Search

Objective To describe the personal protective equipment training strategies during the beginning of the pandemic and to investigate the association between training and COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers. Methods This cross-sectional study conducted between March and May 2020 included 7,142 healthcare professionals who were eligible for both online and face-to-face simulation-based training on personal protective equipment use. Simulation training attendance was assessed by reviewing the attendance list, and the COVID-19 sick leave records recovered from the institutional RT-PCR database used to grant sick leave. The association between personal protective equipment training and COVID-19 was investigated using logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic and occupational characteristics. Results The mean age was 36.9 years (± 8.3), and 72.6% of participants were female. A total of 5,502 (77.0%) professionals were trained: 3,012 (54.7%) through online training, 691 (12.6%) through face-to-face training, and 1,799 (32.7%) through both strategies. During the study period, 584 (8.2%) COVID-19 cases were diagnosed among these professionals. The number of positive RT-PCR tests was 180 (11.0%) for untrained professionals, 245 (8.1%) for those trained only online, 35 (5.1%) for those trained face-to-face, and 124 (6.9%) for those trained with both strategies (p

Background Worldwide, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a disorder with high morbidity, affecting more than 200 million people. Objectives Our objective was to analyze surgical treatment for PAD provided on the Brazilian Public Healthcare System over 12 years using publicly available data. Methods The study was conducted with analysis of data available on the Brazilian Health Ministry’s database platform, assessing distributions of procedures and techniques over the years and their associated mortality and costs. Results A total of 129,424 procedures were analyzed (performed either for claudication or critical ischemia, proportion unknown). The vast majority of procedures were endovascular (65.49%) and this disproportion exhibited a rising trend (p

Background From 1990 to 2015, mortality from aortic aneurysms increased 16.8% in Brazil. São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and about 5 million people depend on the public health system there. Objectives To conduct an epidemiological analysis of abdominal aortic aneurysm surgeries in the city of São Paulo. Methods Infra-renal aortic aneurysm procedures performed over a decade (from 2008 to 2017) were studied using publicly-available platforms from the Unified Health System and DATASUS. Results 2693 procedures were analyzed; 66.73% were endovascular; 78.7% of patients were male; 70.7% were aged 65 years or more; 64.02% were elective hospital admissions. There were 288 in-hospital deaths (mortality: 10.69%). In-hospital mortality was lower for endovascular surgery than for open surgery; both for elective (4.13% versus 14.42%) and urgent (9.73% versus 27.94%) (p = 0.019) admissions. The highest volume hospital (n = 635) had the lowest in-hospital mortality (3.31%). USD 24,835,604.84 was paid; an average of $ 2,318.63 for elective open, $ 3,420.10 for emergency open, $ 12,157.35 for elective endovascular and $ 12,969.12 for urgent endovascular procedures. Endovascular procedure costs were statistically higher than the values paid for open surgeries (p

Background Frailty screening using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) has been proposed to guide resource allocation in acute care settings during the pandemic. However, the association between frailty and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) prognosis remains unclear. Objectives To investigate the association between frailty and mortality over 6 months in middle‐aged and older patients hospitalized with COVID‐19 and the association between acute morbidity severity and mortality across frailty strata. Design Observational cohort study. Setting Large academic medical center in Brazil. Participants A total of 1830 patients aged ≥50 years hospitalized with COVID‐19 (March–July 2020). Measurements We screened baseline frailty using the CFS (1–9) and classified patients as fit to managing well (1–3), vulnerable (4), mildly (5), moderately (6), or severely frail to terminally ill (7–9). We also computed a frailty index (0–1; frail >0.25), a well‐known frailty measure. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate the association between frailty and time to death within 30 days and 6 months of admission. We also examined whether frailty identified different mortality risk levels within strata of similar age and acute morbidity as measured by the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Results Median age was 66 years, 58% were male, and 27% were frail to some degree. Compared with fit‐to‐managing‐well patients, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval [CI]) for 30‐day and 6‐month mortality were, respectively, 1.4 (1.1–1.7) and 1.4 (1.1–1.7) for vulnerable patients; 1.5 (1.1–1.9) and 1.5 (1.1–1.8) for mild frailty; 1.8 (1.4–2.3) and 1.9 (1.5–2.4) for moderate frailty; and 2.1 (1.6–2.7) and 2.3 (1.8–2.9) for severe frailty to terminally ill. The CFS achieved outstanding accuracy to identify frailty compared with the Frailty Index (area under the curve = 0.94; 95% CI = 0.93–0.95) and predicted different mortality risks within age and acute morbidity groups. Conclusions Our results encourage the use of frailty, alongside measures of acute morbidity, to guide clinicians in prognostication and resource allocation in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19.

Background The relationship between hypertension and cognition in later life is controversial. We investigated whether the association of hypertension with cognition differs in older adults according to the frailty status using cross-sectional data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging, a nationally representative sample of adults aged ≥50 years. Method Hypertension was defined by a medical diagnosis or measured blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg. Frailty status was assessed using the Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. We estimated the association of hypertension and systolic and diastolic blood pressure with global cognition, orientation, memory, and verbal fluency z-scores, using multiple linear regression models. We also investigated interactions between hypertension and frailty on cognitive performance and impairment. Results We evaluated 8609 participants (mean age = 61.9 ± 9.6 years, 53% women). Participants with hypertension (59% of adults aged 50–64 and 77% of those aged ≥65 years) had poorer scores for global cognitive performance than those without hypertension, especially among adults aged 50–64 years (β = −0.09; 95% confidence interval = −0.15, −0.04; p = .001). However, frailty modified the associations of hypertension with cognitive performance and impairment in those aged ≥65 years (p-values for interaction = .01 and .02, respectively). Among nonfrail older adults, hypertension was associated with cognitive impairment. In contrast, among frail older adults, hypertension was related to better global and memory cognitive z-scores. Conclusions Hypertension was associated with worse cognitive performance. Among older adults, hypertension was related to cognitive impairment only in nonfrail participants. Frailty evaluation may help clinicians offer personalized hypertension management in older adults.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Most evidence for the association between ideal vascular health (IVH) and cognitive performance comes from high income countries. The aim was to investigate this association in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health. METHODS Cognition was assessed using the word list, verbal fluency and trail making tests. The IVH score included ideal metrics for body mass index, smoking, physical activity, diet, blood pressure, fasting glucose and total cholesterol. Poor, intermediate and optimal health were characterized in those presenting 0-2, 3-4, 5-7 ideal metrics, respectively. To determine the association between IVH score and cognitive performance, linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, race, alcohol use, depression and thyroid function were used. RESULTS In 12 271 participants, the mean age was 51.3 ± 8.9 years, 54% were women, 57% White and 53% had poor vascular health. Participants with intermediate (β = 0.064, 95% confidence interval 0.033; 0.096) and optimal health (β = 0.108, 95% confidence interval 0.052; 0.164) had better global cognitive Z-scores. In addition, interactions of IVH score with age, education and race were found, suggesting a better cognitive performance with higher IVH in older adults, Black/Brown participants and those with lower levels of education. CONCLUSION Ideal vascular health was associated with better cognitive performance. Older, Black/Brown and low-educated participants had better cognition in the presence of higher IVH scores.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the strategies to monitor and expand access to care for a health system workers in the first 2 months of the COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil. METHODS: Description of the implemented strategy based on the guidelines developed to address the surveillance and care of a large health system's workforce in the COVID-19 epidemic. RESULTS: During phase 1, the surveillance strategy focused on monitoring suspected cases among employees. In phase 2, surveillance was restricted to employees with confirmed COVID-19, aiming at monitoring of symptoms and following hospitalizations. Access to care was expanded. A total of 1089 employees were diagnosed with COVID-19, 89 required hospitalizations and none had died. CONCLUSION: The strategies adopted were promptly implemented and could be adapted to the changing epidemic dynamics, allowing low rates of adverse outcomes in this high-risk population.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the association of sickness absence with severe psychiatric outcomes in the workforce of a health institution. METHODS This cross-sectional analysis included 16,890 employees from a health institution. The association of all-cause sick-leave spells and mental sick-leave spells with a composite outcome (psychiatric hospital admission and/or suicidality) was investigated with logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, education, and job position. RESULTS There were 18,855 sick-leave spells among 6428 employees and 8.2% were mental sick-leaves. All-cause sick-leave was associated with the composite outcome (OR = 6.81; 95% CI = 2.99-15.52). This association was driven by mental-sick leave (OR = 100.52; 95% CI = 41.26-244.91), and the odds were higher among men. CONCLUSION Health promotion interventions on workers with mental sick-leave should be implemented to minimize the impact of mental disorders in this high-risk group.

Current recommendations to assess sarcopenia requiring specialized equipment hinder its use as a prognostic tool in busy acute settings.To investigate the prognostic value of a rapid sarcopenia measure in acutely ill older outpatients for 1-year adverse outcomes.Prospective study with 665 acutely ill older adults (mean age 78.7 ± 8.3 years; 63% women) in need of intensive management to avoid hospital admission. Sarcopenia was screened upon admission, defined as the presence of both low muscle strength and low muscle mass. Low muscle strength was determined by handgrip strength according to the cutoffs of the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (16 kg for women and26 kg for men). Low muscle mass was assessed by calf circumference, a validated surrogate measure of skeletal muscle mass, using previously established thresholds (≤33 cm for women and ≤34 cm for men). Outcomes were time to hospitalization, new dependence in basic activities of daily living (ADL), worsening walking ability, and death. To investigate the association of sarcopenia and its components with outcomes we used hazard models, considering death as a competing risk, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, Charlson comorbidity index, cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, and weight loss.On admission, 203 (31%) patients had sarcopenia. Comparing 1-year adverse outcomes between older adults with and without sarcopenia, respectively, cumulative incidences for hospitalization were 46% vs 32% (adjusted sub-hazard ratio [sHR] = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.16-2.04), for new ADL dependence, 47% vs 24% (adjusted sHR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.31-2.42), for worsening walking ability, 28% vs 13% (adjusted sHR = 1.93; 95% CI = 1.28-2.90), and for death, 22% vs 10% (adjusted HR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.05-2.73). Low muscle strength alone was associated with all outcomes, and low muscle mass was associated with all outcomes except mortality.Sarcopenia was a strong predictor of 1-year adverse outcomes among acutely ill older outpatients. Combining handgrip strength with calf circumference may be a practical and efficient approach to screen for sarcopenia, and thereby identify high-risk older adults in busy clinical settings.

Background The early identification of individuals at high risk for adverse outcomes by a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in resource-limited primary care settings enables tailored treatments, however, the evidence concerning its benefits are still controversial. The main objective of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the “Multidimensional Assessment of Older People in Primary Care (AMPI-AB)”, a CGA for primary care in resource-limited settings. Methods Longitudinal study, with median follow-up time of 16 months. Older adults from a public primary care unit in São Paulo, Brazil, were consecutively admitted. Reliability was tested in a sample from a public geriatric outpatient clinic. Participants were classified by the AMPI-AB score as requiring a low, intermediate or high complexity of care. The Physical Frailty Phenotype was used to explore the AMPI-AB’s concurrent validity. Predictive validity was assessed with mortality, worsening of the functional status, hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) visits and falls. The area under the ROC curve and logistic regression were calculated for binary outcomes, and a Cox proportional hazards model was used for survival analysis. Results Older adults (n = 317) with a median age of 80 (74–86) years, 67% female, were consecutively admitted. At the follow-up, 7.1% of participants had died, and increased dependency on basic and instrumental activities of daily living was detected in 8.9 and 41.1% of the participants, respectively. The AMPI-AB score was accurate in detecting frailty (area under the ROC curve = 0.851), predicted mortality (HR = 1.25, 95%CI = 1.13–1.39) and increased dependency on basic (OR = 1.26, 95%CI = 1.10–1.46) and instrumental (OR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.12–1.34) activities of daily living, hospitalizations (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.04–1.26), ER visits (OR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.10–1.31) and falls (OR = 1.10, 95%CI = 1.01–1.20), all models adjusted for sex and years of schooling. Reliability was tested in a sample of 52 older adults with a median age of 72 (85–64) years, 63.5% female. The AMPI-AB also had good interrater (ICC = 0.87, 95%CI = 0.78–0.92), test-retest (ICC = 0.86, 95%CI = 0.76–0.93) and proxy reliability (ICC = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.67–0.93). The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.69, and the mean AMPI-AB administration time was 05:44 ± 02:42 min. Conclusion The AMPI-AB is a valid and reliable tool for managing older adults in resource-limited primary care settings.

To describe the performance of machine learning (ML) applied to predict future metabolic syndrome (MS), and to estimate lifestyle changes effects in MS predictions.We analyzed data from 17,182 adults attending a checkup program sequentially (37,999 visit pairs) over 17 years. Variables on sociodemographic attributes, clinical, laboratory, and lifestyle characteristics were used to develop ML models to predict MS [logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis, k-nearest neighbors, decision trees, Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), Extreme Gradient Boosting]. We have tested the effects of changes in lifestyle in MS prediction at individual levels.All models showed adequate calibration and good discrimination, but the LGBM showed better performance (Sensitivity = 87.8 %, Specificity = 70.2 %, AUC-ROC = 0.86). Causal inference analysis showed that increasing physical activity level and reducing BMI by at least 2 % had an effect of reducing the predicted probability of MS by 3.8 % (95 % CI = -4.8 %; -2.7 %).ML models based on data from a checkup program showed good performance to predict MS and allowed testing for effects of lifestyle changes in this prediction. External validation is recommended to verify models' ability to identify at-risk individuals, and potentially increase their engagement in preventive measures.

Objective Despite the development of endovascular procedures, open repair remains the gold standard for the treatment of aortic thoracoabdominal aneurysms and some type B dissections, with well-established good outcomes and long-term durability at high-volume centers. The present study described and analyzed public data from patients treated in the public system in a 12-year interval, in a city where more than 5 million inhabitants depend on the Public Health System. Methods Public data from procedures performed between 2008 and 2019 were extracted using web scraping techniques. The variables available in the database include sex, age, elective or emergency hospital admission, number of surgeries, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and information on reimbursement values. Results A total of 556 procedures were analyzed. Of these, 60.79% patients were men, and 41.18% were 65 years of age or older. Approximately 60% had a residential address registered in the municipality. Of all surgeries, 65.83% were elective cases. There were 178 in-hospital deaths (mortality of 32%). In the elective context, there were 98 deaths 26.78% versus 80 deaths (42.10%) in the emergency context (p=0.174). Mortality was lower in the hospitals that performed more surgeries. A total of USD 3,038,753.92 was paid, an average of USD 5,406.95 for elective surgery and USD 5,074.76 for emergency surgery (p=0.536). Conclusion Mortality was no different between groups, and hospitals with higher volume presented more favorable outcomes. Specialized referral centers should be considered by health policy makers.

Sarcopenia and sleep problems share common physiopathology. We aimed to investigate the association of sleep disturbances with sarcopenia and its defining components in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults. In this cross-sectional analysis of the second wave of the ELSA-Brasil study, we included data from 7948 participants aged 50 years and older. Muscle mass was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis and muscle strength by hand-grip strength. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health criteria. Sleep duration and insomnia complaint were self-reported. Short sleep duration was considered as ≤6 h/night and long sleep duration as >8 h/night. High risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was assessed using the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Possible confounders included socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, clinical comorbidities, and use of sedatives and hypnotics. The frequencies of sarcopenia, low muscle mass, and low muscle strength were 1.6, 21.1, and 4.1%, respectively. After adjustment for possible confounders, high risk of OSA was associated with low muscle mass (OR=2.17, 95%CI: 1.92-2.45). Among obese participants, high risk of OSA was associated with low muscle strength (OR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.07-2.64). However, neither short nor long sleep duration or frequent insomnia complaint were associated with sarcopenia or its defining components. In conclusion, high risk of OSA was associated with low muscle mass in the whole sample and with low muscle strength among obese participants. Future studies are needed to clarify the temporal relationship between both conditions.

OBJECTIVES: In Brazil, descending thoracic aorta disease (TAD), including aneurysms and dissection, are preferentially managed by endovascular treatment (TEVAR) due to the feasibility and good results of this technique. In this study, we analyzed endovascular treatment of isolated TAD (ITAD) in the public health system over a 10-year period in São Paulo, a municipality in Brazil in which more than 5 million inhabitants depend on the governmental health system. METHODS: Public data from procedures performed between 2008 and 2019 were extracted using web scraping techniques. The following types of data were analyzed: demographic data, operative technique, elective or urgent status, number of surgeries, in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, mean length of stay in the intensive care unit, and reimbursement values paid by the government. Trauma cases and congenital diseases were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 1,344 procedures were analyzed; most patients were male and aged ≥65 years. Most individuals had a residential address registered in the city. Approximately one-third of all surgeries were urgent cases. There were 128 in-hospital deaths (9.52%), and in-hospital mortality was lower for elective than for urgent surgeries (7.29% vs. 14.31%, p=0.031). A total of R$ 24.766.008,61 was paid; an average of R$ 17.222,98 per elective procedure and R$ 18.558,68 per urgent procedure. Urgent procedures were significantly more expensive than elective surgeries (p=0.029). CONCLUSION: Over a 10-year period, the total cost of ITAD interventions was R$ 24.766.008,61, which was paid from the governmental system. Elective procedures were associated with lower mortality and lower investment from the health system when compared to those performed in an urgent scenario.

ObjectivesWorldwide, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a disorder with high morbidity, affecting more than 200 million people. Our objective was to analyse the surgical treatment for PAD performed in the Unified Health System of Brazil over 12 years based on publicly available data.MethodsThe study was conducted with data analysis available on the DATASUS platform of the Brazilian Health Ministry, assessing procedure technique distribution throughout the years, mortality and cost.ResultsA total of 129,424 procedures were analysed (either for claudicants or critical ischemia, proportion unknown). The vast majority of procedures were Endovascular (65.49%), with a tendency for increase in this disproportion (pConclusionsIn the Brazilian Public Health System, lower limb revascularizations occurred with gradual growing frequency between 2008 and 2019. Endovascular procedures were vastly more common, and related to lower in-hospital mortality rates, but higher procedural costs.

Background Over 66 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Therefore, understanding their clinical evolution beyond hospital discharge is essential not only from an individual standpoint, but from a populational level. Objectives Our primary aim was to assess the impact of COVID-19 on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) 3 months after hospital discharge. Additionally, we screened for anxiety and depression and assessed important clinical outcomes. Methods This was a single-centre cohort study performed in Sao Paulo (Brazil), in which participants were contacted by telephone to answer a short survey. EQ-5D-3L was used to assess HRQoL and clinical data from patients’ index admission were retrieved from medical records. Results We contacted 251 participants (59.8% males, mean age 53 years old), 69.7% of which had presented with severe COVID-19. At 3 months of follow-up, 6 patients had died, 51 (20.3%) had visited the emergency department again and 17 (6.8%) had been readmitted to hospital. Seventy patients (27.9%) persisted with increased dyspnoea and 81 had a positive screening for anxiety/depression. Similarly, patients reported an overall worsening of EQ-5D-3L single summary index at 3 months compared to before the onset of COVID-19 symptoms (0.8012 (0.7368 – 1.0) vs. 1.0(0.7368 – 1.0), p

OBJECTIVE to analyze the number of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomies performed to treat hyperhidrosis in the Universal Public Health System of Brazil, the government reimbursements and the in-hospital mortality rates. BACKGROUND Even though endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy has been widely performed for the definitive treatment of hyperhidrosis, no series reported mortality and there are no population-based studies evaluating its costs or its mortality rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data referring to endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy to treat hyperhidrosis between 2008 and 2019 were extracted from the database of the Brazilian Public Health System, which insures more than 160 millions inhabitants. RESULTS 13,201 endoscopic thoracic sympathectomies to treat hyperhidrosis were performed from 2008 to 2019, with a rate of 68.44 procedures per 10 million inhabitants per year. There were 6 in-hospital deaths during the whole period, representing a mortality rate of 0.045%. The total expended throughout the years was U$ 6,767,825.14, with and average of U$ 512.68 per patient. CONCLUSIONS We observed a rate of 68.44 thoracoscopic sympathectomies for hyperhidrosis' treatment per 10 million inhabitants per year. The in-hospital mortality rate was very low, 0.045%, though not nil. To our knowledge, no published series is larger than ours and we are the first authors to formally report deaths following endoscopic thoracic sympathectomies to treat hyperhidrosis. Moreover, there is no other population-based study addressing costs and mortality rates of every endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy for the treatment of any site of hyperhidrosis in a given period.

Objectives To investigate the association of sarcopenia and its defining components with depression in Brazilian middle-aged and older adults. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting and Participants This analysis included 5927 participants from the ELSA-Brasil Study second data collection, aged 55 years and older, with complete data for exposure, outcome, and covariates. Measures Muscle mass was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis and muscle strength by hand-grip strength. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) criteria. Depression was assessed using the Clinical Interview Scheduled Revised (CIS-R). Information on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and clinical comorbidities were also obtained. Results The frequencies of sarcopenia, presarcopenia, low muscle mass, low muscle strength, and low muscle strength without loss of muscle mass was 1.9%, 18.8%, 20.7%, 4.8%, and 2.9%, respectively. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, and lifestyle factors, depression was associated with sarcopenia (odds ratio [OR] = 2.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11-4.48, P = .024) and low muscle strength (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.20-3.15, P = .007), but it was not associated with presarcopenia, low muscle mass, and low muscle strength without loss of muscle mass. Conclusions Depression is associated with sarcopenia defined by the FNIH criteria mainly because of its association with weakness. Future studies are needed to clarify the temporal relationship between both conditions.

OBJECTIVES: In Brazil, descending thoracic aorta disease, including aneurysms and dissections, is managed preferentially by endovascular treatment, owing to its feasibility and good results. In this study, we analyzed endovascular treatment of isolated descending thoracic aortic disease cases in the Brazilian public health system over a 12-year period. METHODS: Public data from procedures performed from 2008 to 2019 were extracted using web scraping techniques to assess procedure type frequency (elective or urgency), mortality, and governmental costs. RESULTS: A total of 5,595 procedures were analyzed, the vast majority of which were urgent procedures (61.82% vs. 38.18%). In-hospital mortality was lower for elective than for urgent surgeries (4.96 vs.10.32% p=0.008). An average of R$16,845.86 and R$20,012.04 was paid per elective and emergency procedure, respectively, with no statistical difference (p=0.095). CONCLUSION: Elective procedures were associated with lower mortality than urgent procedures. There was no statistically significant difference between elective and urgent procedures regarding costs.

Background: Subtle thyroid alterations have a controversial role in cognition. Objective: We investigated the longitudinal association of baseline thyroid function, thyrotropin (TSH), and thyroxine (FT4) levels with cognitive performance after 4 years of follow-up in middle-aged and older adults without overt thyroid dysfunction. Methods: We included 4,473 individuals, age≥55 years at the second study wave, without overt thyroid dysfunction at baseline. Individuals were divided according to thyroid function and TSH and FT4 tertiles. Cognition was assessed at baseline and after 4 years of follow-up by the word recall (DWR), semantic verbal fluency (SVF), and trail making (TMT) tests. The longitudinal association of thyroid function and TSH and FT4 tertiles with cognitive performance was investigated using generalized estimating equations adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, cardiovascular risk factors and depression. Results: There was no longitudinal association of thyroid function and TSH and FT4 baseline levels with performance on the cognitive tests. However, there was a baseline cross-sectional U-shaped association of FT4 tertiles with poorer performance in the SVF (first FT4 tertile: β= –0.11, 95% CI = –0.17; –0.04; third FT4 tertile: β= –0.10, 95% CI = –0.17; –0.04) and of the third FT4 tertile with poorer performance in the DWR (β= –0.09, 95% CI = –0.16; –0.02). Conclusion: Thyroid function and hormone levels were not associated with cognitive decline during 4 years of follow-up in middle-aged and older adults without overt thyroid dysfunction. Future studies with longer follow-up could clarify the implications of subtle thyroid alterations in cognition.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between frailty and death in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. METHODOLOGY: Prospective cohort study with patients ≥ 50 years hospitalized with COVID-19. Frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale and the frailty index. Patients with a Clinical Frailty Scale score ≥ 5 were considered frail. The primary endpoints were mortality at 30 and 100 days after hospital admission. We used Cox proportional hazard models to investigate the association between frailty and mortality. We also explored whether frailty predicted different mortality levels among patients within strata of similar age and acute disease severity (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score). RESULTS: A total of 1,830 patients were included (mean age 66 years; 58% men; 27% frail according to Clinical Frailty Scale score). The mortality risk at 30 days (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.7; 95% CI 1.4 - 2.1; p

Background Stroke is a leading cause of death worldwide, with carotid atherosclerosis accounting for 10–20% of cases. In Brazil, the Public Health System provides care for roughly two-thirds of the population. No studies, however, have analysed large–scale results of carotid bifurcation surgery in Brazil. Methods This study aimed to describe rates of carotid artery stenting (CAS) and carotid endarterectomy (CEA) performed between 2008 and 2019 in the country through web scraping of publicly available databases. Results Between 2008 and 2019, 37,424 carotid bifurcation revascularization procedures were performed, of which 22,578 were CAS (60.34%) and 14,846 (39.66%) were CEA. There were 620 in-hospital deaths (1.66%), 336 after CAS (1.48%) and 284 after CEA (1.92%) (P = 0.032). Governmental reimbursement was US$ 77,216,298.85 (79.31% of all reimbursement) for CAS procedures and US$ 20,143,009.63 (20.69%) for CEA procedures. The average cost per procedure for CAS (US$ 3,062.98) was higher than that for CEA (US$ 1,430.33) (P = 0.008). Conclusions In Brazil, the frequency of CAS largely surpassed that of CEA. In-hospital mortality rates of CAS were significantly lower than those of CEA, although both had mortality rates within the acceptable rates as dictated by literature. The cost of CAS, however, was significantly higher. This is a pioneering analysis of carotid artery disease management in Brazil that provides, for the first time, preliminary insight into the fact that the low adoption of CEA in the country is in opposition to countries where utilization rates are higher for CEA than for CAS.

Background Worldwide, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a disease with high morbidity, affecting more than 200 million people. Our objective was to analyze the surgical treatment for PAD performed in the Unified Health System of the city of Sao Paulo during the last 11 years based on publicly available data. Methods The study was conducted with data analysis available on the TabNet platform, belonging to the DATASUS. Public data (government health system) from procedures performed in Sao Paulo between 2008 and 2018 were extracted. Sex, age, municipality of residence, operative technique, number of surgeries (total and per hospital), mortality during hospitalization, mean length of stay in the intensive care unit and amount paid by the government system were analyzed. Results A total of 10,951 procedures were analyzed (either for claudicants or critical ischemia—proportion unknown); 55.4% of the procedures were performed on males, and in 50.60%, the patient was older than 65 years. Approximately two-thirds of the patients undergoing these procedures had residential addresses in Sao Paulo. There were 363 in-hospital deaths (mortality of 3.31%). The hospital with the highest number of surgeries (n = 2,777) had lower in-hospital mortality (1.51%) than the other hospitals. A total of $20,655,272.70 was paid for all revascularizations. Conclusions Revascularization for PAD treatment has cost the government system more than $20 million over 11 years. Endovascular surgeries were performed more often than open surgeries and resulted in shorter hospital stays and lower perioperative mortality rates.

Introduction: The role of subtle thyroid alterations on cognitive decline is controversial. We aimed to investigate the association of thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) with baseline performance on cognitive tests and with cognitive decline in middle-aged and older adults without overt thyroid disease. Methods: This is a longitudinal analysis of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health baseline and second wave, after 4 years of follow-up. We included participants aged ≥ 55 years without over thyroid disease, prevalent stroke and use of drugs that could affect thyroid function and cognition. TSH and FT4 were assessed at baseline. Cognition was evaluated at baseline and at the second wave using delayed word recall test (DWR), semantic verbal fluency test (SVF), and trail making test version B (TMT). Baseline and longitudinal associations of TSH tertiles and FT4 tertiles with cognitive performance were investigated with generalized estimating equations, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, cardiovascular risk factors, and depression. Results: The baseline mean age of the 4675 participants was 62.4 ± 5.8 years, 52.3% women (2445 out of 4675). At baseline, TSH levels were not associated with cognitive performance in any test, although the highest FT4 tertile was associated with poorer performance on DWR (β = -0.087, 95% CI = -0.155; -0.019) and SVF (β = -0.076, 95%CI = -0.143; -0.010) after adjustment. Additionally, the lowest FT4 tertile was associated with poorer performance on SVF (β = -0.090, 95%CI = -0.152; -0.028). Cognitive performance did not change after 4 years of follow-up and there was no effect of time on the association of thyroid hormone levels with cognitive performance. Conclusion: At baseline, FT4 levels were associated with worse cognitive performance in a relatively young sample. Neither baseline FT4 nor TSH were associated with cognitive decline after 4 years.

Introduction: Low muscle mass and low muscle strength, the defining components of sarcopenia, are associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease and mortality. However, little is known about the association of sarcopenia with markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, such as coronary artery calcium (CAC). We assessed the hypothesis that sarcopenia and its defining components are associated with higher CAC scores in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis we included 2700 participants from the São Paulo site of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health second wave, aged ≥ 50 years, who were submitted to CAC assessment, with no previous history of coronary artery disease and stroke, and with complete data on exposure, outcome and covariates. CAC was measured by noncontrast computed tomography scans and the Agatston method was adopted to calculate CAC scores. Muscle mass was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and muscle strength by handgrip strength. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health criteria. The association of sarcopenia and its defining components with CAC score > 0 or > 100 was investigated with logistic regression. We also investigated the association of continuous appendicular lean mass standardized by body mass index and handgrip strength with CAC score > 0 and > 100. Possible confounders included sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, lifestyle and laboratory parameters. Results: Sarcopenia was found in 1% (23 out of 2700) of participants, 23% (609 out of 2700) with low muscle mass and 2% (40 out of 2700) with low muscle strength. CAC > 0 and CAC > 100 were found in 35% (952 out of 2700) and 13% (357 out of 2700) of participants, respectively. After adjustment for sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, lifestyle and laboratory parameters, low muscle mass was associated with CAC > 100 (OR = 1.37, 95%CI 1.03-1.80), but not with CAC > 0 (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 0.94-1.46). Sarcopenia and low muscle strength were not associated with CAC scores. Additionally, continuous appendicular leans mass standardized by body mass index was associated with lower odds of CAC > 100 (OR = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.05-0.50), although it was not associated with CAC > 0. Finally, continuous handgrip strength was not associated with CAC scores. Conclusion: In conclusion, low muscle mass is associated with higher odds of CAC score > 100 in middle-aged and older adults.

Objectives To investigate the association between frailty and elder abuse in community‐dwelling older adults. Design Secondary cross‐sectional analysis of a prospective cohort. Setting The Frailty, Dynapenia and Sarcopenia in Mexican Adults study, a cohort of community‐dwelling adults from 2 municipalities in Mexico City. Participants Community‐dwelling adults aged 60 and older (N=487, mean age 73.2 ± 8.0, 80% female). Measurements Elder abuse was assessed using the Geriatric Mistreatment Scale and frailty using the Frailty Phenotype. Abuse was then classified as total abuse (any subtype), conflict abuse (physical, psychological, sexual abuse), financial abuse, and caregiver neglect. Information was also obtained on sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, mental status, nutritional status, disability, and polypharmacy. Results Prevalence of total abuse was 35.7%. Frailty was associated with total abuse (odds ratio (OR)=2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.22–5.21, p=.01) and conflict abuse (OR=2.50, 95% CI=1.18–5.33, p=.02) after adjusting for confounders but not with financial abuse or caregiver neglect. Depression was an effect modifier in the association between frailty and total abuse. Frailty was associated with total abuse in participants with depression (OR=5.23, 95% CI=1.87–14.56, p=.002) but not in those without (OR=0.55, 95% CI=0.10–2.87, p=.47). Conclusion Frailty is associated with total and conflict abuse in community‐dwelling older adults. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effect of frailty on elder abuse and investigate the effectiveness of interventions for primary and secondary prevention.

Objectives We aimed to investigate the association of subclinical thyroid disease and thyroid hormone levels with sarcopenia and its defining components in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults without overt thyroid dysfunction. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Active and retired employees from public institutions located in six Brazilian cities. Participants A total of 6974 participants from the ELSA-Brasil study's second wave, aged 50 years and older, without overt thyroid dysfunction and with complete data for exposure, outcome, and covariates. Methods Serum levels of thyrotropin (TSH), free thyroxine, and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were measured and divided in quintiles for the analyses. Participants were classified with euthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism. Muscle mass was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis and muscle strength by handgrip strength. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health criteria. Possible confounders included sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions, and lifestyle. Analyses were performed separately for middle-aged and older adults (≥65 y). Results The frequencies of sarcopenia, low muscle mass, low muscle strength, subclinical hypothyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism were 1.5%, 20.8%, 3.8%, 9.1%, and .9%, respectively. Subclinical thyroid dysfunction was not associated with sarcopenia and its defining components. Among older adults, TSH had a U-shaped association with sarcopenia and low muscle strength. The odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for the associations of the first, second, fourth, and fifth quintile with sarcopenia, respectively, were 5.18 (1.47-18.28), 6.28 (1.82-21.73), 4.12 (1.15-14.76), and 4.81 (1.35-17.10), and with low muscle strength was (OR (95% CI) for the first, second, and fifth quintiles, respectively: 1.43 (1.16-5.07), 2.07 (1.24-4.70), and 2.18 (1.03-4.60). Additionally, FT3 had a negative association with muscle mass in both age strata. Conclusion Subtle thyroid hormone alterations are associated with sarcopenia or its defining components in middle-aged and older adults without overt thyroid dysfunction. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1545-1553, 2020.

Background Sarcopenia and cognitive impairment share pathophysiological paths and risk factors. Our aim was to investigate the association of sarcopenia and its defining components with cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults. Methods This cross-sectional analysis included 5,038 participants from the ELSA-Brasil Study, aged ≥ 55 years. Muscle mass was evaluated by bioelectrical impedance analysis and muscle strength by handgrip strength. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. Cognition was evaluated using delayed word recall test, semantic verbal fluency test, and trail making test version B. Possible confounders included sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, and clinical comorbidities. Results The frequencies of sarcopenia, low muscle mass, and low muscle strength were 1.8%, 23.3%, and 4.4%, respectively. After adjustment for possible confounders, poorer performance on the verbal fluency test was associated with sarcopenia (β = −0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.38; −0.01, p = .03) and low muscle mass (β = −0.08, 95% CI = −0.14; −0.01, p = .02). Low muscle strength was associated with poorer performance in the delayed word recall test (β = −0.14, 95% CI = −0.27; −0.02, p = .02), verbal fluency test (β = −0.14, 95% CI = −0.26; −0.02, p = .03), and trail making test (β = −0.15, 95% CI = −0.27; −0.03, p = .01). Conclusions Sarcopenia was associated with poorer performance on the verbal fluency test, and low muscle strength was associated with poorer performance in all cognitive tests in middle-aged and older adults.

Objectives The objectives of this study were to cross-culturally adapt and validate the FRAIL scale in Mexican community-dwelling adults. Design Cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort. Setting The FraDysMex study, a 2-round evaluation of community-dwelling adults from 2 municipalities in Mexico City. Participants Participants were 606 men and women living in the designated area in Mexico City. Measurements Interviewers obtained data regarding demographics, comorbidities, mental status, nutritional status, dependency in activities of daily living, quality of life, mobility, balance, and strength. The FRAIL scale translated to Spanish and the Fried criteria were applied to screen frailty. Results The Mexican Spanish version of the FRAIL scale showed internal consistency (4 of 5 items in the scale correlated to the scale's total score, rho = 0.41–0.74), external consistency (interrater correlation CCI = 0.82), known-group validity based on age (9.6% of frailty in persons ≥50 years × 3.2% in persons P = .001), convergent validity with the Fried criteria (CCI = 0.63), and the scale was also correlated with other measures related to frailty (such as age, quality of life, self-rated health status, cognition, dependency, nutritional status, depression, and physical performance). Conclusion The FRAIL scale was successfully adapted to Mexican Spanish and validated in community-dwelling Mexican adults.

Objectives To cross-culturally adapt and validate the Spanish-language version of the SARC-F in Mexican community-dwelling older adults. Design Cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort. Setting The FraDySMex study, a 2-round evaluation of community-dwelling adults from 2 municipalities in Mexico City. Participants Participants were 487 men and women older than 60 years, living in the designated area in Mexico City. Measurements Information from questionnaires regarding demographic characteristics, comorbidities, mental status, nutritional status, dependence in activities of daily living, frailty, and quality of life. Objective measurements of muscle mass, strength and function were as follows: skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) was taken using dual-energy x-ray, grip strength using a hand dynamometer, 6-meter gait speed using a GAIT Rite instrumented walkway, peak torque and power for knee extension using a isokinetic dynamometer, lower extremity functioning measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and balance using evaluation on a foam surface, with closed eyes, in the Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration. The SARC-F scale translated to Spanish and the consensus panels’ criteria from European, international, and Asian sarcopenia working groups were applied to evaluate sarcopenia. Results The Spanish language version of the SARC-F scale showed reliability (Cronbach alfa = 0.641. All items in the scale correlated to the scale's total score, rho = 0.43 to 0.76), temporal consistency evaluated by test-retest (CCI = 0.80), criterion validity when compared to the consensus panels' criteria (high specificity and negative predictive values). The scale was also correlated to other measures related to sarcopenia (such as age, quality of life, self-rated health status, cognition, dependence in activities of daily living, nutritional status, depression, gait speed, grip strength, peak torque and power for knee extension, SPPB, balance, SMI, and frailty). Conclusion The SARC-F scale was successfully adapted to Spanish language and validated in community-dwelling Mexican older adults.

OBJECTIVE We investigated whether ideal cardiovascular health (ICH), a metric proposed by the American Heart Association, predicts depression development. METHODS Cohort analysis from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Adults with no current depression and other common mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and antidepressant drug use at baseline had their ICH (composite score of smoking, dietary habits, body mass index, blood pressure, fasting glucose, cholesterol, and physical activity) assessed and classified into poor, intermediate, and optimal. Depression was assessed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R). Poisson regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic factors and alcohol consumption, were employed. Stratified analyses were performed for age and sex. RESULTS We included 9214 participants (mean age 52 ± 9 years, 48.6% women). Overall depression incidence at 3.8-year follow-up was 1.5%. Intermediate and poor ICH significantly increased the risk rate (RR) of developing depression (2.48 [95%CI 1.06-5.78] and 3 [1.28-7.03], respectively) at a 3.8-year follow-up. Higher ICH scores decreased the rate of depression development (RR = 0.84 [0.73-0.96] per metric). Stratified analyses were significant for women and adults

Osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) is a condition associated with adverse outcomes in older adults. Since it is a condition which includes three tissues (obesity, sarcopenia and osteopenia/osteoporosis), it requires simultaneous and multidisciplinary clinical interventions to revert it. Until this moment, there have been published review articles only focused on nutrition or physical activity. However, we believe that assembling the existing evidence on potential treatments (nutritional intervention with micro- and macronutrients), physical activity, farmacological treatment for osteopenia/osteoporosis, possible farmacological treatment for sarcopenia, and, finally, psychological interventions focused on the treatment of psychiatric comorbidities (such as anxiety or depression) will help healthcare providers to improve the body composition of older adults.La obesidad osteosarcopénica (OOS) es una condición que representa diversos desenlaces adversos en el adulto mayor. Al ser una condición que incluye tres tejidos (obesidad, sarcopenia y osteopenia/osteoporosis), se requiere de intervenciones clínicas simultáneas y multidisciplinarias para lograr revertirla. Hasta el momento, han sido publicados artículos de revisión enfocados solo a la nutrición y a la actividad física. Sin embargo, consideramos que es necesario reunir la evidencia del nivel nutricional (en cuanto a micro- y macronutrientes), de la actividad física habitual o personalizada, de los potenciales tratamientos farmacológicos para la sarcopenia, del actual tratamiento farmacológico para la osteopenia/osteoporosis y, por último, en torno a las posibles intervenciones psicológicas enfocadas a tratar la comorbilidad psiquiátrica (ansiedad o depresión) y directamente hacia la mejora de la composición corporal en adultos mayores.

Common psychiatric symptoms may hinder achieving ideal cardiovascular health (ICH). We aimed to investigate the association between the ICH score and psychiatric disorders in Brazilian adults.In this cross-sectional analysis, 13,743 participants free of cardiovascular disease from the ELSA-Brasil study were assessed using the American Heart Association ICH score. Cardiovascular health was classified as poor (0-2 ideal metrics), intermediate (3-4 ideal metrics), and optimal (5-7 ideal metrics). We used the Clinical Interview Scheduled Revised (CIS-R) to assess psychiatric disorders and investigate their association with the ICH score and each non-ICH metric.The frequency of poor, intermediate, and optimal cardiovascular health were 54.1%, 38.1%, and 7.8%, respectively. Depressive and anxiety disorders were associated with poor cardiovascular health (depressive disorder: OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 1.62-3.80, p 0.001; anxiety disorder: OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.22-1.78, p 0.001), and intermediate cardiovascular health (depressive disorder: OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.26-2.98, p = 0.002; anxiety disorder: OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.01-1.47, p = 0.043). In the analysis stratified by sex, these associations were significant only among women. The disorders were also associated with the following non-ICH metrics: body mass index, physical activity, healthy diet score, and smoking. Participants with depressive disorder and anxiety disorder had expected lower global and lifestyle ICH score than participants without these conditions, with significant results among women in the stratified analysis.Psychiatric comorbidity was associated with poorer cardiovascular health. These conditions may compromise the adoption of healthy cardiovascular risk reduction behaviors.

Background and aims The role of subtle thyroid alterations, such as subclinical thyroid disease and low/high serum thyrotropin (TSH) within the normal range, on cognitive decline is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of serum TSH and subclinical thyroid dysfunction with performance on cognitive tests in a large sample of Brazilian middle-aged adults without overt thyroid disease. Methods In this cross-sectional analysis of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health, we excluded individuals aged 65 years and older, with overt thyroid dysfunction, prevalent stroke, in use of medications that affect thyroid function or that indicate neurologic diseases, and from Asian or indigenous ethnicity. Thyroid status was assessed by serum TSH and free thyroxine (only when the TSH was altered). Individuals were divided according to TSH tertiles and classified according to thyroid function as euthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, or subclinical hyperthyroidism. Cognition was evaluated using delayed word recall test, semantic verbal fluency test, and trail making test version B. The associations of cognitive tests performance with TSH tertiles (using the middle tertile as reference) and thyroid function were investigated using linear regression models, adjusted for an extensive set of possible confounders (sociodemographic characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, and depression). Results The mean age of the 10,362 participants was 49.5 ± 7.4 years, 52.3% women. After adjustment for confounders, the first TSH tertile was associate with worse performance on the trail making test (β = −0.05, 95% CI = −0.09; −0.01, p = 0.017). When restricting the analysis to the 9769 individuals with TSH within the normal range, the association between TSH and performance on the trail making test remained significant (β = −0.05, 95% CI = −0.09; −0.01, p = 0.020) on multiple linear regression. Subclinical thyroid disease was not associated with performance on cognitive tests. Conclusion Low TSH is associated with poorer performance on an executive function test in middle-aged adults without overt thyroid dysfunction.

To investigate the association between frailty and elder abuse in community-dwelling older adults.Secondary cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort.The Frailty, Dynapenia and Sarcopenia in Mexican Adults study, a cohort of community-dwelling adults from 2 municipalities in Mexico City.Community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older (N=487, mean age 73.2 ± 8.0, 80% female).Elder abuse was assessed using the Geriatric Mistreatment Scale and frailty using the Frailty Phenotype. Abuse was then classified as total abuse (any subtype), conflict abuse (physical, psychological, sexual abuse), financial abuse, and caregiver neglect. Information was also obtained on sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, mental status, nutritional status, disability, and polypharmacy.Prevalence of total abuse was 35.7%. Frailty was associated with total abuse (odds ratio (OR)=2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.22-5.21, p=.01) and conflict abuse (OR=2.50, 95% CI=1.18-5.33, p=.02) after adjusting for confounders but not with financial abuse or caregiver neglect. Depression was an effect modifier in the association between frailty and total abuse. Frailty was associated with total abuse in participants with depression (OR=5.23, 95% CI=1.87-14.56, p=.002) but not in those without (OR=0.55, 95% CI=0.10-2.87, p=.47).Frailty is associated with total and conflict abuse in community-dwelling older adults. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effect of frailty on elder abuse and investigate the effectiveness of interventions for primary and secondary prevention.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of medical adverse events in elderly patients admitted to an acute care geriatric unit, the predictive factors of occurrence, and the correlation between adverse events and hospital mortality rates. METHODS: This prospective study included 171 admissions of patients aged 60 years and older in the acute care geriatric unit in a teaching hospital in Brazil between 2007 and 2008. The following variables were assessed at admission: the patient age, gender, number of prescription drugs, geriatric syndromes (e.g., immobility, postural instability, dementia, depression, delirium, and incontinence), comorbidities, functional status (evaluated with the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living), and severity of illness (evaluated with the Simplified Acute Physiology Score Il). The incidence of delirium, infection, mortality, and the prescription of potentially inappropriate medications (based on the Beers criteria) were assessed during hospitalization. An observer who was uninvolved in patient care reported the adverse events. RESULTS: The mean age of the sample was 78.12 years. A total of 187 medical adverse events occurred in 94 admissions (55%). The predictors of medical adverse events were undetermined. Compared with the patients with no adverse events, the patients with medical adverse events had a significantly longer hospital stay (21.41 ± 15.08 days versus 10.91 ± 7.21 days) and a higher mortality rate (39 deaths [41.5%] versus 17 deaths [22.1%]). Mortality was significantly predicted by the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II score (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13, confidence interval [CI] 95%, 1.07 to 1.20), the Katz score (OR=1.47, CI 95%, 1.18 to 1.83), and medical adverse events (OR = 3.59, CI 95%, 1.55 to 8.30). CONCLUSION: Medical adverse events should be monitored in every elderly hospitalized patient because there is no risk profile for susceptible patients, and the consequences of adverse events are serious, sometimes leading to longer hospital stays or even death.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine predictors of in-hospital mortality among older patients admitted to a geriatric care unit. INTRODUCTION: The growing number of older individuals among hospitalized patients demands a thorough investigation of the factors that contribute to their mortality. METHODS: This was a prospective observational study implemented from February 2004 to October 2007 in a tertiary university hospital. A consecutive sample of 922 patients was evaluated for possible inclusion in this study. Patients hospitalized for palliative care, those who declined to participate, and those with incomplete data were excluded, resulting in a group of 856 patients aged 60 to 104 years. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine associations between in-patient mortality and gender, age, length of stay, number of prescribed medications and diagnoses at admission, history of heart failure, neoplastic disease, immobility syndrome, delirium, infectious disease, and laboratory tests at admission (serum albumin and creatinine). RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 16.4%. The following factors were associated with higher in-hospital mortality: delirium (OR=4.13, CI=2.65–6.44, P

Objective: The proliferation of drugs, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures in the modern medical practice leads to an increased incidence of iatrogenesis especially among the elderly population. The objective of this study was to determine the major factors related to the occurrence of iatrogenesis in elderly patients hospitalized in a geriatric ward. Methods: This is a prospective study including elderly patients admitted to a geriatric ward of a Brazilian university hospital between 2004 and 2005. The patient characteristics assessed at admission were: gender, age, comorbidities, number of drugs used, functional status (activities of daily living), and presence of geriatric syndromes (cognitive deficit, sphincter incontinence, immobility and postural instability). The following parameters were analyzed during hospitalization: presence of delirium, occurrence of infection, and mortality. The iatrogenic events observed were reported by the multidisciplinary health team of the geriatric ward. Rresults: four hundred sixty-seven elderly with mean age of 78.59 ± 8.24 years were evaluated; 185 were males. A total of 171 iatrogenic events were observed in 121 patients (25.9%) with 1.41 events per patient. In the multivariate analysis, the independent factors related to the iatrogenic events were: length of hospital stay (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04-1.08); number of drugs used at admission (OR = 1.12; CI = 1.03-1.21); presence of postural instability (OR = 2.26, CI = 1.27-4.01); and presence of delirium (OR = 2.09; CI = 1.26-3.47). The relative risk of death in patients suffering iatrogenic events was 1.71 (CI = 1.14-2.55). Cconclusions: The major factors related to iatrogenesis in elderly patients hospitalized in a geriatric ward are length of hospital stay, number of drugs used, presence of postural instability and delirium. Iatrogenic events increased the risk of death during hospitalization by 71%.

Introdução: idosos hospitalizados apresentam maior risco de sofrer eventos adversos na internação que adultos jovens, com consequências mórbidas significativas. O objetivo deste estudo é estimar prospectivamente a freqüência de eventos adversos médicos, os fatores de risco para sua ocorrência e sua relação com óbito intrahospitalar em idosos admitidos aos leitos destinados a cuidados de descompensações clínicas agudas de uma enfermaria de geriatria. Métodos: estudo de coorte prospectivo incluindo as admissões de pacientes com 60 anos ou mais aos leitos destinados a cuidados de descompensações clínicas agudas da Enfermaria de Geriatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, com duração maior de 24 horas, entre abril de 2007 e julho de 2008. Na admissão foram obtidos dados sobre sexo, idade, número de drogas utilizadas, presença de síndromes geriátricas (imobilidade, instabilidade postural, incontinência esfincteriana, demência, depressão e delirium), comorbidades, status funcional (índice de Katz) e gravidade de doença (SAPS II). Durante o período de internação avaliou-se a ocorrência de delirium, infecção, a prescrição de medicamentos inapropriados ao idoso (critérios de Beers) e óbito intrahospitalar. Um observador não envolvido nos cuidados dos pacientes relatou a ocorrência de eventos adversos médicos. Resultados: foram incluídas 171 admissões de pacientes, com idade média de 78,12 anos ± 9,27, sendo 101 do sexo feminino. Ocorreram 187 eventos adversos médicos em 94 admissões (55%), com 2,01 eventos por admissão. Não foi possível identificar fatores preditores da ocorrência de eventos adversos médicos. As admissões com ocorrência de eventos adversos apresentaram maior tempo de internação na enfermaria de geriatria (21,41 dias ± 15,08 X 10,91 dias ± 7,21, p

Objectives The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of osteosarcopenic obesity (OSO) and to investigate its association with frailty and physical performance in Mexican community-dwelling middle-aged and older women. Design Cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort. Setting The FraDySMex study, a 2-round evaluation of community-dwelling adults from 2 municipalities in Mexico City. Participants Participants were 434 women aged 50 years or older, living in the designated area in Mexico City. Measurements Body composition was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and OSO was defined by the coexistence of sarcopenia, osteopenia, or osteoporosis and obesity. Information regarding demographic characteristics; comorbidities; mental status; nutritional status; and history of falls, fractures, and hospitalization was obtained from questionnaires. Objective measurements of muscle strength and function were grip strength using a hand dynamometer, 6-meter gait speed using a GAIT Rite instrumented walkway, and lower extremity functioning measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Frailty was assessed using the Frailty Phenotype (Fried criteria), the Gerontopole Frailty Screening Tool (GFST), and the FRAIL scale, to build 3 logistic regression models. Results The prevalence of OSO was 19% (n = 81). Frailty (according to the Frailty Phenotype and the GFST) and poor physical performance measured by the SPPB were independently associated with OSO, controlled by age. In the logistic regression model assessing frailty with the Frailty Phenotype, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for frailty was 4.86 (2.47–9.55), and for poor physical performance it was 2.11 (1.15–3.89). In the model assessing frailty with the GFST, it was 2.12 (1.10–4.11), and for poor physical performance it was 2.15 (1.18–3.92). Finally, in the model with the FRAIL scale, it was 1.69 (0.85–3.36) for frailty and 2.29 (1.27–4.15) for poor physical performance. Conclusion OSO is a frequent condition in middle-aged and older women, and it is independently associated with frailty and poor physical performance.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relation between P-wave and QT dispersions in elderly patients with heart failure. METHODS: Forty-seven elderly patients (75.6±6 years) with stable heart failure in NYHA functional classes II or III and with ejection fractions of 37±6% underwent body surface mapping to analyze P-wave and QT dispersions. The degree of correlation between P-wave and QT dispersions was assessed, and P-wave dispersion values in patients with QT dispersion greater than and smaller than 100 ms were compared. RESULTS: The mean values of P-wave and QT dispersions were 54±14 ms and 68±27 ms, respectively. The correlation between the 2 variables was R=0.41 (p=0.04). In patients with QT dispersion values > 100 ms, P-wave dispersion was significantly greater than in those with QT dispersion values < 100 ms (58±16 vs 53±12 ms, p=0.04 ). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that, in elderly patients with heart failure, a correlation between the values of P-wave and QT dispersions exists. These findings may have etiopathogenic, pathophysiologic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications, which should be investigated in other studies.