A influência das comorbidades, do uso de medicamentos e da institucionalização na capacidade funcional dos idosos

Introduction: In developing countries, like Brazil, the demographic transition is characterized by a progressive increase in the number of elderly. Prevalent diseases are chronic degenerative diseases of low mortality and high disability. Functional capacity is defined as the physical and mental ability to maintain an independent and autonomous life. One of the most commonly used instruments to evaluate the functional capacity is the index of independence in activities of daily living (Katz Index). Aging as well as the demographic, socioeconomic and health factors influence this ability. Objective: The study objective is to evaluate the functional capacity of the elderly in Barbacena-MG and to correlate this fact to the presence of comorbidities, medication use, sociodemographic characteristics and institutionalization. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 81 institutionalized elderly and 254 non-institutionalized, evaluating them through the Katz Index and a questionnaire in which sociodemographic variables, comorbidities and use of continuous medicines in the 12 months preceding the interview were quantified. Results: Independent factors associated to functional capacity having statistically significant value were: to be 80 or older, to be female, living together or in long-stay institution, continually use of an average of 4.7 ± 2.8 medications and regular use of psychotropic drugs. Conclusion: Among elderly patients with lower functional capacity, there was prevalence of institutionalization, older age, higher proportion of women and increased use of medications. Different than expected, the functional dependent elderly didn’t have more comorbidities, when compared with the independents.Introdução: Nos países em desenvolvimento, como o Brasil, a transição demográfica caracteriza-se pelo aumento progressivo do número de idosos. Predominam as doenças crônico-degenerativas de letalidade baixa e de incapacidade alta. Capacidade funcional é definida como a habilidade física e mental para manter uma vida independente e autônoma. Um dos instrumentos mais usados para avaliar a capacidade funcional é o índice de independência nas atividades de vida diária (Índice de Katz). O envelhecimento assim como os fatores demográficos, socioeconômicos e de condições de saúde influenciam nesta capacidade. Objetivo: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a capacidade funcional de idosos da cidade de Barbacena-MG e correlaciona-la com a presença de comorbidades, uso de medicamentos, características sociodemográficas e institucionalização. Materiais e métodos: Estudo de corte transversal com 81 idosos institucionalizados e 254 não institucionalizados, avaliados através do Índice de Katz e de um questionário, no qual foram quantificadas variáveis sociodemográficas, comorbidades apresentadas e uso de medicamentos contínuos nos 12 meses precedentes à entrevista. Resultados: Os fatores independentes associados à incapacidade funcional, que possuíram valor estatisticamente significativo, foram: possuir 80 anos ou mais, ser do gênero feminino, morar acompanhado ou em Instituição de Longa Permanência, usar continuamente uma média de 4,7 ± 2,8 medicamentos e fazer uso regular de fármacos psicotrópicos. Conclusão: Dentre os idosos com menor capacidade funcional houve maior prevalência de institucionalização, idade mais avançada, predomínio do gênero feminino e maior uso de medicamentos. Diferente do esperado, os gerontes dependentes funcionais não apresentaram maior número de comorbidades, quando comparados com os independentes

Neotropical xenarthrans: a dataset of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics.

International audienceXenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions forecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosys-tem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts withdomestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their fulldistribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths.Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae(3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data onDasypus pilo-sus(Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized,but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In thisdata paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence andquantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is fromthe southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of theNeotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regardinganteaters,Myrmecophaga tridactylahas the most records (n=5,941), andCyclopessp. havethe fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data isDasypus novemcinctus(n=11,588), and the fewest data are recorded forCalyptophractus retusus(n=33). Withregard to sloth species,Bradypus variegatushas the most records (n=962), andBradypus pyg-maeushas the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to makeoccurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly ifwe integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, andNeotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure,habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possiblewith the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data inpublications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are usingthese data

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data