Despite being institutionalized, there was seen a trend of decreasing anthropometric values in the study population similar to that found in other studies of elderly people but with different values. Thereby, such values could be useful in the nutritional assessment of institutionalized elderly people.

Nas últimas décadas a prevalência de doenças cardiovasculares tem aumentado progressivamente Termos de indexação: ácidos graxos saturados, ácidos graxos monoinsaturados, ácidos graxos poliinsaturados, doenças cardiovasculares. A B S T R A C T A B S T R A C T A B S T R A C T A B S T R A C T A B S T R A C T During the last decades the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases has increased progressively, becoming a serious public health problem. Some studies have shown a positive association between saturated fatty acid intake and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, and a negative association with unsaturated fatty acids intake. These studies indicate a need to evaluate the different kinds of fatty acids (saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) and their effects, aiming at a better utilization and maintaining a suitable proportion in the diet in order to diminish the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this paper is to accomplish a review of the medical literature regarding fatty acids and their effects on cardiovascular diseases, as well as the evolution of their requirements through time, consumption trends and future perspectives.

Abstract

Estado nutricional de crianças assistidas em creches e situação de (in)segurança alimentar de suas famíliasNutritional status of children attended in day-care-centers and food (in)security of their families

The results indicate a probable influence of age and anthropometric variables in muscular strength, as well as that of excess weight in flexibility limitation.

Percepção da imagem corporal e fatores associados em idosos residentes em município do nordeste brasileiro: um estudo populacionalBody image perception and associated factors among elderly residents in a city in northeast Brazil: a population-based study

Reasonable validity and moderate concordance of self-reported information on hypertension was observed, which reinforces the idea that this information can be used as strategy for detecting the disease prevalence in this population. However, because of nonachievement of excellence in the validity and reliability of the measured blood pressure, this information should be carefully considered for the strategic planning of health services.

Objective: To determine the association between negative self-assessment of health status and sociodemographic variables and health indicators in elderly persons registered with the Family Health Strategy of Campina Grande, Paraíba. Methodolog y: A cross-sectional study with home-based primary data collection was carried out among elderly persons of both genders. The variables studied were: self-assessment of health, socioeconomic and demographic factors, number of referred chronic diseases and degree of dependence in basic activities of daily living. Possible factors associated with self-assessment of health were verified through multivariate logistic regression. Results: We evaluated 420 elderly persons (68.1% of whom were women) with an average age of 71.57 years. There was a positive association between negative self-assessment of health status and elderly persons with two or three chronic diseases (OR=2.70; CI95%:1.47-4.96), four or more chronic diseases (OR=4.35; CI95%:1,58-12.01), a mild degree of dependence (OR=2.34; CI95%:1.13-4.87), moderate dependence (OR=2.11; CI95%:1.07-4.17) and those who were married (OR=2.46; CI95%:1.01-6.01). Conclusion: The results show that the negative selfassessment of health status was associated with the number of referred chronic diseases and degree of dependence in basic activities of daily living. There was also a tendency towards association with married elderly persons. The results suggest the need for actions aimed at the prevention and diagnosis of chronic diseases, as well as the promotion and maintenance of functional capacity and disability prevention or treatment.