Thalita Medeiros Fernandes de Macêdo

Treinamento muscular inspiratório em crianças com leucemia aguda: resultados preliminares

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of inspiratory muscle training in children with acute leukemia. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study with a control group. Fourteen patients with 5-14 years old and a diagnosis of acute leukemia were evaluated regarding their thoracic mobility and respiratory muscle strength. They were divided in two groups (A and B). Group A received domiciliary inspiratory muscle training during 15 minutes, twice a day, for ten weeks, with a Threshold® device using a load of 30% of the maximal inspiratory pressure, readjusted after weekly evaluations. Group B patients were tested regarding their maximum respiratory pressures in their first evaluation and after ten weeks. Student t-test was used to evaluate maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures between groups Pearsons correlation test examined the association of inspiratory and expiratory pressures with the different loads, using SPSS 15.0 software. RESULTS: A significant improvement of 35% was observed in the maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures in group A at the end of the training. There was a strong positive correlation between the used load levels and maximal inspiratory (p<0.0001) and expiratory (p=0.0001) pressures. CONCLUSIONS: Inspiratory muscle training can be effective for improving inspiratory muscle strength in children beeing treated for acute leukemia.

Prediction equations for maximal respiratory pressures of Brazilian adolescents

BACKGROUND The literature emphasizes the need for studies to provide reference values and equations able to predict respiratory muscle strength of Brazilian subjects at different ages and from different regions of Brazil. OBJECTIVES To develop prediction equations for maximal respiratory pressures (MRP) of Brazilian adolescents. METHOD In total, 182 healthy adolescents (98 boys and 84 girls) aged between 12 and 18 years, enrolled in public and private schools in the city of Natal-RN, were evaluated using an MVD300 digital manometer (Globalmed®) according to a standardized protocol. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics 17.0 software, with a significance level of 5%. Data normality was verified using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and descriptive analysis results were expressed as the mean and standard deviation. To verify the correlation between the MRP and the independent variables (age, weight, height and sex), the Pearson correlation test was used. To obtain the prediction equations, stepwise multiple linear regression was used. RESULTS The variables height, weight and sex were correlated to MRP. However, weight and sex explained part of the variability of MRP, and the regression analysis in this study indicated that these variables contributed significantly in predicting maximal inspiratory pressure, and only sex contributed significantly to maximal expiratory pressure. CONCLUSION This study provides reference values and two models of prediction equations for maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures and sets the necessary normal lower limits for the assessment of the respiratory muscle strength of Brazilian adolescents.

Pulmonary function of children with acute leukemia in maintenance phase of chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the pulmonary function of children with acute leukemia. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational analytical study that enrolled 34 children divided into groups A (17 with acute leukemia in the maintenance phase of chemotherapy) and B (17 healthy children). The groups were matched for sex, age and height. Spirometry was measured using a spirometer Microloop Viasys(r) in accordance with American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines. Maximal respiratory pressures were measured with an MVD300 digital manometer (Globalmed(r)). Maximal inspiratory pressures and maximal expiratory pressures were measured from residual volume and total lung capacity, respectively. RESULTS: Group A showed a significant decrease in maximal inspiratory pressures when compared to group B. No significant difference was found between the spirometric values of the two groups, nor was there any difference between maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure values in group A compared to the lower limit values proposed as reference. CONCLUSION: Children with acute leukemia, myeloid or lymphoid, during the maintenance phase of chemotherapy exhibited unchanged spirometric variables and maximal expiratory pressure; However, there was a decrease in inspiratory muscle strength.

Reference values and factors related to thoracic mobility in Brazilian children

OBJECTIVE: To provide reference values and to evaluate the factors influencing thoracic mobility in children aged 7 to 11 years old. METHODS: A total of 166 children were assessed from public and private schools (90 girls and 76 boys) in the city of Natal (Northeast Brazil). Demographic and anthropometric data were collected, and the thoracic perimeter was assessed by cirtometry. Non-paired Students t-test and variance analysis compared xiphoid respiratory coefficient between sex and ages, respectively. Axillary respiratory coefficient differences between sex and ages were tested by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, respectively, with differences located by Duncan post-hoc test. Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to verify the association between independent variables with the assessed coefficients. RESULTS: Xiphoid and axillary perimetry means were 5.00±1.59 and 4.75±1.56cm, respectively. There was a low correlation, without statistical significance, between xiphoid respiratory coefficient and age, sex, weight, height, and body mass index. The axillary respiratory coefficient was correlated with weight and height. Differences were found in the axillary respiratory coefficient in the age groups between 8-10 (p=0.03) and 10-11 years old (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Reference values for thoracic cirtometry were provided for children aged between seven and 11 years old. Sex, age, weight, height, and body mass index did not influence xiphoid respiratory coefficient. The axillary respiratory coefficient was different between ages, from eight years onwards, being significantly influenced by height and weight regardless of sex.

APLICABILIDADE DE UM QUESTIONÁRIO GENÉRICO DE AVALIAÇÃO DE QUALIDADE DE VIDA PARA CRIANÇAS ASMÁTICAS

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the applicability of the generic instrument Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0) to assess health-related quality of life of asthmatic children compared to the specific instrument Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ). Methods: This research involved the evaluation of 30 children aged seven to eleven years, who had been diagnosed with asthma for at least six months prior to research. Both quality of life questionnaires were applied to children by an interviewer over the period of one day. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0, with significance level set at 5%. Results: No differences in quality of life was found when genders were compared. Asthmatic children classified as practitioners and non-practitioners of physical activity had different scores in the physical health-related domain (PedsQL 4.0). The scores of children with different levels of asthma severity and control were significantly different in two out of three domains evaluated by PAQLQ. When assessed by PedsQL 4.0, no significant difference was observed as to quality of life of children with different levels of asthma control and severity. Quality of life measurements of asthmatic children by PedsQL 4.0 and PAQLQ instruments had a moderate and significant correlation (r=0.415, p=0.02). Conclusions: PedsQL 4.0 could distinguish children practicing different levels of physical activity, but it was not sensitive enough to distinguish health-related quality of life among children with different levels of asthma severity and control.

Valores de referencia y factores relacionados con la movilidad torácica en niños brasileños

OBJECTIVE: To provide reference values and to evaluate the factors influencing thoracic mobility in children aged 7 to 11 years old. METHODS: A total of 166 children were assessed from public and private schools (90 girls and 76 boys) in the city of Natal (Northeast Brazil). Demographic and anthropometric data were collected, and the thoracic perimeter was assessed by cirtometry. Non-paired Students t-test and variance analysis compared xiphoid respiratory coefficient between sex and ages, respectively. Axillary respiratory coefficient differences between sex and ages were tested by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, respectively, with differences located by Duncan post-hoc test. Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to verify the association between independent variables with the assessed coefficients. RESULTS: Xiphoid and axillary perimetry means were 5.00±1.59 and 4.75±1.56cm, respectively. There was a low correlation, without statistical significance, between xiphoid respiratory coefficient and age, sex, weight, height, and body mass index. The axillary respiratory coefficient was correlated with weight and height. Differences were found in the axillary respiratory coefficient in the age groups between 8-10 (p=0.03) and 10-11 years old (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Reference values for thoracic cirtometry were provided for children aged between seven and 11 years old. Sex, age, weight, height, and body mass index did not influence xiphoid respiratory coefficient. The axillary respiratory coefficient was different between ages, from eight years onwards, being significantly influenced by height and weight regardless of sex.

Valores de referência e fatores relacionados à mobilidade torácica em crianças brasileiras

OBJECTIVE: To provide reference values and to evaluate the factors influencing thoracic mobility in children aged 7 to 11 years old. METHODS: A total of 166 children were assessed from public and private schools (90 girls and 76 boys) in the city of Natal (Northeast Brazil). Demographic and anthropometric data were collected, and the thoracic perimeter was assessed by cirtometry. Non-paired Students t-test and variance analysis compared xiphoid respiratory coefficient between sex and ages, respectively. Axillary respiratory coefficient differences between sex and ages were tested by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, respectively, with differences located by Duncan post-hoc test. Spearman and Pearson correlation coefficients were used to verify the association between independent variables with the assessed coefficients. RESULTS: Xiphoid and axillary perimetry means were 5.00±1.59 and 4.75±1.56cm, respectively. There was a low correlation, without statistical significance, between xiphoid respiratory coefficient and age, sex, weight, height, and body mass index. The axillary respiratory coefficient was correlated with weight and height. Differences were found in the axillary respiratory coefficient in the age groups between 8-10 (p=0.03) and 10-11 years old (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Reference values for thoracic cirtometry were provided for children aged between seven and 11 years old. Sex, age, weight, height, and body mass index did not influence xiphoid respiratory coefficient. The axillary respiratory coefficient was different between ages, from eight years onwards, being significantly influenced by height and weight regardless of sex.