Prevalence and Concomitants of Arthritis in the Elderly in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Objectives: Information on the prevalence and concomitants of arthritis in developing countries is sparse. It is unclear whether they are comparable to findings in developed countries. To ascertain the prevalence, demographic characteristics, and health-related concomitants of arthritis in older persons in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, a middle income country.Methods: the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was subdivided into nine regions. Stratified random sampling was used to identify 880 community residents age >= 60 years in each region. One region with suspect data was excluded. of 7040 community residents contacted in eight regions, 6963 participated (1.1% refusal rate). in 1995, trained, monitored interviewers, using structured questionnaires, conducted in-home interviews gathering information on demographic characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, living arrangements, employment status), health behaviors (physical activity, tobacco use, social activity), functional limitations, depression, and 15 self-reported health conditions, including arthritis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression.Results: Arthritis, reported by 43% of the sample, was more prevalent in women, among the less educated, those with lower income, and higher age. Severity, but not prevalence, differed by race/ethnicity. Controlled analyses indicated significant association with female gender, lower education, and less social activity. Arthritis was associated with reduced odds of stroke, but increased odds of hypertension, varicosities, bronchitis, renal problems, headache, gastrointestinal disorders, and depression. Arthritis was not significantly associated with age or functional limitations, and associations did not differ by gender.Conclusions: the prevalence, demographic and health characteristics associated with self-reported arthritis in this southern state in Brazil are similar to findings elsewhere in Brazil, and in developed countries.Conselho Estadual do Idoso, Secretaria do Trabalho, Cidadania e Assistencia SocialGoverno do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, the National Council for Scientific and Technological DevelopmentNational Institute on AgingUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Escola Paulista Med UNIFESP, São Paulo, BrazilDuke Univ, Med Ctr, Ctr Study Aging & Human Dev, Durham, NC 27710 USAVet Adm Med Ctr, Geriatr Res Educ & Clin Ctr, Durham, NC USAProject Sci Comm, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, Escola Paulista Med UNIFESP, São Paulo, BrazilGoverno do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development: 470724/2011-0Governo do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development: 306156/2011-3National Institute on Aging: 1P30 AG028716-02Web of Scienc

Prevalence and Correlates of Functional Status in an Older Community-Representative Sample in Brazil

Objective: Information on dependency level of elderly in rapidly aging developing countries is limited, but this is needed to ascertain the extent of need for help with activities of daily living (ADLs). Method: In-person information was obtained in 1995 from a statewide survey of representative community residents >= 60 years of age in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (N = 7,040), on demographic characteristics, health conditions, social ties, health behaviors, and ADL performance. Results: Nearly 40% needed help with one or more ADLs. in controlled analyses, need for help approximately doubled with each succeeding decade. Increased education and income and regular physical activity reduced risk. Selected health conditions (stroke, depression, poor self-rated health) were consistently associated with need for help. Discussion: A large proportion of noninstitutionalized elderly have ADL problems. in addition to health care, interventions promoting equity of access to education and economic opportunity could reduce ADL dependency in coming generations.Duke Univ, Med Ctr, Ctr Study Aging & Human Dev, Durham, NC 27710 USAVet Adm Med Ctr, Durham, NC USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Equity of access to outpatient care and hospitalization among older community residents in Brazil

Objective: To determine whether, as mandated by Brazilian law, health care (outpatient care, hospitalization) among older community residents is based on health-related criteria and not on other characteristics.Research Design: Cross-sectional, population-representative.Subjects: Multistage, random sample of 7040 household residents aged >= 60 years in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.Measures: Structured in-person interviews to determine sociodemographic characteristics, self-reported health conditions, psychiatric status, outpatient service use within the previous 6 months, and number of hospitalizations within the previous 12 months.Results: Seventy two percent reported an outpatient visit, 20% reported hospitalization. in controlled analyses, being female, older, unemployed, having private health insurance, increased the odds of an outpatient visit. Males, older persons, the insured, and more educated were more likely to report hospitalization. Race/ethnicity and religious affiliation were not associated with outpatient or hospital use. Pneumonia, heart disease, and urinary tract infection were particularly associated with both outpatient visits and hospitalization; diabetes, hypertension, and cancer with outpatient visit; stroke, cancer and psychiatric disorder with hospitalization; and heart disease, pneumonia, and psychiatric disorder with multiple hospitalizations.Conclusions: Use of health services did not differ by race/ethnicity or religion, but private health insurance facilitated outpatient access, and increased education facilitated hospitalization. Gender, age, and employment status likely reflected differential health needs. Improved access is needed for older persons lacking private health insurance, and those with little education. Patients with psychiatric problems merit increased attention to reduce excessive hospitalization.National Institute on AgingConselho Estadual do Idoso, Secretaria do TrabalhoCidadania a Assistencia SocialGoverno do Estado do Rio Grande do SulUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilDuke Univ, Med Ctr, Ctr Study Aging & Human Dev, Durham, NC 27710 USAVet Adm Med Ctr, Geriatr Res Educ & Clin Ctr, Durham, NC USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Psychiat, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilNational Institute on Aging: IP30 AG028716-01Web of Scienc

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 1 - Executive Summary

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2s^-1. This report is the Executive Summary (Volume I) of the four volume Reference Design Report. It gives an overview of the physics at the ILC, the accelerator design and value estimate, the detector concepts, and the next steps towards project realization.The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2s^-1. This report is the Executive Summary (Volume I) of the four volume Reference Design Report. It gives an overview of the physics at the ILC, the accelerator design and value estimate, the detector concepts, and the next steps towards project realization

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 4 - Detectors

This report, Volume IV of the International Linear Collider Reference Design Report, describes the detectors which will record and measure the charged and neutral particles produced in the ILC's high energy e+e- collisions. The physics of the ILC, and the environment of the machine-detector interface, pose new challenges for detector design. Several conceptual designs for the detector promise the needed performance, and ongoing detector R&D is addressing the outstanding technological issues. Two such detectors, operating in push-pull mode, perfectly instrument the ILC interaction region, and access the full potential of ILC physics.This report, Volume IV of the International Linear Collider Reference Design Report, describes the detectors which will record and measure the charged and neutral particles produced in the ILC's high energy e+e- collisions. The physics of the ILC, and the environment of the machine-detector interface, pose new challenges for detector design. Several conceptual designs for the detector promise the needed performance, and ongoing detector R&D is addressing the outstanding technological issues. Two such detectors, operating in push-pull mode, perfectly instrument the ILC interaction region, and access the full potential of ILC physics

ILC Reference Design Report Volume 3 - Accelerator

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2 s^-1. The complex includes a polarized electron source, an undulator-based positron source, two 6.7 km circumference damping rings, two-stage bunch compressors, two 11 km long main linacs and a 4.5 km long beam delivery system. This report is Volume III (Accelerator) of the four volume Reference Design Report, which describes the design and cost of the ILC.The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a 200-500 GeV center-of-mass high-luminosity linear electron-positron collider, based on 1.3 GHz superconducting radio-frequency (SCRF) accelerating cavities. The ILC has a total footprint of about 31 km and is designed for a peak luminosity of 2x10^34 cm^-2 s^-1. The complex includes a polarized electron source, an undulator-based positron source, two 6.7 km circumference damping rings, two-stage bunch compressors, two 11 km long main linacs and a 4.5 km long beam delivery system. This report is Volume III (Accelerator) of the four volume Reference Design Report, which describes the design and cost of the ILC

International Linear Collider Reference Design Report Volume 2: PHYSICS AT THE ILC

This article reviews the physics case for the ILC. Baseline running at 500 GeV as well as possible upgrades and options are discussed. The opportunities on Standard Model physics, Higgs physics, Supersymmetry and alternative theories beyond the Standard Model are described.This article reviews the physics case for the ILC. Baseline running at 500 GeV as well as possible upgrades and options are discussed. The opportunities on Standard Model physics, Higgs physics, Supersymmetry and alternative theories beyond the Standard Model are described