Impact of the Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination program on HIB meningitis in Brazil.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b (HIB) in Brazil on the morbidity, mortality, and case fatality of HIB meningitis, using the Ministry of Health database and population data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística--IBGE). Impact was evaluated through a time series analysis (1983-2002), using regression forecasting (RF) by dividing the time series into two periods: (a) historical (1983-1998) and (b) validation (1999-2002). Impact of the vaccination was positive, although more significant for incidence and mortality than for case fatality rates.

Presence and extent of the primary health care attributes among children hospitalized for pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the presence and extent of the primary health care attributes among children hospitalized for pneumonia. METHOD: observational and retrospective study with hospital-based case-control design, developed in three hospitals associated to the Brazilian Unified Health System, located in a city of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The study included 690 children under five years old, with 345 cases and 345 controls. RESULTS: both groups scored high for access to health services. In contrast, high scores for attributes such as longitudinality and coordination of care were observed for the controls. Despite low scores, integrality and family counseling were also high for the controls. CONCLUSION: knowledge of the aspects involving the primary health care attributes and its provision for child care are very important because they have the potential to support professionals and managers of the Brazilian Unified Health System in the organization of health services.

The independent effect of chronic diseases, sociodemographic and behavioral factors related to disability in older people living in Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2007 - The EPIDCV Project.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and correlates of functional disability in elderly people living in Ribeirão Preto, SP. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study with multistage sampling. Design effect was corrected using a weighted sample composed by 536 elderly people. Disability based on daily living activities dependence (outcome) was assessed by using a validated questionnaire for population-based epidemiological studies. Points and 95% confidence intervals estimated crude and stratified prevalence rates of the outcome according to sociodemographic, behavioral, health-related, and self-reported morbidity variables. To identify the correlates, the crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The crude prevalence of disability was 50.31%. In the multivariate models, after simultaneous intra-group adjustment (final models), the following variables remained independently associated with the outcome: sociodemographic (age, education, and contribution to familiar income); behavioral (daily mean of sitting time); health-related factors (hypertension, ischemic heart disease, medicines taken, and low cognitive performance); and self-reported morbidity (number of diseases and low hearing performance). CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of disability among elderly people in Ribeirão Preto and the presence of modifiable variables impose the need for specific health promotion and prevention measures, aiming a better quality of life for this population group, which is already well represented in the city's most recent population pyramids.

The independent effect of central obesity on hypertension in adults living in Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2007. EPIDCV Project.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of hypertension and evaluate the independent effect of central obesity on this outcome in adults living in the municipality of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study using three stage cluster sampling. The variability introduced in the third stage was corrected by attributing probability weights, resulting in a weighted sample of 2,471 participants. Hypertension was defined according to the disease history, the use of anti-hypertensive drugs or the mean of three consecutive measures, in mm/Hg, ≥ 140 for systolic and ≥ 90 for diastolic blood pressure. Prevalence of hypertension was estimated according to anthropometric, sociodemographic, behavioral and dietetic variables, as well as biochemical dosages and medication use. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios for central obesity indices were estimated using Poisson regression. All the estimates were calculated taking into account the sampling design effect. RESULTS: The results showed high prevalence of hypertension: 32.8 (males) and 44.5% (females). In the final models, central obesity indexes were consistently associated with the outcome, in both genders. CONCLUSION: The results pointed out the need of planning health promotion and prevention, in order to control hypertension and central obesity aiming to reduce end-point events like coronary heart disease and stroke.

Assessment of the techniques of blood pressure measurement by health professionals.

OBJECTIVE: To assess blood pressure measurement by health professionals of a public hospital in S o Paulo State. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews and direct observation were performed with a verification list according to the criteria reported by Perloff et al. One hundred and five health professionals took part in the study. After measuring blood pressure, the level of concordance between the way the procedure was performed and the recommended one was assessed. RESULTS: Nurses and nurse's aides abided by 40% of the recommended procedures for adequate blood pressure measurement. The other categories of health professionals (nursing and medicine teachers, physicians, residents, and nursing students) abided by approximately 70%. CONCLUSION: Permanent educational activities aiming at standardizing blood pressure measurement should be implemented among the different categories of health professionals.

Sex-specific differences in prevalence and in the factors associated to the search for health services in a population based epidemiological study.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the access to health care services and associated factors in adults living in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2007. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study with a sample developed in three stages. The variability introduced in the third sampling fraction was corrected by the attribution of weights, resulting in a sample of 2,471 participants. The outcome prevalence was estimated according to socio-demographic, behavioral and health-related variables. In order to identify associated factors, the regression of Poisson was used, obtaining crude and adjusted prevalence ratios. All estimates were calculated taking into account the effect of the sampling design. RESULTS: The outcome prevalence increased according to the age, being higher in female individuals. A different set of variables remained in the final models, considering each gender separately. Among men, the monthly income > R$ 1,400.00; scores > 823.6 to the Economic Indicator of Ribeirão Preto (IERP) and daily average of sitting down time (154.4 - 240 min/day) constituted themselves into protective factors, whereas the increase of age and scholarship, hospitalization, diabetes and hypertension constituted risk factors for the use of the services. Among women, health self-reported as regular, hospitalization, diabetes and hypertension characterized factors positively associated to the outcome at matter. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the need for planning actions aimed at capturing male individuals, as well as the revaluation of detection and control of diabetes and hypertension programs, aimed at the primary prevention of terminal cardiovascular events.

Comparison between the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the American College of Sports Medicine/American Heart Association criteria to classify the physical activity profile in adults.

OBJECTIVE: the study aims to evaluate the reproducibility between the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the American College of Sports Medicine/American Heart Association criteria to classify the physical activity profile in an adult population living in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. METHODS: population-based cross-sectional study, including 930 adults of both genders. The reliability was evaluated by Kappa statistics, estimated according to socio-demographic strata. RESULTS: the kappa estimates showed good agreement between the two criteria in all strata. However, higher prevalence of "actives" was found by using the American College of Sports Medicine/American Heart Association. CONCLUSIONS: although the estimates have indicated good agreement, the findings suggest caution in choosing the criteria to classify physical activity profile mainly when "walking" is the main modality of physical activity.

Clinical validation of the Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale.

INTRODUCTION: Health professionals have great difficulties to establish the adequate and safe time to start breast feeding in preterm infants. There is a need to develop a standardized tool to help health professionals to comprehensively evaluate preterm infant readiness to transition preterm infants' feeding from gastric to oral, and encourage breast feeding practice in neonatal units. AIMS: To clinical validate the accuracy of a Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale with 60 clinically stable preterm infants. METHODS: Global accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale cut-offs, compared to milk intake through translactation, were estimated through ROC curves (Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves). RESULTS: The global accuracy of Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale was 74.38%. The highest sensitivity and specificity were obtained for three cut-offs: 28, 29 and 30. Since higher specificity (75.68%) for the Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale was found at a score cut-off=of 30 showed higher specificity (75.68%), it should be used as a cut-off score to select initiate breastfeeding the preterm newborns' oral feeding readiness. CONCLUSION: The Preterm Oral Feeding Readiness Assessment Scale is considered valid to assist health professionals to initiate preterm feeding in view of promoting safe and objective breastfeeding.

[Nutritional and socioeconomic status in adults living in Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2006. OBEDIARP Project]. / Estado nutricional e fatores sociodemográficos em adultos residentes em Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2006. Projeto OBEDIARP.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate overweight and obesity prevalence, and socioeconomic correlates in adults living in Ribeirão Preto city - SP, Brazil, in 2006. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study was carried out in adults aged 30 years and older using three-stage cluster sampling: 81 census tracts were firstly selected, followed by 1,671 households and 1,205 individuals. The variability introduced in the third sampling fraction (individuals assortment) was corrected, resulting in a weighted sample of 2,197 participants. The nutritional status was classified in three categories (normal, overweight and obesity) according the Body Mass Index (BMI) cut-offs recommended by World Health Organization-2000 criteria. To investigate the nutritional status correlates, prevalence ratios were estimated by points and 95% confidence intervals, using Poisson regression. RESULTS: Overweight prevalence was higher in male (49.7%) than female (33.7%), whereas the obesity prevalence was higher in female (27.5%) than male (19.1%). In the final model, considering "overweight" as the outcome, the following variables were positively associated: the last two strata of age: "50-59" and "60 and older"; the "1st tertile" of income, and living "with partner". Females presented a protective effect compared to males. Considering "obesity", all the "age categories" and "marital status" were positively associated to the outcome. CONCLUSION: Along with the high overweight and obesity prevalences in Ribeirão Preto, the detection of different sets of socioeconomic correlates pointed out the need of specific intervention strategies, focused on health promotion and chronic-degenerative diseases prevention in the population.

Association between birthweight and cognitive function in middle age: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study.

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the relationship of birthweight to cognitive performance in middle aged participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC). METHODS: Cognitive function, assessed by means of three neuropsychological tests-the Delayed Word Recall Test (DWR), the Digit Symbol Subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (DSS/WAIS-R), and the Word Fluency (WF) Test, was evaluated in relation to birthweight, as recalled through standardized interviews, by the use of data from the second and fourth follow-up visits of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study cohort (1990-1992 and 1996-1998, respectively). Overall, 6785 participants satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. RESULTS: After adjusting for adult sociodemographic factors, childhood socioeconomic environment and parental risk factors, and adult anthropometric, health status-related. and behavioral variables, we observed linear trends for the relationship of birthweight to WF scores, although the trend was statistically significant only for those reporting exact birthweights (p for trend = .004). For the other cognitive test results, results were either null or inconsistent with the a priori hypotheses. CONCLUSIONS: Except for WF in those reporting exact birthweights, our study does not support the notion that birthweight influences cognitive function in adults.

[Sitting-time means and correlates in adults living in Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brazil, in 2006: OBEDIARP project]. / Média diária de tempo sentado e fatores associados em adultos residentes no município de Ribeirão Preto-SP, 2006: projeto OBEDIARP.

This study aimed to estimate mean daily sitting-time and to identify correlates of sitting-time in adults living in the urban area of Ribeirão Preto-SP, in 2006. A cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study was carried out using three-stage cluster sampling. From a sample of 1,205 individuals, 930 attended the interviews. The variability introduced in the third sampling fraction was corrected by attributing sampling weights taking into account the non-response rate and the number of eligible units in each household, resulting in a weighted sample of 2,197 participants. To identify sitting time correlates, multiple linear regression models were used. The design effect was considered when calculating all estimates. The reported overall mean sitting-time/day was 280.9 minutes. In the multivariate analysis, the following correlates were kept in the final model: gender; years of education; smoking; metabolic waste (Mets* · min* · week(-1)); working/day hours, and number of familial antecedents of obesity. The results pointed out sitting-time correlates and the need for health planning related to promotion and prevention policies.

[Agreement of anthropometric measures in a population-based epidemiological study: Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2006. OBEDIARP project]. / Concordância de medidas antropométricas em estudo epidemiológico de base populacional: Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2006. Projeto OBEDIARP.

This study aimed to assess the agreement between measured and self-reported height and weight measures in 632 adults. The agreement was calculated using an intra-class correlation coefficient (estimated by ANOVA using one classification criterion), mean differences and agreement limits, according to Bland and Altman. The intra-category agreement of the nutritional status was assessed by Kappa statistics. In men, ICCs were 0.926 (95%CI: 0.894-0.959) and 0.873 (95%CI: 0.799-0.946), for weight and height measures, respectively, with the following mean difference and agreement limits for BMI: 0.143 kg/m(2) (-2.844-3.129). In women, ICCs were 0.981 (95%CI: 0.973-0.988) and 0.794 (95%CI: 0.687-0.900) respectively, with the following mean difference and agreement limits for BMI: 0.462 kg/m(2) (-2.457-3.382). Kappa coefficients for nutritional status in men and women were, respectively, 0.777 (95%CI: 0.683-0.872) and 0.793 (95%CI: 0.725-0.862). Self-reported measures are appropriate alternatives to classify nutritional status in epidemiological studies.

Cognitive functioning as a predictor of ischemic stroke incidence.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have suggested that cognitive impairment is related to subsequent stroke incidence. The present study investigated the role of cognitive impairment as a predictor of ischemic stroke incidence in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort. METHODS: The study population consisted of 11,958 men and women 48-67 years of age in 4 U.S. communities, followed from January 1, 1990 through December 31, 1997. Cognitive performance was evaluated at the second (1990-1992) visit of the ARIC Study using 3 instruments. We identified incident strokes by means of hospital record and death certificate reviews, as well as annual telephone follow up. RESULTS: We found no consistent associations or trends between any of the cognitive test results and ischemic stroke incidence after multiple adjustment for confounding variables. Hazard ratios for the lowest compared with the highest quartiles were 1.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.9-2.6), 1.1 (95% CI = 0.6-2.1), and 1.0 (95% CI = 0.6-1.8) for the Delayed Word Recall Test, Digit Symbol Subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, and Word Fluency Test, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study of relatively young subjects did not replicate the association between cognitive impairment and stroke incidence found in studies in older populations. This could be the result of the younger ages of our cohort members or the differences in cognitive tests.

Relation between cognitive function and mortality in middle-aged adults: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study.

An independent, inverse association between cognitive function and all-cause mortality has been reported in elderly cohorts. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the same association exists in middle-aged persons. The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study is a cohort study initiated in 1987 to investigate the development of atherosclerosis in middle-aged persons. Three cognitive function measures were included in the second cohort examination conducted from 1990 to 1992 when the participants were aged 48-67 years: the Delayed Word Recall Test (DWRT), the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) (a subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised), and the Word Fluency Test from the Multilingual Aphasia Examination. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to determine whether all-cause mortality ascertained through 1997 was associated with each measure after adjustment for sociodemographic, biologic, psychologic, and behavioral risk factors. Without adjustment, there was a significantly lower mortality hazard associated with higher scores on all three measures. After covariate adjustment, the hazard ratios for the DWRT and the DSST remained significant (hazard ratio1-point DWRT score increment = 0.90, 95% confidence interval: 0.84, 0.97; hazard ratio 7-point DSST score increment = 0.86, 95% confidence interval: 0.80, 0.93). Cognitive function measured in middle age appears to have prognostic importance for life expectancy similar to that reported in elderly adults.