BackgroundResearch on quality of life QOL is limited in Brazil and few studies have examined the association between smoking status and quality of life. This study addresses this gap and also examines the association between smoking, nicotine dependence, and duration of smoking cessation on (QOL) among older adults in an urban area in Brazil.MethodsData are from a household survey conducted in urban areas of Uberaba, Brazil, in 2012 (n = 980). Multivariable linear regressions were used to evaluate the association between smoking, nicotine dependence based on Fageström test, and smoking cessation on the World Health Organization Quality of Life WHOQOL-BREF and Quality of Life Assessment for Older Adults WHOQOL-OLD.ResultsThe mean age of older adults in the study was 74.0 (SD = 6.9 years) and 64% of participants were women. The majority, 55% had never smoked, 12.4% were current smokers, and 32.7% were past-smokers. Current smokers had lower scores for social participation (β = − 2.6) and intimacy (β = − 3.8) than never smokers. Smokers with high or very high dependence reported higher levels of fear and concern about death and pain before death than those with low or very low dependence (β = − 10.6). However, smokers with medium levels of nicotine dependence had higher scores on social relationship. Longer cessation time was positively associated with higher scores for psychological health.ConclusionsExcept for the positive association between medium levels of nicotine dependence and better social relationships, smoking and higher levels of nicotine dependence were associated with worse QOL among older adults in Brazil. Nonetheless, smoking cessation had positive effects in QOL. Campaigns targeting older adults should point to the negative impact of tobacco use on QOL and the benefits of smoking cessation.

BackgroundHypertension, diabetes and obesity are not isolated findings, but a series of interacting interactive physiologic derangements. Taking into account genetic background and lifestyle behavior, AI (autonomic imbalance) could be a common root for RHTN (resistant hypertension) or RHTN plus type 2 diabetes (T2D) comorbidity development. Moreover, circadian disruption can lead to metabolic and vasomotor impairments such as obesity, insulin resistance and resistant hypertension. In order to better understand the triggered emergence of obesity and T2D comorbidity in resistant hypertension, we investigated the pattern of autonomic activity in the circadian rhythm in RHTN with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D), and its relationship with serum adiponectin concentration.MethodsTwenty five RHTN patients (15 non-T2D and 10 T2D, 15 males, 10 females; age range 34 to 70 years) were evaluated using the following parameters: BMI (body mass index), biochemical analysis, serum adiponectinemia, echocardiogram and ambulatory electrocardiograph heart rate variability (HRV) in time and frequency domains stratified into three periods: 24 hour, day time and night time.ResultsBoth groups demonstrated similar characteristics despite of the laboratory analysis concerning T2D like fasting glucose, HbA1c levels and hypertriglyceridemia. Both groups also revealed disruption of the circadian rhythm: inverted sympathetic and parasympathetic tones during day (parasympathetic > sympathetic tone) and night periods (sympathetic > parasympathetic tone). T2D group had increased BMI and serum triglyceride levels (mean 33.7 ± 4.0 vs 26.6 ± 3.7 kg/m2 - p = 0.00; 254.8 ± 226.4 vs 108.6 ± 48.7 mg/dL - p = 0.04), lower levels of adiponectin (6729.7 ± 3381.5 vs 10911.5 ± 5554.0 ng/mL - p = 0.04) and greater autonomic imbalance evaluated by HRV parameters in time domain compared to non-T2D RHTN patients. Total patients had HRV correlated positively with serum adiponectin (r = 0.37 [95% CI -0.04 - 1.00] p = 0.03), negatively with HbA1c levels (r = -0.58 [95% CI -1.00 - -0.3] p = 0.00) and also adiponectin correlated negatively with HbA1c levels (r = -0.40 [95% CI -1.00 - -0.07] p = 0.02).ConclusionType 2 diabetes comorbidity is associated with greater autonomic imbalance, lower adiponectin levels and greater BMI in RHTN patients. Similar circadian disruption was also found in both groups indicating the importance of lifestyle behavior in the genesis of RHTN.

We found a close relationship among high BP levels, endothelial dysfunction and vascular rigidity in hypertensive patients, demonstrated by a significantly higher increase in carotid-femoral PWV and a decrease in brachial artery FMD in RHTN when compared with well-controlled hypertensive patients. Although this study was not designed to test the prognostic, the vascular damage differences observed between patients with controlled vs uncontrolled hypertension suggest that the latter group may have a worse cardiovascular prognosis, requiring prospective assessment tests.

Resistant hypertension (RHTN) includes patients whose blood pressure (BP) is controlled with the use of four or more antihypertensive medications, and is referred to as 'controlled resistant hypertension' (CRH). While specifically comparing patients with CRH and uncontrolled resistant hypertension (UCRH), we hoped to identify distinguishing characteristics that would provide insight into factors contributing to resistance to antihypertensive therapies. RHTN patients were identified as controlled (CRH, n ¼ 43) or uncontrolled (UCRH, n ¼ 47). No statistical differences were observed between the CRH and UCRH subgroups with respect to age and gender. The body mass index, aldosterone-renin ratio and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were significantly higher in UCRH patients. Although both subgroups showed increased cardiac mass, left ventricular mass index was significantly higher in UCRH compared with CRH patients. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that PWV was significantly dependent on age in both UCRH and CRH patients; however, the influence of ageing was more pronounced in the former subgroup. Older age, greater vascular stiffness, higher aldosterone levels and greater left ventricular hypertrophy were significantly associated with lack of BP control in patients with RHTN. These findings suggest important possibilities in terms of preventing and better treating RHTN.

Background: Individuals with obesity are more likely to develop asthma, but the exact mechanism is still uncertain and several hypotheses have been raised, such as the release of inflammatory mediators secreted by adipose tissue. Objective: To assess the effects of weight loss in patients submitted to bariatric surgery on pulmonary and systemic inflammation. Method: The study evaluated patients undergoing bariatric surgery (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) with the diagnosis of asthma, except smokers. The patients were evaluated at the time of entry into a preoperative weight loss group (T1), just before bariatric surgery (T2), six months after surgery (T3), and 12 months after surgery (T4). The following were measured: anthropometric data, dosage of systemic inflammatory markers by means of blood collection, pulmonary inflammatory markers obtained by induced sputum collection, pulmonary function parameters, and asthma activity assessed by a Asthma Control Test (ACT) questionnaire. Results: Nineteen patients participated in the study. There were significant reductions in the systemic levels of interleukin (IL)-8 (p = 0.002), C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.003), leptin (p = 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (p = 0.007), and significant increase in the systemic levels of IL-6 (p = 0.004) over time and adiponectin in T2 (p = 0.025). In regards to pulmonary inflammation, there were significant reductions in the sputum levels of TNF-α (p < 0.001). There was no significant improvement of the pulmonary function parameters (p > 0.05) and significant improvement in asthma activity scores (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Weight loss was associated with significant changes in the systemic and pulmonary inflammatory profiles of individuals with asthma, leading to a better asthma control as a result of an increase in some antiinflammatory mediators and a reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Aldosterone excess or ''escape'' can occur after treatment with medications that block the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system or in undiagnosed primary aldosteronism. Spironolactone is thought to be an important addition to resistant hypertension (RH) treatment. In this study, resistant (RH) and controlled (CH) hypertensives and normotensive patients were submitted to echocardiography, flow-mediated vasodilation, carotid intima-media wall thickness studies, renin plasma activity, and aldosterone plasma levels and plasma and urinary sodium and potassium concentrations at baseline (pre-spironolactone phase). Subsequently, for only RH and CH groups, 25 mg ⁄ d spironolactone was added to preexisting treatments over 6 months. Afterwards, these parameters were reassessed (post-spironolactone phase). The RH and CH groups achieved reductions in blood pressure (P<.001), decreases in left ventricular hypertrophy (P<.001), improved diastolic function (Kappa index RH: 0.219 and Kappa index CH: 0.392) and increases in aldosterone concentrations (P<.05). The RH group attained improved endothelium-dependent (P<.001) and independent (P=.007) function. Optimized RH treatment with spironolactone reduces blood pressure and improves endothelial and diastolic function and left ventricular hypertrophy despite the presence of aldosterone excess or escape.

Background: The finding of adipocyte-derived hormone leptin as an overstimulator of sympathetic activity brought a new perspective to the pathophysiological mechanisms of obesity-hypertension.

Chagas disease, which is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is transmitted primarily by triatomine bugs, although the incidence of new cases has decreased as a result of vector control. In Brazil, most of those affected have the chronic form of the disease and are generally elderly individuals who require appropriate clinical follow-up. In this work, we undertook a descriptive study in which 85 patients were interviewed and blood samples were collected for molecular analyses based on the amplification of parasite satellite DNA. The cardiac form of the disease was the most prevalent among the patients and hypertension was the most frequent comorbidity; polypharmacy was detected in 34% of the cases. Serological tests were positive in 95% of cases while 36% were positive in nested-polymerase chain reaction. These findings indicate an increased use of medications and a larger number of age-related diseases in elderly patients with Chagas disease, even in patients with low parasitemia. We conclude that elderly patients with Chagas disease require special attention and that further studies should be done with elderly individuals who carry this disease.