Frequency of symptoms in the last year of life of underprivileged elders in São Paulo: a cross-sectional study with informal caregivers

O crescimento da população idosa brasileira fez aumentar a prevalência de doenças crônicas e o número de pessoas sofrendo de diversos sintomas ao final da vida. Este estudo objetivou entrevistar cuidadores de idosos falecidos, investigando a presença, intensidade e duração de sintomas no último ano, e se os mesmos foram tratados. Arrolaram-se idosos por inquérito domiciliar de base populacional em setores de baixa renda do Butantã, São Paulo. Eram elegíveis os idosos falecidos durante o período de dois anos de seguimento. Oitenta e um cuidadores foram entrevistados entre três e 16 meses pós-óbito e responderam um questionário sobre onze sintomas. Os sintomas mais referidos foram dor (78%), fadiga (68%), dispnéia (60%), depressão e anorexia (58% cada). Dor, dispnéia e fadiga foram os mais intensos. Dor, fadiga e depressão duraram 6 meses ou mais. Ficaram sem tratamento 79% dos idosos com depressão, 77% daqueles com incontinência urinária e 67% daqueles com ansiedade. É necessário implementar conceitos e ações de cuidados paliativos para dar aos idosos mais dignidade e qualidade ao final da vida.The Brazilian population of elders is growing, resulting in high prevalences of chronic diseases and people facing distressing symptoms in their last years. This study aimed at interviewing family caregivers of deceased elders to investigate the presence, severity and duration of common symptoms in the last year, as well as whether the symptoms were managed or not. Elders were enrolled in a population-based study in deprived areas of Butantã, São Paulo. After a two-year follow-up, any death was eligible for the study. Eighty-one caregivers were interviewed between three and sixteen months after elder's death and answered a questionnaire on eleven symptoms. The most commonly reported symptoms were pain (78%), fatigue (68%), dyspnea (60%), depression, and anorexia (58% each). Pain, dyspnea and fatigue were the most severe. Pain, fatigue and depression lasted 6 months or more. No treatment was received for depression (79%), urinary incontinence (77%) and anxiety (67%). The implementation of palliative care concepts and actions is mandatory to provide Brazilian elders with dignity and better quality at the end of life.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Prevalência de doenças da tireóide em idosos: resultados do São Paulo Ageing & Health Study

This study aimed to estimate prevalence of thyroid disorders in the São Paulo Ageing & Health Study, an epidemiological study addressing several health-adverse outcomes among elderly people living in a poor area of São Paulo, Brazil. All participants answered a questionnaire and had a blood sample collected to assess levels of tireotropic hormone and free-thyroxine. Among 1,373 people (60.8% women), prevalence rates (95% confidence interval) for thyroid dysfunction (%) were: overt hyperthyroidism, 0.7% (0.2-1.1)[women: 0.8% (0.2-1.5); men: 0.4% (0.01-0.9)]; overt hypothyroidism, 5.7% (4.5-6.9) [women: 5.9% (4.3-7.5); men: 5.4% (3.5-7.3)]; subclinical hyperthyroidism, 2.4% (1.6-3.2) [women: 2.8% (1.6-3.9); men: 1.9% (0.7-3.0)]; and subclinical hypothyroidism, 6.5% (5.2-7.8) [women: 6.7% (5.0-8.4); men: 6.1% (4.1-8.2)]. There was no difference in prevalence rates according to gender, but almost 40% of women were diagnosed and under treatment compared to 9% of men. The burden of thyroid disorders in this sample is high and most participants were not aware of them.O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar a prevalência de doenças da tireóide no São Paulo Ageing & Health Study, estudo epidemiológico focado em desfechos de saúde adversos em amostra de idosos moradores de São Paulo, Brasil. Todos os participantes responderam a questionário e colheram sangue para dosagem de hormônio tireotrópico e tiroxina-livre. Entre os 1.373 participantes (60,8% mulheres), a prevalência (intervalo de 95% de confiança) de hipertireoidismo clínico foi de 0,7% (0.2-1,1) [mulheres: 0,8% (0,2-1,5); homens: 0,4% (0,01-0,9)]; hipotireoidismo clínico, 5,7% (4,5-6,9) [mulheres: 5,9% (4,3-7,5); homens: 5,4% (3,5-7,3)]; hipertireoidismo subclínico, 2,4% (1,6-3,2) [mulheres: 2,8% (1,6-3,9); homens: 1,9% (0,7-3,0)]; e hipotireoidismo subclínico, 6,5% (5,2-7,8) [mulheres: 6,7% (5,0-8,4); homens: 6,1% (4,1-8,2)]. Não houve diferença na prevalência de doenças da tireóide por sexo. Quarenta por cento das mulheres tinham diagnóstico e estavam tratando, comparadas a 9% dos homens. A prevalência de disfunção tireoidiana foi elevada e a maioria dos participantes desconhecia o diagnóstico.(FAPESP) São Paulo Research Foundatio

Fatores associados à preferência por cesareana

OBJECTIVE: To study factors related to preference for cesarean delivery, among pregnant women without medical complications. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 156 pregnant women, in a private clinic in the city of Osasco, State of São Paulo, from October 2000 to December 2001. The pregnant women were at 28 weeks of pregnancy or more, with no formal contraindication for vaginal delivery at the time of the interview. Sociodemographic data and past and present obstetric history were assessed by applying a questionnaire. The pregnant women were specifically asked what their current preference for delivery was. Pearson's Chi-square test and logistic regression for multivariate analysis were performed with a 5% significance level. RESULTS: Sixty-seven pregnant women (42.9%) said they had little motivation to undergo vaginal delivery. In the multivariate analysis, the following variables were statistically significant: previous vaginal birth (p=0.001; ORadj=0.04; 95% CI=0.01-0.12); husband's monthly income greater than 750 reais (p=0.006, ORadj=3.44; 95% CI=1.38-8.33). The women with a previous vaginal delivery presented 25-fold lower chance of choosing cesarean delivery. The opinion that the previous delivery experience was unsatisfactory was marginally associated with the main outcome (p=0.06; ORadj=0.42; 95% CI=0.16-1.05). CONCLUSIONS: Motivation for cesarean delivery is associated with influences such as the type and degree of satisfaction with previous delivery and income.OBJETIVO: Estudar os fatores relacionados à preferência por cesariana, em gestantes sem intercorrências. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 156 gestantes, de clínica privada na cidade de Osasco, Estado de São Paulo, no período de outubro de 2000 a dezembro de 2001. As gestantes estavam em idade gestacional de 28 semanas ou mais, sem contra-indicação formal para parto vaginal, no momento da entrevista. Foi aplicado questionário sobre informações sociodemográficas, história obstétrica passada e atual. Perguntou-se à gestante questão específica sobre preferência para o parto. Realizou-se teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson e regressão logística para análise multivariada, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Sessenta e sete (42,9%) gestantes se diziam pouco motivadas para parto vaginal. Na análise multivariada foram estatisticamente significativas as seguintes variáveis: parto vaginal prévio (

Depressão antenatal prediz fortemente depressão pós-parto na atenção básica à saúde

Objective: To estimate the association between antenatal and postnatal depression and to examine the role of socioeconomic conditions in the risk of postnatal depression. Methods: A prospective cohort study, conducted between May 2005 and January 2006, with 831 pregnant women recruited from primary care clinics in the public sector in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The presence of antenatal and postnatal depression was measured with the Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics and obstetric information were obtained through a questionnaire. Crude and adjusted risk ratios (RR), with 95% CI, were calculated using a Poisson regression. Results: The prevalence of postnatal depressive symptoms was 31.2% (95% CI: 27.8-34.8%). Among the 219 mothers who had depressive symptoms, nearly 50% had already shown depressive symptoms during pregnancy. Women who had antenatal depression were 2.4 times more likely to present with postnatal depression than were women who did not have such symptoms during pregnancy. In the multivariate analysis, higher scores for assets (RR: 0.76, 95% CI 0.61-0.96), higher education (RR: 0.75 95% CI 0.59-0.96), daily contact with neighbors (RR: 0.68, 95% CI 0.51-0.90) and antenatal depression (RR: 2.44, 95% CI 1.93-3.08) remained independently associated with postnatal depression. Conclusions: Antenatal and postnatal depression are highly prevalent in the primary care setting.OBJETIVO: Estimar a associação entre depressão pré-natal e pós-natal, e examinar o papel das condições sócioeconômicas sobre o risco de depressão pós-parto. \ud MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte prospectivo, realizado entre maio de 2005 e janeiro de 2006, com 831 gestantes recrutadas de clínicas de cuidados básicos, do setor público, na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Presença de depressão pré-natal e pós-natal foi medida com o Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Características sócio-demográficas e socioeconômicas, e informações obstétricas foram obtidas através de um questionário. Riscos relativos (RR), bruto e ajustado, com IC de 95%, foram calculados usando Regressão de Poisson. \ud RESULTADOS: A prevalência de sintomas depressivos pós-natal foi de 31,2% (IC95% 27,8-34,8%). Entre as 219 mães que tinham sintomas depressivos, quase 50% já haviam mostrado sintomas depressivos durante a gravidez. Mulheres que tiveram depressão pré-natal tiveram risco 2,4 vezes maior de apresentar depressão pós-parto do que as mulheres que não tiveram tais sintomas durante a gravidez. Na análise multivariada, maior escore de bens (RR: 0,76; IC95% 0,1-0,96), maior escolaridade (RR: 0,75; IC95% 0,59-0,96), contacto diário com vizinhos (RR: 0.68; IC95% 0,51-0,90) e depressão pré-natal (RR:2,44; IC95% 1,93-3,08) permaneceram independentemente associadas com depressão pós-parto. \ud CONCLUSÕES: Depressão pré-natal e pós-natal são altamente prevalentes na atenção primária, e profissionais de saúde devem ser treinados para realizar intervenções simples e eficazes, o mais precocemente possível

Self-rated health: a study in an elderly low income population of São Paulo

Self-rated Health has been taking an important status in epidemiological research because of its strong and independent association with mortality. International papers indicate many determinants factors of self-rated health, but few studies have been carried out indeveloping countries as Brazil. This paper aims to study socioeconomic characteristics and chronic diseases associated with self-rated health. It was performed a cross-sectional study with 2,072 old aged adults over 65 years, living in an economically deprived area in São Paulocity. Socioeconomic characteristics, chronic diseases, difficulty with activities of daily living, chronic pain and common mental disorders symptoms were accessed and analyzed with apolytomic logistic regression model. We found an association of self-rated health and income,angina, stroke, chronic cough, difficulty with activities of daily living, chronic pain and common mental disorders symptoms. It was concluded that self-rated health is a consistent variable, and studies performed in developed countries have found similar results.A autopercepção de saúde vem ganhando um importante espaço nas pesquisas epidemiológicas devido à sua forte e independente associação com mortalidade. Artigos internacionais apontam vários fatores determinantes da autopercepção de saúde, mas poucos estudos têm sido realizados em países em desenvolvimento, como o Brasil. Este trabalho tem como objetivo estudar os fatores socioeconômicos e as doenças que estão associadas à autopercepção de saúde. Foi realizado um estudo de corte transversal com 2.072 idosos acima de 65 anos, residentes em bairros da periferia oeste da cidade de São Paulo onde foram obtidos dados sobre características socioeconômicas, doenças crônicas, dificuldades nas atividades diárias, dor crônica e sintomas psiquiátricos menores, analisados com um modelo de regressão logística politômica. Foi encontrada associação da autopercepção de saúde com renda, angina, derrame, tosse crônica, dificuldades nas atividades diárias, dor e sintomas de transtornos mentais comuns. Concluímos que a autopercepção de saúde é uma variável muito consistente, e estudos realizados em países desenvolvidos encontraram resultados semelhantes

The relationship between indicators of socioeconomic status and cesarean section in public hospitals

OBJECTIVE To assess the relationship between indicators of socioeconomic status and cesarean section in public hospitals that adopt standardized protocols of obstetrical care. METHODS This was a prospective cohort study conducted between May 2005 and January 2006 with 831 pregnant women recruited from 10 public primary care clinics in São Paulo, Brazil. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected during pregnancy. The three main exposures were schooling, monthly family income per capita, and residential crowding. The main outcome was cesarean section at three public hospitals located in the area. Crude and adjusted risk ratios (RR), with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Poisson regression with robust variance. We examined the effects of each exposure variable on cesarean section accounting for potential confounders by using four different models: crude, adjusted by mother’s characteristics, by obstetrical complications, and by the other two indicators of socioeconomic status. RESULTS Among the 757 deliveries performed in the public hospitals, 215 (28.4%) were by cesarean section. In the bivariate analysis, cesarean section was associated with higher family income per capita, higher education, lower residential crowding, pregnancy planning, white skin color, having a partner, and advanced maternal age. In the multivariate analysis, after adjustment for covariates, none of the socioeconomic status variables remained associated with cesarean section. CONCLUSIONS In this group, the chance of women undergoing cesarean section was not associated with indicators of socioeconomic status only, but was defined in accordance with major obstetric and clinical conditions

Trend in the prevalence of depression and correlates in Brazil: results from the National Health Surveys 2013 and 2019

This study aims to evaluate national variation in depression prevalence overall and in different socioeconomic and demographic groups, health behaviors, and macro-regions of the country, between 2013 and 2019. Data were obtained from the National Health Surveys – PNS 2013 and 2019, which are cross-sectional surveys of the Brazilian general population. Participants aged 18 years and older included 60,202 individuals in 2013 and 88,531 in 2019. Depression was evaluated through the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Calculations were carried out population-weighted. Additional age-standardized analyses were conducted to account for demographic changes. The results showed that in the six-year period between the two surveys, the prevalence of depression in Brazil increased by 36.7%, going from 7.9% in 2013 to 10.8% in 2019, this increase is more marked among young adults, 18 to 24 years old, who were not working, where there was a significant and almost three-fold absolute difference increase in the prevalence of depression (3.7 in 2013 and 10.3 in 2019), an increase of 178.4%. Those living in urban areas of the country had a greater increase in the prevalence of depression in the six-year period (39.8%) when compared to residents in rural areas (20.2%). There was an increase in the prevalence of depression between 2013 and 2019 for the worst categories of the three health behaviors under study, for both sexes: heavy drinking, smoking, and lack of physical activity, following the pattern observed for the general population. Our results show evidence of a significant increase in the prevalence of depression over the six-year period between the two surveys, mainly among the younger and unemployed men. The country´s economic context of recession during this period may be an explanation for this finding

Patterns of health-related behaviours among adolescents: a cross-sectional study based on the National Survey of School Health Brazil 2012.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyse the clustering of multiple health-related behaviours among adolescents and describe which socio-demographic characteristics are associated with these patterns. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Brazilian schools assessed by the National Survey of School Health (PeNSE, 2012). PARTICIPANTS: 104 109 Brazilian ninth-grade students from public and private schools (response rate=82.7%). METHODS: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to identify behaviour clustering and linear regression models were used to identify socio-demographic characteristics associated with each one of these behaviour patterns. RESULTS: We identified a good fit model with three behaviour patterns. The first was labelled 'problem-behaviour' and included aggressive behaviour, alcohol consumption, smoking, drug use and unsafe sex; the second was labelled 'health-compromising diet and sedentary behaviours' and included unhealthy food indicators and sedentary behaviour; and the third was labelled 'health-promoting diet and physical activity' and included healthy food indicators and physical activity. No differences in behaviour patterns were found between genders. The problem-behaviour pattern was associated with male gender, older age, more developed region (socially and economically) and public schools (compared with private). The 'health-compromising diet and sedentary behaviours' pattern was associated with female gender, older age, mothers with higher education level and more developed region. The 'health-promoting diet and physical activity' pattern was associated with male gender and mothers with higher education level. CONCLUSIONS: Three health-related behaviour patterns were found among Brazilian adolescents. Interventions to decrease those negative patterns should take into account how these behaviours cluster together and the individuals most at risk

Relação entre transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo e doenças neurológicas dos gânglios da base

O transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo (TOC) tem sido reportado em associação com algumas doenças neurológicas que afetam primariamente os gânglios da base como a síndrome de Tourette , a coréia de Sydenham, a doença de Parkinson e a doença de Huntington. Da mesma forma, estudos de neuroimagem sugerem a participação dos gânglios da base na fisiopatologia do TOC. O objetivo deste estudo é rever a coexistência de TOC e várias doenças que afetam os gânglios da base, as evidências da participação dessas estruturas na fisiopatologia do TOC e os mecanismos neurais subjacentes a esse distúrbio psiquiátrico.Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has been reported in association with some neurological diseases that affect the basal ganglia such as Tourette's syndrome, Sydenham's chorea, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. Furthermore, studies such as neuroimaging, suggest a role of the basal ganglia in the pathophysiology of OCD. The aim of this paper is to describe the association of OCD and several neurologic disorders affecting the basal ganglia, report the existing evidences of the role of the basal ganglia in the pathophysiology of OCD, and analyze the mechanisms probably involved in this pathophysiology

Maternity “blues”: prevalence and risk factors

Objectives: estimate the prevalence and track the risk factors associated with, Maternity blues (MB). Methods: a transversal study was performed with 113 women, on the tenth day of puerperium. The following instruments were used: Pitt Scale (1968), Stein (1980), Inventory for stressful life events by Holmes & Rahe (1967), and a questionnaire with sociodemographic and obstetric data. Results: the prevalence of MB was 32.7% according to the Stein scale. In the univariated analysis, civil status and tobacco use were associated with MB. Legally married women and nonsmokers showed a risk approximately 4 times lower of experiencing the problem. Conclusions: MB was very prevalent in this sample. Obstetricians must be aware of this condition which may be associated with postpartum depression.Objetivos: estimar la prevalencia y rastrear los factores de riesgo asociados con la tristeza postparto (TP). Método: se realizó un estudio transversal con 113 mujeres, en el décimo día del puerperio. Se utilizaron los siguientes instrumentos: Pitt Scale (1968), Stein (1980), Inventory for Stressful Life Events de Holmes & Rahe (1967) y un cuestionario de datos sociodemográficos y obstétricos. Resultados: la prevalencia de la TP fue de un 32.7% de acuerdo con la escala Stein. En el análisis univariado, el estado civil y el consumo de tabaco se asociaron a la TP. Las mujeres casadas y las no fumadoras mostraron un riesgo aproximadamente 4 veces más bajo de sufrir el problema. Conclusiones: se encontró una alta prevalencia de la TP en la muestra. Los obstetras deberían estar alerta ante este estado, que puede asociarse con la depresión postparto