Phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tasks: normative data for elderly Brazilians

This study aims to investigate the infl uence of sociodemographic characteristics on the performance of older people on two tasks of verbal fl uency and provide normative data for a Brazilian population of healthy elderly individuals with different educational levels. The initial sample included 521 individuals aged from 60 years, participating in the Program Family Health Strategy. Participants who had scores suggestive of cognitive decline on the Mini-Mental State Examination, depressive symptoms in Geriatric Depression Scale and self-reported neurological or psychiatric disorders were excluded. The fi nal sample consisted of 218 participants in phonemic verbal fl uency task (letters F, A and S) and 265 participants for semantic verbal fl uency task (animals). The performance in both tests was associated with age and education, but not with sex. Still, the education variable was shown to have a greater impact on scores in phonemic and semantic tests than age in both forms of evocation. The results of this study suggest the importance of providing normative data for elderly Brazilians appropriate to age and education on verbal fl uency tasks

Evidencia de validez de criterio y de constructo del Older Adult Self Report para ancianos brasileños.

In Brazil, the number of validated and recognized scientific instruments for clinical evaluation of elderly persons is limited. The Older Adult Self-Report (OASR) is a psychopathological rating scale for persons with more than 60 years, which evaluates adaptive functioning and psychopathology. The aim of this study was at investigating OASR construct and criterion validity evidence for Brazilian elderly. The sample included 345 individuals, between 60 and 94 years of age, which were recruited by convenience. Participants responded to a questionnaire containing questions about demographic and health information, the Mini Mental State Examination, the Geriatric Depression Scale short version and the OASR. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation and discriminant analysis. The results showed significant associations between the scores of OASR’s subscales, correlating with general cognitive ability and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, OASR was sensitive to identify elderly with significant symptoms of depression. In conclusion, the OASR showed adequate evidence of construct and criterion validity for a sample of Brazilian elderly.n Brasil, el número de instrumentos científicos validados y reconocidos para la evaluación clínica de las personas de adultos mayores es limitado. El Autoinforme del Adulto Mayor (OASR) es una escala de evaluación psicopatológica de las personas con más de 60 años, que evalúa el funcionamiento adaptativo y la psicopatología. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el constructo OASR y buscar evidencia de la validez de criterio para adultos mayores brasileños. La muestra incluyó a 345 individuos, entre 60 y 94 años de edad, que fueron reclutados por conveniencia. Los participantes respondieron a un cuestionario que contenía preguntas sobre informaciones demográficas y de salud, y también el Examen Mini del Estado Mental, la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica versión corta y la OASR. Los datos se analizaron mediante estadística descriptiva, análisis de correlación y discriminante de Pearson. Los resultados mostraron asociaciones significativas entre las subescalas de OASR, evidenciando correlación con la capacidad cognitiva general y síntomas depresivos. Además, OASR fue sensible para identificar a adultos mayores con síntomas significativos de depresión. En conclusión, el OASR mostró evidencia adecuada de constructo y la validez de criterio para una muestra de ancianos brasileños

New GOLD classification: longitudinal data on group assignment

Rationale: Little is known about the longitudinal changes associated with using the 2013 update of the multidimensional GOLD strategy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objective: To determine the COPD patient distribution of the new GOLD proposal and evaluate how this classification changes over one year compared with the previous GOLD staging based on spirometry only. Methods: We analyzed data from the CHAIN study, a multicenter observational Spanish cohort of COPD patients who are monitored annually. Categories were defined according to the proposed GOLD: FEV1%, mMRC dyspnea, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ), and exacerbations-hospitalizations. One-year follow-up information was available for all variables except CCQ data. Results: At baseline, 828 stable COPD patients were evaluated. On the basis of mMRC dyspnea versus CAT, the patients were distributed as follows: 38.2% vs. 27.2% in group A, 17.6% vs. 28.3% in group B, 15.8% vs. 12.9% in group C, and 28.4% vs. 31.6% in group D. Information was available for 526 patients at one year: 64.2% of patients remained in the same group but groups C and D show different degrees of variability. The annual progression by group was mainly associated with one-year changes in CAT scores (RR, 1.138; 95%CI: 1.074-1.206) and BODE index values (RR, 2.012; 95%CI: 1.487-2.722). Conclusions: In the new GOLD grading classification, the type of tool used to determine the level of symptoms can substantially alter the group assignment. A change in category after one year was associated with longitudinal changes in the CAT and BODE index

New GOLD classification: longitudinal data on group assignment

In the new GOLD grading classification, the type of tool used to determine the level of symptoms can substantially alter the group assignment. A change in category after one year was associated with longitudinal changes in the CAT and BODE index