No abstract

The American Diabetes Association and the National Kidney Foundation define microalbuminuria as an albumin (microg)/creatinine (mg) ratio (ACR) between 30 and 300 microg/mg regardless of sex. Microalbuminuria is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The authors evaluated the prevalence of microalbuminuria in nondiabetic and nonhypertensive systolic heart failure (SHF) patients. Twenty-seven SHF patients, 18 years and older, with New York Heart Association functional classes II through IV and left ventricular ejection fraction < or =40%, who were nondiabetic and nonhypertensive and not receiving angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, were selected. Twenty-seven healthy individuals, paired according to sex, ethnicity, and age, were used as controls. Early-morning midstream urine was used. Data are expressed as medians. Excretion of albumin in SHF patients (39 microg/mL urine) was significantly higher than in controls (26 microg/mL urine). Creatinine excretion was not significantly different between patients and controls. ACR was significantly higher in patients (54 microg/mg) than in controls (24 microg/mg). The results indicate that microalbuminuria was significantly present in nondiabetic and nonhypertensive SHF patients.

Objective To describe the use of psychotropic drugs among civil servants with registered absenteeism due to mental disorders, and to investigate associations with duration of leave of absence. Methods A cross-sectional study with civil servants on leave of absence due to mental disorders, between January and December 2017. Demographic, occupational and clinical variables were extracted from secondary data. Non-parametric tests were used to investigate correlations between use of psychotropic drugs and leave duration. Cluster analysis was used to investigate associations between occupational characteristics and illness profile. Results Antidepressants were the most commonly used drugs (82.9%). Central tendency values for days on leave differed according to the number of psychotropic drugs used. In cluster analysis, a particular cluster (servants of intermediate age group and work experience – mean of 46 years and 15 years, respectively) stood out regarding use of antidepressants, severity of depression and frequency and duration of leave of absence. Conclusion Leave of absence due to mental disorders was associated with higher rates of psychotropic drug use. The group of servants identified in this study may be a primary target for health promotion, prevention and recovery actions at the organization.