Maria Augusta Mata

Fragilidad, composición corporal y estado nutricional en ancianos no institucionalizados

OBJECTIVE Frailty is a clinical syndrome characterized, among other signs, by involuntary weight loss and decreased muscle strength. The aim of this study was to analyse associations between frailty, body composition and nutritional status in non-institutionalised elderly people in the municipality of Alfândega (Braganza-Portugal). METHOD Observational, prevalence and association study involving 220 elderly (mean 75.8±6.8 years of age; 68.8% women). Frailty was assessedt according to Fried criteria, body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis and nutritional status using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form. RESULTS The prevalence of frailty was 23.6%. Frail participants had, on average, lower total muscle mass and lower segmental muscle mass (arms and legs) than pre-frail and non-frail (p <.001). From the elderly at risk of malnutrition or undernourished (n=24), the majority (n=13) had frailty syndrome. It was observed that 41.2% of the elderly with low weight were frail. This syndrome prevailed only in 17.1% of the eutrophic persons, increasing again to 22.4% in the overweight group (p <.001). CONCLUSION The phenotypic profile of frail elderly was characterised by lower muscle mass. The results of our study suggest that both underweight and overweight may be associated with frailty. There is the need to prevent and manage frailty, not only taking into account possible treatable medical causes, but also by intervening in important pillars, such as physical activity, dietary and nutritional problems.

TOBACCO, ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN STUDENTS: CHANGES WITH THE ENTRANCE IN HIGH EDUCATION

Escola Superior de Saude Instituto Politecnico de Braganca, Braganca, Portugal. _______________________________________________________________________ RESUMOOs jovens com diferencas significativas relativamente a outros grupos etarios correm riscos de varia ordem. O consumo de tabaco e alcool em estudantes do ensino superior podera ocorrer dentro de um contexto academico de maior vulnerabilidade pela envolvencia peculiar, ritualizada e institucionalizada. Com o objetivo de avaliar o padrao de consumo destas substâncias e identificar possiveis mudancas decorrentes do ingresso e permanencia neste nivel de ensino, bem como analisar o sentido dessa mudanca aplicouse um inquerito de cariz quantitativo. Recorreu-se a uma amostra estratificada proporcional por curso e escola que integra 272 alunos do sexo masculino (40,5%) e 400 alunos do sexo feminino (59,5%). As diferencas observadas, do ponto de vista da estatistica, relativamente as variaveis idade, sexo, retencao escolar e participacao em atividades extracurriculares sugerem a necessidade de uma abordagem diferenciada, no sentido de implementar estrategias de educacao e promocao da saude, ajustadas e individualizadas. Palavras-chaveConsumo de Tabaco e Alcool; Alteracao dos Consumos; Estudantes do Ensino Superior. ________________________________________________________________ TOBACCO, ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION IN STUDENTS: CHANGES WITH THE ENTRANCE IN HIGH EDUCATION ABSTRACTCompared to other age groups, young people are significantly more exposed to several risks. The consumption of tobacco and alcohol in students of higher education can occur within an academic context of increasing vulnerability, by its peculiar, ritualized and institutionalize environment . Aiming to assess the pattern of use of these substances and to identify possible changes arising from the entry and stay at this level of education, as well as analyze the effect of this change was applied to an investigation of a quantitative nature. It was used a stratified and proportional sample by course and school, constituted by 272 male students (40,5%) and 400 female (59,5%). From the statistical point of view, the differences observed related to age, sex, school retention and participation in extracurricular activities suggest the need of a differentiate approach, in order to implement adjusted and individualized educational and health promotion strategies. Key wordsTobacco; Alcohol; changing consumption; Students of Higher Education. ________________________________________________________________ Recebido em 04 de Junho de 2011/ Aceite em 22 de Marcode 2013