In Brazil, there are few studies of the metabolic syndrome in the general population, and even fewer studies that establish a correlation between metabolic syndrome and climacteric. To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components among climacteric women. Cross-sectional study with 323 climacteric women, divided into two groups: pre and post-menopausal. They were examined for the presence of metabolic syndrome, according to the criteria of National Cholesterol Education Program's (NCEP) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF). It was possible to notice the association between the variables under study and the metabolic syndrome by conducting a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome during the climacteric was 34.7% (NCEP) and 49.8% (IDF). The most frequent components of the metabolic syndrome were low HDL-cholesterol, hypertension, abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and diabetes in both criteria. The multivariate analysis showed that age was the most important risk factor for the development of metabolic syndrome (p < 0.001), which was present in 44.4% (NCEP) and 61.5% (IDF) of postmenopausal women compared to 24% (NCEP) and 37% (IDF) of premenopausal women. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. The main risk factor for the increase in this prevalence was age. Menopause, when it is analyzed alone, did not constitute a risk factor for metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure on respiratory mechanics and oxygenation indexes in the immediate postoperative period of coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: Randomized clinical trial in which 136 patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting between January 2011 and March 2012 were divided into three groups and admitted to mechanical ventilation with different positive end-expiratory pressure levels: Group A, 5 cmH2O (n=44), Group B, 8 cmH2O (n=47) and Group C, 10 cmH2O (n=45). Data about respiratory mechanics were obtained from mechanical ventilator monitor and oxygenation indexes from arterial blood gas samples, collected twenty minutes after intensive care unit admission. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and patients submitted to off-pump, emergency or combined operations were not included. For statistical analysis, we used Kruskal-Wallis, G and Chi-square tests, considering results significant when P<0.05. RESULTS: Groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic, clinical and surgical variables. Patients ventilated with positive end-expiratory pressure of 10 cmH2O (Group C) had best compliance (P=0.04) and airway resistance values, this, however, without statistical significance. They also had best oxygenation indexes, with statistical difference in all analyzed variables, and lower frequency of hypoxemia (P=0.03). CONCLUSION: Higher levels of positive end-expiratory pressure in immediate postoperative period of coronary artery bypass grafting improved pulmonary compliance values and increased oxygenation indexes, resulting in lower frequency of hypoxemia

Objective To investigate the association between the intensity of climacteric symptoms and sexual dysfunction in women aged 40 to 65 years. Methods Observational, analytic, cross-sectional study conducted with 63 women aged 40 to 65 treated at the gynecology outpatient clinic of a public hospital in northeastern Brazil. A questionnaire was used to collect identification data, clinical information, gynecological-obstetric data, lifestyle traits and information on chronic diseases. Climacteric symptoms and sexual function were evaluated by means of the Blatt-Kupperman index and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) respectively. The association between the two indices was investigated using the chi-squared test; the difference in mean scores on the FSFI as a function of menopausal status was evaluated by Student's t-test. The significance level was set to p < 0.05. Results The mean value of the Blatt-Kupperman index was 26.42 (standard deviation [SD]: 4.52); 36.51% of the women exhibited severe symptoms. The mean score on the FSFI was 21.84 (SD: 4.11). More than half of the analyzed women (58.73%) exhibited sexual dysfunction (FSFI ≤ 26.5). Regarding the association between the Blatt-Kupperman index and the FSFI, the greater the intensity of the climacteric symptoms (Blatt-Kupperman), the higher the frequency of sexual dysfunction (FSFI). Sexual dysfunction was exhibited by 100% of the participants with severe climacteric symptoms, 70.59% of those with moderate symptoms, and only 9.09% with mild symptoms (p < 0.001). Conclusions The application of the Blatt-Kupperman index and of the FSFI allowed the detection of an association between the severity of climacteric symptoms and the prevalence of sexual dysfunction.

Keywords: Chronic Pain; Functional Disability; Chikungunya

Key words: Maternal age; Gestational age; Premature birth/etiology; Fetal growth retardation; Pregnancy outcome

FUNDAMENTO: No Brasil, a prevalência de síndrome metabólica (SM) é pouco conhecida em várias regiões. OBJETIVO: Analisar a prevalência da SM, seus componentes e a concordância entre dois critérios diagnósticos numa população com idade > 13 anos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, realizado de junho a outubro de 2007, em 719 pacientes, em ambulatórios cardiológicos de São Luís, MA. Mediu-se a pressão arterial (PA), peso, altura, circunferência abdominal e perfil lipídico. Avaliaram-se os fatores de risco para a SM segundo o critério da International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Razões de prevalência e intervalos de confiança de 95% foram estimados pela regressão de Poisson. RESULTADOS: A prevalência da SM foi maior em ambos os sexos pelo conceito da IDF (62,3% em homens e 64,6% em mulheres), em relação ao do National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Prevention (NCEP ATPIII) (48,9% em homens e 59% em mulheres). Os componentes da SM mais prevalentes foram: hipertensão arterial sistêmica HAS (87,2% e 86%); hipertrigliceridemia (84,4% e 82,5%); circunferência abdominal alterada (77,8% e 100%); HDL-c baixo (58,1% e 49,9%); e glicemia alterada (59,9% e 51,9%), pelos conceitos NCEP ATPIII e IDF, respectivamente. Após análise ajustada, idade > 60 anos e índice de massa corporal (IMC) > 30 foram associados a um maior risco de SM (p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência da SM foi bem maior que a população geral; a (HAS) foi o componente mais prevalente. Houve boa concordância entre os dois critérios, sendo ótima no sexo feminino e regular no masculino. FUNDAMENTO: En Brasil, la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico (SM) es poco conocida en varias regiones. OBJETIVO: Analizar la prevalencia del SM, sus componentes y la concordancia entre dos criterios diagnósticos en una población con edad > 13 años. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal, realizado de junio a octubre de 2007, en 719 pacientes, en ambulatorios cardiológicos de São Luís, MA. Se midió la presión arterial (PA), peso, altura, circunferencia abdominal y perfil lipídico. Se evaluaron los factores de riesgo para el SM según el criterio de la International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Razones de prevalencia de intervalos de confianza del 95% se estimaron por la regresión de Poisson. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de SM fue mayor en ambos sexos por el concepto de la IDF (62,3% en hombres y 64,6% en mujeres), con relación al del National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Prevention (NCEP ATPIII) (48,9% en hombres y 59% en mujeres). Los componentes del SM más prevalentes fueron: hipertensión arterial sistémica - HAS (87,2% y 86%); hipertrigliceridemia (84,4% y 82,5%); circunferencia abdominal alterada (77,8% y 100%); HDL-c bajo (58,1% y 49,9%); y glucemia alterada (59,9% y 51,9%), por los conceptos NCEP ATPIII y IDF, respectivamente. Después del análisis ajustado, edad > 60 años e índice de masa corporal (IMC) > 30 se asociaron a un mayor riesgo de SM (p < 0,001). CONCLUSIÓN: La prevalencia de SM fue mucho mayor que la población general; la HAS fue el componente más prevalente. Hubo buena concordancia entre los dos criterios, siendo óptima en el sexo femenino y regular en el masculino. BACKGROUND: In Brazil, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) is little known in several regions. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of MS, its components and the agreement between two diagnostic definitions in a population aged > 13 years. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted from June to October 2007 in 719 patients of outpatient cardiology clinics in the city of São Luis, State of Maranhão, Brazil. Blood pressure (BP), weight, height, waist circumference and lipid profile were measured. Risk factors for MS were evaluated according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of MS was higher in both genders when using IDF definition (62.3% in men and 64.6% in women) than when using that of the National Cholesterol Education Program - Adult Treatment Prevention (NCEP ATPIII) (48.9% in men and 59% in women). The most prevalent MS components were: hypertension (87.2% and 86%); hypertriglyceridemia (84.4% and 82.5%); increased waist circumference (77.8% and 100%); low HDL-c (58.1% and 49.9%); and high blood glucose (59.9% and 51.9%), using NCEP ATPIII and IDF definitions, respectively. In the adjusted analysis, age > 60 years and body mass index (BMI) > 30 were associated with a higher risk of MS (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MS was much higher than in the overall population, and hypertension was the most prevalent component. There was good agreement between the two definitions, very good in the female gender and moderate in the male gender