Maitê Peres de Carvalho

Quedas e fatores associados em idosos institucionalizados no município de Pelotas (RS, Brasil)

The ageing of the population generates interest among health professionals, because of its importance for health. A cross-sectional study was carried out including institutionalized subjects aged over 65 from Pelotas (RS, Brazil). The aim was to investigate the prevalence of falls and associated factors. The prevalence of falls was 33.5%; the most frequent place in which falls occurred was the bedroom (37%). Of all falls, 16.9% resulted in a fracture. Approximately 70% of the falls took place at the institution in which the subjects live. Ankles and hips were the most frequently anatomic sites fractured (33,3%). The prevalence of falls among the elderly was high and the consequences of such falls are worrying. Prevention strategies by healthcare professionals and managers are urgently needed in order to minimize the burden of falls and thus enhance the quality of life of institutionalized elderly people.

Musculoskeletal disorders and their influence on the quality of life of the dockworker: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND Dockworkers are subjected to intense physical labor which leads to frequent occurrence of musculoskeletal disorders. OBJECTIVE This study aims to measure the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD) of temporary dockworkers and its influence on their quality of life. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study developed with temporary dockworkers in Brazil. Recruitment was done by inviting workers when they presented themselves for work at the trade union. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and the Short-Form Health Survey were used. The association between the outcome and the different investigated factors was analyzed through Poisson Regression with robust variance. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the data from the Short-Form Health Survey scale among the groups both with and without work-related musculoskeletal disorders. RESULTS The sample was composed of 318 temporary dockworkers with a mean age of 48 years. WMSD prevalence was 37.4%. WMSD was associated with not practicing physical activity (PR = 2.03; p = 0.005), participation in housework (PR = 1.88; p = 0.029), taking care of preschool children (PR = 1.65; p <  0.000) and handling heavy objects (PR = 1.83; p = 0.007). The lumbar spine was the most frequently mentioned area of the body (22.5%) in the WMSD analysis. Workers without WMSD had higher (p <  0.00) quality of life scale scores in relation to functional capacity, physical and social aspects, pain and vitality. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight the relevance of developing action plans regarding the needs of this specific population of workers, especially concerning the reduction of risk factors.

O impacto da incontinência urinária e seus fatores associados em idosas

OBJECTIVE: Identify the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and associated factors in elderly women of the community. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in which elderly women aged 60 or more who attended a center dedicated exclusively to elderly in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, were interviewed. The instruments used were the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and a questionnaire with additional information on associated factors for urinary incontinence. Besides descriptive statistics, Students t test was used to compare the means of quantitative variables. RESULTS: The study evaluated 132 elderly women aged 60-91 years with mean age of 68.56 years (SD±6.24). Regarding urine loss, the prevalence found was 40.91% (95% IC = 32.6-49.2). Of all women interviewed it was found a body mass index (BMI) of 25.7 kg/m2 (SD±4,06), and among elderly women considered incontinent, 59.2% had BMI ≥ 27kg/m2, that is, overweight. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of UI (40.91%) found is within the registered parameters for this age group. Other relevant data is that the number of pregnancies increased UI, and elderly women with three or more pregnancies were proportionally more affected. The UI impact on the quality of life was considered absent or mild by most elderly women, probably showing that UI was in initial stage and did not interfere significantly in the everyday life of those women. It is still worth highlighting that early diagnosis allows appropriate treatment in a timely manner, avoiding major compromises and improving the quality of life.