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Conflict of interest: noneObjectives: the conditions of obesity and overweight pose a major risk for a number of comorbidities, including clinical syndromes resulting from atherosclerotic disease. Recent studies strongly indicate that adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ that secretes bioactive factors such as adipokines. Adiponectin appears to have a regulatory role in the mechanism of insulin resistance and in the development of atherosclerosis. This systematic review aims to evaluate the anti-atherogenic effects of adiponectin and its properties to improve and mimic metabolic and vascular actions of insulin and its influence on endothelial function. Methods: a qualitative, exploratory and literature review was performed in the PubMed, Portal Capes and Scielo databases using as key-words "adiponectin", "obesity", "insulin resistance", "anti-inflammatory", "therapeutic strategies" and "future prospects". Results: evidence suggests that adiponectin has anti-atherogenic properties with anti-inflammatory effects on the vascular wall. Moreover, it modifies the vascular intracellular signaling and has indirect antioxidant effects on the human myocardium. On the other hand, there are studies suggesting that increased levels of adiponectin are paradoxically associated with a worse prognosis in heart failure syndrome, although the mechanisms are not clear. Conclusion: it is not clear whether adiponectin levels have any clinical significance for risk stratification in cardiovascular disease or if they simply reflect the activation of complex underlying mechanisms. Changes in lifestyle and some drug treatments for hypertension and coronary heart disease have shown significant effect to increase adiponectin levels, and simultaneously decrease in insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction.

SummaryBackground: The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) has shown wide variation in different studies, depending on the population sample and the diagnostic criteria used. The prevalence of MS tends to be higher with the diagnostic criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

In this study, in which all available evidence from statin trials was simultaneously analyzed, the benefit of more intensive therapy was restricted to non-fatal events.

Background -: The association between a sedentary lifestyle and obesity is well documented, and is linked to an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS). There is some evidence that information regarding the health benefits of physical activity is beginning to impact on the elderly people and is beginning to change their behavior. We aimed to investigate the level of physical activity undertaken by elderly people with MS and those without this condition.

Objective: To determine the existence of a relationship between physical activity and depressive symptoms in community-dwelling elders. Method: This is a cross-sectional, population-based study, which included 379 community-dwelling elders from Novo Hamburgo, state of RS, Brazil. The level of physical activity was estimated using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and depressive symptoms were diagnosed according to the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale. The association between the level of physical activity and depressive symptoms was analyzed by logistic regression. Results: A tendency towards a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms was observed in individuals with higher levels of physical activity, both in the sample as a whole as well as among men, but not among women (p for linear trend 0.04, 0.03 and 0.36, respectively). The odds ratio of the presence of depressive symptoms in the very active group as compared against that of the insufficiently active group was 0.32 (95% CI: 0.12-0.86) for men and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.39-1.46) for women. Conclusion: In this population of aged individuals, more intense physical activity is related to a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms. As shown by gender stratification, physical activity is inversely related to depressive symptoms in men, albeit not in women. (p = 0,04, 0,03 e 0,36, respectivamente). O odds ratio para a presença de sintomas depressivos no grupo muito ativo, quando comparado com o grupo insuficientemente ativo, foi de 0,32 (IC 95%: 0,86) Descriptors

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar o estado nutricional de uma população de idosos e verificar sua associação com fatores de risco cardiovascular e síndrome metabólica. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados o estado nutricional e prevalências de fatores de risco cardiovascular de síndrome metabólica em amostra de idosos em município da região central do Rio Grande do Sul. O estado nutricional foi determinado por meio de índice de massa corporal, conforme classificação de Lipschitz/1994. O diagnóstico de síndrome metabólica foi obtido por meio dos critérios da International Diabetes Federation. RESULTADOS: Entre os idosos avaliados, a prevalência de excesso de peso foi de 42% entre os homens e de 50% entre as mulheres. As prevalências de hipertensão arterial sistêmica, diabetes mellitus, síndrome metabólica, obesidade central, lipoproteína de alta densidade - colesterol baixo e triglicerídeos elevados foram maiores naqueles com excesso de peso de ambos os sexos. Usando como referência os com estado nutricional normal, os portadores de excesso de peso apresentaram aumento no risco de hipertensão arterial sistêmica, diabetes mellitus e síndrome metabólica, com razão de chances de, respectivamente, 3,3 (IC95%: 1,7 a 6,4), 3,3 (IC95%: 1,48 a 7,11) e 6,9 (IC95%: 3,2 a 14,6), enquanto aqueles com magreza tiveram tendência à razão de chances reduzidas para essas doenças. CONCLUSÃO: As razões de chances de apresentar hipertensão arterial sistêmica, diabetes mellitus e síndrome metabólica na população de idosos da pesquisa estão associadas ao estado nutricional definido pelo índice de massa corporal, sendo progressivamente maiores naqueles com excesso de peso e menores nos com magreza, independente de gênero e idade.

BackgroundStatins have proven efficacy in the reduction of cardiovascular events, but the financial impact of its widespread use can be substantial.ObjectiveTo conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of three statin dosing schemes in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) perspective.MethodsWe developed a Markov model to evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of low, intermediate and high intensity dose regimens in secondary and four primary scenarios (5%, 10%, 15% and 20% ten-year risk) of prevention of cardiovascular events. Regimens with expected low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduction below 30% (e.g. simvastatin 10mg) were considered as low dose; between 30-40%, (atorvastatin 10mg, simvastatin 40mg), intermediate dose; and above 40% (atorvastatin 20-80mg, rosuvastatin 20mg), high-dose statins. Effectiveness data were obtained from a systematic review with 136,000 patients. National data were used to estimate utilities and costs (expressed as International Dollars - Int$). A willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold equal to the Brazilian gross domestic product per capita (circa Int$11,770) was applied.ResultsLow dose was dominated by extension in the primary prevention scenarios. In the five scenarios, the ICER of intermediate dose was below Int$10,000 per QALY. The ICER of the high versus intermediate dose comparison was above Int$27,000 per QALY in all scenarios. In the cost-effectiveness acceptability curves, intermediate dose had a probability above 50% of being cost-effective with ICERs between Int$ 9,000-20,000 per QALY in all scenarios.ConclusionsConsidering a reasonable WTP threshold, intermediate dose statin therapy is economically attractive, and should be a priority intervention in prevention of cardiovascular events in Brazil.