The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of disabilities according to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, as well as to determine the main causes. The research used data from two population-based health surveys in São Paulo State, Brazil, in 2002 and 2003, designed

OBJECTIVE:To analyze the diffi culties in accessibility to health services experienced by persons with disabilities.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a capacidade para o trabalho (CT), aspectos socioeconômicos, qualidade de vida (QV) e sintomas osteomusculares, bem como as associações entre estes em agentes comunitários de saúde (ACS) da cidade de Uberaba, Minas Gerais. Participaram da pesquisa 47 ACS (42 mulheres e 5 homens), com idade média de 37,26 12,74 anos, que responderam um questionário sociodemográfico, o Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares, o Questionário de Qualidade de Vida SF-36 e o Índice de Capacidade para o Trabalho. A análise inferencial foi realizada com a utilização do teste de Mann-Whitney, teste de Kruskall Wallis e teste de correlação de Spearmann, com significância de 5%. Dos ACS entrevistados, 82,98% apresentaram sintomas osteomusculares nos últimos 7 dias e 93,62% nos últimos 12 meses. O domínio da QV mais comprometido foi a dor, seguido pela vitalidade, aspectos sociais, saúde mental, estado geral de saúde, aspectos emocionais, aspecto físico e capacidade funcional. A média da CT foi de 36,51±7,95. A comparação entre sexo e CT indicou que maior número de mulheres apresentou capacidade inadequada. Maior incidência de sintomas implicou capacidade inadequada. Quanto mais baixos os escores da QV, menor a CT.

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BackgroundSickle Cell Disease (SCD), which is characterized by a mutation in the gene encoding beta hemoglobin, causes bodily dysfunctions such as impaired pulmonary function and reduced functional capacity. ObjectiveTo assess changes in pulmonary function and functional capacity in patients with SCD and to identify the relationships between these variables.MethodWe evaluated sociodemographic, anthropometric, lung function (spirometry), respiratory (manovacuometer), peripheral muscle strength (Handgrip strength - HS) and functional capacity (i.e., the six-minute walk test) parameters in 21 individuals with SCD (average age of 29±6 years). Shapiro-Wilk, paired Student's, Wilcoxon, Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were used for statistical analyses, and the significance threshold was set at p<0.05. ResultsA total of 47.6% of the study subjects exhibited an altered ventilation pattern, 42.8% had a restrictive ventilatory pattern (RVP) and 4.8% exhibited a mixed ventilatory pattern (MVP). The observed maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) values were below the predicted values for women (64 cmH2O), and the maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) values, HS values and distance walked during the 6MWT were below the predicted values for both men (103 cmH2O, 39 Kgf and 447 m, respectively) and women (64 cmH2O; 27 Kgf; 405 m, respectively). Positive correlations were observed between maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) and MEP (r=0.4; p=0.046); MVV and BMI (r=0.6; p=0.003); and between HS and MIP (r=0.7; p=0.001), MEP (r=0.6; p=0.002), MVV (r=0.5; p=0.015), distance walked in the 6MWT (r=0.4; p=0.038) and BMI (r=0.6; p=0.004). ConclusionsSCD promoted changes in lung function and functional capacity, including RVPs and a reduction in the distance walked in the 6MWT when compared to the predictions. In addition, significant correlations between the variables were observed.

Background: Sickle cell disease is a prevalent condition in Brazil. Its clinical presentation includes vascular occlusion that result in ischemia,

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BACKGROUND:Leprosy is millenary disease and still persists in several countries.OBJECTIVES:To estimate the incidence of leprosy in the Brazilian states and for the country in the year 2010; to describe the cases reported according to the studied variables; to verify the correlation between the overall incidence and the studied variables.METHODS:Ecological descriptive study, with population data from the 27 states, 2010. Information about reported cases were collected: gender, race, percentage of patients younger than 15 years old and living conditions. The analysis was performed using percentages, means, incidence rates and the Spearman correlation test.RESULTS:The states of Mato Grosso and Tocantins recorded the highest incidence rates; Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, the lowest; there was a higher incidence of leprosy among men; the incidence of leprosy increases proportionally with the nonwhites among the inhabitants; patients younger than 15 years; the average number of residents per household; and a decrease in coverage of water supply and presence of bathrooms.CONCLUSION:The incidence of leprosy is related to factors as gender, race and house conditions (p<0,05 for all).