Prevalence of and Factors Associated With High Blood Pressure at 15 Years of Age: A Birth Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension is the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with high blood pressure (HBP) among adolescents. METHODS AND RESULTS: The Pelotas 2004 Birth Cohort included 4231 newborns from hospital births in Pelotas, Brazil. A digital automatic OMRON sphygmomanometer (model HEM 742) was used to measure blood pressure on 3 occasions (at 6, 11, and 15 years of age). Those with blood pressure ≥95th percentile for age, height, and sex on each of the 3 occasions were considered as presenting HBP. Independent variables included family (income and history of arterial hypertension), maternal (schooling, age, pregestational body mass index, and smoking during pregnancy), and adolescent characteristics at birth (sex, skin color, gestational age, intrauterine growth, and systolic and diastolic genetic factors), and at 15 years (sleep, physical activity, sodium intake, screen time, work, body mass index, fat mass index, fat-free mass index, growth pattern, and puberty status). The prevalence of HBP (95% CI) was calculated. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) stratified by sex were obtained by logistic regression. A total of 1417 adolescents with complete information on blood pressure on the 3 occasions were analyzed. The prevalence of HBP was 3.2% (95% CI, 1.9%-4.5%) in female adolescents and 4.3% (95% CI, 2.8%-5.8%) in male adolescents. Female adolescents with a family history of arterial hypertension had a 3 times higher chance of HBP than their counterparts (OR, 3.1 [95% CI, 1.26-7.54]). In male adolescents, excessive maternal pregestational weight was associated with a 2.3-fold increase in the chance of HBP. In both sexes, excessive adolescent weight was associated with HBP (ORs, 3.5 and 5.0, for female and male adolescents, respectively). A higher fat mass index and fat-free mass index in female (ORs, 1.4 and 1.2, respectively) and male adolescents (ORs, 2.5 and 3.0, respectively) increased the chance of HBP. Among male adolescents, the chance of HBP was higher among those with rapid weight gain between 48 months and 6 years and between 6 and 11 years and rapid height gain between 6 and 11 years. CONCLUSIONS: Higher fat mass in both sexes and rapid weight gain in male adolescents are risk factors for HBP in adolescents aged 15 years, potentially amenable to prevention.

Gestational age, intrauterine growth and body composition at 11 years of age.

OBJETIVE: To assess the association of gestational age (GA) and intrauterine growth with body composition at 11 years of age. METHOD: Analysis of data from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort, whose outcomes were fat mass (FM, kg), fat mass index (FMI, kg/m2), fat-free mass (FFM, kg), fat-free mass index (FFMI, kg/m2) - measured by air displacement plethysmography - and body mass index for age (BMI/age, Z-score). The exposures of interest were the gestational index (GA) of infants born at less than 33 weeks, from 34 to 36 and from 37 to 41, and intrauterine growth categorized as small (SGA), adequate (AGA) and large (LGA) for gestational age. Analysis of variance was used to compare means and linear regression was used to assess the strength of association. The analyses were adjusted according to variables collected at birth, such as monthly family income, maternal characteristics - education, age, pre-gestational body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy, smoking during pregnancy, type of delivery, and parity - and adolescent characteristics - skin color and birth weight. For analysis, FM and FMI underwent logarithmic transformation due to data asymmetry. RESULTS: A total of 3,401 adolescents were analyzed, including boys and girls born at less than 33 weeks, with lower FM and FFM means than those born at term. However, in the adjusted analyses, there was no association between GA and any of the outcomes in either sex. LGA boys had a 10.5% higher FMI (p = 0.026) and +0.3 BMI/age Z-score (p = 0.019) as compared to AGA boys, and LGA girls had +0.3 kg/m 2 of FFMI (p = 0.039) than AGA girls. CONCLUSION: GA was not associated with body composition at 11 years of age. However, LGA boys had higher BMI and BMI/age Z-score, and LGA girls had higher FFMI than AGA girls.

Avaliação do Programa Criança Feliz: um estudo randomizado em 30 municípios brasileiros / Evaluation of the Happy Child Program: a randomized study in 30 Brazilian municipalities

Resumo O Programa Criança Feliz (PCF) atinge 1,4 milhão de crianças brasileiras menores de três anos com visitas domiciliares visando o desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor. Com base em modelo conceitual, avaliou-se implementação e impacto do PCF em estudo randomizado, em 30 municípios. Ao todo 3.242 crianças foram alocadas para o grupo intervenção (GI) ou controle (GC), sendo 80,0% acompanhadas prospectivamente durante três anos. O desenvolvimento foi avaliado pelo Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ3). Análises por intenção de tratar mostraram escores médios de 203,3 no GI e 201,3 no GC. Análises adicionais com variáveis instrumentais e emparelhamento por escores de propensão tampouco mostraram efeito, uma vez que o número de contatos recebidos não esteve associado aos escores ASQ3. Tampouco foi observado impacto sobre estimulação, interações responsivas ou atributos psicológicos das crianças. As visitas foram interrompidas durante 12 meses devido à COVID-19, sendo substituídas por contatos virtuais. O estudo de implementação revelou baixa cobertura no GI, contaminação do GC, deficiências na gestão e baixa qualidade das visitas em muitos municípios. O estudo não demonstrou impacto do PCF implementado sob condições de rotina e fornece elementos para seu aprimoramento.

Abstract The Happy Child Program (Programa Criança Feliz - PCF, in Portuguese) reaches 1.4 million Brazilian children under three years of age with home visits aimed at promoting neuropsychomotor development. Based on a conceptual model, PCF implementation and impact were evaluated in a randomized study in 30 municipalities. A total of 3,242 children were allocated to the intervention (IG) or control (CG) group, 80.0% of whom were prospectively followed up from late 2018 to late 2021. Development was assessed by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ3). During the three-year study period, visits were replaced by virtual contacts for an average of 12 months due to COVID-19. At the endline survey, intent-to-treat analyses showed mean scores of 203.3 in the IG and 201.3 in the CG. Additional analyses using instrumental variables and propensity scores matching also showed no effect, since the number of contacts with the program was not associated with ASQ3 scores. No impact was observed on stimulation, responsive interactions or psychological attributes of children. The implementation study revealed low coverage in the IG, contamination of the CG, deficiencies in management and low quality of visits in many municipalities. The study did not demonstrate an impact of PCF implemented under routine conditions, but provides elements for its improvement.

Evaluation of the Happy Child Program: a randomized study in 30 Brazilian municipalities. / Avaliação do Programa Criança Feliz: um estudo randomizado em 30 municípios brasileiros.

The Happy Child Program (Programa Criança Feliz - PCF, in Portuguese) reaches 1.4 million Brazilian children under three years of age with home visits aimed at promoting neuropsychomotor development. Based on a conceptual model, PCF implementation and impact were evaluated in a randomized study in 30 municipalities. A total of 3,242 children were allocated to the intervention (IG) or control (CG) group, 80.0% of whom were prospectively followed up from late 2018 to late 2021. Development was assessed by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ3). During the three-year study period, visits were replaced by virtual contacts for an average of 12 months due to COVID-19. At the endline survey, intent-to-treat analyses showed mean scores of 203.3 in the IG and 201.3 in the CG. Additional analyses using instrumental variables and propensity scores matching also showed no effect, since the number of contacts with the program was not associated with ASQ3 scores. No impact was observed on stimulation, responsive interactions or psychological attributes of children. The implementation study revealed low coverage in the IG, contamination of the CG, deficiencies in management and low quality of visits in many municipalities. The study did not demonstrate an impact of PCF implemented under routine conditions, but provides elements for its improvement.

O Programa Criança Feliz (PCF) atinge 1,4 milhão de crianças brasileiras menores de três anos com visitas domiciliares visando o desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor. Com base em modelo conceitual, avaliou-se implementação e impacto do PCF em estudo randomizado, em 30 municípios. Ao todo 3.242 crianças foram alocadas para o grupo intervenção (GI) ou controle (GC), sendo 80,0% acompanhadas prospectivamente durante três anos. O desenvolvimento foi avaliado pelo Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ3). Análises por intenção de tratar mostraram escores médios de 203,3 no GI e 201,3 no GC. Análises adicionais com variáveis instrumentais e emparelhamento por escores de propensão tampouco mostraram efeito, uma vez que o número de contatos recebidos não esteve associado aos escores ASQ3. Tampouco foi observado impacto sobre estimulação, interações responsivas ou atributos psicológicos das crianças. As visitas foram interrompidas durante 12 meses devido à COVID-19, sendo substituídas por contatos virtuais. O estudo de implementação revelou baixa cobertura no GI, contaminação do GC, deficiências na gestão e baixa qualidade das visitas em muitos municípios. O estudo não demonstrou impacto do PCF implementado sob condições de rotina e fornece elementos para seu aprimoramento.

Diet quality among adolescents in the public education system in a municipality in Southern Brazil: a cross-sectional study, 2019. / Qualidade da dieta de adolescentes da rede pública de ensino de um município do sul do Brasil: estudo transversal, 2019.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors associated with the diet quality among 9th grade students in the municipal education system of Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in 2019. Food information was collected using a food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality was assessed through an index developed by the authors. Diet was classified as low, intermediate or high quality. The association was assessed using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The 808 adolescents evaluated obtained a mean score of 16.0 points (deviation-standard=4.1) according to the developed index. The high diet quality was associated with tobacco experimentation [odds ratio (OR) 2.92; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.74;4.92] and leisure-time physical activity (OR=1.65; 95%CI 1.15;2.38). CONCLUSION: We highlighted the importance of encouraging physical activity practice, monitoring risk behaviors among adolescents and promoting the consumption of healthy food.

Gestational age, intrauterine growth and body composition at 11 years of age / Idade gestacional, crescimento intrauterino e composição corporal aos 11 anos de idade

ABSTRACT OBJETIVE To assess the association of gestational age (GA) and intrauterine growth with body composition at 11 years of age. METHOD Analysis of data from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort, whose outcomes were fat mass (FM, kg), fat mass index (FMI, kg/m2), fat-free mass (FFM, kg), fat-free mass index (FFMI, kg/m2) - measured by air displacement plethysmography - and body mass index for age (BMI/age, Z-score). The exposures of interest were the gestational index (GA) of infants born at less than 33 weeks, from 34 to 36 and from 37 to 41, and intrauterine growth categorized as small (SGA), adequate (AGA) and large (LGA) for gestational age. Analysis of variance was used to compare means and linear regression was used to assess the strength of association. The analyses were adjusted according to variables collected at birth, such as monthly family income, maternal characteristics - education, age, pre-gestational body mass index (BMI), weight gain during pregnancy, smoking during pregnancy, type of delivery, and parity - and adolescent characteristics - skin color and birth weight. For analysis, FM and FMI underwent logarithmic transformation due to data asymmetry. RESULTS A total of 3,401 adolescents were analyzed, including boys and girls born at less than 33 weeks, with lower FM and FFM means than those born at term. However, in the adjusted analyses, there was no association between GA and any of the outcomes in either sex. LGA boys had a 10.5% higher FMI (p = 0.026) and +0.3 BMI/age Z-score (p = 0.019) as compared to AGA boys, and LGA girls had +0.3 kg/m 2 of FFMI (p = 0.039) than AGA girls. CONCLUSION GA was not associated with body composition at 11 years of age. However, LGA boys had higher BMI and BMI/age Z-score, and LGA girls had higher FFMI than AGA girls.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Avaliar a associação da idade gestacional (IG) e crescimento intrauterino com a composição corporal aos 11 anos de idade. MÉTODO Análise de dados da coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas de 2004, cujos desfechos foram massa gorda (MG, kg), índice de massa gorda (IMG, kg/m2), massa livre de gordura (MLG, kg), índice de massa livre de gordura (IMLG, kg/m2) - medidos por pletismografia por deslocamento de ar -, e índice de massa corporal para idade (IMC/Idade, escore-Z). Sendo as exposições de interesse o índice gestacional (IG) de nascidos com menos de 33 semanas, de 34 a 36 e de 37 a 41, e crescimento intrauterino categorizado em pequeno para a idade gestacional (PIG), adequado (AIG) e grande (GIG). Para comparar médias, utilizou-se análise de variância e, para avaliar a força de associação, regressão linear. As análises foram ajustadas de acordo com variáveis coletadas ao nascer, como renda familiar mensal, características maternas - escolaridade, idade, índice de massa corporal (IMC) pré-gestacional, ganho de peso na gestação, tabagismo na gestação, tipo de parto e paridade - e características dos adolescentes - cor da pele e peso ao nascer. Para análise, o MG e o IMG sofreram transformação logarítmica devido a assimetria dos dados. RESULTADOS Foram analisados 3.401 adolescentes, entre meninos e meninas nascidos com menos de 33 semanas, com médias de MG e MLG menores que as dos nascidos(as) a termo. Porém, nas análises ajustadas, não houve associação entre IG e qualquer um dos desfechos em ambos os sexos. Meninos GIG apresentaram IMG 10,5% maior (p = 0,026) e +0,3 escore-Z de IMC/Idade (p = 0,019) em relação aos AIG, e meninas GIG apresentaram +0,3 kg/m2 de IMLG (p = 0,039) do que as AIG. CONCLUSÃO A IG não se associou à composição corporal aos 11 anos. Entretanto, meninos GIG apresentaram maiores IMG e escore-Z de IMC/Idade e meninas GIG, maior IMLG, quando comparados aos AIG.

Qualidade da dieta de adolescentes da rede pública de ensino de um município do sul do Brasil: estudo transversal, 2019 / Calidad de la dieta de los adolescentes del sistema de escuelas públicas de un municipio del sur de Brasil: estudio transversal, 2019 / Diet quality among adolescents in the public education system in a municipality in Southern Brazil: a cross-sectional study, 2019

Objetivo: Identificar os fatores associados à qualidade da dieta de estudantes do 9º ano da rede municipal de ensino de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal, realizado em 2019. As informações alimentares foram coletadas por formulário de frequência alimentar, e a qualidade da dieta foi avaliada mediante índice desenvolvido pelos autores. A dieta foi classificada como de baixa, intermediária ou alta qualidade. A associação foi avaliada por regressão logística multinomial. Resultados: Os 808 adolescentes avaliados obtiveram média de 16,0 pontos (desvio-padrão=4,1) no índice desenvolvido. A alta qualidade da dieta mostrou-se associada a experimentação de tabaco [razão de chances, ou odds ratio (OR) 2,92; intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%) 1,74;4,92] e prática de atividade física no lazer (OR=1,65; IC95% 1,15;2,38). Conclusão: Destaca-se a importância do incentivo à prática de atividade física, monitoramento de comportamentos de riscos nos adolescentes e promoção do consumo de alimentos considerados saudáveis.

Objetivo: Identificar factores asociados a calidad de la dieta de estudiantes de 9º ano de escuelas municipales de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Métodos: Estudio transversal, realizado en 2019. La información dietética se recopiló mediante Formulario de Frecuencia de Alimentos y la calidad de la dieta se evaluó mediante índice desarrollado por los autores. La dieta fue clasificada como de baja, intermedia o de alta calidad. La asociación se investigó mediante regresión logística multinomial. Resultados: Los 808 adolescentes evaluados tuvieron en media 16,0 puntos (desvío-estándar=4,1) en el índice desarrollado. La alta calidad de la dieta se asoció con experimentación de tabaco [OR=2,92; intervalo de confianza del 95% (IC95%) 1,74;4,92] y práctica de actividad física en el tiempo libre (OR=1,65; IC95% 1,15;2,38). Conclusión: Se destaca la importancia de fomentar la práctica de actividad física, el seguimiento de conductas de riesgo en adolescentes y promover el consumo de alimentos saludables.

Objective:To identify the factors associated with the diet quality among 9th grade students in the municipal education system of Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, conducted in 2019. Food information was collected using a food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality was assessed through an index developed by the authors. Diet was classified as low, intermediate or high quality. The association was assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Results:The 808 adolescents evaluated obtained a mean score of 16.0 points (deviation-standard=4.1) according to the developed index. The high diet quality was associated with tobacco experimentation [odds ratio (OR) 2.92; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.74;4.92] and leisure-time physical activity (OR=1.65; 95%CI 1.15;2.38). Conclusion: We highlighted the importance of encouraging physical activity practice, monitoring risk behaviors among adolescents and promoting the consumption of healthy food.

All-cause mortality over a three-year period among community-dwelling older adults in Southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate all-cause mortality in approximately three years of follow-up and related sociodemographic, behavioral and health factors in community-dwelling older adults in Pelotas, RS. METHODS: This was a longitudinal observational study that included 1,451 older adults (≥ 60 years) who were interviewed in 2014. Information on mortality was collected from their households in 2016-2017 and confirmed with the Epidemiological Surveillance department of the city and by documents from family members. Associations between mortality and independent variables were assessed by crude and multiple Cox regression, with hazard ratio with respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: Almost 10% (n = 145) of the participants died during an average of 2.5 years of follow-up, with a higher frequency of deaths among males (12.9%), ?80 years (25.2%), widowhood (15.0%), no education (13.8%) and who did not work (10.5%). Factors associated with higher mortality were: being a male (HR = 2.8; 95%CI 1.9 - 4.2), age ?80 years (HR = 3.9; 95%CI 2.4 - 6.2), widowhood (HR = 2.2; 95%CI 1.4 - 3.7), physical inactivity (HR = 2.3; 95%CI 1.1 - 4..6), current smoking (HR = 2.1; 95%CI 1.2 - 3.6), hospitalizations in the previous year (HR = 2.0; 95%CI 1.2 - 3.2), depressive symptoms (HR = 2.0; 95%CI 1.2 - 3,4) and dependence for two or more daily life activities (HR = 3.1; 95%CI 1,7 - 5.7). CONCLUSION: The identification of factors that increased the risk of early death makes it possible to improve public policies aimed at controlling the modifiable risk factors that can lead to aging with a better quality of life.

Prematurity and body composition at 6, 18, and 30 years of age: Pelotas (Brazil) 2004, 1993, and 1982 birth cohorts.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the association between preterm birth and body composition at 6, 18, and 30 years of age using data from three population-based birth cohort studies. METHODS: Gestational age (GA), defined by the date of the last menstrual period (categorized in ≤33, 34-36, and ≥ 37 weeks), was gathered in the first 24-h after delivery for all live births occurring in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, in 2004, 1993 and 1982. Body composition was assessed by air-displacement plethysmography. Outcomes included fat mass (FM, kg), percent FM (%FM), FM index (FMI, kg/m2), fat-free mass (FFM, kg); percent FFM (%FFM), FFM index (FFMI, kg/m2), body mass index (BMI, kg/m2 at 18 years in the 1993 cohort and 30 years in the 1982 cohort), and BMI Z-score (at 6 years in the 2004 cohort). We further explored the association of birth weight for GA with body composition indicators and BMI. Crude and adjusted linear regressions provided beta coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: A total of 3036, 3027, and 3369 participants, respectively, from the 2004, 1993, and 1982 cohorts were analyzed. At 6 years, preterm boys (born at 34-36 weeks) presented lower adjusted mean of FM (ß = - 0.80 kg, - 1.45;-0.16, p = 0.046), %FM (ß = - 2.39%, - 3.90;-0.88, p = 0.008), FMI (ß = - 0.70 kg/m2, - 1.13;-0.27, p = 0.004) as well as lower FFM (ß = - 0.4 kg, - 0.77; - 0.12, p = 0.010) and FFMI (ß = - 0.3 kg/m2, - 0.46;-0.10, p < 0.001), and BMI Z-score (ß = - 0.69,; - 0.99;-0.40, p < 0.001); but higher %FFM (ß = 2.4%, 0.87;-3.90, p = 0.008), when compared to boys born at term (≥37). At 30 years, FM (15.7 kg, 0.25;31.1, p = 0.102) was higher among males born at ≤33 weeks. No association was observed for females from the three cohorts and for 18-year-old males. The association of birth weight for GA with body composition and BMI was not significant in any cohort. At 6 years, SGA boys had lower FFMI than boys AGA. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that preterm birth is associated with decreased body fat and fat-free mass in childhood but higher fat mass in adulthood. Nevertheless, results were only significant for males. SGA boys also showed lower FFMI.

All-cause mortality over a three-year period among community-dwelling older adults in Southern Brazil / Mortalidade por todas as causas em um período de três anos entre idosos não institucionalizados do Sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT: Objective: To evaluate all-cause mortality in approximately three years of follow-up and related sociodemographic, behavioral and health factors in community-dwelling older adults in Pelotas, RS. Methods: This was a longitudinal observational study that included 1,451 older adults (≥ 60 years) who were interviewed in 2014. Information on mortality was collected from their households in 2016-2017 and confirmed with the Epidemiological Surveillance department of the city and by documents from family members. Associations between mortality and independent variables were assessed by crude and multiple Cox regression, with hazard ratio with respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: Almost 10% (n = 145) of the participants died during an average of 2.5 years of follow-up, with a higher frequency of deaths among males (12.9%), ?80 years (25.2%), widowhood (15.0%), no education (13.8%) and who did not work (10.5%). Factors associated with higher mortality were: being a male (HR = 2.8; 95%CI 1.9 - 4.2), age ?80 years (HR = 3.9; 95%CI 2.4 - 6.2), widowhood (HR = 2.2; 95%CI 1.4 - 3.7), physical inactivity (HR = 2.3; 95%CI 1.1 - 4..6), current smoking (HR = 2.1; 95%CI 1.2 - 3.6), hospitalizations in the previous year (HR = 2.0; 95%CI 1.2 - 3.2), depressive symptoms (HR = 2.0; 95%CI 1.2 - 3,4) and dependence for two or more daily life activities (HR = 3.1; 95%CI 1,7 - 5.7). Conclusion: The identification of factors that increased the risk of early death makes it possible to improve public policies aimed at controlling the modifiable risk factors that can lead to aging with a better quality of life.

RESUMO: Objetivo: Avaliar a mortalidade por todas as causas em aproximadamente três anos de acompanhamento e os fatores sociodemográficos, comportamentais e de saúde em idosos comunitários de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul. Métodos: Foi um estudo observacional longitudinal que incluiu 1.451 idosos (≥ 60 anos) entrevistados em 2014. As informações sobre mortalidade foram coletadas nos domicílios em 2016-2017, confirmadas com o setor de Vigilância Epidemiológica do município e por documentos de familiares. As associações entre mortalidade e as variáveis independentes, por regressão de Cox simples e múltipla, foram apresentadas pelos riscos relativos com os respectivos intervalos de confiança (95%). Resultados: Quase 10% (n = 145) dos participantes morreram durante uma média de 2,5 anos de acompanhamento, sendo a maior frequência de óbitos em homens (12,9%), indivíduos com ≥ 80 anos (25,2%) e viúvos (15,0%). Estiveram associadas ao maior risco de mortalidade: sexo masculino (RR = 2,8; IC95% 1,9 - 4,2), ≥ 80 anos (RR = 3,9; IC95% 2,4 - 6,2), viuvez (RR = 2,2; IC95% 1,4 - 3,7), inatividade física (RR = 2,3; IC95% 1,1 - 4,6), tabagismo atual (RR = 2,1; IC95% 1,2 - 3,8), hospitalização no último ano (RR = 2,0; IC95% 1,2 - 3,2), sintomas depressivos (RR = 2,1; IC95% 1,2 - 3,6) e dependência para duas ou mais atividades diárias (RR = 3,1; IC95% 1,7 - 5,7). Conclusão: A identificação dos fatores que aumentaram o risco de óbito precocemente possibilita melhorar políticas públicas que visem controlar os fatores de risco modificáveis para um envelhecimento com melhor qualidade de vida.

Simultaneity of risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in a rural population of a Southern Brazilian city. / Simultaneidade de fatores de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis em população rural de um município no sul do Brasil.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the occurrence of simultaneous risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases, and factors associated with these prevalences in rural adults of a Southern Brazilian city. METHODS: The design of this study was cross-sectional with a sample of 1,445 adults from the rural area of Pelotas, RS. Four risk factors were considered: smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and inadequate consumption of vegetables. To verify the simultaneous occurrence of the outcomes, a cluster analysis was used. The association was tested by ordinal regression resulting in odds ratios. RESULTS: Among the four risk factors evaluated, three were the most prevalent among men, and only physical inactivity was greater among women. In the cluster analysis, only the combination of alcohol consumption + smoking + inadequate vegetable consumption presented an observed prevalence that was significantly higher than the expected (O/E = 2.67, 95%CI 1.30, 5.48), and higher than another study in the south of the country. This can be justified because that study included an evaluation of urban dwellers and the consumption of fruits. After adjustment, men, single individuals, non-white people, those with less schooling, those with a worse socioeconomic status, those who reported poor perception of health, and those who do not work in specifically rural activities had a greater probability of having the simultaneity of risk factors. CONCLUSION: The results show the importance of developing priority actions regarding the health of rural populations with special attention to the subgroups with an identified higher risk.

Food consumption and multimorbidity among non-institutionalized elderly people in Pelotas, 2014: a cross-sectional study. / Consumo alimentar e multimorbidade entre idosos não institucionalizados de Pelotas, 2014: estudo transversal.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze association between diet quality and multimorbidity among elderly individuals. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional study of elderly people aged 60 years or older in Pelotas, RS, Brazil, 2014; food consumption was assessed using an abridged Food Frequency Questionnaire; diet quality according to the diet quality index (DQI-E) and scores given to food items; multimorbidity (≥5 diseases) was self-reported; Poisson Regression was used to obtain crude and adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: 1,426 elderly people were included; men who consumed wholefoods (1 to 6 days) were more likely to have multimorbity (PR=1.64 95%CI 1.21;2.23]); those who ate meat at least weekly were less likely to have multimorbity (PRmen=0.68 95%C I0.51;0.92]; PRwomen=0.70 95%CI 0.61;0.81); no association was found between DQI-E and multimorbidity. CONCLUSION: although consumption of most foods was not associated with multimorbidity, the results have produced reflections about dietary habits that are pertinent for discussion by health service managers.

Pesticide exposure: a population-based study in a rural area in southern Brazil. / Exposição a agrotóxicos: estudo de base populacional em zona rural do sul do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of pesticide exposure and associated factors among rural residents. METHODS: A population-based, cross-sectional study conducted with 1,518 individuals in 2016. We randomly selected 24 census tracts from the eight rural districts of the city of Pelotas, RS. All individuals aged 18 years or older, living in the randomly selected households were eligible. A descriptive analysis was performed and the prevalence of contact with pesticides was presented. The association between outcome and independent variables was analyzed using Poisson regression according to the hierarchical model. The variables were all adjusted to the same level, including those at the previous level and those with p<0.20 were kept in the model. RESULTS: The prevalence of contact with pesticides in the past year was 23.7% and among the participants, 5.9% reported having pesticide poisoning at some time in their lives. The probability of contact with pesticides in the past year was higher among men (PR=2,00; 95%CI 1.56 - 2.56), among those aged 40-49 years (PR = 2.00; 95%CI 1.12 - 1.80), among individuals with lower levels of education (PR = 2.06; 95%CI 1.39 - 3.10), in those who performed rural work (PR = 2.87; 95%CI 1.39 - 3.10) and in those who had lived in rural areas all their lives (PR = 1.28 95%CI 1.00 - 1.66). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one in four adults in rural Pelotas had come into contact with pesticides in the year before the study. The findings show the existence of social inequalities related to exposure to pesticides and provide information for action aimed at reducing exposure and poisoning from these products.

Health self-perception and morbidities, and their relation with rural work in southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Self-assessment of health status can be considered a good predictor of population morbidity and mortality. Sociodemographic, environmental and health conditions can influence health self-perception. However, in rural areas, the identification of morbidities that affect workers' health and their general health condition is unknown. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between health self-perception and the occurrence of morbidities according to type of work. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, population-based study of a rural area of Brazil. Health self-perception outcomes were classified as good (very good or good) or not good (fair, poor or very poor). Rural work, classified as yes or no, was considered to be the exposure. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression analyses were performed, obtaining prevalence ratio (PR) estimates and the respective confidence intervals (95%CI). All analyses were stratified by sex and adjusted for confounding factors. RESULTS: The sample comprised 893 individuals. The not good health self-perception prevalence was 27.6%, with a significant difference between the sexes (24.2% of men v 32.5% of women, p=0.014). Although associated with rural work in the crude model, self-perception was not associated with type of work after adjustment (PR: 1.02, 95%CI: 0.83-1.27). The risk of developing obesity (PR: 0.65, 95%CI: 0.47-0.91) and cardiovascular diseases (PR: 0.32, 95%CI: 0.12-0.87) was lower in men who developed rural activities. Also, women who reported doing rural work presented a lower risk for respiratory diseases (PR: 0.47; 95%CI: 0.22-0.97). CONCLUSION: The association between rural work and not good health self-perception, cardiovascular disease and obesity in women, and respiratory diseases in men seems to be highly dependent on sociodemographic context.

Strength and multimorbidity among community-dwelling elderly from southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The number of chronic diseases is associated with the reduction in muscle mass and strength in older people (≥60 y of age). The purpose of this study was to asses the association between multimorbidities and handgrip strength in older community-dwelling individuals from a city in southern Brazil, identifying potential differences according to sex and loss of muscle mass. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional population-based study among older individuals living in the urban area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Grip strength was assessed with digital dynamometers according to the criteria of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) to define dynapenia. Multimorbidity was defined by self-report as the presence of at least 5 diseases diagnosed by a physician. Covariates of the study were age, sex, socioeconomic status, schooling, marital status, nutritional status, alcohol consumption, and smoking habits. Statistical analyses were stratified according to the presence of myopenia (low muscle mass). RESULTS: We received completed information from 1336 individuals ≥60 y of age. Multimorbidity was 50% and 16% more prevalent, respectively, among men and women classified in the lower quartile of manual grip strength (prevalence ratio [PR], 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.95 for men and PR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.32 for women) compared with those from the upper quartile. Among men without myopenia, the presence of dynapenia increased the odds of having multimorbidity (PR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.18-1.71). Among those with myopenia, there was a 10% increase in the prevalence of multimorbidity only for women with dynapenia (PR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.00-1.21). CONCLUSION: Results from the present study indicated an association between manual grip strength and multimorbidity among this population, and the effect measures were greater in men. Manual grip strength proved to be a good marker of health in this population, especially in those who did not present with myopenia.

Consumo alimentar e multimorbidade entre idosos não institucionalizados de Pelotas, 2014: estudo transversal / Consumo de alimentos y multimorbilidad entre ancianos no institucionalizados de Pelotas, dur de Brasil 2014: estudio transversal / Food consumption and multimorbidity among non-institutionalized elderly people in Pelotas, 2014: a cross-sectional study

Objetivo: analisar a associação entre qualidade da dieta e multimorbidade entre idosos. Métodos: estudo transversal com idosos (≥60 anos) de Pelotas, RS, Brasil, 2014; consumo alimentar avaliado por Questionário de Frequência Alimentar reduzido, qualidade da dieta calculada pelo índice de qualidade da dieta (IQD-I) e pela pontuação atribuída aos alimentos; multimorbidade (≥5 doenças) autorrelatada; utilizou-se regressão de Poisson para obter razões de prevalência e intervalos de confiança (IC 95% ) brutos e ajustados. Resultados: foram incluídos 1.426 idosos; homens que consumiram alimentos integrais (1 a 6 dias) tiveram maior probabilidade (RP=1,64 IC 95% 1,21;2,23) de multimorbidade; idosos que consumiram carne ao menos semanalmente apresentaram menor probabilidade de multimorbidade (RP homens =0,68 IC 95% 0,51;0,92; RP mulheres =0,70 IC 95% 0,61;0,81); não houve associação entre IQD-I e multimorbidade. Conclusão: embora o consumo da maioria dos alimentos não se tenha associado à multimorbidade, os resultados geram reflexões sobre atuais hábitos alimentares e multimorbidade em idosos, pertinentes de discussão pelos gestores de saúde.

Objetivo: analizar la asociación entre la calidad de la dieta (ICD-I) y la multimorbilidad entre adultos mayores. Métodos: estudio transversal en ancianos (≥60 años) de Pelotas, RS, Brasil, 2014; consumo de alimentos evaluado por Cuestionario de Frecuencia Alimentaria reducida; calidad de la dieta calculada por el índice de calidad de la dieta (IQD-I) y por la puntuación atribuida a los alimentos; multimorbilidad (≥5 enfermedades) autoinformada; se usó la regresión de Poisson para obtener relaciones de prevalencia e intervalos de confianza (IC95%), brutos y ajustados. Resultados: se incluyeron 1.426 ancianos; los hombres que consumieron alimentos integrales (1 a 6 días) tuvieron mayor probabilidad de multimorbilidad (RP=1,64 IC95%1,21;2,23]); los ancianos, que consumieron carne por lo menos semanalmente presentaron menor probabilidad de multimorbilidad (RPhombres=0,68 IC95%0,51;0,92; RPmujeres=0,70 IC95%0,61;0,81); no hubo asociación entre ICD-I y multimorbilidad. Conclusión: aunque el consumo de la mayoría de los alimentos no se ha asociado con la multimorbilidad, los resultados generan reflexiones sobre los hábitos alimenticios actuales y la multimorbilidad en los adultos mayores, pertinentes de ser discutidos por los administradores de salud.

Objective: to analyze association between diet quality and multimorbidity among elderly individuals. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study of elderly people aged 60 years or older in Pelotas, RS, Brazil, 2014; food consumption was assessed using an abridged Food Frequency Questionnaire; diet quality according to the diet quality index (DQI-E) and scores given to food items; multimorbidity (≥5 diseases) was self-reported; Poisson Regression was used to obtain crude and adjusted prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Results: 1,426 elderly people were included; men who consumed wholefoods (1 to 6 days) were more likely to have multimorbity (PR=1.64 95%CI 1.21;2.23]); those who ate meat at least weekly were less likely to have multimorbity (PRmen=0.68 95%C I0.51;0.92]; PRwomen=0.70 95%CI 0.61;0.81); no association was found between DQI-E and multimorbidity. Conclusion: although consumption of most foods was not associated with multimorbidity, the results have produced reflections about dietary habits that are pertinent for discussion by health service managers.

Exposição a agrotóxicos: estudo de base populacional em zona rural do sul do Brasil / Pesticide exposure: a population-based study in a rural area in southern Brazil

RESUMO: Objetivo: Estimar a prevalência de exposição a agrotóxicos e fatores associados entre moradores de zona rural. Métodos: Estudo transversal de base populacional realizado com 1.518 indivíduos, em 2016. Foram aleatoriamente selecionados 24 setores censitários de oito distritos rurais de Pelotas, RS. Indivíduos ≥ 18 anos residentes nos domicílios aleatoriamente selecionados eram elegíveis. Foi realizada análise descritiva e apresentada prevalência de contato com os agrotóxicos. A associação entre desfecho e variáveis independentes deu-se por regressão de Poisson, conforme modelo hierárquico. As variáveis foram ajustadas para todas do mesmo nível, além daquelas que foram mantidas no modelo do nível anterior e das com valor p < 0,20. Resultados: A prevalência de contato com agrotóxicos no último ano foi de 23,7%, e, entre esses participantes, 5,9% relataram intoxicação por agrotóxicos alguma vez na vida. A probabilidade de contato com agrotóxicos no último ano foi maior entre os homens (razão de prevalência - RP = 2,00; intervalo de confiança de 95% - IC95% 1,56 - 2,56); entre aqueles com idades entre 40 e 49 anos (RP = 1,44; IC95% 1,12 - 1,80); entre os menos escolarizados (RP = 2,06; IC95% 1,39 - 3,10); os que exerciam trabalho rural (RP = 2,87; IC95% 2,05 - 4,01); e aqueles que moraram na zona rural a vida inteira (RP = 1,28; IC95% 1,00 - 1,66). Conclusões: Aproximadamente um em cada quatro adultos da zona rural de Pelotas entrou em contato com agrotóxicos no ano anterior ao estudo. Os achados evidenciam a existência de desigualdades sociais relacionadas à exposição aos agrotóxicos e fornecem informações para ações visando à redução da exposição e intoxicação por esses produtos.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To estimate the prevalence of pesticide exposure and associated factors among rural residents. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study conducted with 1,518 individuals in 2016. We randomly selected 24 census tracts from the eight rural districts of the city of Pelotas, RS. All individuals aged 18 years or older, living in the randomly selected households were eligible. A descriptive analysis was performed and the prevalence of contact with pesticides was presented. The association between outcome and independent variables was analyzed using Poisson regression according to the hierarchical model. The variables were all adjusted to the same level, including those at the previous level and those with p<0.20 were kept in the model. Results: The prevalence of contact with pesticides in the past year was 23.7% and among the participants, 5.9% reported having pesticide poisoning at some time in their lives. The probability of contact with pesticides in the past year was higher among men (PR=2,00; 95%CI 1.56 - 2.56), among those aged 40-49 years (PR = 2.00; 95%CI 1.12 - 1.80), among individuals with lower levels of education (PR = 2.06; 95%CI 1.39 - 3.10), in those who performed rural work (PR = 2.87; 95%CI 1.39 - 3.10) and in those who had lived in rural areas all their lives (PR = 1.28 95%CI 1.00 - 1.66). Conclusions: Approximately one in four adults in rural Pelotas had come into contact with pesticides in the year before the study. The findings show the existence of social inequalities related to exposure to pesticides and provide information for action aimed at reducing exposure and poisoning from these products.

Simultaneidade de fatores de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis em população rural de um município no sul do Brasil / Simultaneity of risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases in a rural population of a Southern Brazilian city

RESUMO: Objetivos: Descrever a ocorrência simultânea de fatores de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis e os fatores associados à simultaneidade dessas prevalências em adultos residentes na zona rural de um município no sul do Brasil. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo transversal com 1.445 adultos da zona rural de Pelotas, RS. Foram considerados quatro fatores de risco: tabagismo, consumo de álcool, inatividade física e consumo inadequado de legumes/verduras. Para verificar a ocorrência simultânea, utilizou-se análise de clusters. A associação foi avaliada por regressão ordinal, obtendo-se estimativas em razões de odds. Resultados: Dos quatro fatores de risco avaliados, três foram mais prevalentes entre os homens, sendo apenas inatividade física maior entre as mulheres. Na análise de clusters, consumo de álcool + tabagismo + consumo inadequado de vegetais foi a única combinação que apresentou prevalência observada significativamente maior que a esperada (O/E = 2,67; IC95% 1,30; 5,48), sendo superior a encontrada em outro estudo no sul do país, dado que pode ser justificado pois tal estudo incluiu o consumo de frutas além de ter avaliado população urbana, enquanto para este estudo avaliou-se apenas a população rural. Após ajuste, os homens, indivíduos solteiros, de cor da pele preta, parda ou outra, com baixa escolaridade, pior condição socioeconômica, pior percepção de saúde e que não desenvolviam atividades rurais apresentaram maior odds ratio de acúmulo de fatores de risco. Conclusão: Os achados evidenciam a importância do desenvolvimento de ações prioritárias em relação à saúde da população rural com atenção específica aos subgrupos de maior risco identificados.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: To describe the occurrence of simultaneous risk factors for chronic noncommunicable diseases, and factors associated with these prevalences in rural adults of a Southern Brazilian city. Methods: The design of this study was cross-sectional with a sample of 1,445 adults from the rural area of Pelotas, RS. Four risk factors were considered: smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and inadequate consumption of vegetables. To verify the simultaneous occurrence of the outcomes, a cluster analysis was used. The association was tested by ordinal regression resulting in odds ratios. Results: Among the four risk factors evaluated, three were the most prevalent among men, and only physical inactivity was greater among women. In the cluster analysis, only the combination of alcohol consumption + smoking + inadequate vegetable consumption presented an observed prevalence that was significantly higher than the expected (O/E = 2.67, 95%CI 1.30, 5.48), and higher than another study in the south of the country. This can be justified because that study included an evaluation of urban dwellers and the consumption of fruits. After adjustment, men, single individuals, non-white people, those with less schooling, those with a worse socioeconomic status, those who reported poor perception of health, and those who do not work in specifically rural activities had a greater probability of having the simultaneity of risk factors. Conclusion: The results show the importance of developing priority actions regarding the health of rural populations with special attention to the subgroups with an identified higher risk.

Repeated high blood pressure at 6 and 11 years at the Pelotas 2004 birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the prevalence and the factors associated with repeated high systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at 6- and 11-year follow-ups of children from the Pelotas (Brazil) 2004 Birth Cohort. METHODS: All live births to mothers living in the urban area of Pelotas were enrolled in the cohort. Blood pressure (BP) values were transformed into Z-scores by sex, age, and height. High SBP and DBP were defined as repeated systolic and diastolic BP Z-scores on the ≥95th percentile at the two follow-ups. Prevalence (95% confidence interval) of repeated high SBP, DBP, and both (SDBP) were calculated. Associations with maternal and child characteristics were explored in crude and adjusted logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 3182 cohort participants were analyzed. Prevalence of repeated high SBP, DBP and SDBP was 1.7% (1.2-2.1%), 2.3% (1.8-2.9%) and 1.2% (0.9-1.6%), respectively. Repeated high SBP was associated with males, gestational diabetes mellitus (2.92; 1.13-7.58) and obesity at 11 years (2.44; 1.29-4.59); while repeated high DBP was associated with females, family history of hypertension from both sides (3.95; 1.59-9.85) and gestational age < 34 weeks (4.08; 1.52-10.96). Repeated high SDBP was not associated with any of the characteristics investigated. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of repeated high SBP, DBP, and SDBP were within the expected distribution at the population level. Nonetheless, gestational diabetes mellitus, obesity, family history of hypertension, and prematurity increased the risk of repeated high blood pressure measured at two occasions 5 years apart.

Population-based study in a rural area: methodology and challenges.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the planning, sampling, operational aspects of the field, and the sample obtained during a research conducted in a rural area, specifying and discussing the main logistical difficulties unique to these places and the solutions adopted. METHODS: We carried out a population-based, cross-sectional survey between January and June 2016, with a representative sample of the population aged 18 years or over living in the rural area of Pelotas (approximately 22,000 individuals), State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We collected demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related information, such as alcohol consumption, cigarette consumption, depressive symptoms, quality of diet, quality of life, physical activity, satisfaction with the health unit, overweight or obesity, and sleep problems. RESULTS: In the 720 domiciles sampled, 1,697 individuals were identified and 1,519 were interviewed (89.5%). The study initially drew 24 census tracts and proposed the visit to 42 households per tract; however, we need to adjust the method, such as decreasing the number of households per census tract (from 42 to 30) and identifying housing centers in each tract. The main reasons for these changes were difficulty accessing the area, large distances between households, misconceptions in the satellite data available (which did not fit the reality), and high cost of the field work. CONCLUSIONS: The previous detailed recognition of the research environment was crucial for decision making as the maps and territory had geographical inconsistencies. The strategies and techniques used in studies for the urban area are not applicable to the rural area given the outcomes observed in Pelotas. The decisions taken, keeping the methodological rigor, were essential to ensure the timely execution of the study with the financial resources available.