[Prevalence of dyslipidemias in adult ambulatory laboratory tests from different health care providers]

Metabolic disorders prevalence in sudden deafness

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to establish the frequency of metabolic disorders among patients with sudden deafness and to compare this frequency with data from population surveys.

INTRODUCTION

No consensus has been reached regarding the prevalence of metabolic disorders among sudden deafness patients or their influence as associated risk factors.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled all sudden deafness patients treated in the Otolaryngology Department of the University of São Paulo between January 1996 and December 2006. Patients were subjected to laboratory exams including glucose and cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction, triglycerides, free T4 and TSH.

RESULTS

The sample comprised 166 patients. We observed normal glucose levels in 101 (81.5%) patients and hyperglycemia in 23 (18.5%) patients, which is significantly different (p < 0.0001) compared to the diabetes mellitus prevalence (7.6%) in the Brazilian population. Cholesterol levels were normal in 78 patients (49.7%) and abnormal in 79 (50.3%) patients, which is significantly different compared to the Brazilian population (p = 0.0093). However, no differences were observed in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol fraction (p = 0.1087) or triglyceride levels (p = 0.1474) between sudden hearing loss patients and the Brazilian population. Normal levels of thyroid hormones were observed in 116 patients (78.4%), and abnormal levels were observed in 32 (21.6%) patients. Compared with the prevalence of thyroid disorders in the general population (10%), statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (p = 0.0132) between these two groups.

DISCUSSION

Among sudden deafness patients, we observed frequencies of hyperglycemia and thyroid disorders that were more than twice those of the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperglycemia and thyroid disorders are much more frequent in patients with sudden deafness than in the general population and should be considered as important associated risk factors.

Association between habitual physical activity and parameters of physical fitness in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between physical activity and the morphological, functional and physiological components of physical fitness in postmenopausal women.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 162 postmenopausal women, 40-65 years of age, who verbally responded to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire applied to evaluate their level of physical activity. Physical fitness was evaluated by measuring body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, maximum oxygen consumption, plasma levels of total and fractional cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting glucose, as well as blood pressure.

RESULTS

Approximately 83.5% of the women were active, principal physical activities being household chores and transportation walking. Approximately 80% of the women were overweight or obese and presented a waist circumference indicative of high or very high risk for cardiovascular disease, and fat percentage above 33%. Over 50% were found to have low oxygen consumption. There were no significant differences between the groups of active and inactive women with respect to mean body mass index (p = 0.43), percentage of body fat (p = 0.60), hip-to-waist ratio (p = 0.93), waist circumference (p = 0.44), maximum VO2 (p = 0.32), total cholesterol (p = 0.43), fasting glucose (p = 0.73), and systolic (p = 0.79) or diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.48). Adjusted prevalence ratios also showed no significant differences between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Habitual physical activity is not associated with variations in the components that are used to describe physical fitness. It is important to encourage physical activity and provide guidelines to ensure that it is carried out in the quantity, duration and intensity required for improving physical fitness level and obtaining health benefits.

Prevalência das alterações metabólicas em pacientes portadores de queixas vestibulares

FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico prospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Os autores avaliam a prevalência de alterações metabólicas em 325 pacientes que procuraram o Setor de Otoneurologia do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP com queixas vestibulares. Os pacientes foram consecutivamente atendidos entre janeiro de 1997 e janeiro de 2002. Foram avaliados os primeiros exames referentes ao protocolo clássico de investigação das tonturas, que compreende a dosagem de LDL colesterol, TSH, T3 e T4 e glicemia de jejum. As alterações encontradas foram então comparadas às observadas na população geral. As alterações mais significativas encontradas foram a elevação dos níveis de LDL colesterol, a presença de níveis alterados de hormônios tireoideanos e a maior freqüência do diabetes mellitus na população estudada. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que é válida a investigação destes dados, visto que são mais freqüentes na população de risco e que a correta abordagem dessas alterações melhora o prognóstico e o controle da tontura.