Tarciana Nobre de Menezes

[Anthropometry of elderly people living in geriatric institutions, Brazil].

OBJETIVO: Fornecer informacoes antropometricas e de composicao corporal de idosos residentes em instituicoes geriatricas. METODOS: Foram avaliados 305 idosos, de ambos os sexos, residentes em seis instituicoes geriatricas de Fortaleza, Estado do Ceara. As variaveis antropometricas utilizadas foram: peso, estatura, indice de massa corporal, perimetro do braco, dobra cutânea tricipital, circunferencia muscular do braco e area muscular do braco corrigida. O indice de massa corporal foi calculado a partir de equacao que utiliza as variaveis peso e estatura. A circunferencia muscular do braco e area muscular do braco corrigida foram calculadas utilizando-se equacoes especificas. Os dados sao apresentados sob a forma de media, desvio-padrao e percentil (P5, P10, P25, P50, P75, P90 e P95). Foi realizado o teste t-Student para verificar a diferenca dos valores medios das variaveis entre os sexos. Foi realizada analise de variância (ANOVA) para verificar o efeito da idade nas variaveis. RESULTADOS: Em todas as variaveis, o valor medio dos homens foi superior ao das mulheres, exceto para dobra cutânea tricipital. As diferencas de media das variaveis indice de massa corporal e perimetro do braco entre os sexos nao foram estatisticamente significativas (p>0,05). A idade mostrou ser fator importante na diminuicao dos valores de algumas variaveis, o que implica a necessidade de padroes de referencia especificos para idosos. CONCLUSOES: Apesar da populacao estudada ser institucionalizada, a tendencia de diminuicao das variaveis antropometricas segue a mesma de outros estudos com populacao idosa, no entanto os valores diferem. Dessa forma, sugere-se que esses valores possam ser usados para auxiliar na avaliacao nutricional de idosos institucionalizados.

Ácidos graxos e doenças cardiovasculares: uma revisão

During the last decades the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases has increased progressively, becoming a serious public health problem. Some studies have shown a positive association between saturated fatty acid intake and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, and a negative association with unsaturated fatty acids intake. These studies indicate a need to evaluate the different kinds of fatty acids (saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) and their effects, aiming at a better utilization and maintaining a suitable proportion in the diet in order to diminish the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this paper is to accomplish a review of the medical literature regarding fatty acids and their effects on cardiovascular diseases, as well as the evolution of their requirements through time, consumption trends and future perspectives.

Perfil dos indicadores de gordura e massa muscular corporal dos idosos de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil

The aim of this study was to describe trends in body fat and muscle mass among elderly individuals in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil. This was a population-based, cross-sectional, household survey of elderly individuals (> 60 years) (n = 483) in Fortaleza. The variables analyzed were: triceps skinfold thickness (TST), upper arm fat area (UFA), mid upper arm circumference (MAC), arm muscle circumference (AMC), arm muscle area (AMA), and corrected arm muscle area (CAMA). Mean TST and UFA were significantly higher in women than men (p < 0.05). Mean AMC, AMA, and CAMA were higher in men than women (p < 0.05). For all the variables, the mean and 50th percentile decreased with age, except the TST percentile for women. Anthropometric and body composition patterns in the elderly in this study showed similar trends to those of other studies, but with different values. The values could thus be useful as references for the elderly in Fortaleza.

Estudo domiciliar da população idosa de Fortaleza/CE: aspectos metodológicos e características sócio-demográficas

OBJETIVO: Descrever a metodologia do estudo e identificar as caracteristicas socio-demograficas dos idosos residentes na cidade de Fortaleza/CE. METODOLOGIA: Este estudo caracteriza-se por ser epidemiologico, do tipo transversal e de base domiciliar. Foram selecionados 385 domicilios com base em tecnicas de processos probabilisticos com estratificacao dos bairros e setores censitarios de Fortaleza. As variaveis utilizadas neste estudo foram: sexo, grupo etario (60-69, 70-79 e 80 anos ou mais), cor, escolaridade, estado civil, numero de residentes no domicilio. RESULTADOS: Foram entrevistados 483 idosos (327 mulheres e 156 homens). Os idosos pardos representaram 55,1% da amostra. A maioria dos idosos (61,7%) era analfabeta ou cursou o primeiro grau incompleto. A maior parte era casada (48,5%); no entanto, entre as mulheres, houve elevada proporcao de viuvas (38,2%). Em 68,7% dos domicilios visitados, havia de 2 a 5 residentes. CONCLUSAO: Os resultados mostram a heterogeneidade da populacao idosa. Diante disso, observa-se a importância do planejamento de politicas publicas direcionadas as necessidades especificas da populacao idosa, alem de outros estudos que possibilitem ampliar o conhecimento a respeito dessa populacao.

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),

Avaliação antropométrica de idosos residentes em Instituições de Longa Permanência de Fortaleza-CE

This study aimed to evaluate the anthropometric variables of elderly people living in long term nursing institutions in Fortaleza city, state of Ceara, Brazil. Elderly people (60 years or more), of both sexes, living in six long term nursing institutions in Fortaleza city were interviewed. The anthropometric variables analyzed were: body mass index (BMI), triceps skinfold thickness (TST) and arm muscle circumference (AMC). For analysis of BMI, TST and AMC were used the values proposed by Kuczmarski et al. (2000), presented in percentiles. The study sample was composed of 305 elderly people (69.2% of them women). The mean age was 75.9 years (SD=9.5 years). As regards BMI, 66% of the men presented low weight. Women presented higher proportion of overweight (12.3%) than men (7.4%). With respect to age group, 58.4% of the elderly with 60-69 years presented low weight. The values of TST showed that 31.5% of the women were with decreased subcutaneous adipose tissue depots. The elderly aged 80 years or more presented a higher proportion of increased subcutaneous adipose tissue depots (35.6%) than the other age groups. As for AMC, the proportion of the malnourished elderly was high for both sexes (91.7% of men and 77.2% of women). In all age groups, the elderly presented high proportion of malnutrition. The elderly living in long term nursing institutions in Fortaleza city were at nutritional risk, what implies the need for interventions.

Fatores de risco do déficit de estatura em crianças pré-escolares: estudo caso-controle

O objetivo deste artigo e identificar fatores associados ao retardo leve e moderado de crescimento entre pre-escolares assistidos em creches publicas. Estudo caso-controle com 67 pares de criancas. Os casos definidos como criancas com estatura/idade entre -1 e -2 escore-Z foram pareados a controles situados entre -1 escore-Z e a mediana, enquanto casos com estatura/idade mediana ate +1 escore-Z. O pareamento considerou o sexo e a idade da crianca. O modelo final da analise multivariada hierarquizada indicou maior chance de deficit estatural nos seguintes grupos de pre-escolares: renda familiar per capita 6, idade materna ao nascimento da crianca < 20 anos, estatura materna baixa, esquema vacinal incompleto, baixo peso ao nascer. A determinacao do deficit de estatura indica importante influencia das condicoes socioeconomicas adversas e de caracteristicas que refletem cuidados de saude (estatura materna e variaveis infantis).

Perfil antropométrico dos idosos residentes em Campina Grande-PB

This study aimed to describe the anthropometric information on elderly people in Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. It is a populational, cross-sectional household-based study. Data were presented as means, standard deviations and percentiles (5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th) for weight, stature, body mass index (BMI), mid upper arm circumference (MAC), triceps skinfold thickness (TST), arm muscle circumference (AMC), calf circumference (CC) and waist circumference (WC). The analyses included Student t test to detect differences in mean values of the variable between both sexes. Age impact was investigated by ANOVA. A total of 806 elderly people were interviewed. The mean values of the all variables presented differences statistically significant. The mean values of weight, stature, AMC, CC and WC were higher in men, whereas the mean values of BMI, MAC and TST were higher in women. All variables showed a decrease in average values and percentile (50th) with advanced age. The anthropometric and body composition data of the elderly in the present study showed similar trend of others studies, but with different values. Thereby, such values could be useful in the anthropometric assessment of elderly people.

Questionários de Frequência de Consumo Alimentar desenvolvidos e validados para população do Brasil: revisão da literatura

Assessing food intake is a challenge for researchers given the inherent complexity of the issue. One of the methods used in epidemiological studies is the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The scope of this paper was to identify studies that developed and/or validated the FFQ in Brazil, analyzing the methods used and the main results of the validation. The PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases were researched for studies published prior to 2013 on the development and validation of the FFQ in Brazil. These studies were analyzed according to: i) the main methodological characteristics of the elaboration/validation process of the questionnaires; ii) the key results related to validation. Forty-one studies were assessed: 6 on the development of the FFQ; 18 on the development and validation of the FFQ; 17 on the validation of the FFQ. There were inter-regional differences in the publications and methodological differences in the elaboration and validation of the FFQ. Adults and adolescents were the groups most covered for the validation of the FFQ, though specific studies for children < 5 years of age were not found. The methodological rigor and statistical results guarantee the suitability of the validation of the FFQ for the target populations, with high correlations for energy, carbohydrates, fibers, calcium and vitamin C.Assessing food intake is a challenge for researchers given the inherent complexity of the issue. One of the methods used in epidemiological studies is the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The scope of this paper was to identify studies that developed and/or validated the FFQ in Brazil, analyzing the methods used and the main results of the validation. The PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases were researched for studies published prior to 2013 on the development and validation of the FFQ in Brazil. These studies were analyzed according to: i) the main methodological characteristics of the elaboration/validation process of the questionnaires; ii) the key results related to validation. Forty-one studies were assessed: 6 on the development of the FFQ; 18 on the development and validation of the FFQ; 17 on the validation of the FFQ. There were inter-regional differences in the publications and methodological differences in the elaboration and validation of the FFQ. Adults and adolescents were the groups most covered for the validation of the FFQ, though specific studies for children < 5 years of age were not found. The methodological rigor and statistical results guarantee the suitability of the validation of the FFQ for the target populations, with high correlations for energy, carbohydrates, fibers, calcium and vitamin C.