Telemedicine of patients with cystic fibrosis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To describe then experience of implementing routine teleconsultations in respiratory physiotherapy at a reference center for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) in Rio de Janeiro / Brazil, during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive, study with children and adolescents with CF. The sample was divided between participants and those who did not participate in the teleconsultations. The teleconsultations were multidisciplinary and carried out by videoconference or telephone, depending on the patient's availability. The sequence of care provided by the team was organized together with the professionals, so that everyone could carry out individual and sequential teleconsultations. Physiotherapy appointments were divided into two segments: teleconsultation and telemonitoring. Demographic and clinical data were collected. RESULTS: Among the 184 patients assisted in the center, 153 (83.2%) participated in the teleservices and, of these, 33 (21.6%) required telemonitoring; 31 (16.8%) patients did not participate in the teleconsultations for not answering the calls. There was no statistical difference between the group that participated or not in teleservices, nor among those who participated in teleconsultations and telemonitoring. The mean age of the studied population was 7.0±0.4 years. Regarding the CFTR gene mutation, 64.7% had at least one F508del allele and 30.9% of the sample had no pathogens in the sputum test. CONCLUSIONS: Most participants with CF participated in teleconsultations, highlighting the importance of remote assistance activities during the COVID-19 pandemic period. This strategy was considered as positive, and it may become permanent in the care of patients with CF.

FACTORS ASSOCIATED TO QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the association between quality of life, functional capacity and clinical and nutritional status in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). METHODS: Cross-sectional study, including patients from eight to 18 years old with CF. Quality of life, functional capacity, nutritional status and clinical status were evaluated with the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire; the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and manual gripping force (MGF); the height percentiles for age and body mass index for age and respiratory function test, respectively. Pearson and Spearman correlation tests and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients, 13.4±0.5 years old, 60% female, 60% colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 57.8% with at least one F508del mutation participated in the study. When assessing the perception of quality of life, the weight domain reached the lowest values, and the digestive domain, the highest. In the pulmonary function test, the forced expiratory volume of the first second was 77.3±3.3% and the 6MWT and MGF presented values within the normal range. There was an association between quality of life and functional capacity, nutritional status and clinical status of CF patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study participants had good clinical conditions and satisfactory values of functional capacity and quality of life. The findings reinforce that the assessment of quality of life may be important for clinical practice in the management of treatment.

Factors associated to quality of life in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis / Fatores associados à qualidade de vida em crianças e adolescentes com fibrose cística

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the association between quality of life, functional capacity and clinical and nutritional status in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods: Cross-sectional study, including patients from eight to 18 years old with CF. Quality of life, functional capacity, nutritional status and clinical status were evaluated with the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire; the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and manual gripping force (MGF); the height percentiles for age and body mass index for age and respiratory function test, respectively. Pearson and Spearman correlation tests and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: A total of 45 patients, 13.4±0.5 years old, 60% female, 60% colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 57.8% with at least one F508del mutation participated in the study. When assessing the perception of quality of life, the weight domain reached the lowest values, and the digestive domain, the highest. In the pulmonary function test, the forced expiratory volume of the first second was 77.3±3.3% and the 6MWT and MGF presented values within the normal range. There was an association between quality of life and functional capacity, nutritional status and clinical status of CF patients. Conclusions: The study participants had good clinical conditions and satisfactory values of functional capacity and quality of life. The findings reinforce that the assessment of quality of life may be important for clinical practice in the management of treatment.

RESUMO Objetivo: Verificar associação entre qualidade de vida (QV), capacidade funcional e estados clínico e nutricional em crianças e adolescentes com fibrose cística (FC). Métodos: Estudo transversal incluindo pacientes de oito a 18 anos de idade com FC. A QV, a capacidade funcional, o estado nutricional e o estado clínico foram avaliados por meio do Questionário de Fibrose Cística; do teste de caminhada dos 6 minutos (TC6M) e da força de preensão manual (FPM); dos percentis de estatura para a idade e do índice de massa corporal (IMC) para a idade; e da prova de função respiratória, respectivamente. Para a análise dos dados, utilizaram-se os testes de correlação de Pearson e de Spearman e a regressão logística. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 45 pacientes com 13,4±0,5 anos, sendo 60% do sexo feminino, 60% colonizados por Pseudomonas aeruginosa e 57,8% apresentando pelo menos uma mutação F508del. Ao avaliar a percepção da QV, o domínio peso alcançou os escores mais baixos e o digestório, os mais altos. Na prova de função pulmonar, o volume expiratório forçado do primeiro segundo médio foi 77,3±3,3%, e o TC6M e a FPM apresentaram valores na faixa de normalidade. Observou-se associação da QV com a capacidade funcional, o estado nutricional e o estado clínico dos pacientes com FC. Conclusões: Os participantes do estudo apresentaram boas condições clínicas e valores satisfatórios de capacidade funcional e QV. Os achados reforçam que a avaliação da QV pode ser importante para a prática clínica, no manejo do tratamento.

Carvedilol recovers normal blood pressure variability in rats with myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic treatment with carvedilol in blood pressure (BPV) and heart rate (HRV) variability of rats with myocardial infarction (MI). METHODS: MI was produced in male rats by ligature of anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery. Control rats were submitted to a sham surgery (SO). MI and SO rats were randomized to receive for 30 days placebo (Plac 0.5% metilcelulose) or carvedilol (Carv, 2mg/Kg body weight/day, drinking water): SO-Plac (N = 10), SO-Carv (N = 10), MI-Plac (N = 12), MI-Carv (N = 13). Blood pressure (BP) was directly recorded in the awake animals and BPV was determined, in time (variance, mmhg(2)) and frequency domains by the autoregressive method. Statistical significance was set in P<0.05. Data are median and interquartile range. RESULTS: No significant changes in HRV was observed in MI rats, while BPV showed significant decreasing of blood pressure variance (SO-Plac = 42.08 (39.21) mmHg(2) vs. MI-Plac = 21.67 (12.58) mmHg(2), P<0.05), reversed by the Carv treatment (MI-Plac = 21.67 (12.58) vs. MI-Carv = 38.64 (29.25), P<0.05). In the frequency domain analyses, MI reduced absolute and normalized LF component (LF (mmHg(2)): SO-Plac = 8.98 (14.84) vs. MI-Plac = 2.08 (4.84), P<0.05; LF(nu): SO-Plac = 79.48 (45.03) nu vs. MI-Plac = 24.25 (40.67) nu, P<0.05) and increased the normalized HF component of the BPV (SO-Plac = 20.51 (39.18) vs. MI-Plac = 60.51 (39.73). Carv treatment significantly attenuated the LF component fall. CONCLUSION: Chronic treatment with carvedilol restored the variance of BPV altered by the MI.

Spectral analysis of heart rate variability with the autoregressive method: what model order to choose?

This work assessed the influence of the autoregressive model order (ARMO) on the spectral analysis of the heart rate variability (HRV). A sample of 68 R-R series obtained from digital ECG records of young healthy adults in the supine position was used. Normalized spectral indexes for each ARMO were compared by Friedman test followed by the Dunn's procedure and statistical significance was set at P<0.05. The results showed that the AR method using orders from 9 to 25 produces normalized spectral parameters statistically similar and, hence, the algorithms commonly employed to estimate optimum order are not mandatory in this case.

Síndrome de fragilidade aumenta a suscetibilidade à ventilação mecânica? / Fraglity syndrome increases susceptibility to mechanical ventilation?

Alguns marcadores clínicos da síndrome de fragilidade, como desnutrição, sarcopenia e delírio são preditores de insuficiência respiratória em idosos. Dessa forma, esses fatores de risco podem levar os pacientes considerados frágeis a uma maior suscetibilidade à intubação e ventilação mecânica. Objetivo: identificar evidências de associação causal entre a síndrome de fragilidade e ventilação mecânicainvasiva. Métodos: busca no MEDLINE por coortes que demonstrem que a síndrome de fragilidade aumenta o risco de intubação e ventilação mecânica invasiva. Além do termo síndrome de fragilidade, foram incorporados e considerados também os marcadores clínicos da síndrome que podem apresentar associação à insuficiência respiratória, reconhecidos na literatura como sarcopenia, delírio e desnutrição. A busca foi realizada através de estratégia de busca específica, incluindo os termos de busca(Medical Subject Headings – MeSH) e respectivos sinônimos. Além disso, foi realizada uma busca adicional na lista de referências dos estudos incluídos. Resultados: nenhum estudo preencheu os critérios de inclusão desta revisão. Conclusões: Em nosso estudo, não foram encontradas evidências de que a síndrome de fragilidade possa ser um fator de risco para ventilação mecânica invasiva. Existem indícios, no entanto, de que o delírio possa aumentar o tempo de um paciente submetido à ventilação mecânica. Apesar disso, há considerável carência de informações nessa área e muita incerteza, talvez por ainda não haver um consenso estabelecido sobre a síndrome. Há uma expressa necessidade de realização de estudos que avaliem se marcadores clínicos da síndrome de fragilidade são fatores de risco para ventilação mecânica invasiva.

Some clinical markers of frailty, such as malnutrition, sarcopenia and delirium are predictors of respiratory failure in the elderly. Thus, these risk factors can lead to patients considered vulnerable to greater susceptibility to intubation and mechanical ventilation. Objective: To identify evidence of a causal association between frailty and invasive mechanical ventilation. Methods: MEDLINE search for cohorts show ingthat the syndrome of frailty increases the risk of intubation and mechanical ventilation. Besides the term frailty, were incorporated and considered also markers of clinical syndrome that may have association with respiratory failure, found in the literature as sarcopenia, delirium, malnutrition. The search was performed using specific search strategy, including search terms (Medical Subject Headings - MeSH)and their synonyms. Furthermore, it was carry out additional search the reference list of included studies. Results: No study met the inclusion criteria of this review. Conclusions: In our study, we found no evidencethat the weakness may be a risk factor for invasive mechanical ventilation. There are indication showever, that delirium can increase the time under mechanical ventilation. Nevertheless, there is considerable lack of information in this area and a lot of uncertainty, perhaps because there is still no established consensus on the syndrome. There is an expressed need for studies to assess whether clinical markers of frailty are risk factors for invasive mechanical ventilation.

Impacto da atividade física sobre o risco cardiovascular na população adulta de Vitória-ES / Impact of physical activity on cardiovascular risk in adults from Vitória-ES

A atividade física (AF) regular é considerada hábito de vida saudável por reduzir o risco de doenças cardiovasculares. Entretanto, há poucos estudos neste sentido realizados em amostras populacionais. Avaliar o impacto da AF de lazer (AFL), ocupacional (AFO) e mista (AFLO) sobre o risco cardiovascular mensurado pelo escore de Framingham (EF) na população adulta (25-64 anos) de Vitória-ES. Estudo transversal em amostra probabilística (N=1.663; ambos os sexos). Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário, avaliação clínica e laboratorial (coleta de sangue). A estimativa de gasto calórico semanal em AFL, AFO e AFLO foi feita por meio de entrevista e, dessa forma, 4 grupos foram constituídos: Sedentário (S), AFL, AFO e AFLO. Análises de variância e covariância, bem como testes qui-quadrado e Mantel-Haenszel, foram usados para análise estatística. O grupo AFO apresentou valores inferiores para % gordura (%G), colesterol total (CT) e LDL se comparado ao grupo S. A prevalência de tabagismo foi menor nos grupos AFL (11,5%) e AFLO (10,2%), e maior nos grupos S (26,4%) e AFO(30,2%). O EF e o risco (%) de desenvolvimento de doença arterial coronariana em 10 anos (risco DAC), não ajustados, apresentaram-se menores no grupo AFO (EF= 3; 2,65±6,20; risco DAC= 4; 6,79±6,68%;mediana; média±DP ) se comparado ao grupo S (EF= 5; 3,85±7,07; risco DAC= 6; 8,41±7,74%). Entretanto, após ajuste para idade e CT, o EF e o risco DAC foram menores no grupo AFL (EF:2,54±4,18; risco DAC: 6,55±5,29%; média±DP) se comparado aos grupos S (EF: 3,50±4,17; risco DAC:8,05±5,33%) e AFO (EF: 4,09±4,19; risco DAC: 8,08±5,35%), evidenciando, assim, que as variáveis CT e idade foram as principais determinantes das diferenças iniciais em favor do grupo AFO. O estudo denota impacto positivo da AF de lazer ou laboral na redução do risco cardiovascular populacional.

Regular physical activity (PA) has been considered a healthy habit to reduce thecardiovascular risk. However, there are few studies to determine this association in population-based studies. To evaluate the contribution of leisure-time (LPA), occupational (OPA) and combined physical activity (LOPA) on the cardiovascular risk computed by Framingham score (FS) on the adult population (25-64 y) of Vitória, Brazil. Cross-sectional study in a probabilistic sample (N=1,661; both sexes). Datawere collected by questionnaires and clinical and laboratorial (blood collection) exams. Estimation of week caloric expenditure in LPA, OPA and LOPA were obtained by interview and 4 groups were designed accordingly: Sedentary, LPA, OPA and LOPA. Analysis of variance and covariance, qui-squareand Mantel-Haenszel tests were used for statistical analysis. Before and after adjustment to age, the OPA group showed lower values of body fat, total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-cholesterol compared to the sedentary group. The smoking prevalence was smaller in LPA (11.5%) and LOPA (10.2%) than insedentary (26.4%) and OPA (30.2%) groups. The unadjusted FS and the 10-year risk for coronary heart disease (CHD-risk) were smaller in the OPA (FRS= 3; 2.65±6.20; CHD-risk= 4; 6.79±6.68%; median; mean±SD) compared to the sedentary group (FRS= 5; 3.85±7.07; CHD-risk= 6; 8.41±7.74%). However, after adjustment for age and TC, the FRS and CHD-risk were smaller in the LPA (FR: 2.54±4.18; CHDrisk: 6.55±5.29%; mean±SD) than in the sedentary (FR: 3.50±4.17; CHD-risk: 8.05±5.33%) and OPA (FR: 4.09±4.19; CHD-risk: 8.08±5.35%) groups, showing that age and TC were the main responsible tosupport the initial differences to the OPA group. The study shows positive impact of leisure-time and occupational physical activity to reduce the global cardiovascular risk in the studied population.

Salt excretion in normotensive individuals with metabolic syndrome: a population-based study.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between sodium intake and metabolic syndrome (MS) in individuals free from the confounding effects of increased blood pressure (BP). In all, a total of 1655 individuals (45.8% men) who participated in the MONICA-WHO/Vitoria Project, mean age 45+/-11 years were investigated. According to NCEP-ATP lll criteria, MS prevalence was 32.9 and 85% of these individuals had BP >130/85 mm Hg. Thus, high BP represents the main MS risk factor. Twelve-hour nocturnal urine (1900 to 0700 hours) was used to measure urinary sodium and potassium excretion. Sodium excretion was associated with BP. From the optimal BP level up to stage lll hypertension, the mean (median) sodium excretion increased from 99 (89) to 128 (134) mEq and from 81 (69) to 112 (103) mEq in men and women, respectively (P<0.001 for trend; median). However, when 781 individuals with BP <130/85 mm Hg (including 80 drug-free normotensive individuals with MS) were stratified according to the gender and number of MS components, no significant differences were observed either in the urinary volume or in the sodium or potassium excretion. For each of the four MS components, sodium excretion was 96+/-48, 97+/-53, 108+/-65 and 97+/-49 mEq for men, and 83+/-51, 83+/-58, 80+/-49 and 93+/-45 mEq for women, respectively. No differences were found in urinary sodium excretion in normotensive individuals, regardless of the presence of MS. Therefore, it seems that high sodium intake is not an MS predictor per se as suggested earlier.