[Medical evaluation of the climacteric patient]

A pilot program with primary care physicians was established in Clinica Cuauhtémoc y Famosa, focused to evaluate women older than 35 years with climateric symptoms. This program included a survey, a complete gynecological examination with Pap smears, ultrasound pelvic examination and mamography. Also, blood samples were collected for cholesterol, tryglycerides, calcium, phosphorus and alkaline phosphatase. An ECG, bone densitometry of the radius and X-rays of the vertebral column were obtained. This group was formed by 69 women with an age media of 50 years (SD 7.6 years, median 49 years). The survey disclosed that 34/65 women had been hysterectomized, and only 34/64 had received antitetanic immunization in the last 10 years. A preexistent chronic disease occurred in 36/59 women, these were diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension or degenerative osteoarthritis. Alcohol consumption was recorded in 5/66 women and tabac consumption in 9/66 women, and 32/68 women accepted to be sedentary. Laboratory examinations disclosed hypercholesterolemia in 19/66 women and hypertryglyceridemia in 8/64 women. Osteopenia was detected in 33/60 women. This findings support a systematic plan to provide medical assistance for women in this age, specially if previous epidemiologycal studies have disclosed that coronary disease is the main cause of death for women older than 50 years in this region, that also belongs to the area of highest incidence of diabetes.