Perceived fatigability and metabolic and energetic responses to 6-minute walk test in older women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between perceived fatigability and oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratio and the energy cost of walking in older women. DESIGN: Observational, cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-eight community-dwelling older women were recruited from senior centres in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were evaluated in two different sessions. In the first session, sociodemographic and clinical factors were assessed and accelerometers were delivered. In the second session, the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) was performed and expired gases were analysed. Self-reported levels of fatigue were evaluated on a numerical scale from 1 ('extremely energetic') to 7 ('extremely tired'). Severity scores for perceived and performance fatigability were calculated as the ratio of change in performance and fatigue, respectively, with walking distance. The O2 cost of walking was based on the oxygen consumption rate and the 6MWT walking speed. RESULTS: No correlation was found between the severity of perceived fatigability and metabolic measures. However, the severity of perceived fatigability was significantly correlated with greater O2 cost (r=0.579, P<0.01), physical activity (r=-0.654, P<0.01), walking distance (r=-0.712, P<0.01) and severity of performance fatigability (r=0.690, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Perceived fatigability was not directly associated with metabolic measures; however, greater severity of perceived fatigability was associated with an increase in the O2 cost of walking. Important relationships were also found between greater severity of perceived fatigability and poor functional fitness, high level of energy expenditure and lower level of physical activity.

Factors associated with hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment and control among participants in the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS).

The aim of this study is to assess the factors associated with hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control, in the elderly populations of the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS). Approximately 200 men and 200 women aged 65-74 years were recruited at each site (n=1995) during IMIAS' 2012 baseline survey at five cities: Kingston (Canada), Saint-Hyacinthe (Canada), Tirana (Albania), Manizales (Colombia) and Natal (Brazil). Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were taken at participants' homes. Hypertension prevalence ranged from 53.4% in Saint-Hyacinthe to 83.5% in Tirana. Diabetes and obesity were identified as risk factors in all cities. More than two-thirds of hypertensive participants were aware of their condition (from 67.3% in Saint-Hyacinthe to 85.4% in Tirana); women were more aware than men. Awareness was positively associated with diabetes in Kingston, Manizales and Natal. Though most of those aware of their hypertensive condition were being treated pharmacologically, associations between awareness and physical activity and refraining from smoking were weak. Control among treated hypertensive participants was low, especially in Tirana and Natal. Diabetes and physical inactivity were associated with poor hypertension control. Hypertension is common in the older populations of IMIAS. Diabetes is strongly associated with hypertension prevalence, awareness and lack of control of hypertension. The fact that awareness is not strongly associated with healthy behaviours suggests that antihypertensive medication is not accompanied by non-pharmacological therapies. Improved health behaviours could strengthen hypertension control. Efforts should be made to increase men's awareness of hypertension. Hypertension control in diabetic patients is a challenge.

Tradução, adaptação cultural e análise das propriedades psicométricas do Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADLQ) para avaliação funcional de pacientes com a doença de Alzheimer / Translation, cultural adaptation and psychometric analysis of the Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADLQ) for functional assessment of patients with Alzheimer's disease

OBJETIVOS: Realizar a tradução e a adaptação transcultural de um instrumento de medida do desempenho das atividades de vida diária de pacientes com a doença de Alzheimer e analisar as suas propriedades psicométricas. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta por 60 pacientes e os respectivos 60 cuidadores. A pesquisa ocorreu com a tradução do instrumento pela técnica de retrotradução associada ao método bilíngue. A versão traduzida foi respondida pelo cuidador e o Mini Exame do Estado Mental (MEEM) aplicado ao paciente. A análise psicométrica foi realizada por meio da validade das medidas do instrumento. RESULTADOS: Os resultados verificaram uma correlação inversamente significativa (-0,793) ao nível de 5 por cento entre os instrumentos, com uma explicação da variância total de 62 por cento. As matrizes de correlação interitens demonstraram que alguns itens se correlacionam com as medidas globais de capacidade funcional de forma pouco positiva e significante. A correlação realizada entre os itens do instrumento traduzido com o MEEM permitiu testar a coerência interna do instrumento com um já validado. As variáveis correlacionadas significativamente com o MEEM foram selecionadas, sugerindo um instrumento mais condensado. Por meio do teste t para amostras correlacionadas, as médias do ADLQ-versão traduzida e versão condensada não diferem estatisticamente ao nível de 5 por cento de significância, de forma que a simplificação do instrumento não alterou a média do nível de dependência funcional. A análise fatorial realizada pela rotação Varimax indicou seis dimensões. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo disponibiliza uma nova ferramenta de avaliação funcional, visando contribuir para a mensuração mais cuidadosa do estado funcional do paciente por todos os profissionais da área da saúde.

OBJECTIVES: To translate and cross-culturally adapt an instrument that measures the performance of Alzheimer's patients in their activities of daily living and to analyze the psychometric properties of the instrument. METHODS: The sample consisted of 60 patients and their 60 respective caregivers. The instrument was translated using the back-translation technique in association with the bilingual method. The caregivers gave responses to the translated version, and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was applied to the patients. Psychometric analysis was conducted by means of the validity of the instrument measures. RESULTS: The results showed an inversely significant correlation (-0.793) at the 5 percent level between the instruments, and 62 percent of the total variance was explained. The inter-item correlation matrices demonstrated that some items correlated with the overall measurements of functional capacity in a slightly positive, non-significant manner. Correlation between the items of the translated instrument and the MMSE made it possible to test the internal coherence of the instrument with an already validated instrument. The variables that correlated significantly with the MMSE were selected, thus suggesting that the instrument could be further condensed. The t test for correlated items showed that the measures of the translated ADLQ version and the condensed version did not differ statistically at a significance level of 5 percent, such that the simplification of the instrument did not change the mean level of functional dependency. Factorial analysis carried out using varimax rotation indicated six dimensions. CONCLUSION: This study introduces a new functional assessment tool with the aim of contributing to a more precise measurement of the patient's functional status by all healthcare professionals.

Desenvolvimento e validação de um instrumento de medida da satisfação do paciente com a fisioterapia / Development and validation of an instrument for measuring patient satisfaction with physical therapy

OBJETIVO: Desenvolver e validar um instrumento de medida da satisfação do paciente com o tratamento fisioterapêutico e também identificar seus principais indicadores. MÉTODO: A amostra foi composta por 834 pacientes ambulatoriais de ambos os sexos, com idade média de 46,7 anos e usuários de planos de saúde, que responderam o questionário em 45 clínicas da rede privada de saúde nos municípios de Natal e Mossoró/RN - Brasil. A pesquisa ocorreu desde o processo de desenvolvimento do instrumento até o estudo das suas propriedades psicométricas. A análise qualitativa da amostra inicial de itens do questionário ocorreu por meio de sua apreciação por especialistas. Um estudo piloto precedeu o refinamento do questionário previamente à coleta dos dados. A análise psicométrica (avaliação do teste desenvolvido) foi realizada por meio do estudo da confiabilidade e validade das medidas obtidas com o instrumento. RESULTADOS: Os resultados alcançados para a confiabilidade, por meio do Coeficient alfa de Cronbach (alfa = 0,94), e validades de conteúdo, simultânea e de construto, demonstraram elevada consistência interna e satisfatória validade segundo padrões psicométricos da satisfação do paciente com a fisioterapia. A análise fatorial indicou quatro dimensões em que a interação paciente-terapeuta, especialmente as questões relativas às habilidades de comunicação do fisioterapeuta, parecem ser os melhores indicadores de satisfação. Aspectos relativos à conveniência, como localização da clínica e disponibilidade do estacionamento, não indicaram forte predição de satisfação com a assistência recebida. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo disponibiliza nova ferramenta para auxiliar na gerência e no processo de planejamento necessários ao incremento da qualidade nos serviços de fisioterapia.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and validate an instrument for measuring patient satisfaction with physical therapy, and to identify the most important satisfaction indicators. METHOD: The sample was composed of 834 outpatients of both sexes with mean age of 46.7 years who were health plan users at 45 private health clinics in Natal and Mossoró, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, and who answered a questionnaire. The study covered the process of developing the instrument as well as the analysis of its psychometric properties. Qualitative analysis on the initial sample of items in the questionnaire was performed by a panel of specialists. A pilot study preceded refinement of the questionnaire and was carried out prior to data collection. Psychometric analysis (evaluation of the test that was developed) was performed by means of studying the reliability and validity of the measures obtained with the instrument. RESULTS: The results achieved in relation to reliability, by means of Cronbach's alpha coefficient (alpha = 0.94), and content, simultaneous, and construct validities showed high internal consistency and satisfactory validity according to psychometric standards for patient satisfaction with physical therapy. Factorial analysis indicated the existence of four dimensions in which patient-therapist interaction, especially regarding the physical therapist's communication skills, seem to be the best indicators of satisfaction. Aspects related to personal convenience, such as location of the clinic and availability of parking, were not strongly predictive of satisfaction with the care received. CONCLUSION: This study makes available a new tool to contribute to management and to the planning process necessary for improving the quality of physical therapy services.

Fatores asssociados a alteração da mobilidade em idosos residentes na comunidade / Factors associated with alteration of mobility among elderly residents in the community

Alteracoes na mobilidade sao problemas comuns entre os idosos, as quais levam a limitacao na realizacao das atividades da vida diaria. Neste contexto, a intervencao fisioterapeutica objetiva melhorar a funcionalidade e controle da deambulacao, suficiente para tornar o idoso seguro e que lhe permita independencia. Porem, para que ocorra uma intervencao precisa e eficaz, e necessario conhecer os idosos que sao mais vulneraveis e quais os fatores que estao associados aquelas alteracoes. Objetivo: analisar a influencia de fatores sociodemograficos, fisicos e mentais sobre a mobilidade de idosos residentes no municipio de Santa Cruz, RN, Brasil...

Prevalência e fatores associados a dor em bailarinos profissionais / Prevalence and associated factors with pain in professional dancers

PURPOSE: To investigate factors associated to pain in ballet dancers as well its prevalence. METHODS: We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study among 141 professional ballet dancers from the main capitals of Northeastern Brazil. In order to evaluate the symptoms of pain we used Portuguese official versions of the McGill Protocol and the Pain Inventory of Wisconsin. For statistical analysis of the results we performed a descriptive assessment, followed by T-Student and Pearson's Correlation tests (taking a value of p < 0.05). RESULTS: We observed high levels of pain tolerance in 70.2% of the subjects, in which the intensity varied from moderate to severe. The lumbar region was the most affected (85.8%). We observed positive correlations concerning the intensity degree of pain with activities such as dancing (60.3%), sleeping (28.4%), marching (20.6%), general activities (32.6%), mood (27.7%), and personal relations (16.3%). CONCLUSION: We observed a high prevalence of pain in professional ballet dancers from the main Northeastern capitals, attacking mostly the lumbar region, followed by knees, neck, hip and feet, with substantial interference of pain symptoms in several activities of the personal and professional lives of these people.

O efeito da cafeína no desempenho de ciclistas sob condçoes de alto risco térmico / Effect of caffeine in the performance of cyclists under high thermal risk

PURPOSE: To verify the effect of caffeine on yield time, the tympanic temperature and body weight with the administration of 5 and 9 mg/kg doses of caffeine and placebo, in cycling races under high thermal risk conditions. METHODS: Eight highly-trained cyclists were studied in 3 races of 45 km using the experimental model and double-blind with intra-subjects randomized. RESULTS: Air temperature ranged from 28.,5 and 32 degrees C and humidity between 71 e 78% with an index of WBGT varying between 24.5 degrees and 27 degrees C, figures that indicate high thermal risk. No significant differences were observed between variables assessed, yet yield time was lower with doses of 5 and 9 mg/kg caffeine than with placebo. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that heat and humidity conditions may be sufficient to mask the ergogenic benefit of caffeine in cycling races of prolonged duration. Therefore, isn't justifiable it's utilization in high thermal risk conditions.

Oral manifestation of sporotrichosis in AIDS patients.

A wide spectrum of oral lesions has been associated with human immunodeficiency viral infection (HIV), or AIDS. This report describes the case of an HIV-infected patient who developed a case of disseminated sporotrichosis whose first clinical sign was the presence of orofacial lesions. A histopathological study of this patient's biopsy specimens taken from the oropharyngeal lesions revealed a number of rounded and/or oval free-spore forms of Sporothrix schenkii, the identification of which was corroborated by culturing skin lesion exudate on Sabouraud's glucose agar. To the best of our knowledge to date, this is the first time a case of the oral manifestation of sporotrichosis in association with HIV infection has been described in the dental literature.