Sexual Function, Physical Activity, Mean Amplitudes and Maximal Voluntary Contraction of Pelvic Floor Muscles Are Related to Handgrip Strength: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Pelvic floor musculature assessment methods are generally invasive, subjective, and technologically expensive. Therefore, there is a need to identify other methods that can predict changes in the function of these muscles. This study aimed to verify whether the levels of strength and myoelectric activity of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) can be related to handgrip strength (HGS), to ensure faster and earlier identification of possible dysfunctions of this musculature. Furthermore, we verified whether these variables vary across different age groups. This was a cross-sectional observational study involving 44 healthy women. The women were divided into two groups: the young (18−35 years) and middle-aged (36−55 years) adult groups. Social, anthropometric, and clinical data were collected from the participants, and a functional assessment of their PFM was performed by bidigital palpation, electromyographic biofeedback (sEMG), and HGS (using a dynamometer). The levels of physical and sexual activity were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Sexual Quotient−Female version (SQ-F) questionnaire. There were no differences in HGS, power/pressure, sEMG, SQ-F score, or IPAQ score between the two groups (p > 0.05). Moderate correlation (r = 0.601; p = 0.019) was observed during multivariate analysis. HGS is related to mean amplitudes (p = 0.123), MVC (p = 0.043), sexual function (p = 0.049), and physical activity (p = 0.004). We therefore conclude that there were no differences between HGS and PFM strength in young adult and middle-aged women. Furthermore, HGS is related to the PFM functionality, sexual function, and physical activity.

Mortality from cervical cancer in Brazil: an ecological epidemiologic study of a 22-year analysis.

Mortality data obtained from the mortality information system (SIM) identified a total of 103,094 women with cervical cancer in Brazil. However, associations between mortality and sociodemographic variables in these patients are not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the sociodemographic factors (geographic region, age, race and marital status) that predict cervical cancer mortality in Brazil between 1996 and 2017. A descriptive, analytic and retrospective study was carried out using secondary data on deaths from cervical cancer recorded in the SIM-DATASUS. Deaths reported between 1996 and 2017 in the health information system and classified by the International Classification of Diseases-10 were included. Sociodemographic factors (geographic regions, age, sex and race) were subjected to inferential analysis for a relation with mortality. Mortality increases during the aging process after the third decade of life. However, single women who die are usually diagnosed with cancer in the early stage of the disease. The mortality rate is higher in Black women and women living in the North, South and Southeast regions of Brazil. Yellow women have a lower mortality in the country. Besides, each region has specific characteristics in relation to race and marital status. White women who died had some form of stable union during life, whereas the other races were more associated with single marital status. Thus, the sociodemographic factors that predict mortality in women with cervical cancer in Brazil were identified and can be used to guide the public health policies.