Francisco das Chagas Monteiro Júnior

Aspects related to choice of type of delivery: a comparative study of two maternity hospitals in São Luís, State of Maranhão, Brazil

This study aimed to analyze aspects related to choice of type of delivery in two maternity hospitals, one public and the other private, in São Luís, Maranhão State, Brazil. This cross-sectional study compared 163 primiparous women in a public maternity hospital and 89 in a private hospital, with mean ages of 21.63 +/- 5.24 and 28.8 +/- 5.41 years, respectively. In the public hospital, 79.1% of the women reported preferring vaginal deliveries, while in the private hospital 67.4% of the women preferred cesareans (p < 0.0001). Cesareans were performed in 46% of the women in the public maternity hospital and 97.8% of those in the private hospital (p < 0.0001). Patient satisfaction was high for both modes of delivery, but the desire to repeat the same mode was reported more frequently by women with vaginal deliveries (71.6% vs. 41.3% in the public maternity hospital and 100% vs. 65.5% in the private). In the public maternity hospital, the cesarean subgroup included more white and higher-income women. The cesarean rate was thus high in both maternity hospitals and was significantly higher in the private hospital; the study also showed a preference for vaginal delivery in the public hospital and cesareans in the private.

Prevalência da hipertensão arterial em adultos e fatores associados em São Luís - MA

BACKGROUND Little is known about the prevalence of arterial hypertension (AH) and its risk factors in the less developed regions of Brazil. OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of arterial hypertension and its associated factors in the population > 18 years in São Luís, state of Maranhão according to the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee (JNC 7) criteria. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in São Luís, MA, from February to March 2003, with 835 individuals >18 years who completed a structured household questionnaire. Measurements of arterial pressure (AP), weight, height and waist circumference were taken, and other risk factors for cardiovascular disease were assessed. The Poisson regression method was used for the identification of factors associated with AH, with an estimate of the prevalence ratio (PR) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval. RESULTS Age varied from 18 and 94 years (mean age was 39.4 years), 293 (35.1%) individuals were normotensive and 313 (37.5%) were pre-hypertensive. The AH prevalence was 27.4% (95% CI--24.4% to 30.6%), and it was higher among men (32.1%) than among women (24.2%). In the adjusted analysis, the following remained independently associated with AH: male gender (PR 1.52, 95% CI, 1.25-1.84), age > or = 30 years, with PR=6.65, 95% CI, 4.40-10.05 for > or = 60 years of age, overweight (PR 2.09 95% CI 1.64-2.68), obesity (PR 2.68, 95% CI, 2.03-3.53) and diabetes (PR 1.56, 95% CI, 1.24-1.97). CONCLUSION These findings suggest the need to control overweight, obesity and diabetes, especially among women and individuals > or = 30 years of age in order to reduce the prevalence of arterial hypertension.

Efeito da perda ponderal induzida pela cirurgia bariátrica sobre a prevalência de síndrome metabólica

BACKGROUND Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is often linked to overweight/obesity and can improve after weight loss, such improvement is expected to be proportional to the intensity of weight loss. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of weight loss induced by bariatric surgery (BS) on the prevalence of MS in a middle-term period. METHODS Thirty-five (35) patients who underwent surgical Rouxs Y gastrojejunal by-pass from October 2001 until October 2005 in our University Hospital were evaluated. 88.5% were female, with a mean age at the time of surgery of 37.8+/-11.1 years and a mean BMI of 45.0+/-6.2 Kg/m(2). During the first stage of our study demographic and clinical-anthropomorphic data were collected prior to the BC procedure, including those criteria needed for the diagnosis of MS, according to the guidelines of the US NCEP. The second stage consisted of reevaluation of those patients in the post-surgical period in order to determine the prevalence of MS in an outpatient setting. RESULTS Prior to surgery, MS was diagnosed in 27 patients (77.1%). When those patients were reevaluated 34.4+/-15 months after surgery, a reduction of mean BMI to 28.3+/-5.0 Kg/m(2) and MS was identified in only two patients (5.7%) (p<0.001). Prevalence of individual criteria such as abdominal circumference, fasting glucose levels, arterial blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides had a reduction of 45.8%, 83%, 87.5%, 57.13% and 94% respectively. CONCLUSION MS is a rather common feature in obese patients enrolled for BS and this procedure has been proved to be extremely efficient reversing the metabolic syndrome, with an expressive reduction of prevalence of each and all of the NCEP criteria.FUNDAMENTO: A sindrome metabolica (SM) esta frequentemente ligada ao excesso de peso e melhora com a perda ponderal, sendo esperado que essa melhora seja proporcional a intensidade dessa perda. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da perda ponderal induzida pela cirurgia bariatrica (CB) sobre a prevalencia da SM, em medio prazo. METODOS: Foram analisados 35 pacientes submetidos a cirurgia de by-pass gastrojejunal em Y de Roux, no periodo de outubro de 2001 a outubro de 2005, em nosso HU, sendo 88,5% do sexo feminino, com uma media de idade de 37,8±11,1 anos e um IMC medio de 45,0±6,2 kg/m2. Na primeira etapa da pesquisa, foram obtidos dados demograficos e clinico-antropometricos antes da realizacao da CB, incluindo os criterios para o diagnostico da SM, de acordo com as diretrizes do NCEP dos Estados Unidos. Na segunda etapa, os pacientes operados foram reavaliados ambulatorialmente quanto a prevalencia da SM. RESULTADOS:Antes da cirurgia, a SM foi diagnosticada em 27 pacientes (77,1%). Em reavaliacao 34,4±15 meses apos a cirurgia, observou-se uma queda do IMC medio para 28,3±5,0 kg/m2 e a SM foi detectada em apenas dois pacientes (5,7%) (p<0,001). A prevalencia dos criterios cintura abdominal, glicemia, pressao arterial, HDL-colesterol e triglicerideos foi reduzida em, respectivamente, 45,8%, 83%, 87,5%, 57,13% e 94%. CONCLUSAO: A SM e ocorrencia comum em obesos candidatos a CB e esse procedimento se mostrou extremamente eficaz na inducao da regressao da sindrome, verificando-se reducao expressiva da prevalencia de todos os criterios do NCEP.

Is Vitamin D Deficiency a New Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease

The role of vitamin D in the regulation of bone metabolism has been well established. However, in recent years, many studies have demonstrated that its role extends far beyond bone health. Growing evidence has shown a strong association between vitamin D deficiency and hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. The mechanisms by which vitamin D exerts its cardiovascular protective effects are still not completely understood, but there is evidence that it participates in the regulation of renin-angiotensin system and the mechanisms of insulin sensitivity and activity of inflammatory cytokines, besides its direct cardiovascular actions. In this review, several studies linking vitamin D deficiency with cardiometabolic risk as well as small randomized trials that have evaluated the cardiovascular effects of its supplementation are presented. However, large randomized placebo-controlled studies are still needed before we can definitively establish the role of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention and control of cardiovascular disease.

Prevalência de verdadeiras crises hipertensivas e adequação da conduta médica em pacientes atendidos em um pronto-socorro geral com pressão arterial elevada

BACKGROUND High blood pressure is a common reason for patients to seek an emergency room, and many of them may possibly be wrongly diagnosed with hypertensive crisis and, consequently, be inappropriately treated. OBJECTIVE To analyze the cases of patients seen in a general emergency room because of high blood pressure as for meeting the criteria for the diagnosis of hypertensive crisis and the appropriateness of medical management. METHODS Of the 1012 patients consecutively seen in a private referral general emergency room in the city of São Luís, State of Maranhão, between August and November 2003, 198 (19.56%) had a main diagnosis of high blood pressure in that visit. Of these, proper information could only be obtained from the patient charts of 169 patients; 54.4% of them were females with a mean age of 53.3 +/- 15.2 years. Data regarding patients and the attendant physicians were collected, and each case was classified as an urgency, emergency or pseudohypertensive crisis; the medical management was classified as appropriate or inappropriate. We also sought to identify the factors associated with the medical management and with the use of antihypertensive medication. RESULTS Criteria for the characterization of a hypertensive crisis were present in only 27 patients (16%), and all were classified as urgencies. Medical management was considered appropriate in 72 cases (42.6%), and was neither influenced by specialty (p=0.5) nor by the physicians experience (p=0.9). Blood pressure levels, but not the presence or absence of symptoms, were predictive of the use of antihypertensive medication (p<0.001). CONCLUSION In the population analyzed, less than one fifth of the patients seen in an emergency room with a presumed hypertensive crisis met defined criteria for this diagnosis. Medical management was considered appropriate in less than half of the occurrences.

Effects of weight loss induced by bariatric surgery on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is often linked to overweight/obesity and can improve after weight loss, such improvement is expected to be proportional to the intensity of weight loss. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of weight loss induced by bariatric surgery (BS) on the prevalence of MS in a middle-term period. METHODS Thirty-five (35) patients who underwent surgical Rouxs Y gastrojejunal by-pass from October 2001 until October 2005 in our University Hospital were evaluated. 88.5% were female, with a mean age at the time of surgery of 37.8+/-11.1 years and a mean BMI of 45.0+/-6.2 Kg/m(2). During the first stage of our study demographic and clinical-anthropomorphic data were collected prior to the BC procedure, including those criteria needed for the diagnosis of MS, according to the guidelines of the US NCEP. The second stage consisted of reevaluation of those patients in the post-surgical period in order to determine the prevalence of MS in an outpatient setting. RESULTS Prior to surgery, MS was diagnosed in 27 patients (77.1%). When those patients were reevaluated 34.4+/-15 months after surgery, a reduction of mean BMI to 28.3+/-5.0 Kg/m(2) and MS was identified in only two patients (5.7%) (p<0.001). Prevalence of individual criteria such as abdominal circumference, fasting glucose levels, arterial blood pressure, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides had a reduction of 45.8%, 83%, 87.5%, 57.13% and 94% respectively. CONCLUSION MS is a rather common feature in obese patients enrolled for BS and this procedure has been proved to be extremely efficient reversing the metabolic syndrome, with an expressive reduction of prevalence of each and all of the NCEP criteria.FUNDAMENTO: A sindrome metabolica (SM) esta frequentemente ligada ao excesso de peso e melhora com a perda ponderal, sendo esperado que essa melhora seja proporcional a intensidade dessa perda. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da perda ponderal induzida pela cirurgia bariatrica (CB) sobre a prevalencia da SM, em medio prazo. METODOS: Foram analisados 35 pacientes submetidos a cirurgia de by-pass gastrojejunal em Y de Roux, no periodo de outubro de 2001 a outubro de 2005, em nosso HU, sendo 88,5% do sexo feminino, com uma media de idade de 37,8±11,1 anos e um IMC medio de 45,0±6,2 kg/m2. Na primeira etapa da pesquisa, foram obtidos dados demograficos e clinico-antropometricos antes da realizacao da CB, incluindo os criterios para o diagnostico da SM, de acordo com as diretrizes do NCEP dos Estados Unidos. Na segunda etapa, os pacientes operados foram reavaliados ambulatorialmente quanto a prevalencia da SM. RESULTADOS:Antes da cirurgia, a SM foi diagnosticada em 27 pacientes (77,1%). Em reavaliacao 34,4±15 meses apos a cirurgia, observou-se uma queda do IMC medio para 28,3±5,0 kg/m2 e a SM foi detectada em apenas dois pacientes (5,7%) (p<0,001). A prevalencia dos criterios cintura abdominal, glicemia, pressao arterial, HDL-colesterol e triglicerideos foi reduzida em, respectivamente, 45,8%, 83%, 87,5%, 57,13% e 94%. CONCLUSAO: A SM e ocorrencia comum em obesos candidatos a CB e esse procedimento se mostrou extremamente eficaz na inducao da regressao da sindrome, verificando-se reducao expressiva da prevalencia de todos os criterios do NCEP.

Síndrome metabólica em ambulatório cardiológico

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) is little known in several regions. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of MS, its components and the agreement between two diagnostic definitions in a population aged > 13 years. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted from June to October 2007 in 719 patients of outpatient cardiology clinics in the city of Sao Luis, State of Maranhao, Brazil. Blood pressure (BP), weight, height, waist circumference and lipid profile were measured. Risk factors for MS were evaluated according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS was higher in both genders when using IDF definition (62.3% in men and 64.6% in women) than when using that of the National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Prevention (NCEP ATPIII) (48.9% in men and 59% in women). The most prevalent MS components were: hypertension (87.2% and 86%); hypertriglyceridemia (84.4% and 82.5%); increased waist circumference (77.8% and 100%); low HDL-c (58.1% and 49.9%); and high blood glucose (59.9% and 51.9%), using NCEP ATPIII and IDF definitions, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, age > 60 years and body mass index (BMI) > 30 were associated with a higher risk of MS (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MS was much higher than in the overall population, and hypertension was the most prevalent component. There was good agreement between the two definitions, very good in the female gender and moderate in the male gender.

Efeito do transplante renal na morfologia e função cardíaca

Cardiac involvement is very frequent in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. Kidney transplantation results in reducing morbidity and mortality compared to patients on dialysis. The objective of this review was to address the effect of renal transplantation in cardiac structure and function assessed by echocardiography. Since the 1980s, studies have demonstrated a trend towards improvement in cardiac parameters after kidney transplantation. With the improvement of the Doppler imaging methods, the new studies, although with conflicting results, demonstrated improvement in systolic and diastolic function and reduction of left ventricular mass, especially in the first two years after renal transplantation with stabilization of the parameters in subsequent years. Overall, the body of evidence has demonstrated significant impact of renal transplantation on left ventricular hypertrophy, systolic and diastolic function, but the results are not uniform.

Cardiovascular risk factors and their relationship with educational level in a university population

1Faculdade Santa Terezinha – Setor de Fisioterapia – São Luís, MA – Brazil 2Universidade Federal do Maranhão – Departamento de Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva – São Luís, MA – Brazil 3Universidade Federal do Maranhão – Departamento de Medicina I – São Luís, MA – Brazil 4Universidade Federal do Maranhão – Departamento de Medicina III – São Luís, MA – Brazil 5Hospital de Messejana – Fortaleza, CE – Brazil 6Universidade Federal do Maranhão – Hospital Universitário Presidente Dutra – São Luís, MA – Brazil

Sodium excretion and associated factors in urine samples of African descendants in Alcântara, Brazil: a population based study

Abstract In most countries, salt intake has been excessive and constitutes one of the main risk factors for disease development, especially hypertension. Factors such as age, gender, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, African descent, obesity, dietary habits and family history of hypertension may be associated with high blood pressure. Studies show a positive association between the excretion of sodium and increased blood pressure. We evaluated the urinary excretion of sodium and associated factors in isolated urine samples of African descendants from remaining Quilombos. We performed a cross-sectional, population-based study with 1162 African descendants living in remaining quilombos in Alcântara, Maranhão, Brazil. Demographic, nutritional, clinical and laboratory data were analyzed. Urinary sodium excretion was estimated using the Kawasaki equation. A multivariate linear regression model was used to identify the variables related to sodium excretion. The average age was 37.6 ± 11.8 years and 51.2% were women. The prevalence of hypertension was 21.3%. The average urinary excretion of sodium was high, especially among the hypertensive (217.9 ± 90.1 vs. 199.2 ± 83.0 mmol/d; p = .002). After an adjusted analysis, only the waist circumference (odds ratios (OR) = 1.16; confidence intervals(CI)95%: 1.03–1.30), triglyceride (OR = 1.13; CI95%: 1.05–1.22), systolic blood pressure (OR = 1.19; CI95%: 1.08–1.32) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology (CKD-EPI;OR = 1.24; CI95%: 1.15–1.35) remained related to urinary sodium excretion. African descendants had a high rate of sodium excretion, especially among those who had hypertension. Abdominal adiposity, triglyceride and systolic blood pressure levels and renal function by CKD-EPI equation were associated to urinary sodium excretion.