Muscle mass and cellular membrane integrity assessment in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between muscle mass depletion and compromising of the cell membrane integrity and clinical-anthropometric characteristics in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. METHODS: This observational study evaluated waist circumference, body mass index, and waist-to-height ratio in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Skeletal mass index corrected by weight and impairment of cell membrane integrity were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. RESULTS: In 56 patients, muscle mass depletion was observed in 62.5% and cell membrane impairment in 28.6%. The metabolic syndrome and elevated aspartate aminotransferase were the only clinical factors associated with mass depletion (p<0.05). The linear regression analysis showed association between skeletal mass index and waist-to-height ratio and waist circumference, after adjustments (p<0.05). The phase angle value was not different between those with and without mass depletion, and also it did not have correlation with skeletal mass index and clinical parameters (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of mass depletion and cell membrane impairment was higher in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The muscle mass depletion was associated with central obesity, aspartate aminotransferase elevated, and metabolic syndrome; however, the phase angle is not associated with clinical and anthropometric data.

A dificuldade de acesso ao tratamento da catarata senil em Aparecida de Goiânia - Goiás, Brasil / The difficulty of access to senile cataract treatment in Aparecida de Goiânia - Goiás. Brazil

Resumo Objetivo: Identificar as dificuldades dos pacientes portadores de catarata senil no acesso a facectomia pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no Centro Médico e Diagnóstico (CEMED) de Aparecida de Goiânia. Métodos: Pesquisa transversal e observacional com coleta de dados a partir de questionário padronizado aplicado no momento pré-cirúrgico. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 150 pacientes: 56% mulheres e 44% homens. A média de idade foi de 66,05±9,21 anos. A maioria (57,3%) possuía diagnóstico prévio de catarata e, destes, 56,7% não procurou tratamento anterior. Os motivos que impossibilitaram o tratamento prévio foram: dificuldade de acesso ao serviço de saúde (43,5%), medo da cirurgia (18,8%) e falta de condição clínica para a cirurgia (18,8%). 78,7% dos pacientes gostariam de realizar a cirurgia no mesmo dia em que são diagnosticados com catarata. 21,3% foram contra essa proposta, sendo o medo da cirurgia (65%) o principal motivo para a não realização imediata da facectomia. Quanto ao prejuízo nas atividades de vida diária (AVD), 20,6% não conseguiam ler revistas e jornais, em contrapartida, 20,6% não relataram prejuízo considerável em suas AVD. Conclusão: As principais dificuldades de acesso ao tratamento da catarata senil foram: dificuldade de acesso ao sistema de saúde especializado, medo do procedimento, falta de condição clínica para cirurgia. Assim, mostra-se necessária a realização de projetos que facilitem o diagnóstico e tratamento, que atuem na educação populacional, promovendo a conscientização da população e estimulando a procura pelo tratamento.

Abstract Objective: To identify the difficulties of patients with senile cataract in the access to the facectomy by Unified Health System ( SUS - Sistema Único de Saúde) in the Medical and Diagnostic Center (CEMED) of Aparecida de Goiânia. Methods: Cross-sectional and observational research with data collection from a standardized questionnaire applied preoperatively. Results: The sample consisted of 150 patients: 56% women and 44% men. The average age was 66.05 ± 9.21 years. Most (57.3%) had a previous diagnosis of cataract and, of these, 56.7% did not seek previous treatment. The reasons that prevented previous treatment were: difficulty in accessing the health service (43.5%), fear of surgery (18.8%) and lack of clinical condition for surgery (18.8%). 78.7% of patients would like to have surgery on the same day they are diagnosed with cataract. 21.3% were against this proposal, and the fear of surgery (65%) was the main reason for not performing the facectomy immediately. Regarding the impairment in activities of daily living (ADL), 20.6% could not read magazines and newspapers, in contrast, 20.6% reported no significant impairment in their ADL. Conclusion: The main difficulties in accessing senile cataract treatment were: difficulty in accessing the specialized health system, fear of the procedure, lack of clinical condition for surgery. Thus, it is necessary to promote good quality and affordable surgery; carrying out projects that facilitate diagnosis and treatment, that act in population education, promoting population awareness and stimulating the search for treatment.