Performance of the waist-to-height ratio in identifying obesity and predicting non-communicable diseases in the elderly population: A systematic literature review.

A systematic review was carried out aiming to collect evidence on the use of the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) on the elderly population, focusing on validity measures to identify the best anthropometric indicator in assessing obesity associated with non-communicable diseases. The review consisted in a search of papers published on the databases Pubmed, Web of Science, and Lilacs, with no restriction regarding period of publication, using the following combinations: abdominal fat or overweight or obesity and waist-to-height ratio or waist height or waist ht or WHtR or waist to stature ratio or wst stature or WSR or stature and girth. Sixteen papers were selected, most of which with high methodological quality. The receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves was the validity measure explored in 13 papers, followed by sensitivity and specificity measures. In all studies, the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) received special attention for analysis along with WHtR. Five manuscripts showed evidence of WHtR being the best anthropometric index when used alone, four showed that both WHtR and WC had the best discriminatory power in predicting cardiovascular risk factors compared to the other indices, and two ranked WHtR at the same performance level as waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and BMI. An association was shown of the obesity assessed by WHtR in predicting risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes compared to other anthropometric parameters.

[Sensitivity to latex and the dosage of specific antibodies in professionals in the area of health]. / Sensibilidade ao Látex e Dosagem de Anticorpos Específicos em Profissionais da Área da Saúde.

UNLABELLED: The scope of this study was to verify the occurrence of sensitivity to latex and conduct dosage of anti-latex antibodies in health professionals of the Dental, Medical and Nursing Schools of the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitoria, ES, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional observational study. The intentional sample was composed of 295 professionals. Sensitivity was evaluated by means of a structured and validated questionnaire and the presence of IgE-latex by means of collection of 10 ml of blood submitted to analysis using the Immunocap-pharmacia® system. The IgE-latex values were categorized in different groups. RESULTS: 22.4% (n=66) showed latex sensitivity, class V of the IgE latex (17.5-42 KUA\L); 77.6 % (n=229) showed no sensitivity, class 0 or 1 of the IgE-latex (<0.35KUA\L-8,6KUA\L). Fisher's test showed a significant correlation statistic (p<0.05) in relation to the following variables: gender; atopy; eczema of the hands; allergy to medicination; chronic illness; use of anti-inflammatory; prior surgeries. CONCLUSION: Positive values of IgE were observed in the professionals with sensitivity, suggesting the adoption of prophylactic measures for the prevention and or adaptation of the work environment, preserving the health of these workers.