasing, cannot revert the growing prevalence. The development of public health policies and prevention programs is mandatory in LA and requires a better knowledge of prevalence and distribution of risk factors in the different nations of the region.
近几十年来，拉丁美洲经历了深刻的人口和流行病学变化，导致慢性非传染性疾病的患病率和发病率大幅上升。终末期肾病的患病率和发病率稳步上升（分别为每百万人口478.2例和168.7例），并正在成为困扰患者、家庭和国家卫生系统的重大医疗、社会和经济问题。成功的肾脏替代治疗方式的发展凸显了发达国家和新兴国家在医疗保健方面的巨大差距。拉丁美洲由许多国家组成，这些国家有着共同的社会和文化背景，但在社会经济地位、种族和人类发展方面存在显著差异。此外，该地区正在经历2型糖尿病流行，与之相关的终末期肾病持续增加，目前这种情况不可持续，而且在大多数国家将难以承受，除非出台公共卫生政策变革并重新关注这一问题。肾移植虽然在增加，但无法扭转患病率上升的趋势。在拉丁美洲，制定公共卫生政策和预防计划是必不可少的，这需要更深入了解该地区不同国家危险因素的患病率和分布情况。
