Neuropsychiatric Inventory in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) can be a prodrome of dementia, and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is widely used for BPSD evaluation. OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of BPSD according to cognitive status, and to determine NPI cutoffs that best discern individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia from those without dementia. METHODS: We included 1,565 participants (mean age = 72.7±12.2 years, 48% male). BPSD and cognitive status were assessed with the NPI and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR). We used multivariable logistic regression models to investigate the association of BPSD with cognitive status. The area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess model discrimination, and to determine the best NPI cutoff for MCI and dementia. RESULTS: Participants were cognitively normal (CDR = 0; n = 1,062), MCI (CDR = 0.5; n = 145), or dementia (CDR≥1.0, n = 358). NPI symptoms were more frequent in dementia and MCI when compared to cognitively normal. Higher odds for delusions, hallucinations, disinhibition, and psychomotor alterations were found among participants with dementia and MCI than in those who were cognitively normal. The best NPI cutoff to discern participants with dementia from those cognitively normal was 11 (AUC = 0.755). Poor discrimination (AUC = 0.563) was found for the comparison of MCI and those cognitively normal. CONCLUSIONS: We found an increase in BPSD frequencies across the continuum of cognitive impairment. BPSD severity and frequency in MCI was more similar to individuals cognitively normal than with dementia. NPI scores≥to 11 in individuals with no diagnosis of dementia can support the decision for further investigation of dementia.

[SUS management and monitoring and evaluation practices: possibilities and challenges for building a strategic agenda]. / A gestão do SUS e as práticas de monitoramento e avaliação: possibilidades e desafios para a construção de uma agenda estratégica.

This paper deals with the challenges involved in institutionalizing Monitoring and Evaluation practices within the scope of management of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), based on the creation of a strategic agenda. This is structured around actions by the Federal Administration, from the perspective of defining the scope of the federative relationship. A summarized literature review is thus presented, placing into context the current SUS management process, which is based on the Pact for Health as well as theoretical and operational aspects inherent to monitoring and evaluation practices. The approach related to the strategic agenda highlights the creation of mechanisms that underpin the political and institutional decision, namely the creation of financial incentives and the development of technical mechanisms. These include organizational strategies for qualifying management teams and conducting studies and research and the dissemination of strategic information. These processes are based on the concept of providing for the management specificities in the different spheres of management based on a broad cooperation process involving teaching and research institutions and international organizations as well as the managers themselves.

A gestão do SUS e as práticas de monitoramento e avaliação: possibilidades e desafios para a construção de uma agenda estratégica / SUS management and monitoring and evaluation practices: possibilities and challenges for building a strategic agenda

O presente artigo trata dos desafios de se institucionalizar as práticas de Monitoramento e Avaliação no âmbito da Gestão do Sistema Único de Saúde, tendo como base a construção de uma agenda estratégica, organizada a partir das ações do Gestor Federal, na perspectiva de qualificar o espaço da relação federativa. Para tanto é apresentada uma revisão sumária da literatura, contextualizando o atual processo da gestão do SUS, que tem como base o Pacto pela Saúde, como também aspectos teóricos e operacionais inerentes às práticas do monitoramento e avaliação. A abordagem relacionada à agenda estratégica destaca a criação de mecanismos que articulam a decisão político-institucional, a criação de incentivos financeiros, o desenvolvimento de mecanismos técnicos; estratégias organizacionais de qualificação das equipes gestores; a realização de estudos e pesquisa e a divulgação de informações estratégicas, processos estes pautados pela concepção de atender as especificidades da gestão nas suas diferentes esferas e tendo como base um amplo processo de cooperação envolvendo, além dos gestores, as instituições de ensino e pesquisa e as organizações internacionais.

This paper deals with the challenges involved in institutionalizing Monitoring and Evaluation practices within the scope of management of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), based on the creation of a strategic agenda. This is structured around actions by the Federal Administration, from the perspective of defining the scope of the federative relationship. A summarized literature review is thus presented, placing into context the current SUS management process, which is based on the Pact for Health as well as theoretical and operational aspects inherent to monitoring and evaluation practices. The approach related to the strategic agenda highlights the creation of mechanisms that underpin the political and institutional decision, namely the creation of financial incentives and the development of technical mechanisms. These include organizational strategies for qualifying management teams and conducting studies and research and the dissemination of strategic information. These processes are based on the concept of providing for the management specificities in the different spheres of management based on a broad cooperation process involving teaching and research institutions and international organizations as well as the managers themselves.

Association between cardiovasculardisease and dementia / Associação entre doença cardiovascular e demência

Abstract ­ Longitudinal studies have shown association between cardiovascular risk factors and dementia. However, these studies are not capable of detecting asymptomatic cardiovascular alterations and thus may provide erroneous estimates of association. Autopsy studies could be more useful in elucidating these questions. The present clinicopathological study sought to examine the relationship between dementia, cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Methods: 603 subjects, who underwent autopsy, were classified regarding the presence of dementia, according to post mortem cognitive classification. Demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, and anatomically-proven cardiovascular disease (myocardial hypertrophy, cerebral and carotid atherosclerosis) were compared among cognitively normal persons and individuals with dementia. Results: Cognitive deficit was associated with advanced age, stroke, physical inactivity and low body mass index (p<0.05). Circle of Willis atherosclerosis was greater in patients with dementia than in controls on univariate analysis (p=0.01). However, this association lost significance when adjusted by age and gender (p=0.61). Heart failure and anatomopathological cardiac parameters were more severe in the control group than in demented individuals (p<0.05). Carotid artery atherosclerosis and intima-media thickness were similar in both groups. Conclusion: Advanced age, stroke, physical inactivity and low body mass index were linked to dementia. Circle of Willis atherosclerosis was associated with dementia only when age was not considered. Our results suggest that cerebral artery atherosclerosis was not directly associated with clinical expression of dementia.

Resumo ­ Estudos longitudinais tem mostrado associação entre fatores de risco cardiovascular e demência. Entretanto, estes estudos não são capazes de detectar alterações cardiovasculares assintomáticas e podem, assim, fornecer estimativas de associação errôneas. Estudos de autópsia podem ser mais úteis em elucidar estas questões. O presente estudo clinicopatológico busca examinar a relação entre demência, fatores e doença cardiovascular. Métodos: 603 sujeitos submetidos à autópsia foram classificados quanto à presença de demência, usando uma classificação cognitiva post-mortem. Dados demográficos, fatores de risco cardiovascular e doença cardiovascular comprovada anatomicamente (hipertrofia miocárdica, aterosclerose cerebral e carotídea) foram comparados entre indivíduos cognitivamente normais e com demência. Resultados: Déficit cognitivo esteve associado à idade avançada, acidente vascular cerebral, sedentarismo e baixo índice de massa corpórea (p<0,05). Aterosclerose do polígono de Willis foi maior em pacientes com demência do que em controles na análise univariada (p=0,01). Insuficiência cardíaca e parâmetros anatomopatológicos cardíacos foram mais graves entre o grupo controle que entre os indivíduos dementados (p<0,05). Aterosclerose de artérias carótidas e espessura íntima-média foram similares entre os grupos. Conclusão: Idade avançada, acidente vascular cerebral, sedentarismo e baixo índice de massa corpórea estiveram relacionados à demência. Aterosclerose de polígono de Willis esteve associada à demência, somente quando a idade não foi considerada. Nossos resultados sugerem que a aterosclerose de artérias cerebrais não está diretamente relacionada com a expressão clínica de demência.

O pacto pela saúde e os desafios para a implementação política de gestão estratégica e participativa / Pacto pela saúde and the challenges for establishing a strategic and participative management

A integração dos processos de implementação do Pacto pela Saúde e da Política Nacional de Gestão Estratégica e Participativa é um desafio que vem sendo enfrentado pelo Ministério da Saúde, através das ações e práticas da Secretária da Gestão Estratégica e Participativa, tendo como pontos centrais a valorização dos diferentes mecanismos de participação popular e de controle social, a integração e interação das ações de auditoria, ouvidoria, monitoramento e avaliação da gestão do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) com o controle social. O presente texto retrata a situação atual da implementação da PolíticaSUS e do Pacto pela saúde, contribuindo com um processo de cooperação intergestores, com base pela saúde, contribuindo com um processo de cooperação intergestores, com base nas necessidades de gestão apontadas.

The integration between Pacto pela saúde and the National Policy of Strategic and Participative Management in the National Health System is a challenge for the Ministry of Health, trough the actions and practices of Strategic and Participative Management Secretariat, which values the different mechanisms of social control and popular participation in the system management and also the interaction between Auditing, Participative Management, Monitoring and Evaluation of Management System and Ombuds Agency. The text shows the actual moment of the political issues of the National Policy of Strategic and Participative Management in the National Health System and Pacto pela saúde, with the objective of contributing in a co-operation process to political managers.