Rômulo Lustosa Pimenteira de Melo

Força de preensão manual e flexibilidade e suas relações com variáveis antropométricas em idosos

OBJECTIVE To verify the correlation between handgrip strength (HGS) and flexibility with age and anthropometric variables in the elderly. METHODS This was a cross-sectional home-based study of elderly individuals enrolled in the Family Health Strategy of Campina Grande/PB. Gender, age, HGS, flexibility, arm muscle circumference (AMC), corrected arm muscle area (CAMA), and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. RESULTS A total of 420 elderly individuals were evaluated. Correlations of HGS with age, AMC and CAMA, in both genders, were observed. BMI correlated with HGS only in females. Flexibility correlated with BMI in males. In the multivariate analysis, age and AMC were predictive variables of the HGS variation in females. In males, age was the only variable predictive of HGS, and BMI was the predictor of flexibility variation. CONCLUSION The results indicate a probable influence of age and anthropometric variables in muscular strength, as well as that of excess weight in flexibility limitation.

Correlação entre indicadores de obesidade abdominal e lipídeos séricos em idosos

Objective: To verify the correlation between anthropometric indicators of abdominal obesity and serum lipids in the elderly. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted with elderly individuals of both genders enrolled in the Family Health Strategy Program of Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. Abdominal obesity was assessed by waist circumference (WC),

O efeito do estresse na qualidade de vida de idosos: o papel moderador do sentido de vida

The main objective of this study has been to know if the relationship between stress and elderly quality of life can be moderated by the meaning in life. Two hundred and ten participants with mean age of seventy four years old, most of them female (68.58%) took part in the study. The participants answered the following instruments: Mini Mental State Exam, Stressing Events Inventory, Elderly Quality of Life Questionnaire, Purpose in Life Test (PIL) and demographic questions. Principal component analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and linear regressions were analyzed. The results obtained indicated that the influence of stress on quality of life is significant for the group with low meaning in life, but it was not the same for the group with high meaning in life. Thus, the meaning in life seems to have acted as a protective factor for the quality of life showing its moderating role with respect to stress.

Correlation between indicators of abdominal obesity and serum lipids in the elderly

OBJECTIVE To verify the correlation between anthropometric indicators of abdominal obesity and serum lipids in the elderly. METHODS Cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted with elderly individuals of both genders enrolled in the Family Health Strategy Program of Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. Abdominal obesity was assessed by waist circumference (WC), abdominal circumference (AC), and waist/hip ratio (WHR). Lipid profile was verified by levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and non-high density lipoprotein (non-HDL). RESULTS A total of 321 elderly patients were evaluated (67.6% women). There were significant correlations between abdominal obesity indicators and lipid levels only in the group of women. WC, AC, and WHR correlated with TG and HDL. Only WHR showed correlation with non-HDL. The highest correlations were observed between WHR and TG (r = 0.292, p < 0.01) and between WC and HDL (r = -0.281, p < 0.01). WC was a predictor of 9.2% of the variation in HDL, and WHR was a predictor of 7.3% of the variation in TG. CONCLUSION The indicators of abdominal obesity that best correlated with serum lipids in elderly women were WC and WHR. They were predictors of alterations in HDL and TG levels in women, respectively.

Sentido de vida, dependência funcional e qualidade de vida em idosos

Este estudo objetivou avaliar os indices de sentido de vida (SV), qualidade de vida (QV) e dependencia funcional (DF) de idosos, e observar se o SV poderia atuar como recurso protetor capaz de diminuir os efeitos da DF na QV. Caracteriza-se por ser transversal, de base domiciliar, com 210 participantes que possuem media de idade de 74 anos (dp= 7,70), a maioria do sexo feminino (68,4%) e com renda media de 868 reais (dp = 1,100). Os instrumentos utilizados foram: Mini-Exame do Estado Mental, medida de independencia funcional, questionario de qualidade de vida para idosos, teste de proposito de vida e um questionario sociodemografico. Os resultados indicaram que a maioria da amostra apresentou altos indices de QV, SV e baixos indices de DF, alem disso, a relacao entre DF e QV para os idosos com alto SV nao foi significativa [β = -0,19; t(93) = -1,92; p > 0,05]. Portanto, a QV dos idosos que apresentaram niveis altos de SV se torna mais protegida contra as alteracoes dos niveis de DF. Sendo assim, o sentido de vida atuou como recurso psicologico protetor.

Sentido de Vida, Bem-Estar Psicológico e Qualidade de Vida em Professores Escolares

The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of meaning in life (MIL), psychological well-being (PWB) and quality of life (QOL) in a large sample of school teachers, and to observe to what extent the MIL could act as a moderator variable in the relation between PWB and general QOL. The study included 517 teachers from 57 public and private schools in the city of Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil, 174 men and 343 women (averaging 36.5 years old, SD = 10.34). The results showed that a signifi cant portion of professionals had negative indexes of MIL, PWB and QOL. Inferential analyses showed MIL as a predictor variable of both PWB and QOL. Moderation analysis demonstrated that the PWB and QOL showed distinct correlations for individuals with high and low levels of MIL. Refl ections for future research and occupational health interventions are suggested.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar los indices de sentido de vida (SV), bienestar psicologico (BP) e calidad de vida (CV) en una amplia muestra de profesores escolares, y observar como el sentido de vida podria actuar como una variable moderadora de la relacion entre el BP y la CV general. Participaron del estudio 517 profesores, de 57 escuelas publicas y privadas de la ciudad de Campina Grande, Paraiba, Brazil, siendo 174 hombres y 373 mujeres (promedio de 36,5 anos, DE = 10,34). Los resultados mostraron que parte significativa de los profesionales presentaron indices negativos de SV, BP y CV. Analisis inferenciales mostraron al SV como una variable predictora, tanto de BP como de CV. Analisis de moderacion demostraron que BP y CV presentaron correlaciones diferentes en sujetos con altos y con bajos niveles de SV. Reflexiones para investigaciones futuras e intervenciones en salud del trabajador son senaladas.

Factors associated with metabolic syndrome among the elderly in the northeast of Brazil

Objetivo: Verificar a prevalencia de sindrome metabolica (SM) e fatores associados em 348 idosos residentes em Campina Grande, Paraiba. Metodo: Estudo transversal, realizou-se inquerito domiciliar e avaliacao clinico/laboratorial. O diagnostico da SM foi baseado nos criterios do Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (NCEP-ATP III). Investigou-se a associacao entre SM e condicoes sociodemograficas, condicao de saude e habitos de vida. As razoes de prevalencia bruta e ajustada foram obtidas pela regressao de Poisson. As variaveis que apresentaram significância menor ou igual a 0,2 (20%) foram testadas em um modelo multivariado. Adotou-se o valor de p£0,05 para aceitacao das associacoes no modelo final. Resultados: A SM foi mais prevalente entre as mulheres (64,7%) e nos que possuiam problema cardiaco. Verificou-se ainda que, especificamente nas mulheres, houve maior prevalencia de SM naquelas que possuiam osteoartrite. Conclusao: A maior prevalencia de SM entre as mulheres e a associacao da SM com osteoartrite nesse grupo merece atencao, uma vez que essa pode causar limitacao funcional, comprometendo a qualidade de vida do idoso.

Autoavaliação do estado de saúde e fatores associados em idosos cadastrados na Estratégia Saúde da Família de Campina Grande, Paraíba

Objective: To determine the association between negative self-assessment of health status and sociodemographic variables and health indicators in elderly persons registered with the Family Health Strategy of Campina Grande, Paraiba. Methodology: A cross-sectional study with home-based primary data collection was carried out among elderly persons of both genders. The variables studied were: self-assessment of health, socioeconomic and demographic factors, number of referred chronic diseases and degree of dependence in basic activities of daily living. Possible factors associated with self-assessment of health were verified through multivariate logistic regression. Results: We evaluated 420 elderly persons (68.1% of whom were women) with an average age of 71.57 years. There was a positive association between negative self-assessment of health status and elderly persons with two or three chronic diseases (OR=2.70; CI95%:1.47-4.96), four or more chronic diseases (OR=4.35; CI95%:1,58-12.01), a mild degree of dependence (OR=2.34; CI95%:1.13-4.87), moderate dependence (OR=2.11; CI95%:1.07-4.17) and those who were married (OR=2.46; CI95%:1.01-6.01). Conclusion: The results show that the negative self-assessment of health status was associated with the number of referred chronic diseases and degree of dependence in basic activities of daily living. There was also a tendency towards association with married elderly persons. The results suggest the need for actions aimed at the prevention and diagnosis of chronic diseases, as well as the promotion and maintenance of functional capacity and disability prevention or treatment.

Sources of social support in elderly having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Este trabalho objetivou identificar e estimular fontes de apoio social a idosos portadores de doenca pulmonar obstrutiva cronica. Pautado por uma analise qualitativa e com carater intervencionista, foi realizado atraves de quatro oficinas, que foram gravadas e posteriormente transformadas em corpus de discursos submetidos a analise categorial tematica de conteudo. A amostra foi composta por sete idosos (seis homens e uma mulher) com media de idade de 70 anos. As tematicas mais recorrentes foram: queixas advindas das limitacoes impostas pela doenca, isolamento e dependencia funcional e estimulo das fontes de apoio social. Apesar de a familia e os medicos terem sido identificados como as principais fontes de apoio, as dificuldades acarretadas pela enfermidade e o sentimento de incapacidade dificultavam as relacoes com os familiares e/ou cuidadores e o estabelecimento de novas redes sociais. As oficinas proporcionaram trocas de experiencias entre os idosos, desenvolvendo vinculos e promovendo apoio social.This paper aimed to identify and stimulate social support sources in elderly having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Guided by a qualitative analysis and with interventionist character, it was realized through four workshops which were recorded and later transformed into corpus of speeches submitted to thematic categorical content analysis. The sample was composed by seven elderly (six men and one woman), with mean age of 70 years. The most recurrent themes were: complaints arising from the limitations imposed by the disease, isolation and functional dependency and encouraging sources of social support. Although family and doctors have been identified as the main support sources, difficulties established by the illness and the feeling of incapacity complicated the relation with the family and/or caregivers, as well as for the establishment of new social nets. The workshops provided exchange of experiences among the participants, developing bonds and promoting social support.

Fontes de apoio social a idosos portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica

Este trabalho objetivou identificar e estimular fontes de apoio social a idosos portadores de doenca pulmonar obstrutiva cronica. Pautado por uma analise qualitativa e com carater intervencionista, foi realizado atraves de quatro oficinas, que foram gravadas e posteriormente transformadas em corpus de discursos submetidos a analise categorial tematica de conteudo. A amostra foi composta por sete idosos (seis homens e uma mulher) com media de idade de 70 anos. As tematicas mais recorrentes foram: queixas advindas das limitacoes impostas pela doenca, isolamento e dependencia funcional e estimulo das fontes de apoio social. Apesar de a familia e os medicos terem sido identificados como as principais fontes de apoio, as dificuldades acarretadas pela enfermidade e o sentimento de incapacidade dificultavam as relacoes com os familiares e/ou cuidadores e o estabelecimento de novas redes sociais. As oficinas proporcionaram trocas de experiencias entre os idosos, desenvolvendo vinculos e promovendo apoio social.This paper aimed to identify and stimulate social support sources in elderly having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Guided by a qualitative analysis and with interventionist character, it was realized through four workshops which were recorded and later transformed into corpus of speeches submitted to thematic categorical content analysis. The sample was composed by seven elderly (six men and one woman), with mean age of 70 years. The most recurrent themes were: complaints arising from the limitations imposed by the disease, isolation and functional dependency and encouraging sources of social support. Although family and doctors have been identified as the main support sources, difficulties established by the illness and the feeling of incapacity complicated the relation with the family and/or caregivers, as well as for the establishment of new social nets. The workshops provided exchange of experiences among the participants, developing bonds and promoting social support.