Depression and excess mortality in the elderly living in low- and middle-income countries: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between depression and mortality in the elderly living in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. We searched in five electronic databases for observational studies investigating the association between mortality and depression. Two reviewers worked independently to select articles, extract data, and assess study quality. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies including 13 828 participants (2402 depressed and 11 426 nondepressed) from six countries (Brazil, four articles; China, two articles; Botswana, India, South Africa, and South Korea, one article) were included. The overall unadjusted relative risk (RR) of mortality in depressed relative to nondepressed participants was 1.62 (95% CI, 1.39-1.88; P < 0.001), with high heterogeneity (I2  = 66%; 95% CI, 33-83; P < 0.005). After adjustment for publication bias, the overall RR decreased to 1.60 (95% CI, 1.37-1.86; P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between subgroups except those defined by study quality. The high-quality studies had a pooled RR of 1.48 (95% CI, 1.32-1.67; P < 0.001), while the low-quality studies resulted had a pooled RR of 1.82 (95% CI, 1.25-2.65; P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Depression is associated with excess mortality in the elderly living in low- and middle-income countries. In addition, this excess mortality does not differ substantially from that found in high-income countries. This suggests environmental factors occurring in low- and middle-income countries might not have a direct association with the excess mortality in the depressed elderly.

Population impact of depression on functional disability in elderly: results from "São Paulo Ageing & Health Study" (SPAH).

With the fast population aging, functional disability among the elderly is becoming a major public health issue. Depression is highly prevalent in this phase of life and may be associated with a significant proportion of the disability among elderly populations. We investigated the association of depressive symptoms and ICD-10 depression with functional disability in older adults and estimated the corresponding population attributable fractions (PAF). A cross-sectional one-phase population-based study was carried out with 2,072 individuals aged 65 years or over living in a low-income area of São Paulo, Brazil. Depressive symptoms and ICD-10 depression were assessed with the Geriatric Mental State and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. We assessed functional disability with the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule Instrument. Prevalence Ratios and PAF were calculated using Poisson regression. The prevalence of depressive symptoms and ICD-10 depression was 21.4 and 4.8 %, respectively. Depression and depressive symptoms were strongly associated with high functional disability, even after adjustment for demographic factors, socioeconomic conditions, physical morbidities, and dementia. The PAFs for depressive symptoms and ICD-10 depression were 12.0 % for each of the psychiatric morbidity. Depressive symptoms contributed as much as ICD-10 depression to the population burden of functional disability in the elderly. Effective management of clinically significant depressive symptoms, delivered mainly at the primary care level, may reduce the total population disability.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and seroconvertion to anti-HBsAg in laboratory staff in Goiânia, Goiás.

Were analyzed 648 serum samples from laboratory staff in Goiânia, Goiás aiming detection of three serological markers of HBV: HBsAg, anti-HBsAg and anti-HBcAg. The HBsAg and anti-HBcAg positive samples were also analyzed for HBeAg, anti-HBeAg and anti-HBcAgIgM markers. HBV infection rate of 24.1% was observed and, from them, 0.7% were positive for HBsAg. Viral DNA was detected by PCR in two HBsAg positive samples. A vaccination index of 74.5% and a global index of 89.9% of serological response to vaccination were observed. The direct work with biological fluids as well as cleaning workers represented significant risks for acquisition of HBV infection. The data from the present study showed an increase of the vaccination index among laboratory staff but the rates of HBV infection did not change through the years in the region.

Education and WHO recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake are associated with better cognitive function in a disadvantaged Brazilian elderly population: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Brazil has one of the fastest aging populations in the world and the incidence of cognitive impairment in the elderly is expected to increase exponentially. We examined the association between cognitive impairment and fruit and vegetable intake and associated factors in a low-income elderly population. A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out with 1849 individuals aged 65 or over living in São Paulo, Brazil. Cognitive function was assessed using the Community Screening Instrument for Dementia (CSI-D). Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed with a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and categorized into quartiles of intake and into total daily fruit and vegetable intake using the cut-off points for the WHO recommendations (<400 grams/day or ≥ 400 grams/day). The association between cognitive impairment and each quartile of intake, and WHO recommendation levels, was evaluated in two separate multivariate logistic models. The WHO recommendations for daily intakes ≥ 400 grams/day were significantly associated with 47% decreased prevalence of cognitive impairment. An effect modification was found in both models between cognitive impairment and "years of education and physical activity" and "years of education and blood levels of HDL" So that, having 1 or more years of education and being physically active or having 1 or more years of education and levels higher than 50 mg/dl of HDL-cholesterol strongly decreased the prevalence of cognitive impairment. In this socially deprived population with very low levels of education and physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake, those who attained WHO recommendations, had 1 year or more of education and were physically active had a significantly lower prevalence of cognitive impairment. A more comprehensive understanding of the social determinants of mental health is needed to develop effective public policies in developing countries.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and seroconvertion to anti-HBsAg in laboratory staff in Goiânia, Goiás

Neste estudo, foram analisadas 648 amostras de soro, provenientes de profissionais de laboratório de Goiânia-Goiás, visando a detecção de três marcadores sorológicos do VHB: HBsAg, anti-HBsAg e anti-HBcAg. As amostras HBsAg e anti-HBcAg positivas foram também analisadas para os marcadores HBeAg, anti-HBeAg e anti-HBcAgIgM. Foi observado um percentual de soropositividade para infecção pelo VHB de 24,1% sendo que 0,7% destes foram positivos para o HBsAg. O DNA viral foi detectado por PCR nas duas amostras HBsAg positivas. Dos 648 profissionais, 74,5% relataram vacinação para o VHB e, destes, 89,9% apresentaram soroconversão. Trabalho direto com fluidos biológicos bem como trabalho em serviços gerais representaram risco significativo para aquisição da infecção pelo VHB. Os resultados do estudo mostram que embora tenha havido um aumento no índice de vacinação entre os trabalhadores de laboratório, o índice de infecção pelo VHB manteve-se inalterado em relação ao tempo na região.

Influência da substância química, do cimento obturador e do número de sessöes na incidência de pericementite traumática / Influence of the chemical substance, sealer and number of session in the ocurrence of traumatic apical periodontite

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência química, do cimento obturador e do número de sessöes na incidência de pericementite traumática. Para tanto, 160 dentes com vitalidade pulpar foram utilizados, onde 84 foram obturados com Sealapex e 76 com FillCanal. Os dentes obturados com Sealapex mostraram um percentual de 87,5 por cento e 88,6 por cento de ausência dor após o tratamento endodôntico, realizado em uma e duas sessöes, respectivamente. Quando o cimento utilizado foi o FillCanal, o percentual de ausência de dor com o tratamento em uma ou duas sessöes foi de 85,7 por cento e 82,3 por cento, respectivamente. Em todos os grupos foi empregado o hipoclorito de sódio a 1 por cento com substância química irrigadora, alternado nas duas irrigaçöes finais com o EDTA (trissódico, 17 por cento, ph neutro). Frente a aplicaçäo do teste de Fischer e do Qui-quadrado, näo se observaram diferenças estatísticas significantes, tanto entre os cimentos, como quando comparados os números de sessöes entre si

Oficina de sensibilização e prevenção de DST/AIDS e contracepção com alunos da Escola Estadual de Ensino Fundamental Açorianos de 5ª série

O trabalho teve como objetivo contribuir para a formação de uma auto-imagem positiva, que possibilitou aos jovens vivenciar sua sexualidade de forma espontânea, enquanto possibilidade natural de suas vidas. A experiência vivida foi valorizada como parte do conhecimento a ser adquirido. Foram trabalhadas informações que auxiliaram a conhecer como funciona seu corpo, a compreender sua sexualidade, proporcionando um processo de responsabilidade quanto à prevenção das DST/AIDS e gravidez juvenil.

Introdução à Estatística Espacial para a Saúde Pública

O livro pretende ir além dos mapas coropléticos (temáticos), mostrando ao leitor os primeiros passos dos pressupostos estatísticos nas abordagens espaciais. As técnicas estatísticas apresentadas ampliam as análises de modo a permitir a realização de inferências e de testes de hipóteses geradas pelos profissionais de saúde pública para responder questões sobre a distribuição de eventos no seu dia-a-dia. O livro pertence a série: Textos básicos em saúde e Capacitação e atualização em geoprocessamento em saúde (v. 3).