Risk factors associated with preterm birth: identification, prediction and evaluation in the BRISA cohort

Problem: Preterm birth is the leading cause of death and can result in significant long-term loss of physical and psychological capacity among survivors.Background: An estimated 15 million babies are born preterm every year. Prediction models based on machine learning methods have reported promising results.Aims: To identify risk factors associated with preterm birth and to develop and validate a prediction model for this outcome in a Brazilian birth cohort.Methods: Cross-sectional study of all births that occurred in Ribeirão Preto-SP and of one in three births that occurred in São Luís-MA, Brazil, in 2010. Questionnaires were applied to obtain pregnancy-related data. Multivariate adaptive regression splines were used to determine the independent variables. Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks gestational age, was the dependent variable. A random forest model was developed and its performance was evaluated by ROC analysis.Findings: The preterm birth rates were 12.7% (RP) and 14.1% (SL). The prediction and validation accuracies of the RF-based model were 91.3% and 85.5% respectively. The model can be applied starting in the third month of gestation and is more effective in identifying preterm infants with GA<31 weeks and 6 days (AUC=0.98).Discussion: It was possible to build a prediction model based on easily accessible low-cost data, without the need for complementary tests, providing results similar to those of other studies.Conclusions: Previous preterm birth and prenatal care were determinants. The use of an application for individualized patient monitoring an early stage can have positive effects on the quality of life of mother and child.

Normocephalic Children Exposed to Maternal Zika Virus Infection Do Not Have a Higher Risk of Neurodevelopmental Abnormalities around 24 Months of Age than Unexposed Children: A Controlled Study.

Although very few controlled studies are available, in utero Zika virus (ZIKV)-exposed children are considered at risk for neurodevelopmental abnormalities. We aimed to identify whether there is an excess risk of abnormalities in non-microcephalic children born to mothers with confirmed ZIKV infection compared with ZIKV-unexposed children from the same population. In a cross-sectional study nested in two larger cohorts, we compared 324 ZIKV-exposed children with 984 unexposed controls. Outcomes were assessed using the Bayley Screening Test III applied around 24 months of age. Relative risks for classifying children as emergent or at-risk for neurodevelopmental delay in at least one of five domains were calculated, adjusting for covariates. In four of the five domains, few children were classified as emergent (4-12%) or at-risk (0.3-2.16%) but for the expressive communication domain it was higher for emergent (19.1-42.9%). ZIKV-exposed children were half as frequently classified as emergent, including after adjusting for covariates [RR = 0.52 (CI 95% 0.40; 0.66)]. However, no difference was detected in the at-risk category [RR = 0.83 (CI 95% 0.48; 1.44)]. Normocephalic children exposed to the Zika virus during pregnancy do not have a higher risk of being classified as at risk for neurodevelopmental abnormalities at two years of age.

Sociodemographic and economic characteristics of families and health and education conditions of children in the BRISA cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in sociodemographic, economic and variables related to the characterization of family, health and education during the COVID-19 pandemic in a birth cohort evaluated at 10-11 years of age. METHODS: Cross-sectional study involving 1,033 children from a cohort of children born in 2010/2011, in the city of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Data were collected from July to October 2021 by telephone or video interview held with the person responsible for the child. The questionnaires discussed family organization, child behavior and health, school attendance, socioeconomic assessment and occurrence of COVID-19 during the period of social isolation due to the pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. The chi-square test was used to verify group differences by minimum wages (MW). RESULTS: Of the respondents, 47.6% reported worsening of their financial situation during the pandemic, which was more frequent in the group with a household income <3 MW compared to the group with >6 MW (59.1 vs. 15.7%; p<0.001). According to the respondents, 62% of the children exhibited behavioral changes during the period and anxiety was the most frequently reported condition. In addition, 61.4% of the children had learning difficulties and these problems were more prevalent among children from households with lower incomes compared to those with higher incomes (74.7 vs. 45.1%; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed different economic aspects of families, as well as educational, health and behavioral indicators of children. Lower-income families were the most affected both economically and in terms of other indicators.

Performance of Body Fat Percentage, Fat Mass Index and Body Mass Index for Detecting Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Brazilian Adults.

Obesity is a recognized risk factor for the development of cardiometabolic outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate anthropometric and body composition indicators used for its diagnosis. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of body fat percentage (BF%), fat mass index (FMI) and body mass index (BMI) for detecting cardiometabolic outcomes in adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving adults at 30 years of age from Pelotas, RS (n = 3517) and at 37-39 years from Ribeirão Preto, SP (n = 1696). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the cut-off points for predicting cardiometabolic risk factors, including altered blood pressure, blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDDL-c), C-reactive protein and glycated hemoglobin. The cut-off points of BF% ranged from 25.2 to 27.8 in men and from 37.4 to 39.7 in women at 30 years, and from 26.1 to 27.8 in men and from 38.5 to 42.2 in women at 37-39 years. For FMI (kg/m2), the cut-off points ranged from 6.3 to 7.5 in men and from 9.5 to 10.8 in women at 30 years, and from 7.3 to 7.8 in men and from 10.2 to 12.2 in women at 37-39 years. The BMI cut-off points (kg/m2) ranged from 26.3 to 27.3 in men and from 25.4 to 27.2 in women at 30 years, and from 28.3 to 29.0 in men and from 27.2 to 29.6 in women at 37-39 years. The areas under the curve were similar for the three indicators, ranging from 0.523 to 0.746. BMI showed a performance similar to that of the body fat-based indicators in identifying cardiometabolic outcomes. The cut-off points of the three indicators showed acceptable discriminatory power in subjects with cardiometabolic risk factors.

RANTES and developmental defects of enamel in children: A Brazilian prenatal cohort (BRISA).

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the effect of maternal immunological factors on the etiology of developmental defects of enamel (DDE). RANTES (Regulated on Activation Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted) is a chemokine produced by fibroblasts, lymphoid and epithelial mucosa cells in response to various external stimuli. Despite its importance for embryogenesis, RANTES expression has been demonstrated in multiple diseases characterized by inflammation, tumor and immune response, and wound healing. We hypothesized that altered levels of RANTES during pregnancy are associated with the immune and inflammatory response in women, which could lead to the occurrence of DDE in utero (DDE-iu), directly or mediated by preterm birth. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of serum levels of RANTES in pregnant women in the occurrence of DDE-iu in children. METHODS: This is a longitudinal case-control study. The mothers and their children (327) were evaluated in three moments: prenatal care, post childbirth, and when the child was between 12.3 and 36 months of age. The analysis was performed with structural equation modeling, estimating the standardized coefficient (SC), adopting α = 5%. RESULTS: There was a direct and negative effect of RANTES on the outcome (SC = -0.137; p = 0.022). This association was not mediated by preterm birth (SC = 0.007; P = 0.551). When considering the specific types of DDE-iu, RANTES had a direct effect on hypoplasia (SC = -0.190; p = 0.007), but not on opacity (SC = 0.343; p = 0.074). CONCLUSION: Lower serum levels of RANTES may contribute to a higher number of teeth with DDE-iu, specifically hypoplasia. However, more evidence supported by clinical, laboratory and epidemiological studies is still needed.

Association between the Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods and Asthma in Adults from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Ultra-processed Food (UPF) consumption can play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the consumption of UPF and asthma. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 1857 adults aged 23-25 years from the Ribeirão Preto-SP birth cohort (1978/1979). The exposure variable was the consumption of UPF (expressed as their percentage contribution to energy intake-% total caloric value [%TCV] and their percentage contribution to the amount of food ingested-%grams), which was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. Asthma was the outcome and was defined based on a positive methacholine challenge test and the presence of wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath over the last 12 months. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate the association between these variables. Unadjusted analyses and analyses adjusted for sex, age, household income, smoking, and physical activity level were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of asthma in the sample was 13.2%. The mean total consumption of UPF was 37.9 ± 11.2% TCV (corresponding to 35.1 ± 15.1% grams). There was no association between the consumption of UPF and asthma in adults. CONCLUSION: This study provides no evidence for an association between the consumption of UPF and asthma in young adults.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Allergy Traits at Second Year of Life: BRISA Cohort Study.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSBs) consumption has risen in early life and it is plausible that it might increase children's risk of allergies. In this paper, we analyzed the association of SSB consumption with allergies in children's second year of life. This study analyzed data from a São Luís BRISA prenatal cohort in the follow-up of children (n = 1144) in their second year of life. Allergy Traits were a latent variable deduced from medical diagnoses of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergies. SSBs were investigated as a percentage of daily calories based on 24 h recalls, including industrialized fruit juices, soft drinks, and ready-made chocolate milk. Other variables analyzed were socioeconomic status, age, body mass index z-score, episodes of diarrhea, and breastfeeding. Our finds were that higher consumption of daily calories from SSBs was associated with higher Allergy Trait values (SC = 0.174; p = 0.025); older age (SC = -0.181; p = 0.030) was associated with lower Allergy Trait values; and episodes of diarrhea were correlated with Allergy Traits (SC = 0.287; p = 0.015). SSB exposure was associated with Allergy Traits in children's second year of life; thus, abstaining from these beverages may also confer additional advantages in curtailing allergic diseases during early childhood.

Serum cytokines in second trimester pregnancy and their relationship with spontaneous preterm births in the Ribeirão Preto and São Luiz cohorts.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between second trimester plasma cytokine levels in asymptomatic pregnant women and preterm births (PTB) in an attempt to identify a possible predictor of preterm birth. METHODS: The study design was a nested case-control study including women with singleton a gestational age between 20-25(+ 6) weeks from two Brazilian cities. The patients were interviewed, Venous blood samples were collected. The participants were again evaluated at birth. A total of 197 women with PTB comprised the case group. The control group was selected among term births (426 patients). Forty-one cytokines were compared between groups. RESULTS: When only spontaneous PTB were analyzed, GRO, sCD40L and MCP-1 levels were lower in the case group (p < 0.05). Logarithmic transformation was performed for cytokines with discrepant results, which showed increased levels of IL-2 in the group of spontaneous PTB (p < 0.05). In both analyses, the incidence of maternal smoking and of a history of preterm delivery differed significantly between the case and control groups. In multivariate analysis, only serum GRO levels differed between the case and control groups. CONCLUSION: Lower second trimester serum levels of GRO in asymptomatic women are associated with a larger number of PTB. This finding may reflect a deficient maternal inflammatory response.

Cytokine quantification and association with cervical length in a prospective cohort of pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality; its multifactorial causes are an obstacle to understanding etiology and pathogenesis. The importance of cytokines and inflammation in its etiology and association with the short cervix is nowadays well-proven. To date, there are no reliable biological or biochemical markers to predict preterm birth; even though the length of the cervix has high specificity, its sensitivity with the cervix below 2.5 cm is low. OBJECTIVE: We study the association of plasma cytokine levels and cervical length in search of predictors of preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated a total of 1400 pregnant women carrying a single fetus between 20 and 25 weeks of gestation, and 1370 of them after childbirth in a nested case-control study of a prenatal cohort. Eligible pregnant women were interviewed and submitted to obstetric morphological and transvaginal ultrasound with cervical length measurement, gynecological examination, and blood collection. Preterm birth occurred in 133 women, 129 included in the study, and a control group randomly selected at a 2:1 ratio. A total of 41 cytokines with a higher probability of being associated with preterm birth or being of significance during labor were determined. RESULTS: Cytokine and cervical length analysis by multivariate analysis of the conditional interference tree revealed that growth-related oncogene values of less than 2293 pg/mL were significantly associated with a cervical length of less than 2.5 cm. CONCLUSIONS: As well as a cervical length shorter than 2.5 cm, growth-related oncogene levels of less than 2293 pg/ml may be associated with an increased risk of PB. Analysis based on the association of biomarkers and of the interaction between cytokines is a promising pathway in search of a predictor of preterm birth.

Sociodemographic and reproductive risk factors associated with obesity in a population of brazilian women from the city of Ribeirão Preto: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a highly prevalent chronic disease that is associated with the development of other metabolic comorbidities. Its etiology is complex and multiple risk factors have been reported. In women, weight gain during pregnancy and the effect of pregnancy on subsequent weight gain are important events in women's history. Both pregnancy and postpartum are critical periods for the development of obesity. OBJECTIVES: To identify sociodemographic and reproductive risk factors associated with obesity in women in their fourth decade of life. METHODS: Cohort study conducted on women born from June 1978 to May 1979 in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Sociodemographic, clinical, and obstetric data were collected by interview and clinical evaluation. Univariable and multivariable binomial logistic regression models were constructed to identify the risk factors of obesity and the adjusted relative risk (RR) was calculated. RESULTS: The cohort included 916 women and 309 (33.7%) of them were obese. Obesity was associated with low educational level (RR 1.77, 95%CI 1.33-2.35) and teenage pregnancy (RR 1.46, 95%CI 1.10-1.93). There was no association of obesity with the other covariates studied. CONCLUSION: Obesity is associated with years of schooling and teenage pregnancy.

Sleep characteristics and excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents and adults: results from the birth cohorts of three Brazilian cities - RPS Consortium.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of insufficient sleep duration, long sleep latency, terminal or maintenance insomnia, subjective sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness among participants of birth cohorts conducted in three Brazilian cities, and to evaluate differences in prevalence rates within cohorts according to sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: Cross-sectional analyses involving adolescents and adults participating in four birth cohorts conducted in Ribeirão Preto (RP78 and RP94), Pelotas (PEL93) and São Luís (SL97/98). Sleep duration, latency, terminal or maintenance insomnia, and subjective sleep quality were obtained through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; and excessive daytime sleepiness was assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Differences in the prevalence of the outcomes were analyzed in each cohort according to sociodemographic characteristics (skin color, marital status, socioeconomic status, study and working at the time of the interview) stratified by sex. RESULTS: Insufficient sleep duration was the most common outcome at the four cohorts, with higher frequency among men. Long latency was more frequently reported by young adult women in RP94 and PEL93 cohorts, and insomnia by women of the four cohorts, when compared to men of the same age. Women generally suffered more from excessive daytime sleepiness and evaluated the quality of their sleep more negatively than men. In addition to sex, being a student and working were associated with the largest number of outcomes in both sexes. CONCLUSION: Sleep disorders are more prevalent in women, reinforcing the need for greater investment in sleep health in Brazil, without disregarding gender and socioeconomic determinants.

Why are pediatricians uncomfortable with prescribing emergency contraception for adolescents?

OBJECTIVE: Emergency contraception (EC) is an effective and safe method for preventing unplanned pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse among adolescents but is infrequently prescribed by pediatricians. Because of the scarcity of data on the discomfort with EC prescription among physicians in Brazil, this study aimed to identify associated factors with discomfort with EC prescription among pediatricians in the state of Amazonas. METHODS: A web-based, cross-sectional study including sociodemographic data, knowledge, attitudes, and discomfort with EC prescription was used. Multivariate logistic regression and artificial intelligence methods such as decision tree and random forest analysis were used to identify factors associated with discomfort with EC prescriptions. RESULTS: Among 151 physicians who responded to the survey, 53.0% were uncomfortable with prescribing EC, whereas only 33.1% had already prescribed it. Inexperience was significantly associated with discomfort with EC prescription (odds ratio 4.47, 95% confidence interval 1.71-11.66). Previous EC prescription was protective against discomfort with EC prescription in the three models. CONCLUSIONS: EC is still infrequently prescribed by pediatricians because of inexperience and misconceptions. Training these professionals needs to be implemented as part of public health policies to reduce unplanned adolescent pregnancy.

Association between neonatal near miss and infant development: the Ribeirão Preto and São Luís birth cohorts (BRISA).

AIM: To analyze the association between neonatal near miss and infant development at two years. METHODS: Data from two birth cohorts, one conducted in Ribeirão Preto (RP)/São Paulo and the other in São Luís (SL)/Maranhão, were used. The cognitive, motor and communication development of children was evaluated using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley-III). The following criteria were used for the definition of NNM: birth weight < 1,500 g, 5-min Apgar score < 7, gestational age < 32 weeks, and report of congenital malformations. The relationship between neonatal near miss and development was assessed using the weighted propensity score from the Inverse Probability of Treatment Weighting (IPTW). A directed acyclic graph was built to select the adjustment variables. RESULTS: A total of 1,050 mother-newborn dyads were evaluated in SL and 1,840 in RP. Regarding outcomes in SL and RP, respectively, 2.4% and 17.3% of the children were not competent in the cognitive domain, 12.1% and 13.3% in the receptive communication domain, 39.2% and 47.1% in the expressive communication domain, 20.7% and 12.6% in the fine motor domain, and 14.3% and 13.8% in the gross motor domain. The prevalence of neonatal near miss was 5.4% in SL and 4.3% in RP. Unadjusted analysis showed an association of neonatal near miss with fine motor development in SL and RP and with the cognitive, receptive communication, expressive communication, and gross motor domains only in RP. These associations remained after adjusted analysis. CONCLUSION: Neonatal near miss is a risk factor for developmental delays.

High Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Is Associated with Low Bone Mineral Density in Young People: The Brazilian Birth Cohort Consortium.

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption may be associated with a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the consumption of SSB and BMD among young people. We performed a cross-sectional study that evaluated 6620 young people (18-23 years of age) from three Brazilian birth cohorts (Ribeirão Preto, Pelotas, and São Luís). We analyzed the daily frequency and the amount and energy contribution of the SSB, which were obtained through a food frequency questionnaire. Total body and lumbar spine BMD (g/cm2), measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, were the outcomes. Unadjusted linear regression models, adjusted for sex, socioeconomic class, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index were used. The highest tertile of SSB consumption frequency (2.1-16.7 times/day) was associated with a lower lumbar spine BMD (ß = -0.009; 95% CI: -0.017; -0.001; standardized ß = -0.03). This association persisted after adjustment for confounders (ß = -0.008; 95% CI: -0.016; -0.001; standardized ß = -0.03). No association was observed between SSB consumption frequency and total body BMD or between the amount and energy contribution of SSB and total body or lumbar spine BMD. A high frequency of SSB consumption was associated with a low lumbar spine BMD.

Dietary pattern changes, obesity and excess body fat in adults of a Brazilian birth cohort.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have assessed dietary patterns (DPs) and the changes in these patterns over time in adults. The present study aimed to investigate whether possible changes in DPs in two assessments are associated with obesity and excess body fat. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in which data were collected from 1082 adults of a Brazilian birth cohort during two periods 15 years apart (T1: 2002-2004; T2: 2016-2017). Food consumption was assessed in both periods using validated food frequency questionnaires. Three similar DPs were found in the two assessments, and adherence to these patterns was classified as prudent, risk or mixed. Nine DPs changes were defined. At T2, subjects with a body mass index ≥ 30.0 kg m- ² were classified as obese, and men and women with a body fat (BF) percentage ≥ 25.0 and ≥ 35.0, respectively, were classified as having excess BF. A directed acyclic graph was built to adjust the association for confounding variables. RESULTS: At T2, 34.4% of the subjects were obese and 61.4% had excess BF. In the adjusted analysis, the changes associated with obesity and excess BF were prudent-mixed (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-2.29 and PR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.10-1.65), risk-risk (PR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.03-2.13 and PR = 1.27; 95% CI = 1.04-1.53), risk-mixed (PR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.05-2.31 and PR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.07-1.63) and mixed-risk (PR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.10-2.35 and PR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.04-1.58). CONCLUSIONS: A decline in food quality over time or stagnation in an unhealthy DP can lead to obesity and excess BF.

Why are pediatricians uncomfortable with prescribing emergency contraception for adolescents? / Por que os pediatras têm desconforto para prescrever contracepção de emergência para adolescentes?

Abstract Objective: Emergency contraception (EC) is an effective and safe method for preventing unplanned pregnancy after unprotected sexual intercourse among adolescents but is infrequently prescribed by pediatricians. Because of the scarcity of data on the discomfort with EC prescription among physicians in Brazil, this study aimed to identify associated factors with discomfort with EC prescription among pediatricians in the state of Amazonas. Methods: A web-based, cross-sectional study including sociodemographic data, knowledge, attitudes, and discomfort with EC prescription was used. Multivariate logistic regression and artificial intelligence methods such as decision tree and random forest analysis were used to identify factors associated with discomfort with EC prescriptions. Results: Among 151 physicians who responded to the survey, 53.0% were uncomfortable with prescribing EC, whereas only 33.1% had already prescribed it. Inexperience was significantly associated with discomfort with EC prescription (odds ratio 4.47, 95% confidence interval 1.71-11.66). Previous EC prescription was protective against discomfort with EC prescription in the three models. Conclusions: EC is still infrequently prescribed by pediatricians because of inexperience and misconceptions. Training these professionals needs to be implemented as part of public health policies to reduce unplanned adolescent pregnancy.

RESUMO Objetivo: A contracepção de emergência (CE) é um método eficaz e seguro para prevenir gravidez não planejada após relação sexual desprotegida entre adolescentes, mas raramente prescrito por pediatras. Diante da escassez de dados sobre o desconforto com a prescrição de CE entre médicos no Brasil, o objetivo deste estudo foi identificar fatores associados a esse desconforto entre pediatras do estado do Amazonas. Métodos: Uma pesquisa do tipo e-survey coletou dados sociodemográficos, conhecimento, atitudes e desconforto com relação à prescrição de CE. Métodos de regressão logística multivariada e inteligência artificial, como árvore de decisão e random forest, foram usados para identificar fatores associados ao desconforto para a prescrição de CE. Resultados: Entre os 151 médicos que responderam à pesquisa, 53,0% sentiam-se desconfortáveis para prescrever CE e apenas 33,1% já a haviam prescrito. A inexperiência foi associada a esse desconforto (odds ratio — OR 4,47, intervalo de confiança — IC95% 1,71-11,66). A prescrição prévia de CE foi fator de proteção com relação ao desconforto nos três modelos. Conclusões: A CE ainda é pouco prescrita por pediatras. Apesar de sua segurança e eficácia, a inexperiência e conceitos equivocados foram associados ao desconforto para sua prescrição. Investigações sobre o assunto são importantes para subsidiar políticas públicas de saúde para a redução da gravidez não intencional na adolescência.

Sleep characteristics and excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents and adults: results from the birth cohorts of three Brazilian cities — RPS Consortium / Características do sono e sonolência diurna excessiva em adolescentes e adultos: resultados das coortes de nascimento de três cidades brasileiras - Consórcio RPS

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the prevalence of insufficient sleep duration, long sleep latency, terminal or maintenance insomnia, subjective sleep quality, and excessive daytime sleepiness among participants of birth cohorts conducted in three Brazilian cities, and to evaluate differences in prevalence rates within cohorts according to sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: Cross-sectional analyses involving adolescents and adults participating in four birth cohorts conducted in Ribeirão Preto (RP78 and RP94), Pelotas (PEL93) and São Luís (SL97/98). Sleep duration, latency, terminal or maintenance insomnia, and subjective sleep quality were obtained through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; and excessive daytime sleepiness was assessed using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Differences in the prevalence of the outcomes were analyzed in each cohort according to sociodemographic characteristics (skin color, marital status, socioeconomic status, study and working at the time of the interview) stratified by sex. Results: Insufficient sleep duration was the most common outcome at the four cohorts, with higher frequency among men. Long latency was more frequently reported by young adult women in RP94 and PEL93 cohorts, and insomnia by women of the four cohorts, when compared to men of the same age. Women generally suffered more from excessive daytime sleepiness and evaluated the quality of their sleep more negatively than men. In addition to sex, being a student and working were associated with the largest number of outcomes in both sexes. Conclusion: Sleep disorders are more prevalent in women, reinforcing the need for greater investment in sleep health in Brazil, without disregarding gender and socioeconomic determinants.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever a prevalência de duração do sono, latência, insônia terminal, qualidade subjetiva do sono e sonolência diurna excessiva entre participantes de coortes de nascimentos realizadas em três cidades brasileiras, bem como avaliar as diferenças nas taxas de prevalência das coortes de acordo com características sociodemográficas. Métodos: Análises transversais envolvendo participantes de quatro coortes de nascimento realizadas em Ribeirão Preto (RP78 e RP94), Pelotas (PEL93) e São Luís (SL97). A duração, a latência, a insônia terminal e a qualidade subjetiva do sono foram obtidas por meio do Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh; e a sonolência diurna excessiva foi avaliada pela Escala de Sonolência de Epworth. As diferenças na prevalência dos desfechos foram analisadas em cada coorte segundo características sociodemográficas estratificadas por sexo. Resultados: A duração insuficiente do sono foi o desfecho mais comum nas quatro coortes, com maior frequência entre os homens. Latência longa foi mais frequentemente relatada por mulheres adultas jovens nas coortes RP94 e PEL93, e insônia por mulheres das quatro coortes, quando comparadas a homens da mesma idade. As mulheres geralmente sofriam mais com sonolência diurna excessiva e avaliavam a qualidade do sono de forma mais negativa do que os homens. Além do sexo, ser estudante e trabalhar estiveram associados ao maior número de desfechos em ambos os sexos. Conclusão: Os distúrbios do sono são mais prevalentes em mulheres, reforçando a necessidade de maior investimento na saúde do sono no Brasil, sem desconsiderar gênero e determinantes socioeconômicos.

Sociodemographic and economic characteristics of families and health and education conditions of children in the BRISA cohort during the COVID-19 pandemic / Características sociodemográficas e econômicas das famílias e condições de saúde e educação das crianças da coorte BRISA durante a pandemia de COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe changes in sociodemographic, economic and variables related to the characterization of family, health and education during the COVID-19 pandemic in a birth cohort evaluated at 10-11 years of age. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 1,033 children from a cohort of children born in 2010/2011, in the city of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Data were collected from July to October 2021 by telephone or video interview held with the person responsible for the child. The questionnaires discussed family organization, child behavior and health, school attendance, socioeconomic assessment and occurrence of COVID-19 during the period of social isolation due to the pandemic. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the data. The chi-square test was used to verify group differences by minimum wages (MW). Results: Of the respondents, 47.6% reported worsening of their financial situation during the pandemic, which was more frequent in the group with a household income <3 MW compared to the group with >6 MW (59.1 vs. 15.7%; p<0.001). According to the respondents, 62% of the children exhibited behavioral changes during the period and anxiety was the most frequently reported condition. In addition, 61.4% of the children had learning difficulties and these problems were more prevalent among children from households with lower incomes compared to those with higher incomes (74.7 vs. 45.1%; p<0.001). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed different economic aspects of families, as well as educational, health and behavioral indicators of children. Lower-income families were the most affected both economically and in terms of other indicators.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever as alterações nas características sociodemográficas, econômicas e variáveis relacionadas à caracterização da família, saúde e educação durante a pandemia da COVID-19, em uma coorte de nascimento avaliada aos 10-11 anos de idade. Métodos: Estudo transversal envolvendo 1.033 crianças de uma coorte de nascidos em 2010/2011, na cidade de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas por telefone ou videochamada com o responsável pela criança, no período de julho a outubro de 2021. Os questionários abordaram informações sobre a organização familiar, comportamento e saúde da criança, acompanhamento escolar, avaliação socioeconômica e ocorrência da COVID-19 durante o período de isolamento social. Foi realizada estatística descritiva. O teste qui-quadrado foi utilizado para verificar diferenças de grupos por salários-mínimos (SM). Resultados: Dos entrevistados, 47,6% relataram piora na condição financeira durante a pandemia, sendo a piora econômica mais frequente no grupo de renda familiar <3 SM em comparação ao grupo de >6 SM (59,1 vs. 15,7%; p<0,001). Segundo os responsáveis, 62% das crianças apresentaram mudança de comportamento durante o período, sendo a ansiedade relatada com mais frequência. Ainda, 61,4% das crianças apresentaram dificuldades de aprendizagem, e o prejuízo foi mais acentuado naquelas de menor renda familiar em comparação às de maior renda (74,7 vs. 45,1%; p<0,001). Conclusão: A pandemia da COVID-19 alterou diferentes aspectos econômicos das famílias, assim como indicadores educacionais, de saúde e de comportamento das crianças. As famílias de menor renda foram as mais prejudicadas tanto do ponto de vista econômico como nos demais indicadores.

Factors associated with allergy traits around the 2nd year of life: a brazilian cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Allergic status has been strongly influenced by early exposures; however, allergic diseases are hard to measure in early life. Thus, this study proposed a latent variable allergy traits around the second year of life and analyzed pre- and perinatal factors associated with this phenomenon. METHODS: The study used data from the BRISA birth cohort, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil (n = 3644). The theoretical model included: family allergy (history of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma); gestational period variables (socioeconomic status, mother's skin color, pregestational body mass index - BMI, smoking, gestational diabetes, and hypertension); birth variables (gestational age, 5-minute Apgar score, birth weight, type of delivery), and early life factor (exclusive breast feeding). The outcome was allergy traits around the 2nd year of life, a latent variable deduced from the shared variance among medical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and food allergy. The model was analyzed by structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Higher socioeconomic status (SC = 0.256; p < 0.001) and higher family allergy values (SC = 1.224; p < 0.001) were associated with higher allergy trait values. Hypertension during pregnancy was associated with higher values (SC = 0.170; p = 0.022) and exclusive breast feeding (SC = -0.192; p < 0.001) with low allergy trait values. CONCLUSION: Although socioeconomic and environmental factors were associated with allergy traits around the 2nd year of life, the family component of allergy was the exposure that best explained this outcome.

Ultra-processed food consumption is associated with increase in fat mass and decrease in lean mass in Brazilian women: A cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the association between ultra-processed food consumption at 23-25 years of age and measurements of body composition-fat mass, fat mass distribution and lean mass at 37-39 years of age in Brazilian adults. Methods: 1978/1979 birth cohort study conducted with healthy adults from Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 1,021 individuals participated in the fat mass analysis (measured by air displacement plethysmography) and 815 in the lean mass analysis and fat mass distribution (assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry). Food consumption was evaluated by a food frequency questionnaire. Food items were grouped according to the level of processing as per the NOVA classification. Ultra-processed food consumption was expressed as a percentage of total daily intake (g/day). Linear regression models were used to estimate the effect of ultra-processed food consumption (g/day) on body mass index, body fat percentage, fat mass index, android fat, gynoid fat, android-gynoid fat ratio, lean mass percentage, lean mass index and appendicular lean mass index. Marginal plots were produced to visualize interactions. Results: The mean daily ultra-processed food consumption in grams was 35.8% (813.3 g). There was an association between ultra-processed food consumption and increase in body mass index, body fat percentage, fat mass index, android fat and gynoid fat and decrease in lean mass percentage, only in women. Conclusion: A high ultra-processed food consumption is associated with a long-term increase in fat mass and a decrease in lean mass in adult women.