Epidemiological profile of tuberculosis infection and disease among cocaine users admitted to hospitals of the Greater São Paulo city

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and the risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease among hospitalized cocaine users. METHOD: A cross-sectional study performed on a sample of 440 addicts over 18 years of age, admitted to hospitals of the metropolitan area of the Greater São Paulo city, whose clinical conditions allowed them to answer a standard questionnaire, and who agreed to participate in the study. The prevalence of TB infection was assessed through positive tuberculin testing (PPD), and of TB disease by the finding of M. tuberculosis in the sputum of patients with respiratory symptoms. RESULTS: Respiratory symptoms were present in 21% of the patients, the most frequent being weight loss and cough, which disappeared when cocaine use was discontinued. The general prevalence of TB infection was 28%. The prevalence of TB disease was 0.6%. The factors which were associated with positive PPD were: age, color/race, time spent in prison, and drug use in prison. CONCLUSION: No increased prevalence of TB infection and disease was found in these patients. Older addicts had a higher probability of having TB infection, and so had those who had been in prison

Prevalência de transtornos mentais nas tentativas de suicídio em um hospital de emergência no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Prevalence of mental disorders associated with suicide attempts treated at an emergency hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Há poucos estudos nacionais sobre prevalência de transtornos mentais nas tentativas de suicídio, os quais utilizararam principalmente dados secundários e instrumentos de rastreamento. O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar a prevalência de transtornos mentais em 96 casos de tentativas de suicídio atendidos em hospital de emergência, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (2006-2007), utilizando o Composite International Development Interview. A maioria da amostra consistiu em mulheres, jovens, baixa escolaridade e ingestão de medicamentos psicoativos como principal meio. Outros fatores: histórias prévias de tentativa e uso de álcool no momento do agravo. Os transtornos mentais mais freqüentes foram: episódio depressivo (38,9%), dependência de substâncias psicoativas (21,9%), transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (20,8%), dependência de álcool (17,7%) e esquizofrenia (15,6%). A taxa total dos transtornos mentais foi de 71,9%. Tais achados são mais próximos aos estudos em países em desenvolvimento. Além do acesso ao tratamento dos transtornos mentais, são necessárias políticas públicas que enfatizem o controle de meios e respostas sociais à redução do comportamento suicida.<br>There are few Brazilian studies on prevalence of mental disorders in suicide attempters. The available studies have mainly used secondary data and screening instruments. The principal objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders in 96 suicide attempters seen in an emergency ward in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil (2006-2007) using the Composite International Development Interview. Most were female, young, and illiterate, and the main method was ingestion of psychoactive drugs. Other factors included history of prior attempts and use of alcohol at the time of attempt. The most frequent mental disorders were: depression (38.9%), use of psychoactive substances (21.9%), posttraumatic stress disorder (20.8%), alcohol abuse (17.7%), and schizophrenia (15.6%). Total prevalence of mental disorders was 71.9%. These findings are largely consistent with studies conducted in other developing countries. Besides access to treatment for mental disorders, public policies with an emphasis on the control of suicide methods and social responses for the reduction of suicidal behavior are needed