Mental health in underground coal miners.

As mental health goes beyond the simple absence of mental disorders, this paper characterized mental health components in 89 underground coal miners in southern Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study, that detected a low prevalence of depression; light or moderate anxiety in 13% of the workers; self-perception of good health; life quality and good psychological capacity in most of the participants; poor sleep quality in half of them; reverse correlations between anxiety and life quality, and anxiety and psychological capital; positive correlations between psychological capital and life quality; associations between self-perception of health, time, and sleep quality; associations between anxiety and sleep duration and quality; and between alcohol consumption and location at work (front, rear, or variable). The results suggest vulnerabilities regarding anxiety and sleep quality. However, there is a potential coping of determinants that impact on mental health.

Risk and protective factors for the development of chronic diseases in a rural elderly population in Rio Grande do Sul / Fatores de risco e proteção para o desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas em população idosa rural do Rio Grande do Sul

Objective : to verify risk and protective factors for the development of chronic diseases among elderly persons living in the rural area of Linha Senador Ramiro, in Nova Bassano, Rio Grande do Sul. Methods: a cross-sectional censitary-based study was conducted of 70 male and female subjects aged 60 years or over. The subjects were interviewed through a questionnaire and anthropometrically evaluated (weight, height and waist circumference (WC)). The risk factors considered were: smoking, excess weight, intake of saturated fat, physical inactivity and excessive alcohol consumption. The protective factors were: physical activity during leisure time, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and cancer prevention. Results: the population was composed of 70 elderly persons, with a mean age of 70.4 ± 7.8 years. A total of 65.7% of the sample were women, 57.1% considered their health "normal", 72.3% said they were not sedentary and, among women, 78.3 and 47.8% performed mammography and Pap screening, respectively. The prevalence of excess weight was 55.9% and 76.5% of individuals were at increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, according to waist circumference. Hypertension was the most prevalent chronic disease (64.3%). The prevalence of daily consumption of vegetables and fruit was 85.7% and 68.6%, respectively; wine, 54.3%, pork fat and queijo colonial (a local cheese) 75.7%, respectively, and homemade bread 87.1%. A total of 7.1% of the population said they smoked. Conclusions: the risk factors identified were high intake of saturated fat, excess weight and a high waist circumference. The protective factors were regular consumption of fruit and vegetables, low rates of physical inactivity and smoking, regular and moderate consumption of wine and preventive examinations. Further studies can assess the true association of these factors with the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.

Objetivo : verificar a prevalência de fatores de risco e proteção para doenças crônicas em idosos rurais da Linha Senador Ramiro, no município de Nova Bassano, Rio Grande do Sul. Métodos : estudo transversal de base censitária com 70 indivíduos com idade igual a 60 anos ou mais, de ambos os sexos, entrevistados por meio de questionário e avaliados por antropometria (peso, estatura e circunferência da cintura). Fatores de risco considerados: hábito de fumar, excesso de peso, consumo de alimentos, fonte de gordura saturada, sedentarismo e consumo excessivo de bebidas alcoólicas. Fatores de proteção: prática de atividade física no lazer, consumo de frutas e hortaliças e prevenção de câncer. Resultados: a população foi constituída por 70 idosos, com idade média de 70,4±7,8 anos, 65,7% mulheres, sendo que 57,1% consideravam sua saúde regular, 72,3% relatavam não ser sedentários e, entre as mulheres, 78,3 e 47,8% realizavam mamografia e citopatológico de útero, respectivamente. A prevalência de excesso de peso foi de 55,9%, 76,5% apresentavam risco aumentado para doenças cardiovasculares e metabólicas segundo a circunferência da cintura. A hipertensão arterial foi a doença crônica mais prevalente (64,3%). A prevalência de consumo diário de vegetais e frutas foi de 85,7% e 68,6%, respectivamente; de vinho, 54,3%; de banha de porco, 75,7%; queijo colonial, 75,7% e pão caseiro, 87,1%. O tabagismo foi relatado por 7,1% da população. Conclusões : os fatores de risco detectados foram o elevado consumo de gordura saturada, excesso de peso e elevada circunferência da cintura. Já os de proteção, foram o consumo regular de frutas e verduras, baixo sedentarismo e tabagismo, consumo moderado e regular de vinho e realização de exames preventivos. Pesquisas prospectivas poderão avaliar a real associação destes fatores com a ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares e cerebrovasculares.

Anthropometric profile and nutritional intake in patients with epilepsy / Perfil antropométrico e ingesta nutricional en pacientes con epilepsia

Background: quality of life impairments are common in patients with epilepsy, especially due to cardiovascular comorbidities, overweight and obesity. Objectives: to evaluate the nutritional status of patients with epilepsy based on anthropometric measurements and dietary intake. Methods: this cross-sectional study involved 72 patients recruited by convenience from the Epilepsy Clinic of the Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Brazil. The sample consisted of patients of both genders, aged over 18 years, who had been diagnosed with epilepsy for at least one year. The following variables were investigated: anthropometric measurements (weight and height for the assessment of BMI and nutritional status, waist circumference for the assessment of cardiovascular risk); nutritional intake based on a food frequency questionnaire; socioeconomic status based on the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria. Results: the prevalence of overweight/obesity was 66.7%, and 85.4% of the women had a high cardiovascular risk. Patients displayed a low frequency of seizure control (41.7%), high carbohydrate and protein intakes, as well as low mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid intakes (including omega 3 and 6 fatty acids). No differences in nutritional status or intake were observed between patients with controlled versus uncontrolled seizures. Conclusions: patients with epilepsy have comorbidities risks, as evidenced by their tendency to overweight and obesity, and abdominal obesity. Although seizure control did not appear to be related to nutritional status and intake, the presence of such comorbidities underscores the need for nutritional monitoring and intervention in these patients, with a special focus on macronutrient redistribution and on dietary fatty acid levels (AU)

Introducción: la calidad de vida alterada es común en los pacientes con epilepsia, especialmente debido a las comorbilidades cardiovasculares, el sobrepeso y la obesidad. Objetivos: evaluar el estado nutricional de los pacientes con epilepsia en base a mediciones antropométricas y la ingesta alimentaria. Métodos: este estudio transversal involucró a 72 pacientes reclutados por conveniencia en la Clínica de Epilepsia del Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brasil. La muestra consistió en pacientes de ambos sexos, mayores de 18 años, que habían sido diagnosticados de epilepsia durante al menos un año. Variables investigadas: medidas antropométricas (peso y talla para la evaluación del estado nutricional y el IMC, circunferencia de la cintura para la evaluación del riesgo cardiovascular); la ingesta nutricional en base a un cuestionario de frecuencia de alimentos; nivel socioeconómico basado en los Criterios de Clasificación Económica del Brasil. Resultados: la prevalencia de sobrepeso/obesidad fue del 66,7%, y el 85,4% de las mujeres tenían un alto riesgo cardiovascular. Los pacientes presentaron una baja frecuencia de control de las crisis (41,7%), alta ingesta de carbohidratos y proteínas, así como baja ingesta de ácidos grasos mono y poliinsaturados (incluyendo ácidos grasos omega 3 y 6). No se observaron diferencias en el estado nutricional ni el consumo entre los pacientes con convulsiones controlados o no controlados. Conclusiones: los pacientes con epilepsia tienen riesgos de comorbilidades, como se evidencia por su tendencia al sobrepeso/obesidad y obesidad abdominal. Aunque el control de las crisis no parece estar relacionado con el estado nutricional y la ingesta, la presencia de tales comorbilidades apunta la necesidad de vigilancia nutricional e intervención en estos pacientes, con un enfoque especial en la redistribución de macronutrientes y en los niveles de ácidos grasos en la dieta (AU)

Cardiovascular disease risk in women with migraine.

BACKGROUND: Studies suggest a higher prevalence of unfavourable cardiovascular risk factors amongst migraineurs, but results have been conflicting. The aim of this study was to investigate traditional and newly recognized risk factors as well as other surrogate markers of cardiovascular risk in obese and normal weight women with migraine. METHODS: Fifty-nine adult female probands participated in this case-control study. The sample was divided into normal weight and obese migraineurs and age- and body mass index-matched control groups. The following cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed: serum levels of lipids, fasting glucose, and insulin; insulin resistance; blood pressure; smoking (categorized as current, past or never); Framingham 10-year risk of general cardiovascular disease score; C-reactive protein; family history of cardiovascular disease; physical activity; sleep disturbances; depression; and bioelectrical impedance phase angle. The means of continuous variables were compared using Student's t-test for independent samples or the Mann-Whitney U-test (for 2 groups) and ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test (for 4 groups) depending on the distribution of data. RESULTS: All migraineurs were sedentary irrespective of nutritional status. Migraineurs had higher depression scores and shorter sleep duration, and obese migraineurs, in particular, had worse sleep quality scores. Insulin resistance and insulinaemia were associated with obesity, and obese migraineurs had lower HDL-c than normal weight controls and migraineurs. Also, the Framingham risk score was higher in obese migraineurs. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that female migraineurs experience marked inactivity, depression, and some sleep disturbance, that higher insulin resistance and insulinaemia are related to obesity, and that obesity and migraine probably exert overlapping effects on HDL-c levels and Framingham 10-year cardiovascular risk.

Alterações na composição corporal e em parâmetros antropométricos de dependentes de crack internados em unidade de adição / Changes in body composition and anthropometric parameters in crack-cocaine addicts admitted in an addiction unit

OBJETIVOS: Verificar as alterações da composição corporal e de parâmetros antropométricos de dependentes de crack internados para tratamento da adição. MÉTODOS: Estudo de coorte prospectivo, com 40 voluntários masculinos dependentes de crack, de 18 a 60 anos, em tratamento. Foram aferidos parâmetros antropométricos e de composição corporal, por meio de bioimpedância elétrica, na internação e alta hospitalar. RESULTADOS: Com idade média de 29,3 ± 6,9 anos, os pacientes tiveram, durante a abstinência, aumento de peso de 7,6 ± 3,7 kg; 11,6 ± 6,4% do peso corporal; 5,6 ± 4,2 cm de circunferência de cintura. Houve aumento de 4,2 ± 3,2 kg de gordura, 3,5 ± 3,0 kg de massa magra e de 2,5 ± 2,6 litros de água. Ao se internarem, 75% estavam eutróficos, 17,5% apresentavam sobrepeso e 5% apresentavam desnutrição, valores que, na alta, se alteraram para 50% de eutrofia e 47,6% de sobrepeso (IMC - Índice de Massa Corporal). Observou-se que a média de ganho de peso foi maior nas duas primeiras semanas de internação. CONCLUSÃO: Ao longo da internação, foram identificados ganho de peso e alterações de composição corporal e nos parâmetros antropométricos dos pacientes, refletindo em migração da eutrofia para o sobrepeso em parcela expressiva deles.

OBJECTIVES: Verify the alterations of body composition and of anthropometric parameters in crack addicted patients, hospitalized for addiction treatment. METHODS: Cohort prospective studies, with 40 crack addicted male volunteers, 18 to 60 years old, in treatment. Anthropometric parameters and body composition were measured, through bioelectric impedance analysis, within the hospital and at discharge. RESULTS: With an average age 29.3 ± 6.9 years, the patients have had, during abstinence, a weight gain of 7.6 ± 3.7 kg; 11.6 ± 6.4% of body weight; 5.6 ± 4.2 cm of waist circumference. There was an increase of 4.2 ± 3.2 kg of fat (obesity); 3.5 ± 3.0 kg of lean body mass and 2.5 ± 2.6 liters of water. When hospitalized, 17.5% of the patients presented overweight and 5% were malnourished, values that, at discharge, altered to 50% of eutrophy and 47.6% of overweight (BMI - Body Mass Index). It was observed that the average of weight gain increased in the first two weeks of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: During hospitalization a weight gain was identified as well as alterations in body composition and in anthropometric parameters of patients, resulting in migration from eutrophy to overweight, in an expressive group.