Socio-demographic caracteristics and prevalence of risk factors in a hypertensive and diabetics population: a cross-sectional study in primary health care in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and their related morbidity and mortality, are currently the most common public health problems and also a higher burden of disease in Brazil. They represent a real challenge for primary health care. This study describes the methodology and baseline data of an adult population with hypertension and diabetes attending in primary health care. METHODS: It is a cross sectional study which presents data from a longitudinal research. 3784 adults were randomly selected from the registry of a health service in Porto Alegre, Brazil. The eligibility criteria were: confirmed diagnosis of hypertension and/or diabetes, consulted at least once in the prior 3 years and 18 years of age or older. Home data collection consisted of a questionnaire with information on demographic, medical history, life style and socio-economic factors. RESULTS: A total of 2482 users were interviewed (response rate of 71 %). The median age was 64 (IQR = 55.7) and the majority were women (68 %), and married (52 %). Whereas 66.5 % (CI 95 % 64.5-68.3) of the sample had only hypertension, 6.5 % (CI 95 % 5.5-7.5) had diabetes and 27.1 % (CI 95 % 25.3-28.8) had both diseases. The prevalence of diseases increased with age and with fewer years of study (p < 0.05). Subjects with both diseases had significantly more associated comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension and diabetes are more prevalent in older individuals, especially women, and less educated people. People suffering with both chronic conditions simultaneously are more likely to have additional comorbidities.

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of a change of habits with group nutritional intervention]. / Avaliação da efetividade na mudança de hábitos com intervenção nutricional em grupo.

Inadequate dietary standards, physical inactivity, smoking and alcohol consumption represent a composite of risk factors for non-communicable diseases and disorders. Encouraging healthy eating habits is a fundamental strategy to tackle current eating and nutritional problems. The scope of this research was to evaluate if the participation of individuals in group nutritional intervention was capable of modifying their eating habits. The research was conducted at a public health center in Porto Alegre in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It involved an experimental study using qualitative and quantitative research, in which group participants were evaluated before and after the nutritional intervention. The final sample included 10 participants comprised of men and women aged 48 on average. Most of them had completed high school, earned an average family income of 2.5 minimum wages and were overweight. The results proved that the objective of the study was successful, since the group manifested an improvement in eating habits and consequent weight loss. The conclusion is that group intervention with emphasis on eating habits and nutrition is effective and its implementation is recommended in the routine of the services of the Brazilian Unified Health System.