BackgroundThe relationship between users and health services is considered essential to strengthen the quality of care. However, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender population suffer from prejudice and discrimination in access and use of these services. This study aimed to identify the difficulties associated with homosexuality in access and utilization of health services.MethodA systematic review conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, SciELO, and LILACS, considering the period from 2004 to 2014. The studies were evaluated according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criterias. Were included manuscripts written in English or Portuguese, articles examining the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender population’s access to health services and original articles with full text available online.ResultsThe electronic databases search resulted in 667 studies, of which 14 met all inclusion criteria. Quantitative articles were predominant, showing the country of United States of America to be the largest producer of research on the topic. The studies reveal that the homosexual population have difficulties of access to health services as a result of heteronormative attitudes imposed by health professionals. The discriminatory attendance implies in human rights violations in access to health services.ConclusionsThe non-heterosexual orientation was a determinant factor in the difficulties of accessing health care. A lot must still be achieved to ensure access to health services for sexual minorities, through the adoption of holistic and welcoming attitudes. The results of this study highlight the need for larger discussions about the theme, through new research and debates, with the aim of enhancing professionals and services for the health care of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons.

This study evaluated the impact of the elimination of certain chronic illnesses on disability-free life expectancy in the elderly population. This was a cross-sectional survey based on official data from the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2000, and from the SABE study. Cause-deleted probabilities of dying were derived with the cause-elimination life-table technique. Eliminated diseases that generated the largest increase in disability-free life expectancy in women were heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension (in that order). In men, eliminated diseases that generated the largest increase in disability-free life expectancy were, at 60 years, heart disease, hypertension, and falls, and at 75 years of age, heart disease, hypertension, and chronic lung disease. Classification of chronic diseases according to impact on disability-free life expectancy can assist the planning of preventive programs and health promotion.

Objetivo: investigar percepções de idosos sobre grupos de convivência. Método: estudo exploratório, com abordagem qualitativa, realizado em seis grupos de convivência da cidade de Cajazeiras-PB, Brasil, no período de setembro a outubro de 2010, utilizando a técnica de discurso do sujeito coletivo. Resultados: dos 60 participantes deste estudo, 48 (80%) eram mulheres, 21 (35%) tinham entre 65 e 69 anos, 30 (50%) eram viúvos, 46 (77%) aposentados, 32 (53%) não concluíram o ensino fundamental, 40 (67%) moravam acompanhados de familiares, 25 (42%) tinham entre seis e dez anos de participação nos grupos, 33 (55%) participavam espontaneamente e 30 (50%) apontaram a dança como a melhor atividade desenvolvida no grupo. Diante dos questionamentos, foram obtidas as ideias centrais e os discursos coletivos representados por três temas: razões/motivos para idosos buscarem grupos de convivência; importância dos encontros com o grupo para os idosos; mudanças ocorridas na vida após o ingresso no grupo. Dos temas, foram extraídas as ideias centrais: solidão, lazer, convivência, liberdade, mudou tudo, vontade de viver. Conclusão: Os grupos proporcionam ganhos para os idosos, sinalizando entre estes o direito de envelhecer com dignidade e melhorando a qualidade de vida.

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Objetivou-se evidenciar a atuação das políticas públicas direcionadas à saúde da população homossexual brasileira. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, realizada na Scientific Eletronic Library Online (SciELO) e na Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs), utilizando os Decs: políticas públicas, assistência integral à saúde e homossexualidade. A saúde LGBT é apontada como vulnerável mesmo após a publicação de importantes documentos que garantem o acesso e a inclusão do grupo na saúde. A fragilidade na efetivação das propostas preconizadas vão ao encontro ao atendimento discriminatório e heteronormativo prestado pelos profissionais de saúde.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is amongst the leading causes of death worldwide. As inflammatory markers, cytokines can predict outcomes, if interpreted together with clinical data and scoring systems such as CURB-65, CRB, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II). The aim of this study was to determine the impact of inflammatory biomarkers on the early mortality of hospitalized CAP patients. Twenty-seven CAP patients needing hospitalization were enrolled for the study and samples of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocystein were collected at the time of admission (day 1) as well as on the seventh day of the treatment. There was a significant reduction in the levels of IL-6 between the first and the second collections. Median IL-6 values decreased from 24 pg/mL (day 1) to 8 pg/mL (day 7) (P=0.016). The median levels of TNF-α were higher in patients: i) with acute kidney injury (AKI) (P=0.045), ii) requiring mechanical ventilation (P=0.040), iii) with short hospital stays (P=0.009), iv) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (P=0.040), v) who died early (P=0.003), and vi) with worse CRB scores (P=0.013). In summary, IL-6 and TNF-α levels were associated with early mortality of CAP patients. Longer admission levels demonstrated greater likelihood of early death and overall mortality, necessity of mechanical ventilation, and AKI.

BackgroundDecreased heart rate variability (HRV) is related to higher morbidity and mortality. In this study we evaluated the linear and nonlinear indices of the HRV in stable angina patients submitted to coronary angiography.MethodsWe studied 77 unselected patients for elective coronary angiography, which were divided into two groups: coronary artery disease (CAD) and non-CAD groups. For analysis of HRV indices, HRV was recorded beat by beat with the volunteers in the supine position for 40 minutes. We analyzed the linear indices in the time (SDNN [standard deviation of normal to normal], NN50 [total number of adjacent RR intervals with a difference of duration greater than 50ms] and RMSSD [root-mean square of differences]) and frequency domains ultra-low frequency (ULF) ≤ 0,003 Hz, very low frequency (VLF) 0,003 – 0,04 Hz, low frequency (LF) (0.04–0.15 Hz), and high frequency (HF) (0.15–0.40 Hz) as well as the ratio between LF and HF components (LF/HF). In relation to the nonlinear indices we evaluated SD1, SD2, SD1/SD2, approximate entropy (−ApEn), α1, α2, Lyapunov Exponent, Hurst Exponent, autocorrelation and dimension correlation. The definition of the cutoff point of the variables for predictive tests was obtained by the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC). The area under the ROC curve was calculated by the extended trapezoidal rule, assuming as relevant areas under the curve ≥ 0.650.ResultsCoronary arterial disease patients presented reduced values of SDNN, RMSSD, NN50, HF, SD1, SD2 and -ApEn. HF ≤ 66 ms2, RMSSD ≤ 23.9 ms, ApEn ≤−0.296 and NN50 ≤ 16 presented the best discriminatory power for the presence of significant coronary obstruction.ConclusionWe suggest the use of Heart Rate Variability Analysis in linear and nonlinear domains, for prognostic purposes in patients with stable angina pectoris, in view of their overall impairment.

ObjectiveTo analyze the epidemiological stroke data of Brazil according to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in 2016 and secondary data from the GBD database.ResultsThe highest percentage of deaths due to stroke in general occurred in individuals aged 70 years or over (60.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 59.9–60.5%) followed by that in men (52.9%; 95% CI 52.6–53.2%). Ischemic stroke was the most common type, accounting for 61.8% (95% CI 61.5–62.1%) of deaths due to stroke in 2016. Most of the epidemiological indicators (incidence, prevalence, mortality-to-incidence ratio, mortality, disability-adjusted life years, years lost due to disability, and years of life lost) of stroke in general or either type of stroke were higher in men and those aged 70 years or over. Stroke data in Brazil are a major concern and represent a real health challenge for the coming decades. Men and individuals aged 70 years or older appear to represent the groups with the highest epidemiological parameters and risk for the various stroke outcomes. However, this does not mean the female data are irrelevant, which, although representing a lower risk than the male data, also raise the need for policies aimed at prevention and improvement in the treatment of stroke and its sequelae.