Exposure to intimate partner violence and lack of asthma control in adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic airway disease that affects 339 million people worldwide. It is a heterogeneous disease with different risks, including in family environments, where intimate partner violence occurs. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the possible association between psychosocial factors and asthma control in adults exposed to intimate partner violence. DESIGN AND SETTING: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Brazilian public higher education institution in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: The study population consisted of adults clinically diagnosed with severe asthma and those with mild/moderate asthma identified at an asthma referral outpatient clinic. The sample comprised 492 participants who underwent clinical evaluation and completed questionnaires to assess asthma control, depression, stress, and resilience. The Conflict Tactics Scale, which measures tactics for managing marital conflicts, was used to estimate the level of intimate partner violence. RESULTS: Of the 492 participants, 76.2% were women and 91% self-referenced color black/brown, 37.8% reported low family income, 87.4% reported low education level, 71.7% reported high stress, 32.5% reported low resilience, 18.5% reported moderate or severe depression, 83.3% reported resolute negotiation, 49.4% reported major psychological aggression, 19.6% reported major physical aggression, 15.5% reported major injury, and 7.3% reported major sexual coercion. Regression analysis revealed that sex was an effect modifier. CONCLUSION: Women in situations of social vulnerability, with low income and poor education, with depression, severe asthma, and those who used aggression to resolve marital conflicts had a profile associated with a lack of asthma control.

Association of sex and training phase with physical activity and sedentary behavior in nursing students / Associação do sexo e fase de formação com atividade física e comportamento sedentário em universitários de enfermagem

Abstract Physical Insufficient levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior are highly prevalent worldwide and associated with cardiometabolic diseases and may vary according to gender and academic training. The objective was to investigate the association of sex and academic training with the level of physical activity and time spent in sedentary behavior in nursing students. It is a cross-sectional study with 286 nursing students from a public university. A sociodemographic and academic characterization instrument and an extended version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were applied. Data were analyzed descriptively and by Pearson's Chi-Square/Fisher's Exact test. The significance level was 5%. 65.7% of university students were active. Men were more active in leisure (p=0.000) and commuting (p=0.03). There was no association between sex and semester and total physical activity level. The prevalence of time in sedentary behavior ≥ 8 h/day for seven, five days, and weekends were 39.3%, 57.1%, and 21.4% for men and 55.0%, 65.1%, and 43.0% for women. A more significant proportion of women showed time in sedentary behavior ≥ 8 h/day on weekends (p=0.015) than men. A higher proportion between the 1st and 5th semesters remained ≥ 8 h/day in sedentary behavior on seven (p=0.024) and five days (p=0.001) week compared to those between the 6th and 10th semesters. The prevalence of insufficient physical activity levels and a long time in sedentary behavior were high and influenced by gender and training phase. Men were more active in commuting and leisure than women. Sedentary behavior is associated with gender and a training phase.

Resumo Nível insuficiente de atividade física e comportamento sedentário estão associados a doenças cardiometabólicas e apresentam prevalências elevadas mundialmente e podem variar entre sexo e fase de formação de universitários (as) em enfermagem. Objetivou-se investigar a associação do sexo e da fase de formação acadêmica com o nível de atividade física e tempo em comportamento sedentário em universitários de enfermagem. Estudo transversal, com 286 universitários de enfermagem de uma Universidade pública. Aplicou-se instrumento de caracterização sociodemográfica, acadêmica e versão longa do Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física, analisados descritivamente e pelo teste Qui-Quadrado de Pearson/Exato de Fisher. O nível de significância foi de 5%. 65,7% dos universitários eram ativos. Homens foram mais ativos no lazer (p=0,000) e deslocamento (p=0,03). Não houve associação do sexo e do semestre com nível de atividade física total. As prevalências do tempo em comportamento sedentário ≥ 8 h/dia, durante sete, cinco dias e final de semana foram, respectivamente, 39,3%, 57,1% e 21,4% para homens e 55,0%, 65,1% e 43,0% para mulheres. Maior proporção de mulheres apresentou tempo em comportamento sedentário ≥ 8 h/dia no final de semana (p=0,015). Maior proporção entre o 1º e 5º semestres permaneciam ≥ 8 h/dia em comportamento sedentário em sete (p=0.024) e cinco dias (p=0.001) na semana comparados àqueles entre o 6º e 10º semestre. As prevalências do nível insuficiente de atividade física e tempo elevado em comportamento sedentário foram altas. Homens foram mais ativos no deslocamento e no lazer do que as mulheres. Comportamento sedentário se associou ao gênero e a fase de formação.

Exposure to intimate partner violence and lack of asthma control in adults: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic airway disease that affects 339 million people worldwide. It is a heterogeneous disease with different risks, including in family environments, where intimate partner violence occurs. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the possible association between psychosocial factors and asthma control in adults exposed to intimate partner violence. DESIGN AND SETTING: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a Brazilian public higher education institution in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. METHODS: The study population consisted of adults clinically diagnosed with severe asthma and those with mild/moderate asthma identified at an asthma referral outpatient clinic. The sample comprised 492 participants who underwent clinical evaluation and completed questionnaires to assess asthma control, depression, stress, and resilience. The Conflict Tactics Scale, which measures tactics for managing marital conflicts, was used to estimate the level of intimate partner violence. RESULTS: Of the 492 participants, 76.2% were women and 91% self-referenced color black/brown, 37.8% reported low family income, 87.4% reported low education level, 71.7% reported high stress, 32.5% reported low resilience, 18.5% reported moderate or severe depression, 83.3% reported resolute negotiation, 49.4% reported major psychological aggression, 19.6% reported major physical aggression, 15.5% reported major injury, and 7.3% reported major sexual coercion. Regression analysis revealed that sex was an effect modifier. CONCLUSION: Women in situations of social vulnerability, with low income and poor education, with depression, severe asthma, and those who used aggression to resolve marital conflicts had a profile associated with a lack of asthma control.

Simple Echocardiographic Parameters are Strong Predictors of the Cardiovascular Risk in Asymptomatic Individuals: Elsa-Brasil Cohort. / Parâmetros Ecocardiográficos Simples são Fortes Preditores de Risco Cardiovascular em Indivíduos Assintomáticos: Coorte Elsa-Brasil.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have evaluated echocardiographic abnormalities as predictors of cardiovascular risk; however, none have associated the global cardiovascular risk with echocardiographic abnormalities in the Brazilian population. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the association between the global cardiovascular risk (ASCVD score) and three echocardiographic abnormalities: left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), and increased left atrium (LA) volume. METHODS: The study population was composed of participants from ELSA-Brasil who underwent echocardiography between 2008 and 2010 (n = 2973). They were asymptomatic and had no history of cardiovascular disease. The ASCVD score was calculated in two periods: 2008-2010 and 2012-2014. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: There is an association between echocardiographic abnormalities and high global cardiovascular risk (ASCVD score ≥ 7.5) in both study periods, separately. The combined global risk (low risk in the first period and high risk in the second period) was significantly associated only with LVDD (PR = 3.68, CI 95% 2.63-5.15) and LVH (PR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.62-3.00). CONCLUSION: Echocardiographic abnormalities (LVDD, LVH, and increased LA volume) are independent predictors of cardiovascular risk in Brazilian adults.

FUNDAMENTO: vários estudos avaliam alterações ecocardiográficas como preditores de risco cardiovascular; entretanto, nenhum associa risco cardiovascular global com alterações ecocardiográficas em brasileiros. OBJETIVO: Este estudo avalia a associação entre risco cardiovascular global (ASCVD) e achados ecocardiográficos como hipertrofia ventricular esquerda (HVE), disfunção diastólica (DDVE) e aumento do volume do átrio esquerdo (AE). MÉTODOS: A população foi composta por participantes do ELSA-Brasil que realizaram ecocardiografia entre 2008 e 2010 (n = 2.973). Eram assintomáticos e não tinham história de doença cardiovascular (DCV). O escore ASCVD foi calculado em dois períodos: 2008-2010 e 2012-2014. Razões de prevalência (RP) foram estimadas com intervalos de confiança (IC) de 95%. RESULTADOS: Evidenciou-se associação entre alterações ecocardiográficas e alto risco cardiovascular global (escore ASCVD ≥ 7,5) nos dois períodos do estudo, separadamente. O risco global combinado (baixo risco no primeiro período e alto risco no segundo período) teve associação significativa apenas com DDVE (RP = 3,68; IC 95%: 2,63-5,15) e HVE (RP = 2,20; IC 95%: 1,62­3,00). CONCLUSÃO: Alterações ecocardiográficas (DDVE, HVE e aumento do volume do AE) são preditores independentes de risco cardiovascular em adultos brasileiros sem DCV prévias.

Parâmetros Ecocardiográficos Simples são Fortes Preditores de Risco Cardiovascular em Indivíduos Assintomáticos: Coorte Elsa-Brasil / Simple Echocardiographic Parameters are Strong Predictors of the Cardiovascular Risk in Asymptomatic Individuals: Elsa-Brasil Cohort

Resumo Fundamento vários estudos avaliam alterações ecocardiográficas como preditores de risco cardiovascular; entretanto, nenhum associa risco cardiovascular global com alterações ecocardiográficas em brasileiros. Objetivo Este estudo avalia a associação entre risco cardiovascular global (ASCVD) e achados ecocardiográficos como hipertrofia ventricular esquerda (HVE), disfunção diastólica (DDVE) e aumento do volume do átrio esquerdo (AE). Métodos A população foi composta por participantes do ELSA-Brasil que realizaram ecocardiografia entre 2008 e 2010 (n = 2.973). Eram assintomáticos e não tinham história de doença cardiovascular (DCV). O escore ASCVD foi calculado em dois períodos: 2008-2010 e 2012-2014. Razões de prevalência (RP) foram estimadas com intervalos de confiança (IC) de 95%. Resultados Evidenciou-se associação entre alterações ecocardiográficas e alto risco cardiovascular global (escore ASCVD ≥ 7,5) nos dois períodos do estudo, separadamente. O risco global combinado (baixo risco no primeiro período e alto risco no segundo período) teve associação significativa apenas com DDVE (RP = 3,68; IC 95%: 2,63-5,15) e HVE (RP = 2,20; IC 95%: 1,62-3,00). Conclusão Alterações ecocardiográficas (DDVE, HVE e aumento do volume do AE) são preditores independentes de risco cardiovascular em adultos brasileiros sem DCV prévias.

Abstract Background Several studies have evaluated echocardiographic abnormalities as predictors of cardiovascular risk; however, none have associated the global cardiovascular risk with echocardiographic abnormalities in the Brazilian population. Objective This study evaluates the association between the global cardiovascular risk (ASCVD score) and three echocardiographic abnormalities: left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), and increased left atrium (LA) volume. Methods The study population was composed of participants from ELSA-Brasil who underwent echocardiography between 2008 and 2010 (n = 2973). They were asymptomatic and had no history of cardiovascular disease. The ASCVD score was calculated in two periods: 2008-2010 and 2012-2014. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results There is an association between echocardiographic abnormalities and high global cardiovascular risk (ASCVD score ≥ 7.5) in both study periods, separately. The combined global risk (low risk in the first period and high risk in the second period) was significantly associated only with LVDD (PR = 3.68, CI 95% 2.63-5.15) and LVH (PR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.62-3.00). Conclusion Echocardiographic abnormalities (LVDD, LVH, and increased LA volume) are independent predictors of cardiovascular risk in Brazilian adults.

Highly Accurate Chimeric Proteins for the Serological Diagnosis of Chronic Chagas Disease: A Latent Class Analysis.

The existence of an imperfect reference standard presents complications when evaluating the unbiased performance of novel diagnostic techniques. This is especially true in the absence of a gold standard, as is the case in chronic Chagas disease (CD) diagnosis. To circumvent this constraint, we elected to use latent class analysis (LCA). Previously, our group demonstrated the high performance of four Trypanosoma cruzi-chimeric proteins (Molecular Biology Institute of Paraná [IBMP]-8.1, -8.2, -8.3, and -8.4) for CD diagnosis using several distinct immunoassays. Although commercial tests had previously been established as a reference standard, the diagnostic performance of these chimeric antigens could present bias because these tests fail to produce 100% accurate results. Thus, we used LCA to assess the performance of these IBMP chimeric antigens in chronic CD diagnosis. Using the LCA model as a gold standard, sensitivity and specificity values ranged from 93.5% to 99.4% and 99.6% to 100%, respectively. The accuracy values were 96.2% for IBMP-8.2, approximately 98% for IBMP-8.1 and IBMP-8.3, and nearly 100% for IBMP-8.4. For IBMP-8.1 and IBMP-8.2, higher positive predictive values were associated with increases in hypothetical prevalence. Similarly, higher hypothetical prevalence resulted in lower negative predictive values for IBMP-8.1, IBMP-8.2, and IBMP-8.3. In addition, samples with serodiscordant results from commercial serological tests were analyzed using LCA. Molecular Biology Institute of Paraná -8.1 demonstrated potential for use in confirmatory testing with regard to samples with inconsistent results. Moreover, our findings further confirmed the remarkable performance of the IBMP-8.4 antigen to diagnose chronic CD in both endemic and non-endemic areas.

Acesso aos serviços de saúde: fatores associados ao envolvimento de gestantes com drogas / Access to health services: factors associated to the involvement of pregnant women with drugs / Acceso a los servicios de salud: factores asociados al envolvimiento de gestantes con drogas

O envolvimento com o álcool e outras drogas é um fator de vulnerabilidade para as mulheres, sobretudo na fase da gestação. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a associação entre as características de acesso aos serviços de saúde e o envolvimento de gestantes com álcool e outras drogas. Estudo transversal realizado com 268 gestantes cadastradas no programa de pré-natal de uma maternidade pública de Salvador (BA). Houve predomínio de gestantes na faixa etária de 20 e 29 anos (57,8%). Do total, 82,2% fazia uso exclusivo de serviços públicos de saúde e tiveram acesso imediato ao pré-natal, 83,6% não participaram de atividades educativas e 51,1% não receberam orientação sobre drogas. Concluiu-se que, embora não tenha havido associação estatística, o envolvimento com as drogas pode influenciar na adesão e qualidade do pré-natal, o que torna imperiosa a realização de intervenções assistenciais direcionadas às necessidades das gestantes e de seus companheiros.

Involvement with alcohol and other drugs is a vulnerability factor for women, overall when pregnant. The objectof the paper is to verify association among characteristics of access to health services and involvement of pregnantwomen with alcohol and other drugs. A cross-sectional study, performed with 268 pregnant women registered in aprenatal program of a public maternity in Salvador (BA). There was a predominance of pregnant women in theage group of 20 to 29 years (57.8%). Out of the total, 82.2% made exclusive use of public health services and hadimmediate access to prenatal care (82.2%), 83.6% did not participate in educational activities and 51.1% didnot receive guidance on drugs. The information demonstrates that despite not having any statistical association,involvement with drugs can influence compliance and quality of prenatal care, which causes the necessity of careintervention, guided to the requirements of the pregnant woman and companions.

Envolvimiento con alcohol y otras drogas es un factor de vulnerabilidad para mujeres, especialmente cuando estánembarazadas. El objetivo del trabajo es verificar la asociación entre características de acceso a los servicios de salud yel envolvimiento de gestantes con alcohol y otras drogas. Estudio transversal realizado con 268 gestantes catastradasen el programa de prenatal de una maternidad pública de Salvador (BA). Hubo predominio de gestantes en el grupode edad de 20 y 29 años (57,8%). Del total, 82,2% hacia uso exclusivo de servicios públicos de salud y tuvieron accesoinmediato al prenatal (82,2%), 83,6% no participaron de actividades educativas y 51,1% no recibieron orientaciónsobre drogas. Los datos muestran que aunque no haya tenido asociación estadística, el envolvimiento con drogaspuede influenciar en la adhesión y calidad del prenatal, lo que torna necesario la realización de intervencionesasistenciales, direccionadas a las necesidades de las gestantes y sus compañeros.