title: [Epidemiological transition in Latin America: a comparison of four countries].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the last decade, Latin America has experienced important transformations in its health conditions, due to demographic changes and a rapid urbanization process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze socioeconomic, demographic and epidemiological changes in Chile, Guatemala, Mexico and Uruguay and relate them to the different stages in the demographic and epidemiological transition of these countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was obtained from official information of local and international organizations such as Pan-American Health Organization, United Nations, Latin American Center for Demography (CELADE) and World Bank.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Guatemala is in a pre-transition stage with a high proportion of communicable diseases as causes of death (61%) as compared with Mexico (22%), Chile (13%) and Uruguay (7%). Mexico is in a prolonged transition situation and Chile is close to Uruguay in a post-transitional stage. Despite decreasing rates of mortality, the proportion of deaths represented by chronic diseases and injuries has increased to over 30% in all countries, except Uruguay. Adjusted mortality rates for cardiovascular diseases are lower in Latin American countries, as compared to Canada. However, excepting Guatemala, there are differences in the pattern of cardiovascular disease, with a higher mortality due to cerebrovascular and a lower mortality due to coronary artery diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increment in non communicable diseases is expected for the next decades in Latin America. Analysis of demographic and epidemiological transition is crucial to define health policies and to adequate health systems to the new situations.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Albala
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yáñez
mesh_terms: D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003710:Demography; D006166:Guatemala / Q000453:epidemiology; D019456:Health Transition; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014583:Uruguay / Q000453:epidemiology
vernacular_title: Transición epidemiológica en América Latina: comparación de cuatro países.