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In these last four decades, society has increased its life expectancy with the implementation of vaccination schedules and the adoption of hygienic and sanitary measures that have allowed the control and eradication of pathologies, which until then had a high mortality rate. A time that goes from the first cases of HIV, which were the seed of the pandemic of the second half of the 19th century, to the global crisis caused by covid-XNUMX
A little more than 40 years ago, the first cases of what was later called Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome were confirmed (AIDS), which destroyed the immune system and took the lives of the virus carriers after a long process and a tough battle against social stigma. In Aragon it was detected in October 1985, when the first patient was admitted to the Miguel Servet Hospital, who died days later. Four decades separate the HIV infection pandemic of the second half of the 2th century from the global health crisis caused by another virus, in this case SARS-CoV-410.000, which has left in its wake some 4.500 infections in Aragon and around XNUMX deaths. A time in which much progress has been made in treatments, vaccines and diagnostic capacity. to face the new diseases that alter the health system and that force us to always be alert.
In the 80s, HIV infection was almost a death sentence. In Aragon, the maximum incidence occurred in 1994. Two years later the trend changed, coinciding with the extension of antiretroviral therapies, which allow the virus to be undetectable and, therefore, untransmittable. "Today it is considered a chronic disease," says Juan Ramón Barrios, president of the Omsida Association. "In health terms," he says, "a lot of progress has been made, and the search for a vaccine continues," but discrimination has been a burden for this disease. In November 2001, the DGA materialized in an agreement approved by the Government Council elimination of HIV infection and AIDS as a medical cause of exclusion in access to public employment as well as certain services.
In these four decades, the treatment of diseases has improved. Cobalt pumps, precursors of today's linear accelerators, were the leading system for radiotherapy oncology treatment until almost the 80s., as they remember from the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC). In 1983, the early diagnosis program adapted to Spain in accordance with international standards. The evolution of treatments thanks to research has allowed very relevant progress. In AragonIn 2021, 8.670 new cases of cancer were recorded. There has been enormous progress, but the association states that there is still a lot of work to do, since "Today's research is tomorrow's cure."
“Now – summarizes Francisco Javier Falo, general director of Public Health –, unlike what could happen 40 years ago, there are pediatricians who have not seen a case of measles.” And before it was so common that practically everyone got it, like the mumps. Besides, The improvement in the quality of drinking water is also linked to the “state of well-being of the last 40 years”. “Before, what was known as 'traveler's diarrhea' was common; Now it is something absolutely anecdotal,” he explains. And to this is also added food security as well as social determinants, among others, advances in education, in the work environment and in the standard of living. “All this greatly improves the state of health we have achieved,” he says.
In 40 years a lot has evolved in treatment and detection; also in the capacity of the pharmaceutical industry. Different programs have been promoted, such as the stroke care plan, the strategy for addressing chronicity or screening to detect certain types of cancer. And prevention programs have been favored, aimed at reducing tobacco consumption and improving nutrition, physical activity, promoting healthy work environments or reducing exposure to environmental pollutants. One of the great challenges of Public Health is the "prevention of bacterial resistance due to the use of antibiotics."
Over time Different health threats have been appearing, such as Ebola, whose national reference hospital was the Royo Villanova, avian flu, the danger of new species, such as the tiger mosquito... "We must be very attentive to the risks that we are going to have to face," says Francisco Javier Falo. And so it happened with the Covid: Response capabilities have changed a lot, both at the level of prevention (the first vaccines were available in less than a year) and diagnosis. The coronavirus crisis caused a social, economic and health drama of the first magnitude, but it also brought the scientific community to an agreement. Professionals had to learn how to adapt initial treatments for those seriously ill patients who required care both on the ward and in intensive care units.
Source: Heraldo de Aragón
