ABSTRACT
Abstract Introduction Ménière disease (MD) affects the inner ear, comprising the cochlea and semicircular canals. Symptoms include severe incapacitating vertigo, nausea, vomit, aural fullness, and sensorineural hearing loss - in which speech discrimination and intelligibility are impaired and can be quantified with speech audiometry. Objective To investigate the influence of the stimuli presentation level in speech audiometry and the quality of life in adults with and without a diagnosis of MD. Method Two groups were formed with nine individuals each - one with and the other without MD. The Speech Recognition Percentage Index was researched with stimuli presented above the self-reported comfort level or 5 dB below the discomfort level. Dizziness Handicap and Tinnitus Handicap Inventories were administered to individuals with tinnitus and vertigo complaints. Results Speech recognition was better in the study group with higher presentation levels, as 75% of the sample improved their performance. The presence of vertigo significantly impacted the quality of life of individuals in the study group. Conclusion Speech recognition improves with higher presentation levels. Also, MD impacts the quality of life, especially regarding limitations caused by vertigo.
ABSTRACT
Introdução: A poluição atmosférica nos centros urbanos tem sido identificada como um grave problema de saúde pública, de modo mais concreto, desde o começo do século 20. Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre a poluição do ar e as internações de idosos por insuficiência cardíaca congestiva (ICC), no Município de Santo André. Casuística e métodos: Estudo ecológico de séries temporais. Informações sobre internação de idosos (mais de 60 anos) por ICC (Código Internacional de Doenças 10ª revisão: I50) para o município de Santo André foram obtidas junto ao DATASUS. Informações sobre nível diário de PM10, temperatura mínima e umidade média foram obtidas junto à CETESB. Foi realizada a análise descritiva, a correlação de Pearson e o modelo linear generalizado de regressão de Poisson para estimar os efeitos dos poluentes no desfecho no dia da exposição e até 20 dias após, controlando-se para sazonalidades de longa e curta duração, feriados e fatores meteorológicos. Resultados: A média de internação de idosos por ICCdurante o período de estudo foi de 0,71 (dp = 0,91), variando entre zero a seis casos por dia. Para um aumento de 24,6 ug/m3 de PM10, observou-se um aumento de 3,8% (IC95% = 0,4-7,2) nas internações por ICC no mesmo dia da exposição. Conclusão: O estudo mostrou um efeito agudo dos níveis de PM10 sobre as internações de idosos por ICC no município de Santo André.
Background: Air pollution in urban centers has been identified as a serious public health issue, more specifically, from the early 20th century. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between air pollution and hospital admissions of elderly patients for congestive heart failure (CHF) in the Municipality of Santo André. Methods: An ecological time series. Information on admission of elderly CHF for the municipality of Santo André was obtained from DATASUS. Information on daily level of PM10, mean minimum temperature and humidity were obtained from CETESB. We performed a descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation, and the generalized linear Poisson regression model to estimate the effects of pollutants on the outcome from the day of the exposition and 20 days after, controlling for seasonality, weather variables and short-term trend. Results: The average of CHF admissions during the period of study was 0.71 (sd = 0.91), ranging from zero to six cases per day. An increase of 24.6 mg/m3 in PM10 was associated with an increase of 3.8% (CI95% = 0,4-7,2) in hospitalizations for CHF in the same day of exposure. Conclusion: The study showed an acute effect of PM10 on hospital admissions of elderly patients for CHF in the municipality of Santo André.