Quality of life as a predictor of hospitalization in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction: As medical advances are achieved in the care of chronically ill patients, there is increasing evidence that health-related quality of life (QoL) is associated with poor outcomes, including hospitalization and death. This study aimed to evaluate QoL as a predictor of hospitalization and death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on hemodialysis. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 108 patients with CKD on hemodialysis with 24-month follow-up. QoL was assessed by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short-Form (KDQOL-SF), including time to first hospitalization and death as outcomes. Results: The highest KDQOL-SF scores at baseline were observed in Sexual function, Dialysis staff encouragement, and Cognitive function, while the lowest scores were observed in Working status, Role physical, and Energy/fatigue. There was an association of Overall health and Role emotional domains with shorter time to first hospitalization. Data analyzed were insufficient to indicate an association of QoL with mortality in this population. Conclusion: QoL was associated with time to first hospitalization in patients with CKD on hemodialysis, but the results were not sufficient to indicate its association with mortality. (AU)

Infecção urinária na gestação: uma revisão da literatura / Urinary tract infection in pregnancy: review of literature

As infecções no trato urinário (ITUs) representam a forma mais comum de infecções bacterianas em gestantes. A gravidez é uma situação que predispõe ao aparecimento das ITUs, devido às mudanças fisiológicas (mecânicas e hormonais) que ocorrem nesse período da vida da mulher, facilitando à transformação das mulheres bacteriúricas assintomáticas (BA) em sintomáticas. A BA acomete entre 2-10% das gestantes, se não tratadas adequadamente podem desenvolver pielonefrite em 40% dos casos. As ITUs manifestam-se clinicamente por disúria, polaciúria, urgência miccional e dor no baixo ventre na cistite, arrepios de frio e lombalgia na pielonefrite, ou completa ausência de sintomas na bacteriúria assintomática. O diagnóstico, na maioria das vezes, com exceção da bacteriúria assintomática, é clínico. Deve-se levar em consideração fatores, como a condição da paciente, a tolerabilidade e a toxicidade materna e fetal para a escolha da melhor abordagem terapêutica. O objetivo do presente estudo foi revisar os trabalhos que abordassem fisiopatologia, formas clínicas das ITUs, epidemiologia, etiologia, métodos de diagnóstico e tratamento das infecções urinárias na gestação.

The urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent the most common form of bacterial infections in pregnant women. Pregnancy is a situation that predisposes to the development of UTIs due to physiological changes (mechanical and hormonal) that occur in this period of women?s life, facilitating the transformation of asymptomatic bacteriuria women (AB) in symptomatic ones. AB affects 2-10% of pregnant women, and if not properly treated, it can develop pyelonephritis in 40% of cases. UTIs are clinically manifested by dysuria, urinary frequency, urinary urgency and lower abdominal pain in cystitis, chills and low back pain in pyelonephritis, or complete absence of symptoms in asymptomatic bacteriuria. The diagnosis in most cases is clinical, except for asymptomatic bacteriuria. One should take into account factors such as the patient?s condition, tolerability, and maternal and fetal toxicity when choosing the best therapeutic approach. The aim of this study was to review the work that addressed pathophysiology, clinical forms of UTIs, epidemiology, etiology, diagnostic methods and treatment of urinary infections in pregnancy.

Comportamento da dor e da função pulmonar em pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca via esternotomia / Pain and pulmonary function in patients submitted to heart surgery via sternotomy

Objetivo: Avaliar o comportamento da função pulmonar e da dor em pacientes adultos submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca por esternotomia. Além de verificar possíveis correlações e comparações dessas variáveis com as características do procedimento cirúrgico e o tempo de internação hospitalar. Métodos: Foi realizado estudo de coorte composto de 70 indivíduos, nos quais foi avaliada a função pulmonar préoperatória por espirometria e inspirometria de incentivo. Os pacientes foram acompanhados no pós-operatório, por meio de protocolo com informações da cirurgia, função pulmonar e um protocolo de avaliação álgica (escala análoga visual e desenho do corpo humano). Resultados: Os valores de função pulmonar do período pós-operatório apresentaram diminuição significativa em relação ao pré-operatório (P<0,01). A dor localizou-se na região da esternotomia, persistindo até o 5º dia de pósoperatório. Houve correlação da dor com os parâmetros de função pulmonar (volume expiratório forçado no 1º segundo - percentual r=-0,271 e P<0,047; pico de fluxo expiratório r=-0,357 e P<0,008; volume inspiratório máximo r=-0,293 e P<0,032). Não se observou correlação significativa da dor com outras variáveis. Conclusão: Observou-se prejuízo significativo da função pulmonar, não se restabelecendo completamente até o 5º dia de pós-operatório. A dor foi uma queixa que persistiu durante todo o período do estudo. Os parâmetros de função pulmonar apresentaram relação significativa com a dor. Não houve correlação entre dor e as características dos indivíduos, do procedimento cirúrgico e tempo de internação hospitalar.

Objective: To investigate the pulmonary function and pain in adult patients undergoing heart surgery via sternotomy and to verify possible correlations of these variables with the characteristics of the surgical procedure and hospital stay. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out of 70 individuals undergoing heart surgery. The lung function was assessed before and after surgery by spirometry and incentive spirometry. Details of the surgical procedure were studied and patients were followed up postoperatively using a visual analogue scale and design of the human body to evaluate pain. Results: The pulmonary function was significantly impaired in the postoperative compared to preoperative period (P <0.01). The pain was centered in the region of the sternotomy and persisted until at least the 5th postoperative day. There was a correlation between pain and the parameters of pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second - percentage: r = -0.271, P <0.047; peak expiratory flow: r = 0.357, P <0.008; and maximum inspiratory volume: r = -0.293, P <0.032). There was no significant correlation between pain and other variables. Conclusion: There was significant impairment of lung function which had not recovered completely on the 5th postoperative day. Pain was a complaint that persisted throughout the study period. The parameters of pulmonary function showed a significant relationship with pain. There was no correlation between pain and the characteristics of individuals, the surgical procedure or the length of hospital stay.