Reinfection rate in a cohort of healthcare workers over 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this large cohort of healthcare workers, we aimed to estimate the rate of reinfections by SARS-CoV-2 over 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. We investigated the proportion of reinfections among all the cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 10, 2020 until March 10, 2022. Reinfection was defined as the appearance of new symptoms that on medical evaluation were suggestive of COVID-19 and confirmed by a positive RT-PCR. Symptoms had to occur more than 90 days after the previous infection. These 2 years were divided into time periods based on the different variants of concern (VOC) in the city of São Paulo. There were 37,729 medical consultations due to COVID-19 at the hospital's Health Workers Services; and 25,750 RT-PCR assays were performed, of which 23% (n = 5865) were positive. Reinfection by SARS-CoV-2 was identified in 5% (n = 284) of symptomatic cases. Most cases of reinfection occurred during the Omicron period (n = 251; 88%), representing a significant increase on the SARS-CoV-2 reinfection rate before and during the Omicron variant period (0.8% vs. 4.3%; p < 0.001). The mean interval between SARS-CoV-2 infections was 429 days (ranged from 122 to 674). The Omicron variant spread faster than Gamma and Delta variant. All SARS-CoV-2 reinfections were mild cases.

Evolution of Brazilian elderly with hip fracture secondary to a fall.

OBJECTIVE: To contribute to fall prevention by studying the epidemiological profile, mortality, and functional evolution of elderly persons with hip fracture, in Brazil, in the year following a fracture. METHOD: Fifty-six elderly patients aged 60 years and over with hip fracture secondary to a fall and admitted in 2000 were included. In addition to the medical record data, patients or their guardians filled a form providing information regarding personal data, history of fall and fracture, physical evaluation, and ability to perform basic and instrumental activities of daily living prior to and 1 year after their fracture, using Katz's Index and Lawton's Index, respectively. RESULTS: Fractures were more common among Caucasian widowed women, and most falls occurred at home. General mortality within 1 year after the occurrence of fracture was 30.35% and was associated with sex and age. There was an increase in the inability to walk and in the use of a supporting device. A significant reduction in the functional ability to perform basic and instrumental activities of daily living was found. CONCLUSION: The evolution of hip fracture in the year following it is related to high mortality and to a decrease in functional ability, with age and male sex being the factors associated with a worse prognosis, emphasizing the need for special follow-up care of these groups during the immediate and late postoperative periods.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: expectations in the Brazilian elderly

By 2025, Brazil will have the sixth largest elderly population in the world. Thirty percent of the elderly currently have private health insurance and 70% have their health care paid for by the Unified Health System. The system, founded through a governmental entity, provides free health service to all citizens. In 2003, the government passed the Elderly Statement Law, claiming that the elderly have equal access to prevention, promotion, protection, and recovery of health. In spite of the high costs, the placement of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in the elderly is growing. There is a significant regional difference in the number of ICD placements, and there is also a significant sex bias: 73% of the ICDs were placed in elderly men. The majority of ICDs were placed in the elderly from ages 65 to 79 years. Nevertheless, 9.5% of ICDs were placed in octogenarians and nonagenarians, reflecting the valuation of biologic age rather than chronologic age.

Evolution of Brazilian elderly with hip fracture secondary to a fall / Evolução de idosos brasileiros com fratura de colo de femur secundária à queda

OBJECTIVE: To contribute to fall prevention by studying the epidemiological profile, mortality, and functional evolution of elderly persons with hip fracture, in Brazil, in the year following a fracture. METHOD: Fifty-six elderly patients aged 60 years and over with hip fracture secondary to a fall and admitted in 2000 were included. In addition to the medical record data, patients or their guardians filled a form providing information regarding personal data, history of fall and fracture, physical evaluation, and ability to perform basic and instrumental activities of daily living prior to and 1 year after their fracture, using Katz's Index and Lawton's Index, respectively. RESULTS: Fractures were more common among Caucasian widowed women, and most falls occurred at home. General mortality within 1 year after the occurrence of fracture was 30.35 percent and was associated with sex and age. There was an increase in the inability to walk and in the use of a supporting device. A significant reduction in the functional ability to perform basic and instrumental activities of daily living was found. CONCLUSION: The evolution of hip fracture in the year following it is related to high mortality and to a decrease in functional ability, with age and male sex being the factors associated with a worse prognosis, emphasizing the need for special follow-up care of these groups during the immediate and late postoperative periods.

OBJETIVO: Estudar o perfil epidemiológico, mortalidade e a evolução funcional, no primeiro ano após a fratura, de idosos com fratura de quadril visando a contribuir para a prevenção de quedas. CASUíSTICA E MÉTODO: Foram estudados 56 pacientes idosos, com 60 anos ou mais, com fratura de quadril decorrente de queda, internados em 2000. Alem dos dados de prontuário, os pacientes ou responsáveis responderam a um questionário, fornecendo informações sobre os dados pessoais, história da queda e da fratura, avaliação física e da capacidade para realização de atividades de vida diárias básicas e instrumentais antes e após um ano da ocorrência da fratura, através dos índices de Katz e de Lawton, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: Observou-se que as fraturas foram mais comuns em mulheres, brancas, viúvas e que a maioria das quedas ocorreu no domicílio. A mortalidade geral após um ano da ocorrência da fratura foi de 30,35 por cento, e associou-se o sexo e idade. Houve aumento de incapacidade para deambular e de utilização de dispositivo de apoio. Houve redução significativa da capacidade funcional para realização das atividades de vida diárias básicas e instrumentais. CONCLUSÃO: A evolução da fratura do quadril no primeiro ano está relacionada a alta mortalidade e queda da capacidade funcional; idade e o sexo masculino são fatores indicadores de pior prognóstico ressaltando a necessidade do acompanhamento especial destes pacientes no pós-operatório imediato e tardio.

Geriatrics in Brazil: a big country with big opportunities.

Brazil has approximately 180 million inhabitants, of whom 15.2 million are aged 60 and older and 1.9 million are aged 80 and older. By 2025, the Brazilian elderly population is expected to grow to more than 32 million. Brazil has many problems related to its geographic and population size. Great distances between major cities, marked cultural and racial heterogeneity between the various geographic regions, high poverty levels, and decreasing family size all combine to put pressure on the medical and social services that can be made available to the elder population. Less than 500 Brazilian physicians are certified as geriatricians, translating into one geriatrician for every 37,000 elderly Brazilians. Beside 15 geriatric medicine residencies a larger number of fellowship programs exist, and these programs are in high demand, with more than 20 candidates per position, indicating new opportunities for growth in elder care. In addition, geriatric initiatives such as the annual elder vaccination program and the elder statute, recently approved by the Brazilian Congress, indicate that geriatric care in Brazil is entering a new era of growth and development. Although the challenges remain great, there are opportunities for Brazilian geriatrics and gerontology.

Estudo comparativo do envelhecimento do sistema capilar dos músculos: diafragma e reto anterior do abdome em ratos. Futuro modelo para o estudo de atividade física? / A comparative study on the aging process of muscles' capillary system: diaphragm and rectus abdominis in rats. A future model for physical activity studies?

No presente estudo as alterações etárias no sistema capilar foram investigadas nos músculos diafragma e reto anterior do abdome em ratos de 1, 8 e 18 meses de idade. Os padrões de ativação destes músculos diferem em que o diafragma é regularmente mobilizado muitas vezes a cada minuto durante toda a vida do animal, enquanto o reto anterior do abdome, embora mobilizado na respiração seja ativado de maneira muito menos freqüente e regular. As fibras musculares foram pré-incubadas em pH 4,35 e fixadas pelo método de Padykula e Herman para estudar a atividade miofibrilar da ATP-ase, tornando possível a separação das fibras em três grupos: oxidativa lenta (I); glicolítica oxidativa rápida (IIA) e oxidativa rápida (IIB) e a identificação dos capilares ao redor das fibras no mesmo corte. A relação capilar/fibra e a densidade capilar foram obtidas. A análise da relação capilar/fibra e da área entre os dois tipos musculares mostrou padrões diferentes de desenvolvimento capilar, no envelhecimento, das fibras não fatigáveis (I e IIA) do músculo diafragma em comparação com o reto anterior do abdome. Estas diferenças etárias do diafragma e reto anterior do abdome poderiam estar relacionadas à contínua contração diafragmática e poderia vir a ser este um modelo natural de exercício permanente e envelhecimento muscular.