BackgroundThe Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) assesses the functional capacity of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD), but there is no Portuguese version validated for CVD. ObjectivesTo translate and adapt cross-culturally the DASI for the Portuguese-Brazil language, and to verify its psychometric properties in the assessment of functional capacity of patients with CVD. MethodsThe DASI was translated into Portuguese, then checked by back-translation into English and evaluated by an expert committee. The pre-test version was first evaluated in 30 subjects. The psychometric properties and correlation with exercise testing was performed in a second group of 67 subjects. An exploratory factor analyses was performed in all 97 subjects to verify the construct validity of the DASI. ResultsThe intraclass correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was 0.87 and for the inter-rater reliability was 0.84. Cronbach's α for internal consistency was 0.93. The concurrent validity was verified by significant positive correlations of DASI scores with the VO2max (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). The factor analysis yielded two factors, which explained 54% of the total variance, with factor 1 accounting for 40% of the variance. Application of the DASI required between one and three and a half minutes per patient. ConclusionsThe Brazilian version of the DASI appears to be a valid, reliable, fast and easy to administer tool to assess functional capacity among patients with CVD.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) during the on and off periods of levodopa and to compare with healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty-six patients were analyzed with Hoehn and Yahr scores (2-3) and 26 age and gender matched-controls. Statistical analysis was performed with Student's t-test for paired and independent samples. RESULTS: MIP and MEP values in patients were significantly lower than the values obtained in controls both for off and on stages -excepted for MIP in women (p=0.28). For patients with PD, the studied parameters did not differ between stages on and off, with the exception of MEP in women (p=0.00). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PD have respiratory pressure lower than controls, even in early stages of the disease, and dopamine replacement has little impact over these respiratory pressures. These findings suggest that respiratory changes in PD may be unrelated to dopaminergic dysfunction.

Introdução: O teste de AVD-Glittre (TGlittre) é válido para avaliar a capacidade funcional. Entretanto, poucos estudos verificaram suas propriedades de medida. Objetivo: Avaliar a confiabilidade interavaliador e testereteste do TGlittre em indivíduos saudáveis. Métodos: Treze indivíduos saudáveis (8 mulheres; 27,3 ± 3,94 anos) tiveram seu histórico de saúde, atividade física, antropometria e capacidade funcional avaliados. No primeiro dia, o TGlittre foi realizado duas vezes, randomizadamente, por dois avaliadores independentes. No segundo, apenas um TGlittre foi realizado, pelo avaliador 1. As avaliações foram separadas por, no mínimo, 7, e, no máximo, 14 dias. Análise Estatística: Foram utilizados, o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (CCI) e o intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC95%) das médias entre os dois TGlittre (confiabilidades interavaliador e teste-reteste). Resultados: A média de tempo do TGlittre foi de 2,66 ± 0,26 minutos, no dia 1; 2,45 ± 0,22 minutos, no dia 2. CCI de 0,83 (IC95%: 0,52-0,94; p<0,001) e 0,88 (IC95%: 0,65-0,96; p <0,001) foram obtidos para as confiabilidades interavaliador e teste-reteste, respectivamente. Conclusão: O TGlittre demonstrou adequada confiabilidade, para avaliar a capacidade funcional de indivíduos saudáveis.

Background:Walking is one of the most commonly recommended activities for sedentary individuals. When performed at the correct intensity, it can provide cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and other benefits by providing a training effect in addition to reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases and other chronic health conditions.Objectives:The primary aim of this study was to assess whether individuals who practiced regular unsupervised walking carry out the activity safely and with sufficient effort intensity parameters to have a positive physiological (training) effect. The secondary objective was to compare the training heart rate (HR) and the stability of the HR within the ideal range of training between the sexes.Method:Individuals were selected from walking tracks within the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The study included subjects from 40 to 60 years of age who had practiced walking for at least two months prior to the study, walking at least three times a week. Individuals who agreed to participate in the survey were asked to walk 15 minutes at their usual pace with their HR measured every 5 minutes using a heart rate monitor. Their average walking HR was compared to the average training HR based on the formula: (220 - age) × 70 to 80% that would result in a positive physiological training effect.Results:Of the 142 individuals evaluated, 25.4% achieved the average training HR. This result was significantly lower than those who did not achieve the average training HR while walking (p=0.002). There were significant differences between men and women who had reached the training HR (p=0.0001).Conclusion:The authors found that individuals who walk regularly performed outside the range of the ideal HR intensity that would cause a positive physiological effect and therefore would probably not achieve a beneficial training effect while walking.