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ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence and associated factors of Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) in children and adolescents.MethodA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years, who presented a history of peripatellar and/or retropatellar pain, attending elementary or high school in urban public schools in Natal, Brazil. The sample size was calculated based on a minimum outcome prevalence of 22%.ResultsA prevalence of 24.7% of PFPS was found. There was a positive association of PFPS with active students (p < 0.01; PR: 2.5; CI: 1.4-4.5), low functional capacity (p < 0.01; PR: 8.0; CI: 5.0-12.8), and those classified as pubertal (p < 0.03; PR: 1.8; CI: 1.0-3.2).ConclusionThere was a considerable prevalence of PFPS in children and adolescents, as well as an association between the level of sexual maturation and adjustable determinants, such as the level of physical activity and low functional capacity in this group. more...

Introduction: Knee pain can impact the performance of activities and sports participation in children. Dynamic knee valgus is a movement pattern commonly related to health conditions that may be associated with sex and foot kinematics in children. Objective: To assess the prevalence of dynamic knee valgus and its relationship with foot mobility, sex, and knee pain in children. Method: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out with 144 children (10–18 years old). The pain level was investigated using the Visual Analog Pain Scale and categorized into no pain/minor pain (≤2 cm), moderate pain (3–4,9 cm), and severe pain (≥5.0 cm). Foot mobility was assessed using the adapted navicular drop test and categorized into poor/adequate foot mobility (0.0 cm–0.9 cm) and greater foot mobility (≥1.0 cm). The dynamic knee valgus presence was checked using the step-down test. The association analysis was performed using simple tabulation considering the cluster effect. The Prevalence Ratios and the respective confidence intervals (95%) were estimated from Multiple Poisson Regression with robust variance. A significance level of 5% was adopted. Results: The dynamic knee valgus prevalence was 26.3% and 26.9% in the right and left lower limbs, respectively. Females presented greater dynamic knee valgus frequency in the left lower limb than males. The dynamic knee valgus presence in males was associated with foot mobility in right (p = 0.001) (Prevalence Ratio: 9.33 Confidence Interval: 2.93–29.72) and left lower limbs (p = 0.003) (Prevalence Ratio: 6.25 Confidence Interval: 1.7–22.62). Conclusion: Male and female children showed different relationships of the analyzed factors, suggesting that characteristics related to sex may impact the aspects linked to dynamic knee in children. more...

Abstract Background Scoliosis is considered one of the main musculoskeletal changes in childhood, and is characterized by three-dimensional changes in the spine. Schoolchildren is a group who are directly exposed to this condition because they go through a rapid growth phase in adolescence, added to other external factors such as school environment and daily living habits such as little physical activity. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with scoliosis in schoolchildren. Methods An observational, retrospective case control study with a quantitative approach was carried out in the city of Santa Cruz/RN. The presence of scoliosis was assessed using the Adams test and physical activity by the Daily Physical Activity Index (IPAQ) and by a questionnaire on competitive sports practice, in addition to a questionnaire on postural habits in childhood and adolescence. Conditional multiple logistic regression was performed for statistical analysis, and the adjusted Odds Ratios (OR) and the respective confidence intervals (95%) of the outcome variable were estimated. Results A total of 156 schoolchildren participated in the study, with an average age of 13.9 years, with 55.1% being female and 44.9% male, attending between the 6th grade of elementary school and the 3rd year of high school. Furthermore, 42.9% of these participants were considered irregularly active and only 33.3% practiced physical activity on a regular basis. After bivariate analysis and conditional logistic regression, little physical activity was shown to be a risk factor for scoliosis (p = 0.041; OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.04–7.57), while the postural habits evaluated in this study did not show a statistical association with scoliosis. Conclusion Low practice of physical activity and schoolchildren being classified as irregularly active were considered as risk factors for scoliosis, however postural habits do not seem to be associated with this condition. more...

BackgroundBrazil, as many other countries, have been heavily affected by COVID-19. This study aimed to analyze the impact of Primary health care and the family health strategy (FHS) coverage, the scores of the National Program for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ), and socioeconomic and social indicators in the number of COVID-19 cases in Brazilian largest cities.MethodsThis is an ecological study, carried out through the analysis of secondary data on the population of all Brazilian main cities, based on the analysis of a 26-week epidemiological epidemic week series by COVID-19. Statistical analysis was performed using Generalized Linear Models with an Autoregressive work correlation matrix.ResultsIt was shown that greater PHC coverage and greater FHS coverage together with an above average PMAQ score are associated with slower dissemination and lower burden of COVID-19.ConclusionIt is evident that cities with less social inequality and restrictions of social protection combined with social development have a milder pandemic scenario. It is necessary to act quickly on these conditions for COVID-19 dissemination by timely actions with high capillarity. Expanding access to PHC and social support strategies for the vulnerable are essential. more...

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 causes the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and it is weakening all health systems. Therefore, the most vulnerable populations are exposed to harmful consequences, such as illness and death. Thus, this study aims to estimate the temporal effect of COVID-19 dissemination on social indicators of the Northeastern region of Brazil.MethodsAn ecological time-series study was developed with the following: diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the largest inland cities of Northeast Brazil, Human Development Index (HDI), poverty incidence, and Gini coefficient. Cities with high HDI, poverty rate, and Gini presented a larger number of patients.ResultsIt was observed by evaluating case trends that COVID-19 spreads unevenly in inland cities of the Northeastern region of Brazil.ConclusionsIn this sense, we emphasize that regional health managers should support small cities with vulnerable population and social assistance. more...

BackgroundBrazil is witnessing a massive increase of corona virus disease (COVID-19). Its peculiar primary health care (PHC) system faces a burden due to the contagion occurring in the community environment. Then, the aim is to estimate the effect of the coverage of primary health care and social isolation on the evolution of confirmed cases and deaths by COVID-19, controlling sociodemographic, economic and health system aspects.MethodsA time series design was designed with data on diagnosed cases of COVID-19 and their deaths as outcomes in the capital cities of the Northeast region of Brazil. Independent variables such as PHC coverage, hospital beds, social isolation, demographic density, Gini index and other indicators were analyzed. A Autoregressive Generalized Linear Model method was applied for model the relationship.ResultsWe identified an exponential growth of cases (y = 0.00250.71x; p-valueConclusionsPHC mitigates the occurrence of Covid-19 and its deaths in a region of social vulnerability in Brazil together with social isolation. However, it is not known until when the system will withstand the overload in view of the low adhesion to social isolation, the lack of support and appropriate direction from the government to its population. more...

RESUMO: Objetivo: O estudo avaliou a tendência de hospitalização por acidente vascular encefálico isquêmico (HAVEI) e a sua mortalidade hospitalar no Brasil nos últimos 15 anos, assim como o impacto do programa Hiperdia nesse cenário. Métodos: Delineou-se um estudo ecológico com abordagem analítica e dados coletados no Sistema de Internação Hospitalar sobre episódios de AVEI, referentes aos anos de 1998 a 2012. Todos os dados foram estratificados por sexo e faixa etária, criando-se um indicador para HAVEI e proporção de mortalidade hospitalar. A fim de estimar a tendência dos dados criou-se uma curva polinomial de melhor aderência e para a averiguar o impacto do Hiperdia aplicou-se o Modelo Linear Generalizado tomados como desfecho a HAVEI e a mortalidade hospitalar. Adotou-se um nível de significância de 5% para minimizar um erro tipo I. Resultados: Foi evidenciada redução das HAVEI de 37,57/105 habitantes em 1998 a 2001 para 10,33/105 habitantes em 2002 a 2005, declinando 73,64%. A redução aconteceu em ambos os sexos, assim como para todas as faixas etárias. A mortalidade hospitalar por AVEI também declinou no Brasil a partir de 2002, tanto em homens como em mulheres, porém em menos de 3% e apenas nas faixas entre 0 e 14 anos e acima de 80 anos não detectamos tendência. Conclusão: Portanto, o declínio das HAVEI coincidiu temporalmente com a implementação do Hiperdia no ano de 2002 e essa tendência se mantém até hoje. more...