Ezequiel Vitório Lini

Prevalence and factors associated with the performance of prostate cancer screening in the elderly: a population-based study

Objective: to identify the prevalence and factors associated with preventive examinations for the screening of prostate cancer in the elderly. Methods: a cross-sectional populationbased study of 181 men aged ≥60 years who were residents of a small city in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was carried out. The dependent variable was considered to be the performance of preventive prostate cancer tests in the past two years and the independent variables were those related to health and sociodemographic characteristics. Palavras-chave: Fatores de Risco. Neoplasias. Saúde do Idoso. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1981-22562018021.170054

Prevalência de dificuldade de locomoção em idosos institucionalizados

1 ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the prevalence of mobility impairment in institutionalized elderly people and its correlation with the clinical and functional conditions, a cross-sectional study was carried out with 191 people aged ≥ 60 years residing in 13 long-stay institutions for the elderly in Passo Fundo, year of 2014. Method: A structured questionnaire was used, applied to the elderly or to the technical managers of the institutions. Sociodemographic variables related to health and specific questions about walking difficulties were considered. It was considered mobility impairment the need of any help or aid to walk, be it a cane, a walker or even restriction to bed. A descriptive and bivariate analysis of the data was performed. To verify the association between the categorical variables Pearson’s chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test were applied at a significance level of 5%. Results: The prevalence of mobility impairment was 50.3%. They used wheelchairs 41.7%, walkers 16.7%, canes 14.6% and crutches 3.1% and were bedridden 24%. Of the elderly with mobility impairment, 89.6% were dependent to perform daily living basic activities and 62.5% considered their health as fair, poor or very poor. Conclusion: The high prevalence of mobility impairment, including many bedridden elderly people, highlights the need for preventive interventions before institutionalization and the minimization of the complications that these conditions can bring.

Prevalence of self-referred chronic pain and intercurrences in the health of the elderly

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dor cronica e um problema de saude publica que provoca prejuizos pessoais e sociais. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a prevalencia de dor cronica e a repercussao na saude dos idosos. METODOS: Realizou-se um estudo transversal de base populacional com 416 idosos residentes em municipio no Sul do Brasil. Coletaram-se os dados por inquerito domiciliar com o questionario da pesquisa Saude, Bem-Estar e Envelhecimento. Consideraram-se como variavel dependente a dor cronica; e independente as caracteristicas socio-demograficas e as relacionadas as condicoes de saude. Realizou-se analise descritiva e inferencial dos dados. Na associacao entre as variaveis categoricas, utilizaram-se os testes Qui-quadrado de Pearson e Exato de Fisher, com nivel significativo de 5%. Na analise bruta e ajustada, foi utilizado o modelo de regressao logistica. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de dor cronica foi de 54,7%, em sua maioria mulheres (64,8%). Entre os idosos com dor cronica, 58,6% classificaram sua saude como regular, ruim ou muito ruim, 53,3% nao praticavam atividade fisica, 19,8% apontaram dificuldades para atividades basicas de vida diaria e 82,5% referiram dor nos membros inferiores e 74,8% na regiao lombar (p<0,001). CONCLUSAO: Medidas de reducao da dor cronica no idoso devem ser priorizadas, em especial pelos servicos de atencao primaria a saude, por se tratar de um problema de saude publica multidimensional e complexo.

Prevalence of chronic pain among elderly living in a city of Northern Rio Grande do Sul

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is a problem for the elderly, eliciting physical and psychological limitations. Few are the studies primarily focusing on evaluating pain in men. This study aimed at identifying the prevalence of chronic pain in male elderly people of a city of Northern Rio Grande do Sul. METHODS: Crossover, population-based study carried out with people aged 60 years or above, from the city of Coxilha, state of Rio Grande do Sul. Data were collected by home interviews with validated tool from June to July 2010. Descriptive statistics was used for analysis. RESULTS: Mean age was 68.7 years. Chronic pain prevalence was 43.7%, primarily located in lower limbs and lumbar spine. CONCLUSION: There has been high prevalence of chronic pain in the studied population. Results point to the need for intervention strategies to prevent and control pain in elderly males in different health care levels.

Factors associated with the institutionalization of the elderly: a case-control study

Objective: to identify the factors associated with the institutionalization of the elderly. Method: a case-control, population-based study was performed with 387 elderly people. The study considered cases of elderly people (n=191) living in long-term care facilities, and a control group (n=196) who lived in homes in urban areas of the city. Both groups were identified from the records of the Family Health Strategy and were randomly selected. Institutionalization was considered a dependent variable, and sociodemographics, clinical factors, functional status, and cognitive impairment were considered independent variables. Comparison between groups was analyzed using the Chi-squared and Pearson tests and the logistic regression model was used in adjusted analysis, with measurements of effect expressed as odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Variables with p≤0.20 were considered for entry in the multiple model. Results: variables that remained associated with institutionalization in multiple analysis were: not having a partner (OR=9.7), not having children (OR=4.0), presenting cognitive impairment (OR=11.4), and depending on others to perform basic activities of daily living (OR=10.9). Conclusion: cognitive impairment and dependency for basic activities of daily living were more strongly associated with institutionalization. Home care strategies and preventive actions for risk factors should be stimulated to delay the referral of elderly people to Long Term Care Facilities for the Elderly, and to develop strategies that allow the elderly to remain socially active.