Objetivo: Evaluar el estado de salud cardiovascular y neurológico de los habitantes de “La Soledad,” Chiapas, México; para determinar la prevalencia e incidencia de enfermedad cerebrovascular, epilepsia y deterioro cognitivo. Entre otras, dichas enfermedades son actualmente consideradas como las nuevas epidemias de salud en áreas rurales de Latino América. Diseño: Siguiendo el modelo inicial del Proyecto Atahualpa, se planeó un estudio epidemiológico de dos fases. Durante la fase I, se aplicaron cuestionarios estandarizados para evaluar la salud cardiovascular e identificar casos sospechosos de ictus, epilepsia y deterioro cognitivo. En la fase II, médicos especialistas examinaron los casos sospechosos, junto a una muestra aleatoria de individuos negativos, para evaluar la prevalencia de dichas entidades. Comentario: Las estrategias de salud pública deben basarse en estudios de factores de riesgo específicos a nivel regional. Investigaciones como el proyecto Atahualpa demostraron eficacia en el diagnóstico de salud de zonas rurales ecuatorianas. Por esto, se considera a PRO-MAS rentable, al incrementar el conocimiento de las necesidades particulares rurales mexicanas y fomentar el estado de salud vascular de pueblos rurales de Latinoamérica.

Objective: We aimed to assess cardiovascular health and neurological status of community-dwelling adults living in “La Soledad,” Chiapas, México, to calculate prevalence and incidence of cerebrovascular diseases, epilepsy and cognitive decline. Among others, these conditions are currently considered as the new epidemics in rural.
Design: Following a protocol similar to that used for the Atahualpa Project, we conducted a two-phase epidemiological study. During phase I, La Soledad residents were interviewed with validated field instruments to assess cardiovascular health status and well as to detect suspected stroke, epilepsy and cognitive impairment patients. During phase II, trained physicians examined suspected individuals as well as a random sample of non-suspected individuals to assess prevalence of diseases of interest.
Comment: Public health strategies must be based on the study of region-specific risk factors. Studies such the Atahualpa Project were proven to be effective for the assessment of public health problems in a rural Ecuadorian village. PROMAS will likely be cost effective to increase current knowledge on these conditions in Mexican rural villages and to promote a better cardiovascular health status among their inhabitants.