Epidemiologic Features of Systemic Vasculitides in the Southeast Region of Brazil: Hospital-Based Survey.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The epidemiology of vasculitis is variable in different geographic areas, and this issue has not been approached in Brazil yet. The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of vasculitis in specialized centers in Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in 9 vasculitis outpatient clinics from 6 different states mainly from the Southeast and the Northeast regions of Brazil between 2015 and 2017. Diagnosis and/or classification criteria for Behçet disease (BD), Takayasu arteritis (TA), giant cell arteritis (GCA), polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and cryoglobulinemic vasculitis (CryoVas) were used to include patients with at least 6 months of follow-up in this hospital-based survey. RESULTS: A total of 1233 patients with systemic vasculitis were included from the Southeast region. Behçet disease was the most frequent vasculitis (35.0%) followed by TA (26.4%), GPA (16.2%), PAN (5.8%), GCA (5.8%), EGPA (4.3%), MPA (3.4%), and CryoVas (3.0%). Up to 7.8% of vasculitis patients had a juvenile onset, and the frequency of vasculitides found in children and adolescents was as follows: TA (52.6%), BD (24.7%), GPA (12.4%), and PAN (10.3%). No cases of EGPA, MPA, and CryoVas were diagnosed before the age of 18 years. As a comparator, 103 vasculitis patients were included in the Northeast of Brazil where TA was found in 36.9% and BD in 31.1% of vasculitis cases. No GCA cases were found in the Northeast part of Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to the epidemiology of vasculitis in Asia, BD and TA are the most frequent vasculitis in Southeastern Brazilian referral centers.

[Retiree quality of life assessment with SF-36 questionnaire]. / Avaliação da qualidade de vida de aposentados com a utilização do questionário SF-36.

OBJECTIVE: Increase of the elderly in the Brazilian population demands assessment of aspects that interfere with the retirees' quality of life. METHODS: The Brazilian version of SF-36 questionnaire was applied to 87 retirees at their homes. Data on quality of life was associated with demographic data, socioeconomic status, health conditions and life style. Statistical analysis of data was performed using single-variable and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.3 years (standard deviation 8.9 years) and the mean retirement time was 7.1 years. Fifty-five percent were early retirements due to disability and 23.4% of those queried were still working when research was carried out. Smokers were 11.5% and 5.7 % were diagnosed as alcohol dependent by CAGE criteria. Depression and arterial systemic hypertension were the most prevalent conditions and 56.3% of the retirees practiced regular physical activity. Multivariate analysis disclosed that regular physical activity and post-retirement occupation were the only variables associated with improved quality of life. CONCLUSION: The SF-36 questionnaire was a suitable instrument, relatively quick and easy to use. The quality of life was associated with life style, as indicated by the practice of physical activities and post-retirement occupation. Actions are needed to enable retirees to improve their life style after retirement.

Avaliação da qualidade de vida de aposentados com a utilização do questionário SF-36 / Retiree quality of life assessment with SF-36 questionnaire

OBJETIVO: O aumento da população idosa no Brasil justifica a necessidade de avaliar os aspectos que podem interferir na qualidade de vida de aposentados. MÉTODOS: A versão brasileira do questionário SF-36 foi aplicada em 87 aposentados para avaliação da qualidade de vida. Os resultados obtidos foram associados às características demográficas, socioeconômicas, condições de saúde e estilo de vida e foram estudados por meio de análise uni e multivariada. RESULTADOS: A idade média foi de 57,3 anos (desvio-padrão de 8,9 anos) e tempo médio de aposentadoria foi de 7,1 anos. A aposentadoria foi por invalidez em 55,2 por cento da amostra e 23,4 por cento dos aposentados trabalhavam no momento da pesquisa. Os fumantes somaram 11,5 por cento e 5,7 por cento eram dependentes de álcool. A depressão e hipertensão arterial sistêmica foram as doenças mais prevalentes, e 56,3 por cento dos aposentados praticavam algum tipo de atividade física regularmente. Após a análise multivariada, evidenciou-se melhor qualidade de vida apenas nos aposentados que praticavam atividade física regular ou que tinham alguma atividade de trabalho no momento da pesquisa. CONCLUSÃO: O questionário SF-36 foi um instrumento adequado, de aplicação relativamente rápida e de fácil uso para avaliação da qualidade de vida em aposentados. A qualidade de vida na amostra estudada foi associada ao estilo de vida dos pacientes e aponta para a necessidade de ações que contribuam de forma positiva para melhorar o estilo de vida nesta nova fase da vida.

OBJECTIVE: Increase of the elderly in the Brazilian population demands assessment of aspects that interfere with the retirees' quality of life. METHODS: The Brazilian version of SF-36 questionnaire was applied to 87 retirees at their homes. Data on quality of life was associated with demographic data, socioeconomic status, health conditions and life style. Statistical analysis of data was performed using single-variable and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.3 years (standard deviation 8.9 years) and the mean retirement time was 7.1 years. Fifty-five percent were early retirements due to disability and 23.4 percent of those queried were still working when research was carried out. Smokers were 11.5 percent and 5.7 percent were diagnosed as alcohol dependent by CAGE criteria. Depression and arterial systemic hypertension were the most prevalent conditions and 56.3 percent of the retirees practiced regular physical activity. Multivariate analysis disclosed that regular physical activity and post-retirement occupation were the only variables associated with improved quality of life. CONCLUSION: The SF-36 questionnaire was a suitable instrument, relatively quick and easy to use. The quality of life was associated with life style, as indicated by the practice of physical activities and post-retirement occupation. Actions are needed to enable retirees to improve their life style after retirement.