ResumoTrata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo com abordagem quantitativa, com população configurada como censitária. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Inventário dos Sintomas de Estresse para Adultos de Lipp (ISSL), a Medida de Independência Funcional (MIF), a Versão Brasileira do Questionário de Qualidade de Vida SF-36 e o Questionário de Avaliação da Sobrecarga do Cuidador Informal (QASCI). Possui o objetivo de avaliar a sobrecarga, a qualidade de vida e a presença de estresse em cuidadores das Estratégias de Saúde da Família (ESFs) de Criciúma, no Estado de Santa Catarina. A maior proporção dos cuidadores foram do gênero feminino (90,9%), com idade média de 51,7 (±11,0) Em relação ao grau de parentesco, 45,5% eram filhos(as), e a MIF Global dos sujeitos ao qual era dedicado o cuidado foi de 70,2 (±40,1). Entre os cuidadores, 81,8% apresentaram presença de estresse e evidenciaram sobrecarga elevada. Foi observada uma correlação positiva moderada (rs=0,571) entre a MIF Global e Dor (SF-36), considerada estatisticamente significativa (p=0,001). Voltar à atenção aos cuidadores, entendendo as barreiras físicas, sociais e emocionais envolvidas no ato de cuidar, torna-se imprescindível no âmbito da saúde coletiva, tanto para proporcionar maior qualidade de vida e menor sobrecarga nos cuidadores quanto a quem é cuidado.

OBJECTIVEAnalyzing the quality of sleep of hypertensive patients registered in the national registration system and monitoring of hypertensive patients.METHODSA cross-sectional study of quantitative and descriptive analyses with 280 hypertensive patients registered in the National Program of Hypertension and Diabetes of the Federal Government in the months from August to October 2011. Questionnaires were used which allowed for tracking sociodemographic data on hypertension and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).RESULTSThe prevalence of poor sleep quality among respondents (156 hypertensive patients) and high rates of using medication for sleeping (106 hypertensive patients) was observed. Other relevant data refers to the quality of sleep among hypertensive patients using sleep medication compared to those who do not use it (p≤0.01).CONCLUSIONIndividuals with high blood pressure have a negative association with sleep quality.

Objective: To evaluate the association between quality of life and medication adherence in hypertensive individuals. Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out with 432 hypertensive subjects registered in a federal public computerized system. Data were collected in the households through a structured interview with questions related to socioeconomic and clinical variables, as well as assessment of treatment adherence, and the WHOQOL-BREF for quality of life. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to measure the association between the scales of quality of life and the classification of treatment adherence. Results: The lowest scores were present in the self-assessment domain and the highest were found in the social domain. Individuals with extreme adherence to antihypertensive treatment showed higher scores in assessment of quality of life compared to individuals classified as extreme non-adherence to antihypertensive treatment. Conclusion:The association between quality of life and medication adherence in hypertensive patients was not predictive. The hypertensive subjects with high medication adherence showed the best scores of quality of life, and the worst scores were presented by individuals classified as extreme non-adherence and as borderline to total non-adherence. ResumoObjetivo: Avaliar a associação entre a qualidade de vida e a adesão a medicação de indivíduos hipertensos. Métodos: Estudo transversal, realizado com 432 hipertensos cadastrados em sistema informatizado público federal. Os dados foram coletados no domicilio por entrevista estruturada com questões relacionadas a variáveis socioeconômicas, clínicas, avaliação da adesão ao tratamento e o WHOQOL-BREF para a qualidade de vida. Utilizou-se o teste de H de Kruskal-Wallis para medir a associação entre as escalas da qualidade de vida e a classificação da adesão ao tratamento. Resultados: Os escores mais baixos estavam presente no domínio autoavaliação e os mais altos foram encontrados no social. Os indivíduos que possuíam adesão extrema ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo apresentaram escores mais altos na avaliação da qualidade de vida em comparação com indivíduos classificados como não adesão extrema ao tratamento anti-hipertensivo. Conclusão: A associação entre a qualidade de vida e adesão a medicação em indivíduos hipertensos não foi preditiva, sendo que os melhores escores estavam presentes nos indivíduos hipertensos que apresentaram alta adesão a medicação e os piores escores da qualidade de vida se apresentaram nos indivíduos de não adesão extrema e limítrofe a não adesão total.

Introduction: Hepatitis C is a public health problem of global dimensions, affecting approximately 200 million people worldwide. The main objective of this study was to estimate the incidence rate of hepatitis C in Brazil during the period between 2001 and 2012. Methods: An epidemiological, temporal, and descriptive study was performed using data from the Information System for Reportable Diseases. Results: Between 2001 and 2012, a total of 151,056 hepatitis C cases were recorded, accounting for 30.3% of all hepatitis notifi cations in Brazil. The average gross coeffi cient for the analysis period was 6.7 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The regions with the highest rates were the Southeast region (8.7 new cases/100,000 inhabitants) and the South (13.9 new cases/100,000 inhabitants). There was a predominance of men with respect to the incidence rate (8.0 new cases/100,000 inhabitants) compared to women (5.5 new cases/100,000 inhabitants). Injection drug use was the most common source of infection, and members of the white race, residents of urban areas, and those aged 60 to 64 years had the highest incidences. Conclusions: Over the last 10 years, the incidence of hepatitis C in Brazil has increased, mainly in the South and Southeast. The adoption of fast, accurate diagnostic methods, together with epidemiological awareness, can facilitate early intervention measures for adequate control of the disease.