A comparison of tablet-based and paper-based venous insufficiency epidemiologic and economic study quality of life/symptom questionnaire for assessment of chronic venous disease.

OBJECTIVE: To comparatively evaluate performances of tablet-based versus paper-based Venous Insufficiency Epidemiologic and Economic Study-Quality of Life/Symptom (VEINES-QOL/Sym) questionnaire. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 78 consecutive patients who completed tablet-based and paper-based VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaires and compared their scores, completion time, data entry time, and ease of use. We used Student's t-test and Wilcoxon test for quantitative variables, Bland-Altman test and kappa coefficient for agreement between questionnaires and patients, respectively. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess correlations. RESULTS: Most participants (83.3%) found it easier to use the tablet device. Less time was needed to complete the tablet-based (median, 4.75; IQR, 3-7 min) than the paper-based (median, 8.3; IQR, 6.3-11.3 min) questionnaire (p < .001). Better educated patients took less time to complete paper-based (p = .003) and tablet-based (p = .001) questionnaires and considered the latter easier to use (p = .010). CONCLUSIONS: The tablet-based VEINES-QOL/Sym proved to be an easy-to-use and time-saving tool.

Limitations of VEINES QOL/SYM for discriminating chronic venous insufficiency severity.

BACKGROUND: The Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study - Quality of Life/Symptoms (VEINES-QOL / Sym) questionnaire was developed to evaluate the quality of life of individuals with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), but it has shown limited sensitivity for discriminating between people with different of disease severity. OBJECTIVES: a) to propose a new formula for calculating the VEINES-QOL/Sym score and to evaluate whether this new score is capable of discriminating disease severity; and b) to evaluate the association between VEINES-QOL/Sym scores and disease severity. METHODS: Ninety-eight participants with CVI of both sexes, aged 60.73 ± 14.11 years, answered the Portuguese Brazilian version of the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaire. The new score was calculated by transforming the original scores to a 0 to 100 scale. Discriminant analysis was used to test the capability of the original and modified VEINES-QOL/Sym scores to discriminate between and correctly classify groups characterized by the clinical, etiological, anatomical and pathophysiological classification (CEAP). Alpha of 5% was defined as the cutoff for significance. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between CEAP groups in terms of the original or modified VEINES-QOL/Sym scores. Discriminant analysis was also unable to correctly classify CEAP groups, using either original or modified scores. Furthermore, there were no associations between CEAP classifications and scores obtained using the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: The VEINES-QOL/Sym proved to have limitations for assessment of the quality of life and symptomatology of people with CVI at different stages.

Principais complicações respiratórias no adulto queimado internado em um hospital de referência do estado de Minas Gerais / Main respiratory complications in burned adult in a reference hospital of Minas Gerais State / Principales complicaciones respiratorias de los adultos quemados admitidos a un hospital de referencia del estado de Minas Gerais

OBJETIVO: Descrever as principais complicações respiratórias do adulto queimado admitido em um centro de terapia intensiva de um hospital de referência do estado de Minas Gerais. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal, no qual foram incluídos todos os pacientes admitidos no setor de terapia intensiva da Unidade de Tratamento de Queimados de 1º de janeiro a 30 de junho de 2017 deste hospital. Os dados coletados foram submetidos à análise estatística com o uso do software Microsoft® Office Excel 2010 e pelo Minitab® versão 18. O estudo foi aprovado no Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Instituição, com parecer número 2.698.566. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 62 registros de pacientes, a maioria do sexo masculino (64,52%, n=40). A média de idade dos pacientes foi de 43,90±16,57 anos, sendo a faixa etária mais prevalente entre 18 e 34 anos (35,48%, n=22). A maior parte dos pacientes necessitou de suporte avançado de vida, sendo que 74,20% (n=46) foram submetidos à intubação orotraqueal e, destes, 50% (n=23) foram traqueostomizados posteriormente. As complicações respiratórias foram observadas em 51,61% (n=32), sendo as principais: pneumonia (25,81%, n=16), lesão de via aérea (24,19%, n=15), atelectasia (17,74%, n=11), congestão pulmonar (12,90%, n=8) e síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo (8,06%, n=5). CONCLUSÃO: As principais complicações respiratórias foram pneumonia e lesão de via aérea. Tais complicações contribuíram para maior tempo de internação hospitalar e de ventilação mecânica.

Objective: To describe main pulmonary complications in burned adults admitted to intensive care unit of a burn center of Minas Gerais State. METHODS: Cross-sectional study, which included all patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a burn unit, from January, 1st until June, 30th. Collected data were submitted to statistical analyzes using software Microsoft® Excel 2010 and Minitab® version 18. The study was approved by Research Ethics Committee of the institution, with opinion number 2698566. RESULTS: 62 patients records were analyzed, most male (64.52%, n=40), mean age of patients was 43.90±16.57 years, being most prevalent age group between 18 and 34 years (35.48%, n=22). Most patients needed advanced life support, 74.20% (n=46) used endotracheal tube and, of these, 50% (n=23) were tracheostomized later. Pulmonary complications were observed in 51.61% (n=32), and the main ones were: pneumonia (25.81%, n=16), airway injury (24.19%, n=15), atelectasis (17.74%, n=11), pulmonary congestion (12,90%, n=8) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (8.06%, n=5). CONCLUSION: Main pulmonary complications were pneumonia and airway injury. Such complications have contributed to increase time of hospitalization and mechanical ventilation.

Objetivo: Describir las principales complicaciones respiratorias de los adultos quemados admitidos en el centro de cuidados intensivos de un hospital de referencia del estado de Minas Gerais. Método: Estudio transversal, que incluyó a todos los pacientes ingresados en el sector de cuidados intensivos de la Unidad de Quemados de este hospital, del 1º enero hasta 30 junio de 2017. Los datos recolectados fueron sometidos al análisis estadístico utilizando los programas Microsoft® Office Excel 2010 y por Minitab® versión 18. El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité de Ética de Investigación de la institución - dictamen nº 2.698.566. Resultados: 62 pacientes participaron del estudio, en su mayoría hombres (64,52%, n=40), con media de edad de 43,90±16.57 años, siendo más prevalente el grupo de edad comprendido entre 18 y 34 años (35,48%, n=22). La mayoría de los pacientes necesitó apoyo vital avanzado, conun 74,20% (n=46) sometidos a intubación orotraqueal y, de estos, 50% (n=23) fueron traqueostomizados posteriormente. Se observaron complicaciones respiratorias en un 51,61% (n=32) de los pacientes, siendo las principales: neumonía (25,81%, n=16), lesiones de las vías respiratorias (24,19%, n=15), atelectasia (17,74%, n=11), congestión pulmonar (12,90%, n= 8) y síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda (8,06%, n=5). Conclusión: Las principales complicationes respiratorias fueron neumonía y lesiones de las vías respiratorias. Tales complicaciones han contribuido a estancias más largas en el hospital y utilización de ventilación mecánica.

Analysis of the physical and functional parameters of older adults with chronic venous disease.

The chronic venous disease (CVD) results from a situation of venous hypertension which occurs when there is a dysfunction of the calf pump musculature. Such alteration contributes to the worsening of the disease and may generate physical and functional limitations among older adults, carriers of CVD. In the present study, we aimed to compare the performance of the plantar flexor, the range of motion (ROM) of the ankle, gait speed and functional capacity among older adults with and without CVD. This is a cross-sectional study, with a convenience sample of 30 older adults with CVD and 30 without the disease. Gait speed was assessed by the GAITrite system, version 3.9; the dorsiflexion (DF) and plantar flexion (PF) ROMs, by goniometry, and the function of the plantar flexors by the isokinetic dynamometry. Functional capacity was evaluated by Katz and Lawton scales and by the assessment of the activities of social nature. The CVD group presented lesser ROM of DF and PF, peak torque and power of plantar flexors, gait speed and social restriction when compared to the control group (p<0.05). We concluded that older adults with CVD present important limitations of ROM and strength, mobility and social restriction confirming findings of previous studies. Such results might guide professionals in their approaches both for determining the relevance of parameters to be assessed and of their therapeutic approaches.