Conhecimento sobre hipertensão arterial e fatores associados à não adesão à farmacoterapia

OBJECTIVES: to identify the degree of knowledge of people with hypertension concerning the disease and to verify the factors associated with the non-adherence to anti-hypertensive drug therapy. METHOD: Cross sectional study, involving 422 people. Data collection took place at their homes, between December 2011 and March 2012, through interviews using the following instruments: Medication Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ-Q), Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) and a guide with questions related to sociodemographic profile, satisfaction with healthcare service and knowledge about the disease. RESULTS: 42.6% did not adhere to the drug therapy and 17.7% had poor knowledge about the disease. Factors associated with the non-adherence were: complex drug therapy, poor knowledge about the disease and dissatisfaction with the healthcare service. CONCLUSION: The findings reinforce that the complex drug therapy prescriptions, little knowledge about the disease and dissatisfaction with the healthcare service have influence on the process of non-adherence to anti-hypertensive drug therapy.OBJETIVOS: identificar el nivel de conocimiento de personas con hipertensión arterial acerca de la enfermedad y verificar los factores asociados a la no adhesión a la farmacoterapia antihipertensiva. MÉTODO: estudio transversal realizado en 422 individuos. Los datos fueron recolectados en los domicilios, entre diciembre de 2011 y marzo de 2012, por medio de entrevistas utilizando los instrumentos: Cuestionario de Adhesión a Medicamentos (CAM-Q), Índice de Complejidad de la Farmacoterapia y un guión con preguntas relativas al perfil sociodemográfico, satisfacción con el servicio de salud y conocimiento sobre la enfermedad. RESULTADOS: 42,6% no adherían a la farmacoterapia y 17,7% poseían conocimiento insatisfactorio sobre la enfermedad. Los factores asociados a la no adhesión fueron: farmacoterapia compleja, conocimiento insatisfactorio sobre la enfermedad e insatisfacción con el servicio de salud. CONCLUSIÓN: Los hallazgos refuerzan que prescripciones farmacológicas complejas, poco conocimiento sobre la enfermedad e insatisfacción con el servicio de salud influyen en el proceso de la no adhesión al tratamiento medicamentoso antihipertensivo.OBJETIVOS: identificar o nível de conhecimento de pessoas com hipertensão arterial acerca da doença e verificar os fatores associados à não adesão à farmacoterapia anti-hipertensiva. MÉTODO: estudo transversal, realizado com 422 indivíduos. Os dados foram coletados nos domicílios, entre dezembro de 2011 e março de 2012, por meio de entrevistas, utilizando os instrumentos: Questionário de Adesão a Medicamentos, Índice de Complexidade da Farmacoterapia e um roteiro com questões relativas ao perfil sociodemográfico, satisfação com o serviço de saúde e conhecimento sobre a doença. RESULTADOS: 42,6% não aderiram à farmacoterapia e 17,7% possuíam conhecimento insatisfatório sobre a doença. Os fatores associados à não adesão foram: farmacoterapia complexa, conhecimento insatisfatório sobre a doença e insatisfação com o serviço de saúde. CONCLUSÃO: os achados reforçam que prescrições farmacológicas complexas, pouco conhecimento sobre a doença e insatisfação com o serviço de saúde influenciam no processo de não adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso anti-hipertensivo

Spatial point analysis based on dengue surveys at household level in central Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dengue virus (DENV) affects nonimunne human populations in tropical and subtropical regions. In the Americas, dengue has drastically increased in the last two decades and Brazil is considered one of the most affected countries. The high frequency of asymptomatic infection makes difficult to estimate prevalence of infection using registered cases and to locate high risk intra-urban area at population level. The goal of this spatial point analysis was to identify potential high-risk intra-urban areas of dengue, using data collected at household level from surveys.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two household surveys took place in the city of Goiania (~1.1 million population), Central Brazil in the year 2001 and 2002. First survey screened 1,586 asymptomatic individuals older than 5 years of age. Second survey 2,906 asymptomatic volunteers, same age-groups, were selected by multistage sampling (census tracts; blocks; households) using available digital maps. Sera from participants were tested by dengue virus-specific IgM/IgG by EIA. A Generalized Additive Model (GAM) was used to detect the spatial varying risk over the region. Initially without any fixed covariates, to depict the overall risk map, followed by a model including the main covariates and the year, where the resulting maps show the risk associated with living place, controlled for the individual risk factors. This method has the advantage to generate smoothed risk factors maps, adjusted by socio-demographic covariates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of antibody against dengue infection was 37.3% (95%CI [35.5–39.1]) in the year 2002; 7.8% increase in one-year interval. The spatial variation in risk of dengue infection significantly changed when comparing 2001 with 2002, (ORadjusted = 1.35; p < 0.001), while controlling for potential confounders using GAM model. Also increasing age and low education levels were associated with dengue infection.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study showed spatial heterogeneity in the risk areas of dengue when using a spatial multivariate approach in a short time interval. Data from household surveys pointed out that low prevalence areas in 2001 surveys shifted to high-risk area in consecutive year. This mapping of dengue risks should give insights for control interventions in urban areas.</p

2 nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015

Abstract Chagas disease is a neglected chronic condition with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. It has considerable psychological, social, and economic impacts. The disease represents a significant public health issue in Brazil, with different regional patterns. This document presents the evidence that resulted in the Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease. The objective was to review and standardize strategies for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of Chagas disease in the country, based on the available scientific evidence. The consensus is based on the articulation and strategic contribution of renowned Brazilian experts with knowledge and experience on various aspects of the disease. It is the result of a close collaboration between the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine and the Ministry of Health. It is hoped that this document will strengthen the development of integrated actions against Chagas disease in the country, focusing on epidemiology, management, comprehensive care (including families and communities), communication, information, education, and research