Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: The Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a cluster of risk factors that are related to cardiovascular disease. In Mexico, the prevalence of MS in adults according to the ENSANUT 2012 is 41%, and it has become a public health problem making it necessary to implement strategies for its management at the lowest cost possible that could encourage adherence to treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive care program to achieve an increase in the adherence to treatment through the change of behaviors in lifestyles.

Methods: Prospective and experimental study involving 34 adults (32 women – 94% and 2 men – 6%) with MS using the armonized criteria, from rural areas of central Mexico who had public health services, age of 54.5+10.5 years, 4 years of average schooling, occupation as housewives (60%) and farmers (40%). They underwent a comprehensive care program which included a workshop on food preparation, aerobic exercise and strength training (180 min/week), guidance on the disease and its complications for six months. Adherence to treatment was evaluated in 5 domains: diet, exercise, pharmacological consumption, prevention of complications and social support through the Transtheoretical Model. Descriptive statistics and χ² were used to evaluate the differences in the percentages of the 5 domains, with the Statistica V13 software. The protocol was approved by the institutional ethics committee.

Results and discussion: Statistically significant difference in the percentages of treatment adherence was found in the 5 domains evaluated comparing the beginning versus the end of the maneuver as follows: diet 5.8% to 39.7% (χ²=31.3, P=0.0000), exercise 25% to 50% (χ²=22.6, P=0.0000), pharmacological use 41.1% to 48.5% (χ²=3.98, P=0.04), prevention of complications 12.1% to 24.4% (χ²=4.99, P=0.02) and social support 13% to 26% (χ²=10.1, P=0.001). Despite the increase in the observed percentage of attachment, treatment adherence was not found to an optimum degree in the group studied; is necessary to reinforce the acquired behaviors by supporting the health system that the population has, since changes in lifestyle were encouraged.

Conclusion: The Comprehensive Care Program was effective in increasing treatment adherence in patients with MS residing in central Mexico. This low-cost maneuver encourages the actions of the public health system in the treatment of this pathology.

Keywords. Metabolic syndrome, adherence to treatment

Finantial support: PRODEP UGTO-PTC-462