[Life style and risk factors in patients with a first episode of acute myocardial infarct]

[Prevalence of risk factors for acute coronary syndrome in patients treated in an emergency service]

Our purpose is to characterize the profile of patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) assisted in an emergency service in Porto Alegre. The characterization of the profiles focus on risk factors. This prevalence study was carried out from August, 2007 to February 2008. To collect the data, we developed a questionnaire, checked bedside assessment and measured anthropometric evaluation. 152 patients had their ACS evaluated, of which 63.8% were males, with an average age of 61 +/- 10.26 years. 50.7% had acute myocardial infarction non-ST elevation, 14.5% acute myocardial infarction with-ST elevation, and 34.9% unstable Angina. Risk factors were sedentariness (86.8%); overweightness and obesity (77%); systemic arterial hypertension (75.7%); family history (56.6%); stress (52.6%); dyslipidemia (44.7%); diabetes mellitus (40.1%); tobacco smoking (39.5%); and alcohol consumption (14.4%). A high prevalence of risk factors for ACS was verified, indicating a necessity of health education programs to reduce morbimortality.

[Students' physical activity: an analysis according to Pender's health promotion model]

The objective of this study was to describe the everyday physical activity habits of students and analyze the practice of physical activity and its determinants, based on the first component of Pender's health promotion model. This cross-sectional study was performed from 2004 to 2005 with 79 students in a public school in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Data collection was performed by interviews and physical examinations. The data were analyzed according to the referred theoretical model. Most students (n=60) were physically active. Proportionally, adolescents were the most active (80.4%). Those with a sedentary lifestyle had higher rates for overweight and obesity (21.1%). Many students practiced outdoor physical activities, which did not require any physical structure and good financial conditions. The results show that it is possible to associate the first component of Pender's health promotion model with the everyday lives of students in terms of the physical activity practice.

Physical activity level in people with high blood pressure

This study aimed to analyze the level of physical activity for people with high blood pressure cared for in a health center. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 310 individuals between 18 and 69 years of age through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The majority (80%) of participants presented low or moderate levels of physical activity. The analysis of association between sociodemographic variables and physical activity level revealed that older men from the interior of the state with higher educational levels have a greater chance of exhibiting lower levels of physical activity. The logistic regression model revealed that origin, schooling and diabetes are predictors of low physical activity level. The conclusion is that part of the sample does not match the desirable profile to practice regular physical activity.

Compreendendo o significado da dor torácica isquêmica de pacientes admitidos na sala de emergência

Os profissionais de enfermagem que atuam em serviços de emergência constantemente deparam-se com pacientes com dor torácica por isquemia. Este estudo objetivou compreender o significado deste tipo dor para o paciente durante a sua permanência na sala de emergência. Trata-se de um estudo de abordagem qualitativa realizado com dez pacientes admitidos em um serviço de emergência de um hospital privado localizado na zona sul da cidade de São Paulo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista semi-estruturada e analisados segundo a técnica de análise de conteúdo. Da análise decorreram os seguintes eixos temáticos: significado da dor torácica e sentimento no momento dos sintomas. Como resultados, pôde-se observar que o medo da morte, a preocupação com familiares são os significados mais importantes. Concluiu-se que os pacientes acometidos de dor torácica isquêmica necessitam apoio por parte da equipe de enfermagem no sentido de amenizar estes sentimentos.

[Characterization of obesity in patients with myocardial infarction]

This study aimed to characterize obesity in infarcted myocardial patients. Data were collected from 43 patients at a University Hospital. It was observed that the Body Mass Index (BMI) was above the desired level for 69.7% (26.9 +/- 0.5) of the subjects; the body fat percentage had altered in 79% (20.0 +/- 1.0) of cases; the waist/hip (W/H) ratio was above normal in 72.5% (0.97 +/- 0.03) of cases and the waist circumference (WC) had altered in 64% (97.3 +/- 1.8) of the patients. Since the correlation for BMI, WC and fat percentage was significant, the use of BMI and WC was suggested for evaluating obesity in outpatients.

Adultos hipertensos hospitalizados: percepção de gravidade da doença e de qualidade de vida

Estudo descritivo que objetivou identificar a percepção de qualidade de vida em hipertensos adultos hospitalizados, confrontando os dados relacionados à qualidade de vida com a percepção de gravidade da doença. A população abrangeu 83 pacientes internados na Clínica Médica do Núcleo de Hospital Universitário da UFMS. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista utilizando-se instrumento genérico de avaliação de saúde traduzido e validado no Brasil, o SF-36®. Os principais resultados mostraram que, sob a ótica dos pacientes estudados, a percepção de qualidade de vida é boa, assim como a percepção de ausência de severidade da doença.