Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with pulmonary hypertension and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive, and disabling disease, however, there is little knowledge about impaired sexual function in this population. AIM: To identify the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and the association between sexual dysfunction level and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 71 women diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension without signs of clinical decompensation was carried out. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and functional capacity was assessed by 6-minute walk test. The relationships between sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with sexual function was performed using statistical tests. A p-value <0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: 71.8% of patients self-reported sexual dysfunction as indicated as a score of <26.55 points on FSFI. Women with sexual dysfunction were older, higher average age of their last menstruation, had worse functional class, shorter distance covered and worse Borg score at the end of the 6-minute walk test. CONCLUSION: There is evident impairment of sexual function self-reported by women with pH and the association of this condition with a decline in functional capacity was identified.

Percepção dos enfermeiros sobre o tratamento da dor crônica não maligna com opioides / Nurses' perception of the management of chronic non-malignant pain with opioids

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dor crônica, muitas vezes, é subtratada em pacientes com dor crônica não maligna pela sua complexidade, e o sucesso do tratamento em longo prazo é difícil de ser obtido. Este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer a percepção de enfermeiros sobre a administração de opioides para alívio da dor crônica não maligna (DCNM). MÉTODO: Após aprovação pelo Comitê de Ética foram incluídos enfermeiros clínicos com experiência em cuidar de pacientes com dor crônica, que responderam um formulário sobre o uso de opioides em DCNM. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 60 enfermeiros, sendo que 56,7% identificaram a dor do paciente pelas queixas, 40% informaram que a dipirona era a terapêutica farmacológica usada para tratar a DCNM, 50% informaram que a massagem era a terapêutica não farmacológica usada para tratar a DCNM, a maioria citou a morfina e o tramadol como os opioides mais usados para alivio da dor crônica não oncológica, 50% afirmaram que avaliam a intensidade da dor e administram o opioide prescrito se necessário se a dor for moderada ou intensa, 60% dos enfermeiros acreditam que o opioide interfere com a reabilitação do paciente, a maioria citou a dependência (65%) e a depressão respiratória (46,7%) como os efeitos adversos mais conhecidos e 61,7% afirmaram não ter restrição ao uso do opioide no tratamento da DCNM. CONCLUSÃO: A maioria dos enfermeiros não tem nenhuma restrição na administração de opioides para pacientes com DCNM.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Very often, chronic pain is undermanaged in patients with chronic non-malignant pain due to its complexity, and the long term success of the treatment is difficult. This study aimed at understanding nurses' perception about administering opioids to relieve chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP). METHOD: After the Ethics Committee approval, participated in this study clinical nurses with experience in managing chronic pain patients, who answered a questionnaire about using opioids for CNMP. RESULTS: Participated in this study 60 nurses, of whom 56.7% identified patients' pain by their complaints, 40% reported that dipirone was the drug used to treat CNMP, 50% reported that massage was the non-pharmacological therapy to treat CNMP, most have mentioned morphine and tramadol as the most widely used opioids to relieve chronic non-cancer pain, 50% stated that they evaluate pain intensity and administer prescribed opioids if needed when the pain is moderate or severe, 60% of nurses believe that opioids interfere with patients' rehabilitation, most have mentioned addiction (65%) and respiratory depression (46.7%) as the best known side-effects and 61.7% have stated that they have no restriction for the use of opioids to treat CNMP. CONCLUSION: Most nurses have no restriction for the administration of opioids for CNMP patients.