Airton Pozo de Mattos

Fatores associados a níveis pressóricos elevados em escolares de uma cidade de porte médio do sul do Brasil

OBJECTIVE To establish the prevalence of high blood pressure and associated factors among schoolchildren from Caxias do Sul, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. METHODS This school-based cross-sectional study assessed boys and girls aged 7 to 12 years from private and public schools. Three measurements of the childrens blood pressure were taken during one visit to the schools. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. We also assessed the childrens aerobic capacity (9-minute running test) and socioeconomic status. Statistical analysis was carried out using the chi-square test and logistic regression in order to control for confounding factors. RESULTS The sample included 1,413 children. Prevalence of schoolchildren with high blood pressure was 13.8% (systolic, diastolic, systolic/diastolic), and the proportion was higher (double) for obese and/or overweight children in comparison to normal-weight children. Children with increased waist circumference had 2.8 times greater chance of having high blood pressure levels than those with appropriate waist circumference (95% confidence interval 2.513-3.186 and p = 0.000). Individuals belonging to a high social class, defined according to the Brazilian National Economic Index, had 2.6 times greater chance of having high blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS In the present study, schoolchildren aged 7 to 12 years from Caxias do Sul had high prevalence of high blood pressure levels; increased waist circumference, high socioeconomic status, and low physical capacity were associated with this condition. We suggest that measures be taken to promote the practice of physical activity and dietary control to improve blood pressure levels and thus reduce risk factors.

Absentismo-doença na prefeitura municipal de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

OBJECTIVE: Absenteeism among civil servants of the municipality of Porto Alegre, southern Brazil, is mainly due to illness. The objective of this study was to assess sick leaves (SL) among municipal workers. Methodology: Information regarding SL was collected at the Health Management for Municipal Servants in the Municipal Department of Health in Porto Alegre. SL > 15 days granted between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2005 were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 14,779 SL > 15 days were granted in the period. In 2004, 1,963 workers received 6,522 SL, at a ratio of 3.3 SL per worker; in 2005, 2,262 workers were granted 8,257 SL, at a ratio of 3.6. Considering a significance of 5%, a difference was observed between the ratios of SL > 15 days granted in 2004 and in 2005. The number of lost work days amounted to 311,721. The rate of illness absenteeism among civil servants from the city administration of Porto Alegre was 3,9% in 2004 and 3.7% in 2005. Mental and behavioral disorders were the main causes for absenteeism (39.59%). The department with the highest sick leave rate in the period was the Sports Department. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of these data may contribute to more effective action in preventing and managing absenteeism, so as to decrease the observed rates.

OBESIDADE E SOBREPESO EM ESCOLARES DE UMA ESCOLA PÚBLICA NA SERRA GAÚCHA

Os objetivos do presente estudo foram verificar a prevalencia de obesidade e sobrepeso em uma escola publica municipal da serra gaucha em dois diferentes momentos: marco de 2008 e dezembro de 2009, e acompanhar uma coorte das criancas que permaneceram na escola no periodo. A obesidade e o sobrepeso foram definidos atraves dos pontos de corte de IMC para sexo e idade segundo a International Obesity Task Force. As prevalencias de obesidadeforam de 10,5% em 2008 e 10,7% em 2009 (sobrepeso = 16,2% em 2008 e 16,4% em 2009). Em relacao a coorte, aprevalencia de obesidade subiu de 8,2% para 11% e o sobrepeso de 15,1% para 23,3%. Conclui-se que as prevalencias de obesidade e sobrepeso encontram-se elevadas e aumentaram no periodo de 21 meses, fato que ser motivo de preocupacao das autoridades locais.