End-of-life care of elderly patients with dementia: A cross-sectional study of family carer decision-making.

BACKGROUND: Dementia syndromes pose a major worldwide challenge to public health. In terminal stage of dementia, carers are responsible for decision making in end-of-life treatment and there may be multiple factors that contribute to the choice of a palliative or invasive treatment. AIM: To identify possible factors that influence the decision-making of family caregivers on implementing invasive or palliative interventions for people with end stage dementia. DESIGN: A structured interview with family caregivers of elderly patients addressing aspects of the following categories: elderly with dementia, caregiver, medical treatment history. Statistical analysis was performed to test whether there was a significant association between the carer's decision (invasive or palliative treatment) and the collected variables. SETTINGAND PARTICIPANTS: The study was conducted in three hospitals in Brazil. Participants were family caregivers of inpatients with end stage dementia RESULTS: Most of caregivers chose not to perform invasive procedures. The factors with the greatest association with the decision for invasive care were: elderly with tracheostomy, dementia diagnosis for less than 2 years, caregiver's age less than 50 years, history of hospital admission in the last year, affirmation that interviewee would be surprised with the death of the elderly within 1year and the denial that health care team has already explained about treatment options. CONCLUSION: There were identified several factors related to the carer, the elderly person and their medical treatment that may influence the choice between palliative and invasive care for the elderly person with dementia.

Distribution of Glycated Haemoglobin According to Early-Life and Contemporary Characteristics in Adolescents and Adults without Diabetes: The 1982 and 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohorts.

AIM: Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), a marker of glucose control in individuals with diabetes mellitus, is also related with the incidence of cardiometabolic risk in populations free of disease. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of HbA1c levels according to early-life and contemporary factors in adolescents and adults without diabetes mellitus. METHODS: HbA1c was measured in adults aged 30 years and adolescents aged 18 years who are participants in the 1982 and 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohorts, respectively. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to describe the HbA1c mean values according to early-life and contemporary characteristics collected prospectively since birth. RESULTS: The distribution of the HbA1c was approximately normal in both cohorts, with a mean (SD) 5.10% (0.43) in the 1982 cohort, and 4.89% (0.50) in the 1993 cohort. HbA1c mean levels were significantly higher in individuals self-reported as black/brown skin color compared to those self-reported as white in both cohorts. Parental history of diabetes was associated with higher HbA1c mean in adults, while stunting at one year old presented an inverse relation with the outcome in adolescents. No other early and contemporary factors were associated with HbA1c levels in adults or adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: We found a consistent relationship between HbA1c and skin color in both cohorts. Further research is needed to understand the role of genomic ancestry on levels of HbA1c concentrations which may inform policies and preventive actions for diabetes mellitus and cardiometabolic risk.

Hypertriglyceridemic Waist Phenotype: Effect of Birthweight and Weight Gain in Childhood at 23 Years Old.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of birthweight and weight gain during different periods in childhood with the prevalence of hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype (HWP). METHODS: In 1982, all hospitals births in Pelotas, South Brazil, were identified, and the 5914 liveborn were examined and their mothers interviewed. This population has been followed for several times. In 2004-05, we tried to follow the whole cohort and the subjects were interviewed, examined, and a blood sample was collected. HWP was defined as a triglycerides ≥ 2 mmol/L and a waist circumference ≥ 90 cm for men, and triglycerides ≥ 1.5 mmol/L and waist circumference ≥ 85 cm for woman. Poisson regression with robust adjustment of the variance was used to obtain adjusted estimates of the prevalence ratio. RESULTS: Subjects whose weight-for-age z-score at mean age of 42 months was one or more standard deviation above the mean, according to gender and age, were 8.77 (95% confidence interval: 2.60; 29.64) times more likely of presenting the HWP than those subjects whose weight-for-age z-score at 42 months was more than one standard deviation below the mean. Among those subjects whose birthweight was adequate-for-gestational age (AGA), conditional weight at 20 months was positively associated to the risk of HWP [relative risk: 1.59 (95%: confidence interval: 1.32; 1.92)], whereas for small for gestational age (SGA) subjects conditional weight was not associated with HWP [relative risk: 1.05 (95% confidence interval: 0.77; 1.43)], p-value for interaction 0.08. CONCLUSION: Early weight gain among SGA infants, did not increase the risk of HWP in early adulthood, whereas among those who were AGA, early weight gain increased the risk of the having the phenotype in early adulthood.

The hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype in young adults from the Southern Region of Brazil.

The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype and its associated factors among subjects that have been followed up from birth. In 1982, all maternity hospitals in the city of Pelotas, in the Southern Region of Brazil, were visited and all births were recorded. Babies whose parents lived in the urban area of Pelotas were subsequently followed up on several occasions. A 22 to 23-year follow-up of this birth cohort was carried out in 2004 and 2005. The presence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype was defined as waist circumference ≥ 90 cm and triglyceride levels ≥ 177 mg/dL for males, and waist circumference ≥ 85 cm and triglyceride levels ≥ 133 mg/dL for females. The prevalence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype was 5.9% and 4.5% among men and women, respectively. Among males, a sedentary lifestyle during leisure time, smoking and obesity were associated with the presence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype, whereas among females the condition was positively associated with skin color, family income, obesity and dietary fat intake.

The hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype in young adults from the Southern Region of Brazil / Cintura hipertrigliceridêmica em adultos jovens no Sul do Brasil / Cintura hipertrigliceridémica en adultos jóvenes en el sur de Brasil

The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype and its associated factors among subjects that have been followed up from birth. In 1982, all maternity hospitals in the city of Pelotas, in the Southern Region of Brazil, were visited and all births were recorded. Babies whose parents lived in the urban area of Pelotas were subsequently followed up on several occasions. A 22 to 23-year follow-up of this birth cohort was carried out in 2004 and 2005. The presence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype was defined as waist circumference ≥ 90cm and triglyceride levels ≥ 177mg/dL for males, and waist circumference ≥ 85cm and triglyceride levels ≥ 133mg/dL for females. The prevalence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype was 5.9% and 4.5% among men and women, respectively. Among males, a sedentary lifestyle during leisure time, smoking and obesity were associated with the presence of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype, whereas among females the condition was positively associated with skin color, family income, obesity and dietary fat intake.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar a prevalência do fenótipo da cintura hipertrigliceridêmica e seus fatores associados entre indivíduos que foram seguidos desde o nascimento. Em 1982, as maternidades de Pelotas, sul do Brasil, foram visitadas e todos os nascimentos foram identificados. Em 2004-2005, buscou-se acompanhar toda a coorte. A presença de fenótipo da cintura hipertrigliceridêmica foi definida como circunferência da cintura ≥ 90cm e triglicerídeos ≥ 177mg/dL para o sexo masculino, e circunferência da cintura ≥ 85cm e triglicerídeos ≥ 133mg/dL para as mulheres. A prevalência de fenótipo da cintura hipertrigliceridêmica foi de 5,9% e 4,5% entre os homens e mulheres, respectivamente. Para os homens, o sedentarismo no lazer, tabagismo e obesidade estiveram associados com fenótipo da cintura hipertrigliceridêmica. Por outro lado, entre as mulheres, fenótipo da cintura hipertrigliceridêmica foi positivamente associado com a cor da pele, renda familiar, obesidade e consumo de gordura.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la prevalencia del fenotipo de la cintura hipertrigliceridémica y sus factores asociados entre individuos que fueron observados desde su nacimiento. En 1982, las maternidades de Pelotas, sur de Brasil, fueron visitadas y todos los nacimientos fueron identificados. En 2004-2005, se decidió realizar un seguimiento de toda la cohorte. La presencia del fenotipo de la cintura hipertrigliceridémica se definió como una circunferencia de la cintura ≥ 90cm y triglicéridos ≥ 177mg/dL para el sexo masculino y circunferencia de la cintura ≥ 85cm y triglicéridos ≥ 133mg/dL para las mujeres. La prevalencia del fenotipo de la cintura hipertrigliceridémica fue de un 5,9% y un 4,5% entre los hombres y mujeres, respectivamente. Para los hombres, el sedentarismo en el ocio, tabaquismo y obesidad estuvo asociado con el fenotipo de la cintura hipertrigliceridémica. Por otro lado, entre las mujeres, el fenotipo de la cintura hipertrigliceridémica fue positivamente asociado con el color de la piel, renta familiar, obesidad y consumo de grasa.

Incidentaloma de supra-renal: manejo diagnóstico e terapêutico / Adrenal incidentaloma: diagnostic and therapeutic management

Descrevemos o caso de paciente que apresentou massa em supra-renal direita na ultra-sonografia abdominal durante investigaçäo de dor abdominal, caracterizando um incidentaloma de supra-renal; a tomografia computadorizada confirmou a presença de lesäo. A avaliaçäo endócrina detectou perda do ritmo circadiano do cortisol e sua näo supressibilidade pela dexametasona, caracterizando síndrome de Cushing. Entretanto a paciente näo apresentava as características clínicas da síndrome, o que sugeriu o diagnóstico de síndrome de Cushing subclínica. a paciente foi submetida a cirurgia laparoscópica para ressecçäo da glândula adrenal direita cujo diagnóstico anátomo-patológico foi de adenoma de supra renal. Uma nova avaliaçäo do cortisol foi feita após a cirurgia com resultados normais. Pretendemos sugerir neste relato um manejo nacional e com baixos custos, dos incidentalomas de supra-renal.