Avaliação da capacidade de caminhar do portador de obesidade mórbida utilizando teste de caminhada de 6 minutos

Introduction: The ability to walk is impaired in obese by anthropometric factors (BMI and height), musculoskeletal pain and level of inactivity. Little is known about the influence of body adiposity and the acute response of the cardiovascular system during whole the 6-minute walk test (6mWT). Objective: To evaluate the effect of anthropometric measures (BMI and WHR waist-to-hip ratio), the effort heart and inactivity in ability to walk the morbidly obese. Materials and Methods: a total 36 morbidly obese (36.23 + 11.82 years old, BMI 49.16 kg/m2) were recruited from outpatient department of treatment of obesity and bariatric surgery in University Hospital Onofre Lopes and anthropometric measurements of obesity (BMI and WHR), pulmonary function, pattern habitual physical activity (Baecke Questionnaire) and walking capacity (6mWT). The patient was checking to measure: heart rate (HR), breathing frequency (BF), peripheral oxygen saturation, level of perceived exertion, systemic arterial pressure and duplo-produto (DP), moreover the average speed development and total distance walking. The data were analysed between gender and pattern of body adiposity, measuring the behavior minute by minute of walking. The Pearson and Spearmam correlation coefficients were calculated, and stepwise multiple Regression examined the predictors of walking capacity. All analyses were performed en software Statistic 6.0. Results: 20 obese patients had abdominal adiposity (WHR = 1.01), waist circumference was 135.8 cm in women (25) and 139.8 cm in men (10). Walked to the end of 6mWT 412.43 m, with no differences between gender and adiposity. The total distance walked by obesity alone was explained by BMI (45%), HR in the sixth minute (43%), the Baecke (24%) and fatigue (-23%). 88.6% of obese (31) performed the test above 60% of maximal HR, while the peak HR achieved at 5-minute of 6mWT. Systemic arterial pressure and DP rised after walking, but with no differences between gender and adiposity. Conclusion: The walk of obese didn´t suffers influence of gender or the pattern of body adiposity. The final distance walked is attributed to excess body weight, stress heart, the feeling of effort required by physical activity and level of sedentary to obese. With a minute of walking, the obeses achieved a range of intensity cardiovascular trainning

Força muscular respiratória, qualidade de vida e modulação autonômica da frequência cardíaca na distrofia miotônica

Background: The myotonic dystrophy (MD) is a multisystem neuromuscular disease that can affect the respiratory muscles and heart function, and cause impairment in quality of life. Objectives: Investigate the changes in respiratory muscle strength, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and autonomic modulation heart rate (HR) in patients with MD. Methods: Twenty-three patients performed assessment of pulmonary function, sniff nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP), the maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressure, and of HRQoL (SF-36 questionnaire). Of these patients, 17 underwent assessment of heart rate variability (HRV) at rest, in the supine and seated positions. Results: The values of respiratory muscle strength were 64, 70 and 80% of predicted for MEP, MIP, and SNIP, respectively. Significant differences were found in the SF-36 domains of physical functioning (58.7 ± 31,4 vs. 84.5 ± 23, p<0.01) and physical problems (43.4 ± 35.2 vs. 81.2 ± 34, p<0.001) when patients were compared with the reference values. Single linear regression analysis demonstrated that MIP explains 29% of the variance in physical functioning, 18% of physical problems and 20% of vitality. The HRV showed that from supine position to seated, HF decreased (0.43 x 0.30), and LF (0.57 x 0.70) and the LF/HF ratio (1.28 x 2.22) increased (p< 0.05). Compared to healthy persons, LF was lower in both male patients (2.68 x 2.99) and women (2.31 x 2.79) (p< 0.05). LF / HF ratio and LF were higher in men (5.52 x 1.5 and 0.8 x 0.6, p <0.05) and AF in women (0.43 x 0.21) (p< 0.05). There was positive correlation between the time of diagnosis and LF / HF ratio (r = 0.7, p <0.01). Conclusions: The expiratory muscle strength was reduced. The HRQoL was more impaired on the physical aspects and partly influenced by changes in inspiratory muscle strength. The HRV showed that may be sympathetic dysfunction in autonomic modulation of HR, although with normal adjustment of autonomic modulation during the change of posture. The parasympathetic modulation is higher in female patients and sympathetic tends to increase in patients with longer diagnosis

Estágio menopausal e níveis hormonais no desenvolvimento muscular e funcional em mulheres de meia idade: um estudo transversal

Introduction: Hypoestrogenism is the main characteristic of female aging. It promotes significant changes in body composition, both in fat mass as in lean body mass, leading to a decrease in muscle strength and physical performance. Objective: The aim of this study was to test whether menopausal status and hormone levels are associated with muscular strength and physical performance in middle-aged women. Methods: In a cross-sectional study it was collected sociodemographic data, gynecological history, anthropometric and biochemical measures in women aged 40 to 65 years in Parnamirim-RN. The menopause status (pre, peri and post menopause) was determined by menstrual history. All women underwent three dimensions of physical performance assessment: handgrip dynamometry, gait speed and chair stands test - Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Categorical data were presented as absolute and relative frequencies. Quantitative data were showed as mean and standard deviation and the normality of distribution was verified with Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test. Biochemical measures of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were transformed to log10. ANOVA with Tukey post-test for comparison of variables between the groups pre, peri and post-menopausal was performed and then multiple linear regression analyzes. Results: Two hundred and seventy eight women aged 50.2 (±5.58) years composed this study, being 50 women in premenopausal status (18%), 122 in perimenopausal (43.9%), and 106 postmenopausal stage (38.1%). The groups were different in age (p=0.001), marital relationship duration (p <0.001), number of pregnancies (p=0.001) and parity (p=0.001). Differences in biochemical measures were observed among the groups: estradiol (p<0.001), FSH (p<0.001), total cholesterol (p=0.001). There were no differences in gait velocity between menopausal status. Values in mean of grip strength decreased by postmenopausal women to perimenopausal and premenopausal ones (24.5 ± 5.1, 25.6 ± 5.4, 26.9 ± 4.9 for post-stage, pre and peri menopausas, respectively, p = 0.02) and the performance of chair stands test was better in premenopausal women compared with that in peri and postmenopausal status (p = 0.02). In multiple linear regression for muscle strength, the variables that remained were: age, estradiol and somatic symptoms measured by Menopause Rating Scale-MRS (R2=0.15). While for the xiv chair-stands test the predictors were number of births and FSH values (R2=0.04). Conclusion: There is a relationship between the stages of menopause and muscle performance in measures of grip strength and sit-up test and these are influenced by the fall of estrogens levels. Data suggest that the decrease in muscle strength and physical performance already appear in the transition to menopause stage, pointing to the need for more research in this area and appropriate preventive interventions

Doadores de sangue: qualidade de vida e atendimento em hemocentro de Natal / RN

The context of blood donation in Brazil faces problems since the start of its operations in the 1940, in the beginning the biggest obstacle was obtain safe and qualified blood, and then, established criteria for donations, the barrier is the low number of suitable candidates for donation. This suitability is associated with the good health of those who goes to the services of blood banks and the return of the donor is often conditioned by the way care is given and perceived by the user. The quality of life, defined as a perception that a person has of her/his position in the world, can influence the health and emerges as a way to focus on the subjectivity in a context dominated by objective and practical exams; listen to the views about the received services increases the focus on the user and provides feedback to the institution, guiding and planning its future actions. The purpose of this study was to verify the quality of life in blood donors and their perceptions of care in a blood center in Natal/RN. This is a descriptive cross sectional study conducted with blood donors from Dalton Cunha Barbosa blood center. The used protocols were: a structures questionnaire with questions on sociodemographic and services perception data, and SF-36 quality of life instrument. The sociodemographic and SF-36 data ware analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, using the statistical package PASW 18.0; those related to treatment were submitted to thematic content analysis. The results revealed a sample mainly composed by men, married people, who attended high school and had already made previous donations, with the first two groups returning more often for donations. The scores of the SF-36 confirm the certificated of good health of the screens, beind high in all areas and featuring a healthy population; statistically significant differences were denoted between sexes, levels of education and marital status. The speeches about the service were mostly positive and had as main focus acess, agility, technical aspects and subjective feelings. The data regarding the Rio Grande do Norte blood donors profile confirmed some characteristics of the Brazilian ones, those data of the SF-36 were similar to those found in studies with healthy groups and the impressions about the care received show similarities with national and international studies about the attendance at blood banks

Influência das condições de saúde bucal no desempenho das atividades diárias de adolescentes escolares

Instruments are used in odontology to measure the Quality of Life Related to Oral Health (OHRQoL) to scale how the oral condition interferes with functional areas, of the people s psychological and social life. This cross-sectional study, held in Natal/RN, with 215 students from the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN) has investigated the association between the performance of daily activities and oral health status of school adolescents from 15 to 19 years of age, through the normative index DMFT (permanent teeth decayed, missing and filled), CPI (Community Periodontal Index) and DAI (dental Aesthetic Index) and subjective questionnaire assessment of quality of life related oral health OIDP index (oral impacts on daily performance). It was also carried out the socioeconomic characteristics of students through IFRN own data. Concerning the analysis of data was performed a descriptive analysis of the variables by their absolute and relative frequencies and measures of central tendency. The chi-square test was used to assess the association between the dependent variable and the independent categorical variables and the Student t test for quantitative. It was also conducted a further multiple analysis out using Poisson regression with robust variance between the outcome "presence of impact" and the independent variables that showed p <0.20. It was used for all the statistical tests a significance level of 5%. Among the adolescents surveyed, 51.16% reported that at least one activity assessed by OIDP had hampered its implementation due to some dental problem. The difficulties were more pronounced in the activities of eating (31.6%), oral hygiene (25.6%) and smile (25.1%).The tooth position, followed by toothache, were the causes of the impacts reported by most teenagers. There was a significant association between the presence and impact of the presence of one or more decayed teeth (p = 0.012), the presence of gum bleeding (p = 0.012) and for orthodontic treatment (p = 0.003), independently of other variables. There was no significant association between oral health status and socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the adolescents. The survey results showed that there is an association between oral health status of the population studied and reports of difficulties in carrying out daily activities evaluated. The worse the oral health status, the greater the impact of this condition on the adolescents quality of life

Relação entre estresse percebido e qualidade de vida em pessoas idosas

O envelhecimento é um processo multifatorial, influenciado por mudanças biológicas, sociais e psicológicas que pode estar associado ao desenvolvimento de estresse e ao comprometimento da qualidade de vida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a relação entre o estresse percebido e a qualidade de vida em idosos no município de Campina Grande, PB. O estudo teve um delineamento transversal e descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa, amostragem do tipo snowboll e não probabilística, com amostra composta por 326 idosos, considerando as perdas, totalizaram 253 idosas para a análise dos dados. Foram realizados análises descritivas e testes paramétricos e não-paramétricos entre as características da amostra, adotando um nível de significância de 5%. Utilizou-se como instrumentos um questionário sócio-demográfico e epidemiológico, o Índice de Barthel, a Escala de Atividades Instrumentais de Vida Diária de Lawton e Brody, as Escalas de Estresse Percebido, PSS14 e PSS10 e o SF-36, para avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde. As idosas participantes apresentaram o seguinte perfil sócio-demográfico e epidemiológico: idade média de 71,3 anos; 80,2% casadas ou viúvas; 55,3% praticam alguma atividade física; aproximadamente 50% tinham menos de 8 anos de estudo; 76,7% recebiam até dois salários mínimos por mês; a maioria, 82,2%, vivia com a família; e 87,4% apresentava alguma doença crônica. Com relação ao estresse percebido, foi possível identificar que as pontuações da P SS-14 e PSS-10 variaram entre, 2-53 e 4-39, respectivamente, sendo que a quantidade de participantes com valores PSS-14  28 e PSS-10  21 foram de 15.8% (n = 40) e 20.6% (n= 52), respectivamente. Na avaliação da qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, os escores do SF-36 foram menores nas dimensões de dor (62,7) e aspectos físicos (63,6), e maiores nas dimensões aspectos sociais (84,4) e saúde mental (75,6). Observou-se uma correlação negativa e estatisticamente significativa entre os valores de estresse percebido e os domínios do SF-36 (p <0,001). O estresse percebido relacionou-se tanto com os aspectos físicos e funcionais como com a saúde mental das idosas, apresentando uma associação com a qualidade de vida de forma global, sendo um ótimo indicador da qualidade de vida das idosas.

Custos e benefícios de um programa de exercício aeróbios na doença pulmonar obstrutica crônica: ensaio cliníco aleatório controlado

Pulmonary Rehabilitation, especially due to aerobic exercise, positive impact in reducing morbidity/mortality of patients with COPD, however the economic impact with costs of implementing simple programs of aerobic exercise are scarce. This is a blind randomized clinical trials, which aimed to evaluate the costs and benefits of a simple program of aerobic exercise in individuals with COPD, considering the financial costs of the Public Health System and its secondary endpoints. We evaluated lung function, the distance walked during six minutes of walking, the respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, quality of life related to health (QLRH), body composition and level of activity of daily living (ADL) before and after eight weeks of an aerobic exercise program consisting of educational guidance for both groups, control and intervention and supervised walks to the intervention group. The health costs generated in both groups were calculated following table Brazilian Public Health System. The sample consisted of forty patients, two being excluded in the initial phase of desaturation during the walk test six minutes. Were randomized into control and intervention group thirty-eight patients, three were excluded from the control group and one was excluded from the intervention group. At the end, thirty-four COPD comprised the sample, 16 in the control group and 18 in the intervention group (FEV1: 50.9 ± 14% pred and FEV1: 56 ± 0.5% pred, respectively). After for intervention, the intervention group showed improvement in meters walked, the sensation of dyspnea and fatigue at work, BODE index (p <0.01) in QLRH, ADL level (p <0.001) as well as increased strength lower limbs (p <0.05). The final cost of the program for the intervention group was R $ 148.75, including: assessments, hiking supervised by a physiotherapist and reassessments. No patient had exacerbation of IG, while 2 patients in the CG exacerbated, generating an average individual cost of R $ 689.15. The aerobic exercises in the form of walking showed significant clinical benefits and economic feasibility of its implementation, due to low cost and easy accessibility for patients, allowing them to add their daily practice of aerobic exercises

Prescrição de exercício físico para mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos: impacto sobre a aptidão cardiorrespiratória e resposta afetiva

analisar o efeito do treinamento aeróbio periodizado sobre a aptidão cardiorrespiratória e respostas afetivas em mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP) e II) investigar se o exercício aeróbio realizado na zona de prazer para essa população atende a recomendação do American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) no que se refere à intensidade para melhoria da saúde. Metodologia: foram incluídas mulheres na faixa etária entre 18 e 34 anos, com diagnóstico de SOP de acordo com o Consenso de Rotterdam. Para o subestudo I, oito pacientes sedentárias participaram de 16 semanas de treinamento aeróbio com incrementos mensais de intensidade: fase 1 = 60-70% da frequência cardíaca máxima (FCmax); fase 2 = 70-75% da FCmax; fase 3 = 75-80% da FCmax; fase 4 = 80-85% da FCmax. A intervenção foi realizada três vezes por semana, 40 minutos por sessão. Em todas as sessões foram registradas as respostas afetivas (Feeling Scale -5/+5) e a percepção subjetiva do esforço (escala de Borg CR 6-20). Antes e após a intervenção, as voluntárias realizaram teste ergoespirométrico. Para o subestudo II, 11 pacientes realizaram duas sessões de exercício aeróbio na zona de prazer, sendo registrados parâmetros relativos à demanda física através de receptor de GPS (Global Positioning System) de pulso com cardiofrequencímetro acoplado. As pacientes foram instruídas a realizar 40 minutos de exercício guiadas pelas âncoras verbais bom e muito bom (+3 e +5 na Feeling Scale). Resultados: no subestudo I, após 16 semanas de treinamento, houve aumento da aptidão cardiorrespiratória máxima (17,3%) e submáxima (21,5%). As respostas afetivas variaram entre bom (+3,1 ± 0,8) e razoavelmente bom xi (1,0 ± 0,9) e a percepção subjetiva do esforço entre muito leve a leve (10,2 ± 0,7) e um pouco difícil (12,7 ± 0,6) durante a intervenção. No subestudo II, as pacientes exercitaram-se a ~72,5 ± 6% da FC máxima, ~78,5 ± 6% da FC no limiar anaeróbio e passaram > 95% do tempo em intensidade moderada (~82%) e vigorosa (~16%) durante as sessões experimentais. Em média, as voluntárias reportaram as sessões como fácil (percepção subjetiva do esforço da sessão ~2,2 ± 0,7). Conclusões: o programa de treinamento aeróbio periodizado aumentou a aptidão cardiorrespiratória das pacientes analisadas e foi percebido como uma intervenção prazerosa. Adicionalmente, exercício aeróbio realizado de forma prazerosa atende a recomendação do ACSM no que se refere à intensidade para melhoria da saúde

Qualidade de vida do servidor da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte em condição crônica de saúde

The study aimed to analyze the influence of chronic health conditions (CHC) on quality of life (QOL) of UFRN servers assaulted by CHC. It is a descriptive and cross-sectional study with prospective data and quantitative approach, accomplished in the ambulatory clinic of the Department of Server Assistance (DSA) of the Pro-Rectory of Human Resources, during three months. The sample was composed by accessibility, totaling 215 people, being 153 active and 62 inactive servers, in chronic health condition. The data were collected through the application of the sociodemographic characterization, health, environmental and laboral form, the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short Form (SF-36). The study was evaluated by the HUOL Ethics Committee (CAAE no. 0046.0.294.000.10), obtaining assent. The results were analyzed in the SPSS 15.0 program through the descriptive and inferential statistics. It was identified servants predominantly male (59,1%), under 60 years old, married or in stable union, Catholics, brown color, living in the capital and residents in own home. Regarding labor issues, there was a predominance of active servers technical-administrative with intermediate and medium level positions and small proportion of docents. Among the CHC, the non-communicable diseases - NCDs (95.8%) had a higher frequency, followed by persistent mental disorders - PMDs (18.6%) and, finally, the continuous and structural physical deficiency - CSPD (16.9 %). The QOL of servers was considered good, with a mean score of 72.5 points in the total score, with the most affected domains: physical (59.1), general health (66.2), bodily pain (66.3) and functional aspects (72.0). The mental health dimension (76.5) had a better average than the physical dimension (68.0 points). It was found that the decrease in QOL scores is significant statistically related to higher number of CHC (ρ <0.001), with no statistical significance regarding the functional situation (p = 0.259). The administrative technicians of elementary, primary, secondary levels and docents had the worst QOL scores. After the correlation analysis of CHC with the domains and dimensions of the SF-36, there was statistically significant, negative and weak correlation of the domains: functional aspect (ρ = 0.002, r = -0.207), physical aspects (ρ = 0.007; r = -0.183), vitality (ρ = 0.002, r = -0.213), social function (ρ = 0.000, r = -0.313), emotional aspects (ρ = 0.000, r = -0.293), mental health (ρ = 0.000 , r = -0.238), physical health dimension (ρ = 0.002, r = -0.210) and mental health dimension (ρ = 0.000, r = -0.298). The presence of PMD isolated or together, contributed to a lower SF-36 scores, being the domains variation of mean significant, except for bodily pain, general health and physical aspects. By correlating the categories of CHC and QOL, there was a weak correlation (r ≤ -0.376) and significant (ρ ≤ 0.011), mainly related to the NCD, PMDs and NCD + PMD, affecting the mental health, social function, emotional aspects, vitality and functional aspect domains. Front of the results, it was concludes that the servers quality of life is influenced by the CHC. Thus, it was inferred that the presence of CHC causes a negative effect on quality of life, leading the active and inactive servers to exposure their overall life activities and work over the years, due to the morbidity affected, mainly related to NCDs and PMDs. Descriptors: Quality of life. Chronic disease. Occupational Health. Nursing

Saúde física e emocional de cuidadores da cidade de Santa Cruz-RN: perfil epidemiológico e fatores associados

Taking care for an impaired elderly is a hard and costly task that could affect directly the caregiver health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical and mental health of elderly caregivers from the city of Santa Cruz-RN and analyze the potential correlated factors through an observational analytic design of a crosssectional. A multidimensional questionnaire was used to evaluation of the social demographics characteristics and those related to the care activity, as well as the caregivers´ physical and mental health. It was realized a descriptive analyze using frequency distribution and measures of the central tendency and dispersion to description of the caregivers. To verify the magnitude of the association between the variables was used the bivariate analysis through the Pearson and Spearman correlations and qui-square test. To evaluation of the association of the correlated factors to the adverse outcome with the caregivers´ physical and mental health was made a multivariate analysis by logistic binary regression and multiple linear regression models. The final sample was constituted by 304 persons, mostly women with a mean age of 50.3 ±16.8 years. The principal factors related to the physical health were age, stress and life satisfaction. Be a male caregiver, caring for a little while the elderly with cognitive deficit and not been spouse were related to worse mental health. Have worse physical health, high stress, depressive symptomatology, burden and low levels of satisfaction were also related to the mental health. After adjust through multiple linear regression was observed R2 values of R2=0,21 for Stress, R2 =0,17 for Depressive Symptomatology, R2 =0,21 for Burden and R2 =0,16 for Satisfaction. The attainment of the factors associated with caregiver´s health can help in the elaboration of specifics politics witch the goal is the integral attention to the elderly and his caregiver. The inability of continuous taking care could result in adverse outcomes such as institutionalization, impairment and death

Proposição e aplicação de um core set da classificação internacional de funcionalidade, incapacidade e saúde (CIF) para saúde física de idosos

Para aumentar a viabilidade do uso da Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF), core sets começaram a ser desenvolvidos, e objetivam estabelecer uma seleção de categorias adaptada para representar os padrões de avaliação multiprofissional de grupos específicos de pacientes. Com o objetivo de propor um core set da CIF para classificar a saúde física de idosos, formou-se uma comissão de especialistas para julgar o instrumento por meio da técnica Delphi, o que mostra a interface multidisciplinar do projeto. Finalizada a participação da comissão, o core set foi proposto contendo 30 categorias. Após aplicação em uma amostra com 340 idosos dos municípios de Natal/RN e Santa Cruz/RN, o core set foi submetido à análise fatorial, tendo ficado com 19 categorias. A análise ainda proporcionou gerar uma pontuação para cada idoso por meio do escore fatorial, tendo provado ser uma forma fidedigna e confiável de se pontuar um core set.

Avaliação do acesso aos serviços de reabilitação física para vítimas de acidentes de trânsito: caminhos para melhoria da qualidade do sistema de saúde

The Physical Rehabilitation services (PR) are of fundamental importance in combating the global epidemic of Traffic Accidents (TA). Considering the numerous physical and social consequences of the survivors, quality problems in access to PR are a hazard to recovery of victims. It is necessary to improve the management of quality of services, assessing priority dimensions and intervening in their causes, to ensure rehabilitation available in time and suitable conditions. This study aimed to identify barriers to access to rehabilitation considering the perception of TA victims and professionals. The aim is also to estimate the access to rehabilitation and their associated factors. This is a qualitative and quantitative study of exploratory nature developed in Natal / RN with semi-structured interviews with 19 health professionals and telephone survey to 155 victims of traffic accidents. To explore barriers to access the speeches were transcribed and analyzed using the Alceste software (version 4.9). During the interviews used the following guiding question: “What barriers hinder or prevent access to physical rehabilitation for victims of traffic accidents?”. The names of classes and axes resulting from Alceste was performed by ad hoc query to three external researchers with subsequent consensus of the most representative name of analysis. We conducted multivariate analysis of the influence of the variables of the accident, sociodemographic, clinical and assistance on access to rehabilitation. Associations with p <0.20 in the bivariate analysis were submitted to logistic regression, step by step, with p <0.05 and confidence interval (CI) of 95%. The main barriers identified were: “Bureaucratic regulation”, “Long time to start rehabilitation”, “No post-surgery referral” and “inefficiency of public services”. These barriers were divided into a theoretical model built from the cause-effect diagram, in which we observed that insufficient access to rehabilitation is the product of causes related to organizational structure, work processes, professional and patients. Was constructed two logistic regression models: “General access to rehabilitation” and “Access to rehabilitation to public service”. 51.6% of patients had access to rehabilitation, and 32.9% in public and 17.9% in the private sector. The regression model “General access to rehabilitation” included the variables Income (OR:3.7), Informal Employment (OR:0.11), Unemployment (OR:0.15), Perceived Need for PR (OR:10) and Referral (OR: 27.5). The model “Access to rehabilitation in the public service” was represented by the “Referral to Public Service” (OR: 23.0) and “Private Health Plan” (OR: 0.07). Despite the known influence of social determinants on access to health services, a situation difficult to control by the public administration, this study found that the organizational and bureaucratic procedures established in health care greatly determine access to rehabilitation. Access difficulties show the seriousness of the problem and the factors suggest the need for improvements in comprehensive care for TA survivors and avoid unnecessary prolongation of the suffering of the victims of this epidemic.

Estudo clínico-laboratorial e histopatológico de cães naturalmente infectados por Leishmania chagasi com diferentes graus de manifestação física

Canine Visceral Leishmania (CVL) is an important zoonotic disease that has a world wide distribution and has a large impact on public health on the American Continent, especially in Brazil, where the nature of endemic diseases in humans affects a large part of the nation. The influence of the prevalence of CVL in the increased rate of human cases in endemic areas and in the unleashing of epidemic outbreaks shows the need for a more profound understanding, that would generate significant advances in the current measures used to control the reservoirs of sickness that are practiced by the Programa Nacional de Vigilância e Controle da Leishmaniose Visceral. The present work describes and compares the clinical-laboratorial and histopathological findings of twenty-three dogs that were naturally infected by Leishmania chagasi, from endemic areas in metropolitan Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. These animals, that were selected and given physical and serological exams (IFI and ELISA rK-39), were classified according to the degree of clinical severity and had blood samples drawn (whole blood and serum) for a complete hemogram and a coagulogram to be done as well as biochemical tests for kidney and liver function. The confirmation of infection by L. chagasi was done after the euthanasia of the animals, through the direct demonstration of the parasite in the impression of the spleen and liver crowned with GIEMSA and through a cultivation by means of NNN/Schneider. According to the clinical evaluation, the animals were classified as asymptomatic (7), oligosymptomatic (7) and polysymptomatic (9). Among the animals that were chosen to be autopsied, there were 2 asymptomatic, 3 oligosymptomatic and 3 polysymptomatic, for the purpose of studying their histopathology, having collected fragments of the spleen, liver, kidneys and skin and were fixed in 10% tamponed formol. The comparison between the average parameters of the clinical-laboratory tested animals in the groups was done through the Student t test (a<0.05). The main clinical signals observed were lymphadenomegaly, alopecy, dermatitis, exfoliation, cutaneous ulcers, onicogriphosis and emaciation. The main clinical-laboratorial alterations established, mainly in the polysymptomatic group, were anemia, hyperproteinemia, hyperglobulinemia, alterations in the albumin/globulin ratio and increased ALT activity. Renal alterations were not verified (urea and creatinine levels were normal). Thrombocytopenia was observed in three clinical groups. However, the other indicators of coagulation function (TAP and TTPA) did not have abnormal variations. There were inflammatory infiltrations and leishmania amastigotes in the skin of polysymptomatic dogs, however, they were not found in the skin of asymptomatic animals. Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the phagocyte mononuclear system, leishmania amastigote parasites were found in the macrophages, extramedullary hematopoiesis and degenerative alterations were detected in the spleen and liver of 8 of the animals submitted to histopathological exams. In accord with these results, it was demonstrated that the expected alterations in the hematological and biochemical parameters in function of their viscerotropic nature of CVL are mainly observed in the more advanced stages of the disease. The absence of inflammatory infiltration and parasite load in the skin suggest that infected animals without symptoms may have an importance irrelevant to the infectiousness of the vector

Caracteristicas sodiodemogáficas, ocupacionais e de saúde na avaliação da qualidade de vida de professores da rede municipal de Natal/RN

Objetivo: Analisar as características sociodemográficas, ocupacionais e de saúde clínica/comportamental, e o impacto desses fatores na avaliação da qualidade de vida de professores da rede municipal de Natal/RN. Métodos: Estudo descritivo-analítico com corte transversal e amostra de 242 docentes. Foram utilizados os questionários Whoqol-breve e nórdico, além de questões referentes ao trabalho do Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística com nível de significância p<0,05, sendo utilizada a regressão logística binária, para análise de fatores hierarquicamente agrupados. Resultados: O domínio físico apresentou maior comprometimento entre os professores com trabalho de alta exigência (p=0,043), com mais de 02 diagnósticos de doenças (p < 0,001), atividade física inadequada (p= 0,001) e com sintomas osteomusculares (p=0.025); o domínio psicológico entre os docentes com trabalho de alta exigência (p=0,043), com carga horária maior que 28 horas semanais (p=0,034), com mais de 02 doenças (p=0,012) e que praticavam atividade física inadequadamente (p< 0,001); o de relações sociais com tempo de trabalho inferior/igual a 18 anos (p=0,036) e que residiam em bairro diferente do que trabalhavam (p=0,027); e, por último, o domínio meio ambiente apresentou maior comprometimento entre os docentes com carga horária superior a 28 horas semanais (p=0,025), que exerciam a atividade com tempo inferior/igual a 18 anos (p=0,013) e com sintomas osteomusculares (p= 0,002). Conclusões: Os professores apresentaram uma avaliação comprometida da qualidade de vida e do seu estado de saúde, tendo as atividades laborais desenvolvidas por esse grupo de trabalhadores um impacto importante sobre os resultados demonstrados. Tais achados podem comprometer a efetivação da proposta das escolas promotora de saúde

A experiência da pré-eclâmpsia vivenciada por gestantes e profissionais de saúde

The aim of this study is to understand the perceptions of pregnant women, mothers and health professional about preeclampsia and the relation between professional and patient. A qualitative approach was chosen, together with semi-structured interviews, participative observation and Test of Free Association of Words (TFAW). The data were collected in February and June 2007 at Maternidade-Escola Januário Cicco (MEJC), Natal, RN, Brazil with 61 pregnant women and 87 professionals, 20 of each group were interviewed. An interpretative and understanding perspective was used similar to that of Gadamer s hermeneutics and with the construction of themes and empirical categories. The pregnant women showed fear preeclampsia and its consequences, and to know very little about the subject and also a desire to know more. The changes that occurred with the illness were more related to the emotional order than to the healthy lifestyle they have adopted. Some lack of preparation of the basic units was observed, in order to meet and guide the pregnant women to the reference unit. Professionals knew the customers characteristics, about their fear and about their little knowledge on this illness. Nevertheless, they did not include them in the treatment. It was observed the absence of conversation over the illness between professionals and patients and also the inability of the former to deal with emotional issues. A new way of looking into the preeclampsia assistance is necessary. A way that focuses on the collective construction of intervention and approach strategies; one which includes subjective aspects in an hermeneutic perspective of health