Healthcare for older people in Central and South America

Abstract

Latin American countries (LAC), with their culturally and ethnically diverse populations, form a region that is difficult to define and to understand. The region’s health systems are deeply fragmented, which poses great challenges to overall equity levels in health. This is also one of the fastest ageing regions in the world, with increasing demands as well for acute and long-term care (LTC). Demographic and epidemiological transitions across the region are heterogeneous. In this context, health systems are in general, largely unprepared to face the challenge of promoting healthy ageing. This unpreparedness has been magnified by the Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic. Here, we analyse the burden of disease in the older population and identify priorities to improve the care and quality of life for people living in LAC. Besides an adequately prepared workforce, we must remediate disparities and inequities; develop and implement integrated care; achieve patient-centred care and further develop palliative and end-of-life care; simultaneously, we must develop the structure and financing of LTC services and strengthen the role of public health making healthy ageing an essential component.

A task force for diagnosis and treatment of people with Alzheimer’s disease in Latin America

“…Detecting changes in any of these domains can help detect early and manage cognitive alterations that could materialize in AD or its risk factors ( 91 ). At the same time, managing alterations in domains other than cognitive can optimize cognitive performance and facilitate care ( 92 , 93 ). One of the justifications for the early diagnosis of AD is that the person can decide on treatment options at all stages of the disease ( 94 ).…”

Associations of the ‘weekend warrior’ physical activity pattern with all-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality: the Mexico City Prospective Study

“…This study provides clear evidence that the weekend warrior physical activity pattern and the regularly active physical activity pattern are beneficial to health in adults in Mexico. However, it is important to gather evidence from other countries in Latin America because there are great differences in income,55 health56 and healthcare57 in the region.…”

The burden of mild cognitive impairment attributable to physical inactivity in Colombia

“…These data suggest that there should be more emphasis on physical activity in subsequent iterations of the mental health act of Colombia [40]. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that many healthcare systems in Latin America cannot cope with the challenges of treating ageing populations [12,41]. It is noteworthy that some cities in Colombia have physical activity policies and practices that work [28,42].…”

“…However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no estimates of the proportional reduction in cases of mild cognitive impairment that would occur if all adults in Colombia were physically active. It is important to gather evidence from each country in Latin America because the region is so diverse and so difficult to understand [12]. Colombia may be particularly difficult to understand because the country has suffered 50 years of civil war [13].…”