This study aimed to verify health self-perception, its prevalence and associated factors in institutionalized elderly

Aim To investigate knowledge levels concerning COVID-19 in elderly patients with T2DM. Methods This cross-sectional, quantitative, observational, and descriptive study was undertaken among elderly individuals with T2DM involved in a body balance rehabilitation program that had been suspended due to social isolation. The study participants comprised elderly individuals with T2DM, contactable using fixed or mobile telephones. Data concerning participants' socioeconomic variables and knowledge of COVID-19 were collated, using a Brazil Ministry of Health guidelines checklist. Mann-Whitney and Spearman's correlation tests were used to analyze their responses. Results Of 30 elderly participants, 76.7% were women and 63.3% were married. The average age was 69.96 ± 4.46 years. The most cited information medium was television (96.6%). Of a possible 24 correct responses on the checklist, the median correct response score was 7.5. No significant relationship was observed between the total checklist score and the variables studied. Conclusion Elderly participants did not have in-depth knowledge concerning COVID-19, which suggests that their knowledge sources may be deficient or that their capacity to retain information was inadequate.

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Depressive symptoms were present in almost half of the sample of institutionalized elderly, and this condition was associated with functional impairment and arterial hypertension. The results of this work indicate the importance of monitoring depression as well as intervening on these modifiable aspects, to avoid the cascade of negative outcomes associated with this disease and also improve the quality of life of this population group.

Activity limitations affected almost 73% of institutionalized older people in this sample and were associated with private nursing homes, age, osteoporosis, and institutionalization due to lack of caregiver. Activity limitations exact high socioeconomic impacts and affect the quality of life of older people. The results obtained herein emphasized the importance of planning strategies for their prevention and treatment, directed to reduce the prevalence of this health issue.

O objetivo foi analisar a disposição histórica das internações por Acidente Vascular Cerebral Isquêmico (AVCI) e suas características hospitalares dos últimos 20 anos no nordeste brasileiro, hipotetizando o impacto da criação de políticas públicas nacionais. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico retrospectivo de série temporal entre 1999-2019, baseado em dados coletados no Sistema de Informação Hospitalar (SIH) do SUS (DATASUS). Os dados foram estratificados por sexo e faixa etária, e observou-se grande redução do número de internações, valor total (custo) e número de óbitos entre 2001-2002 e entre 2013-2014; os demais anos apresentaram graus proporcionais de constância, sem alterações importantes. As mesmas variáveis aumentaram com a idade, mas mostraram-se equivalentes entre os sexos. Concluiu-se que dados estudados sobre AVCI indicaram declínio acentuado nos anos de 2002 e 2014. Inúmeros fatores podem ter influenciado essa mudança de comportamento, incluindo a implementação de programas como o Hiperdia e Mais Médicos.

Purpose: to verify the diseases and symptoms associated with changes in postural balance in middle-aged and elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: an integrative review was performed using the following descriptors: "Dizziness," "Vertigo," "Vestibular Diseases," "Labyrinth Diseases," and "Type 2, Diabetes Mellitus" in English and in Portuguese in databases such as PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, Web of Science, and Scopus. Observational articles involving individuals aged 40 years or more with type 2 diabetes mellitus and with alteration in postural balance having presented at least one disease or symptom associated with that alteration were selected. Results: the search yielded 1,209 articles, but only five met the eligibility criteria. Individuals in the selected studies had systemic arterial hypertension, high body mass index, peripheral neuropathy, and postural instability when walking on irregular surfaces and in the dark, when looking at moving objects, moving the head quickly and changing posture, resulting in stumbling when walking, and falls. The articles were classified as IIb and III, according to the levels of evidence of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Conclusion: the subjects in the studied articles presented cardiovascular alterations, peripheral neuropathy, vestibular symptoms, difficulties in tasks/movements in challenging contexts, and falls.

IntroductionExergames training, as an additional therapy to standard care, has been widely used for motor recovery after patients who had a stroke, and it is a valuable and positive tool in the rehabilitation of this population. This study describes a single-blind randomised clinical trial that will aim to investigate the effects of exergames training on postural balance in patients with chronic stroke.Methods and analysisForty-two individuals with chronic stroke (>6 months), aged 20–75 years, will be randomised into two groups: the experimental group, which will be subjected to an exergames protocol, and control group, which will undergo a kinesiotherapy protocol. Both protocols are based on postural balance. The intervention will consist of 40-minute sessions two times per week for 10 consecutive weeks. The volunteers will be evaluated before the treatment, at the end of the interventions and 8 weeks thereafter. The primary outcome will be postural balance (Berg Balance Scale, Functional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go test and Centre of Pressure variables) and secondary outcomes will include gait (6 m timed walk and Kinovea Software), cortical activation patterns (electroencephalography Emotiv EPOC), functional independence (Functional Independence Measure), quality of life (Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale) and motivation (Intrinsic Motivation Inventory).Ethics and disseminationThis protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (number 3.434.350). The results of the study will be disseminated to participants through social networks and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and scientific meetings.Trial registration numberBrazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR-78v9hx).