RESUMENES

Sexta Sesión de Presentaciones Orales

R-093

Prevalence of hypodontia in 10 to 14 year old Puerto Ricans. G.J. Pagán, School of Dentistry, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Non syndromic tooth agenesis (hypodontia) is the most common developmental dental anomaly. Hypodontia may lead to dental malpositioning, periodontal damage and lack of development of the alveolar bone height. In addition, functional and esthetic problems may arise. An interdisciplinary approach should provide optimal dental care and promote emotional and psychological well being. The prevalence of hypodontia in Puerto Rico (PR) is unknown. The aim of this study is to report the prevalence of hypodontia in PR children between 10 to 14 years of age as well as the prevalence per tooth, the differences between genders and clinics. A total of 1911 patient files between the ages of 10 to 14 years were examined at random from nine orthodontic clinics selected by judgment located in the north, northeast, southeast, east, west, metro-north and San Juan areas of PR. All patient records to be considered in the study must have an initial panoramic x-ray, medical and dental history, and have seek treatment in the last five years. Patients with history of any syndrome or palatal fissure were excluded from the study. Two calibrated investigators examined the records. The estimated prevalence for the children corresponding to the clinics subjectively selected in this study was 6.3%; 2.2% in males and 4.2% in females. The most frequently missing teeth were the maxillary lateral incisor (1.9% right, 1.8% left) and the mandibular second premolar (1.3%). The highest prevalence was found in the Aibonito clinic (10.7%) and the lowest in the San Juan clinic (3.2%). A large variability was observed among clinics and gender.

R-094

Trends in prevalence of current smoking, Puerto Rico and states without tobacco control programs, 1996 to 2001. E. Díaz-Toro DMD1, V. Correa-Fernández PhD1, A. Sánchez-Castellano DMD, MPHS1, W. CaloMPH2 UPR-Medical Science Campus 1.School of Dentistry, University of Puerto Rico 2. Puerto Rico Cancer Center

In 2004 the prevalence of smoking in Puerto Rico (PR) is 12.6%, while three of the four leading causes of death in PR (heart disease, cancer, and hypertension) are associated with smoking. Tobacco use places a tremendous public health burden on the people of PR; 11.5% of all deaths and 10% of all health care costs in PR are attributable to smoking. The objective of this analysis is to compare the 1996 to 2001 trends in smoking prevalence in Puerto Rico and USA states without tobacco control programs, and the contribution of a comprehensive tobacco control effort initiated in Puerto Rico in the 1990’s to this difference. Data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for the years 1996 to 2001 were used to examine prevalence changes and trends of smoking using multivariate logistic regression models. The primary outcome measures are current prevalence trends of smoking for the years 1996 to 2001. In 1996 the prevalence of current smokers in Puerto Rico was 14.5, and 23.6 in the USA. By 1998 the prevalence had increase in PR to 15.7 % and to 24.1% in the USA states. By 2001 the prevalence had declined in PR to 12.5% and to 22.8% in the USA states. The decline in smoking prevalence in Puerto Rico over the 1990’s did not reflect national trends and did not result solely from the changes in measured sociodemographic factors in that period. Even though the analysis did not test the time path of the effect, it suggests that the tobacco control programs in Puerto Rico have had a slow and cumulative, but beneficial impact in the smoking prevalence of the Island.

R-095

Laboratory Response Capacity and Infrastructure Needs Assessment to Address Public Health Threats and Emergencies in Puerto Rico. M. Rivera; J. Viera; M. Vera; Y. Estrada; A. Pattatucci. Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research, Graduate School of Public Health Medical Sciences Campus-UPR.

The island’s capacity to detect and respond to public health threats depends both on the strength of its laboratory infrastructure and on the ability of its public health department to work with emergency response partners. The overall goals of this project were to examine the present state of laboratory preparedness in Puerto Rico and identify potential laboratories throughout the island that could participate in the Laboratory Response Network. The Laboratory Response Network (LRN) is a consortium and partnership of laboratories that provide immediate and sustained laboratory testing and communication in support of public health emergencies, particularly in response to acts of bioterrorism. A baseline assessment of laboratory needs was obtained through interviews with the laboratory director or person designated by the director at all hospitals and a sample of CDT, reference, veterinary and environmental laboratories from all health regions. Findings revealed that Puerto Rico’s laboratory response capacity and infrastructure is not prepared to respond effectively to a bioterrorist event or public health emergency that includes Category A biological agents. Few laboratories in the island have the needed infrastructure and surge capacity to efficiently respond; they lack sufficient staff, surveillance systems, biosafety facilities, technologies, and capacity to quickly and accurately receive, process or identify a suspicious organism. Further work is needed at all levels to ensure that Puerto Rico’s laboratory system will be fully prepared to respond to man-made or naturally-occurring public health emergencies.