Alejandro Diaz

National Scientific and Technical Research Council | conicet · Centro Científico Tecnologico Tandil (CCT TANDIL CONICET)

In medical practice the reference values of arterial stiffness came from multicenter registries obtained in Asia, USA, Australia and Europe. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the gold standard method for arterial stiffness quantification; however, in South America, there are few population-based studies. In this research PWV was measured in healthy asym...

Background and purpose: Epidemiological data about stroke are scarce in low- and middle-income Latin-American countries. We investigated annual incidence of first-ever stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) and 30-day case-fatality rates in a population-based setting in Tandil, Argentina. Methods: We prospectively identified all first-ever s...

Reference intervals (RIs) of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) from large healthy population are still lacking in Latin America. The aim of this study was to determine CIMT RIs in a cohort of 1012 healthy subjects from Argentina. We evaluated if RIs for males and females and for left and right carotids were necessary. Second, mean and standard...

Age-related reference intervals (RIs) of aortic pulse wave velocity (Ao-PWV) obtained from a large healthy population are lacking in South America. The aims of this study were to determine Ao-PWV RIs in a cohort of healthy children and adolescents from Argentina and to generate year-to-year percentile curves. Ao-PWV was measured in 1000 healthy sub...

Background: Despite the clinical utility of echocardiography to measure left atrial (LA) structure and function, there are scarcities of data about the percentiles of LA diameter (LAD), LA volume (LAVOL), and LA volume indexed by body surface area (LAVOL/BSA) from prospective population-based studies in healthy children and adolescents from the Sou...

Keywords: pinniped physiology, cardiovascular system, diving adaptations, histology

Introducción : Los dispositivos electrónicos y tecno logías de la comunicación se emplean cada vez más frecuentemente para brindar atención médica a los pacientes con hipertensión arterial. El objetivo prin cipal del trabajo fue evaluar la percepción de los mé dicos sobre la utilidad de las tecnologías digitales en hipertensión arterial. Los objeti...

Resumen Introducción: La carrera de investigador en Salud del Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) es una carrera ad honorem que permite el ingreso de profesionales de la salud que, con-tinuando con su práctica asistencial, adquieran derechos y obligaciones de investigadores con carrera rentada. A la fecha se descono...

Summary Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data...

Introduction: Health Researcher career of National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) is an ad honorem career that allows entry of health professionals who, continuing with their healthcare practice, acquire rights and obligations of researchers with a paid career. To date, quantity and/or quality of the academic production of CON...

Introduction Brachial cuff‐based methods are increasingly used to estimate aortic systolic blood pressure (aoSBP). However, there are several unresolved issues. Aims to determine to what extent the scheme used to calibrate brachial records (i) can affect non‐invasive obtained aoSBP levels, and consequently, the level of agreement with the aoSBP re...

Background: Recently it has been proposed a new approach to estimate aortic systolic blood pressure (aoSBP) without the need for specific devices, operator- dependent techniques and/or complex wave propagation models/algorithms. The approach proposes aoSBP can be quantified from brachial diastolic and mean blood pressure (bDBP, bMBP) as: aoSBP = bM...

The following article highlights the need for methodological transparency and consensus for an accurate and non-invasive assessment of central aortic blood pressure (aoBP), which would contribute to increasing its validity and value in both clinical and physiological research settings. The recording method and site, the mathematical model used to q...

Background: Arterial stiffening is central to the vascular ageing process and a powerful predictor and cause of diverse vascular pathologies and mortality. We investigated age and sex trajectories, regional differences, and global reference values of arterial stiffness as assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV). Methods: Measurements of brachial-a...

Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6 . Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural an...

Echocardiography is commonly used in veterinary clinical practice for many species but is not as easily applied in non-sedated marine mammals. Additionally, Doppler echocardiography provides further information on hemodynamics, estimation of cardiac output, characterization of flow patterns, and diastolic function. However, its applications in mari...

Background Increased wave reflections assessed by pulse wave analysis (PWA) was proposed as one of the potential culprits of hypertension seen in women with pregnancy-associated hypertension (PAH). However, this statement has never been confirmed with “Wave Separation Analysis” (WSA), a more sophisticated mathematical approach that analyzes the amp...

The aim of this study was to make the first characterization of the electrocardiogram (ECG) of the Burmeister porpoise (Phocoena sipinipinnis). A total of three ECGs were made in one, wild juvenile female (body weight = 32.5 kg, Lt = 1.45 m), temporarily held in captivity for rehabilitation at Mar del Plata Aquarium (Argentina). For ECG recordings,...

The mammalian heart has been described as a highly evolutionarily conserved structure and the cardiovascular system allometry has been fully studied among many mammalian species, but few of these studies have been focused on marine mammals. Previously reported electrocardiogram (ECG) of anesthetized Southern sea lions (SSL; n = 13) and South Americ...

Background: Rates of cardiovascular disease are higher in people living with HIV. Early detection of high-risk subjects (applying cardiovascular risk equations) would allow preventive actions. D:A:D, ASCVD and FRS:CVD equations are the most recommended. However, controversies surround these equations and cut-points, which have the greatest capacity...

Background: Non-pregnant (NP) women have a progressive increase in arterial stiffness from central-to-peripheral arteries [“stiffness gradient” (SG)], which is of physiologic importance since excessive pulsatility is filtered by the creation of wave reflections. If the aorta gets stiff with minimal or no change in the periphery, the SG is dissipate...

Background: There are scarce and controversial data on whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with changes in aortic pressure (aoBP) and waveform-derived indexes. Moreover, it remains unknown whether potential differences in aoBP and waveform indexes between people living with HIV (PLWHIV) and subjects without HIV (HIV-)...

Background Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 1990 to 2019 on people aged 30...

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in di...

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in di...

IntroductionSystolic blood pressure (SBPA) and pulse pressure amplification (PPA) were quantified using different methodological and calibration approaches to analyze (1) the association and agreement between different SBPA and PPA parameters and (2) the association between these SBPA and PPA parameters and left ventricle (LV) and atrium (LA) struc...

Background: The relationship between the increases in pulse pressure (PP) and arterial stiffness determined by aging or systemic hypertension has been widely reported. These findings are supported by large-cohort analysis conducted in well-known populations, such as the Framingham Study. However, there is evidence that an age-PP curvilinear relatio...

En nuestro país y en otros países del mundo la utilización de antiinflamatorios y analgésicos sin prescripción es cada vez más frecuente y es común que no sea considerado por los pacientes como la utilización de drogas, lo que hace que su uso pase inadvertido para sus médicos. Además, la utilización de medicamentos para aliviar los dolores crónicos...

Background: Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. Methods: For this pooled a...

Background Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. Methods For this pooled ana...

Resumen El creciente acceso y la alta eficacia del tratamiento antirretroviral han permitido que las personas que viven con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana alcancen una expectativa de vida semejante a la población general. Sin embargo, esta expectativa puede verse afectada por el aumento del riesgo de enfermedad cardiovascular en estos paci...

Background: Adherence to antihypertensive medication is a major challenge in the management of hypertension, and non-adherence is an important barrier to effective management of hypertension. Objectives: To determine the adherence rate to hypertensive drug treatment and the factors that influence nonadherence in a cohort of the Argentinean populati...

Background: Non-invasive assessment of stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI) has shown to be useful for the evaluation, diagnosis and/or management of different clinical conditions. Through pulse contour analysis (PCA) cuff‑based oscillometric devices would enable obtaining ambulatory operator-independent non-invasive hemod...

Adherence to antihypertensive medication is an important challenge that doctors often face in the treatment of hypertension. Good adherence is crucial to prevent cardiovascular complications. In consequence, the present study aimed at determining the prevalence of adherence to antihypertensive treatment and identifying associated clinical variables...

BACKGROUND: Describing the prevalence and trends of cardiometabolic risk factors that are associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is crucial for monitoring progress, planning prevention, and providing evidence to support policy efforts. We aimed to analyse the transition in body-mass index (BMI), obesity, blood pressure, raised blood press...

Adherence to antihypertensive medication is an important challenge that doctors often face in the treatment of hypertension. Good adherence is crucial to prevent cardiovascular complications. In consequence, the present study aimed at determining the prevalence of adherence to antihypertensive treatment and identifying associated clinical variables...

Background: People living with HIV (PLWHIV) have a 2-fold higher risk of having a cardiovascular event than HIV-negative individuals. Objectives: To estimate the pooled proportion of moderate-high cardiovascular risk in PLWHIV obtained through different scores. In addition, to establish the prevalence of dyslipidemia, smoking habit, diabetes and h...

Introduction Argentine science has played an important role in the study of blood pressure. However, this scientific production has not been classified. We set out (1) to analyse the contribution of scientific publications indexed in MEDLINE of authors with Argentinean academic affiliation in the field of blood pressure and hypertension in the las...

Purpose: Through pulse contour analysis (PCA) devices would enable to obtain non-invasive operator-independent cardiac output (CO) measurements [CO(PCA)]. The agreement between CO(PCA) and data from two-dimensional [CO(2D)] or Doppler [CO(VTI)] echocardiography (references) remains controversial. Aims: To analyze: (1) CO(PCA), CO(2D) and CO(VTI)...

Introduction: Argentine science has played an important role in the study of blood pressure. However, this scientific production has not been classified. We set out (1) to analyse the contribution of scientific publications indexed in MEDLINE of authors with Argentinean academic affiliation in the field of blood pressure and hypertension in the la...

Introduction Peripheral and aortic systolic blood pressure (pSBP and aoSBP) were measured using different methodological and calibration approaches to analyze the association and agreement between pSBP and/or aoSBP, and the association of pSBP and aoSBP with left ventricle (LV) and atrium (LA) structural–functional characteristics. Methods In heal...

The goal of this study was to characterize the Electrocardiogram (ECG) of anesthetized South American Fur Seals (SAFS). Nineteen wild SAFS females were anesthetized with isofluorane at Isla de Lobos (Uruguay). ECG recording was performed at ventral recumbence following standardized procedures. All animals showed normal sinus rhythm. Amplitude and d...

Body-mass index (BMI) has increased steadily in most countries in parallel with a rise in the proportion of the population who live in cities1,2. This has led to a widely reported view that urbanization is one of the most important drivers of the global rise in obesity3–6. Here we use 2,009 population-based studies, with measurements of height and...

Cardiovascular diseases remain the Philippines’ leading cause of mortality, with hypertension as a prevalent contributory risk factor. We took part in May Measurement Month 2017 (MMM17), a global initiative to raise awareness of high blood pressure (BP) and to serve as a temporary solution to the lack of screening programs worldwide. Following the...

Hypertension is a growing concern worldwide, causing over 10 million deaths each year. The prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) in Argentina is 36.3% and 38% of these are unaware of their disease. Half of the hypertensive patients are on pharmacological treatment and only a quarter of them are controlled. The International Society of Hypertension...

Background Transthoracic echocardiography is the most common non-invasive technique for the study of the left ventricle (LV) and the proximal aorta. Despite the clinical value, there is scarcity of data about reference intervals (RIs) and percentiles for thoracic aorta dimension and LV structural and functional parameters, obtained from population-...

Despite the clinical utility of echocardiography to measure cardiac target organ injury (TOI) there are scarcities of data about the reference intervals (RIs) and percentiles of left ventricular (LV) mass (LVM) and derived indexes (LVMI and LVMI2.7), relative wall thickness (LVRWT) and ejection fraction (LVEF) from population-based studies in child...

La Foca Leopardo (Hydrurga leptonyx) es una especie de pinnípedo antártico, con presencia ocasional en las costas argentinas, cuya histología está escasamente descripta, particularmente del corazón. El objetivo es presentar resultados preliminares del análisis histológico e histomorfométrico de corazón en dicha especie. Se tomaron muestras (n=9) de...

Existe limitada bibliografía sobre descripciones histológicas, en particular del corazón, de la Foca Leopardo (Hydrurga leptonyx), pinnípedo característico del continente Antártico. Esto se debe en gran parte a la dificultad de recolectar muestras de esta especie. El estudio de los componentes tisulares del corazón es importante para conocer adapta...

La Foca Leopardo (Hydrurga leptonyx) es una especie de pinnípedo antártico, con presencia ocasional en las costas argentinas, cuya histología está escasamente descripta, particularmente del corazón. El objetivo es presentar resultados preliminares del análisis histológico e histomorfométrico de corazón en dicha especie. Se tomaron muestras (n=9) de...

Existe limitada bibliografía sobre descripciones histológicas, en particular del corazón, de la Foca Leopardo (Hydrurga leptonyx), pinnípedo característico del continente Antártico. Esto se debe en gran parte a la dificultad de recolectar muestras de esta especie. El estudio de los componentes tisulares del corazón es importante para conocer adapta...

The goal of this study was to test transthoracic echocardiography as a method to characterize heart morphology and function in the southern sea lion (SSL) (Otaria flavescens) for health evaluation. Four clinically healthy captive SSLs (mean weight 110 ± 17.5 kg) were trained to be examined by transthoracic echocardiography at Mar del Plata Aquarium...

Change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure could be due to both shifts in the entire distribution of blood pressure (representing the combined effects of public health interventions and secular trends) and changes in its high-blood-pressure tail (representing successful clinical interventions to control blood pressure in the hypertensive pop...

Background: Change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure could be due to both shifts in the entire distribution of blood pressure (representing the combined effects of public health interventions and secular trends) and changes in its high-blood-pressure tail (representing successful clinical interventions to control blood pressure in the hype...

In low- and middle-income regions, a relatively large number of deaths occur from cardiovascular disease or stroke. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and carotid lumen diameter (cLD) are strong indicators of cardiovascular event risk and stenosis severity, respectively. The interactive open-source software described here, Cimtool, is based on a...

Age-related reference intervals (RIs) of central (aortic) systolic blood pressure (cSBP) and augmentation index (cAIx) obtained from large healthy population are lacking in Argentina (South America). Aims. To analyze the existence of associations among cSBP and cAIx with demographic, anthropometric, and hemodynamic parameters and to generate percen...

Table A: age-related reference intervals (RIs) for central (aortic) systolic blood pressure for the entire population (n = 1038). Table B: age-related reference intervals (RIs) for central (aortic) systolic blood pressure for males (n = 576). Table C: age-related reference intervals (RIs) for central (aortic) systolic blood pressure for females (n...

Background: Change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure could be due to both shifts in the entire distribution of blood pressure (representing the combined effects of public health interventions and secular trends) and changes in its high-blood-pressure tail (representing successful clinical interventions to control blood pressure in the hyp...

Table A: averaged (left and right) CIMT [mm] percentiles for healthy male subjects. Table B: averaged (left and right) CIMT [mm] percentiles for healthy female subjects. Table C: right CIMT [mm] percentiles for healthy male subjects. Table D: right CIMT [mm] percentiles for healthy female subjects. Table E: left CIMT [mm] percentiles for healthy ma...

Increased arterial stiffness is an important determinant of cardiovascular risk, able to predict morbidity and mortality, and closely associated with ageing and blood pressure. The aims of this study were: (1) To determine the age-dependent reference pulse wave velocity (PWV), and compare it with values from hypertensive patients, and (2) to evalua...

Underweight, overweight, and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences throughout the life-course. Our aim was to estimate worldwide trends in mean body-mass index (BMI) and a comprehensive set of BMI categories that cover underweight to obesity in children and adolescents, and to compare trends with those...

BACKGROUND:Underweight, overweight, and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences throughout the life-course. Our aim was to estimate worldwide trends in mean body-mass index (BMI) and a comprehensive set of BMI categories that cover underweight to obesity in children and adolescents, and to compare trends...

Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128•9 million children, adolescents, and adults NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC)* Summary Background Underweight, overweight, and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated w...

Background Underweight, overweight, and obesity in childhood and adolescence are associated with adverse health consequences throughout the life-course. Our aim was to estimate worldwide trends in mean body-mass index (BMI) and a comprehensive set of BMI categories that cover underweight to obesity in children and adolescents, and to compare tr...

Introduction and aim: Metabolic syndrome (MS) comprises a set of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Argentina has numerous epidemiological studies on MS, however, there has been no systematic analysis of the prevalence of MS in our population. To estimate the prevalence of MS in the Argentine Republic, a systematic review of obs...

Introduction: Over the past years, hypertension has been recognized as an important health problem in the pediatric population. A systematic review of observational studies published between 1988 and 2014 was conducted to estimate the prevalence of high blood pressure and cardiovascular risk factors among children and adolescents in Argentina. Popu...