Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal diseases by demographic and health variables : cross-sectional study of elderly of Goiânia/GO

Objetivo: estimar a prevalência de doenças musculoesqueléticas autorreferidas por idosos segundo variáveis demográficas, dor, autoavaliação de saúde e quedas.Métodos: estudo transversal, de base populacional, com amostra probabilística de 934 idosos residentes em Goiânia, em Goiás. Aplicou-se um questionário padronizado e semiestruturado. Considerou-se doença musculoesquelética autorreferida pelo idoso como variável desfecho, enquanto as variáveis de exposição foram demográficas, autoavaliação de saúde, quedas, dor e atividade física. Para análise, foram utilizados os testes qui-quadrado ou Fisher e regressão de Poisson (valor de p<0,05). Resultados: dos 934 idosos, 62,2% eram mulheres, com média de 71,4 anos (±8,3). A prevalência de doenças musculoesqueléticas foi de 39,1% (IC95% 35,9-42,3), sendo as mais frequentes: osteoporose (24,6%), artrose (2,9%), reumatismo (1,2%) e artrite (0,6%). A prevalência foi superior nas mulheres (44,7%; p=0,000); faixa etária ≥80 anos (44,7%; p=0,002); autoavaliação de saúde ruim (55,9%; p=0,000); relato de dor (43,4%; p=0,001). Não houve associação entre doenças musculoesqueléticas e quedas (p=0,671) e sedentarismo (p=0,167). Conclusão: observaram-se elevada prevalência de doenças musculoesqueléticas nos idosos de elevada faixa etária e associação com autoavaliação de saúde ruim e relato de dor, o que sugere intervenções no controle das condições de saúde gerais.Objective: estimate the prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal disorders in elderlies according to demographic variables, pain, self-assessment of health and falls. Methods: cross-sectional and population-based study with a probabilistic sample of 934 seniors living in Goiania, GO. It was applied a standardized and semi-structured questionnaire. The outcome variable was self-reported musculoskeletal disorders by elderly and exposure were demographic, self-assessment health, falls, pain and physical activity. For analysis, we used the Chi-square test or Fisher and Poisson regression (value of p<0.05). Results: we evaluated 934 elderly, 62.2% were women, average of 71.4 years (±8.3). The prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was 39.1% (95% CI -42.3 35.9), being the most frequent: osteoporosis (24.6%), arthritis (2.9%), rheumatism (1.2%) and arthritis (0.6%). The prevalence was higher in women (44.7%; p=0.000); age ≥ 80 years (44.7%; p=0.002); self-assessment of bad health (55.9%; p=0.000); report of pain (43.4%; p=0.001). There was no association between musculoskeletal disorders and falls (p=0.671) and sedentary (p=0.167). Conclusion: we observed a high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the elderly with high age group which suggests interventions in the control of the general health conditions and pain

Low handgrip strength is associated with worse functional outcomes in long COVID

Abstract The diagnosis of long COVID is troublesome, even when functional limitations are present. Dynapenia is the loss of muscle strength and power production that is not caused by neurologic or muscular diseases, being mostly associated with changes in neurologic function and/or the intrinsic force-generating properties of skeletal muscle, which altogether, may partially explain the limitations seen in long COVID. This study aimed to identify the distribution and possible associations of dynapenia with functional assessments in patients with long COVID. A total of 113 patients with COVID-19 were evaluated by functional assessment 120 days post-acute severe disease. Body composition, respiratory muscle strength, spirometry, six-minute walk test (6MWT, meters), and hand-grip strength (HGS, Kilogram-force) were assessed. Dynapenia was defined as HGS < 30 Kgf (men), and < 20 Kgf (women). Twenty-five (22%) participants were dynapenic, presenting lower muscle mass (p < 0.001), worse forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) (p = 0.0001), lower forced vital capacity (p < 0.001), and inspiratory (p = 0.007) and expiratory (p = 0.002) peek pressures, as well as worse 6MWT performance (p < 0.001). Dynapenia, independently of age, was associated with worse FEV1, maximal expiratory pressure (MEP), and 6MWT, (p < 0.001) outcomes. Patients with dynapenia had higher intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates (p = 0.01) and need for invasive mechanical ventilation (p = 0.007) during hospitalization. The HGS is a simple, reliable, and low-cost measurement that can be performed in outpatient clinics in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, HGS may be used as a proxy indicator of functional impairment in this population

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora