Sociodemographic and reproductive risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in a population of Brazilian women from the city of Ribeirão Preto: a cross-sectional study

Objective

To identify sociodemographic and reproductive risk factors associated with MetS in women in their fourth decade of life.

Methods

Cohort study conducted on women born from June 1978 to May 1979 in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Sociodemographic, clinical, and obstetric data were collected by interview and clinical evaluation. Univariable and multivariable binomial logistic regression models were constructed to identify the risk factors of metabolic syndrome and the adjusted relative risk (RR) was calculated.

Results

The cohort included 916 women, and 286 (31.2%) of them have metabolic syndrome. MetS was associated with lack of paid work (RR 1.49; 95% CI 1.14-1.95), marital status of without a partner (RR 1.33; 95% CI 1.03-1.72), low educational level (less than 8 years of schooling [RR 1.72; 95% CI 1.23-2.41], 8 to 12 years of schooling [RR 1.37; 95% CI 1.06-1.76], when compared with more than 12 years of schooling), and teenage pregnancy (RR 2.00; 95% CI 1.45-2.77). There was no association between MetS, and the other covariates studied.

Conclusion

Metabolic syndrome in a population of women in the fourth decade of life was associated with lack of employment, lack of a partner, low educational level, and teenage pregnancy.

Sociodemographic and reproductive risk factors associated with obesity in a population of brazilian women from the city of Ribeirão Preto: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Obesity is a highly prevalent chronic disease that is associated with the development of other metabolic comorbidities. Its etiology is complex and multiple risk factors have been reported. In women, weight gain during pregnancy and the effect of pregnancy on subsequent weight gain are important events in women's history. Both pregnancy and postpartum are critical periods for the development of obesity.

OBJECTIVES

To identify sociodemographic and reproductive risk factors associated with obesity in women in their fourth decade of life.

METHODS

Cohort study conducted on women born from June 1978 to May 1979 in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Sociodemographic, clinical, and obstetric data were collected by interview and clinical evaluation. Univariable and multivariable binomial logistic regression models were constructed to identify the risk factors of obesity and the adjusted relative risk (RR) was calculated.

RESULTS

The cohort included 916 women and 309 (33.7%) of them were obese. Obesity was associated with low educational level (RR 1.77, 95%CI 1.33-2.35) and teenage pregnancy (RR 1.46, 95%CI 1.10-1.93). There was no association of obesity with the other covariates studied.

CONCLUSION

Obesity is associated with years of schooling and teenage pregnancy.

Serum cytokines in second trimester pregnancy and their relationship with spontaneous preterm births in the Ribeirão Preto and São Luiz cohorts

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between second trimester plasma cytokine levels in asymptomatic pregnant women and preterm births (PTB) in an attempt to identify a possible predictor of preterm birth.

METHODS

The study design was a nested case-control study including women with singleton a gestational age between 20-25(+ 6) weeks from two Brazilian cities. The patients were interviewed, Venous blood samples were collected. The participants were again evaluated at birth. A total of 197 women with PTB comprised the case group. The control group was selected among term births (426 patients). Forty-one cytokines were compared between groups.

RESULTS

When only spontaneous PTB were analyzed, GRO, sCD40L and MCP-1 levels were lower in the case group (p < 0.05). Logarithmic transformation was performed for cytokines with discrepant results, which showed increased levels of IL-2 in the group of spontaneous PTB (p < 0.05). In both analyses, the incidence of maternal smoking and of a history of preterm delivery differed significantly between the case and control groups. In multivariate analysis, only serum GRO levels differed between the case and control groups.

CONCLUSION

Lower second trimester serum levels of GRO in asymptomatic women are associated with a larger number of PTB. This finding may reflect a deficient maternal inflammatory response.

Wernicke Encephalopathy as a Complication of Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Case Report

Wernicke encephalopathy (WE) is an acute neurological disorder resulting from vitamin B1 deficiency, which is common in chronic alcoholism. We report a rare case of WE due to hyperemesis gravidarum in a 25-year-old pregnant patient at 13 weeks and 5 days of gestation. Initially, the disease manifested as weakness, mental confusion, anterograde amnesia, and visual and auditory hallucinations. The diagnosis was established after the detection of suggestive findings of WE in the thalamus by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a rapid improvement in the patient's clinical status subsequent to treatment with thiamine. Hyperemesis is a rare cause of WE, which makes the reported case important in the literature and reinforces the need for attention in clinical practice to rare but important complications of this common condition (hyperemesis gravidarum).

Does the Access to Sun Exposure Ensure Adequate Levels of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D?

Objectives To assess the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D, altered arterial blood pressure, and serum levels of glucose and lipids in community-dwelling women in the city of Ribeirão Preto, in the southeast of Brazil. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of women aged 40-70 years old. Calcium intake and level of sun exposure were assessed by means of a questionnaire. A blood sample was used to determine glucose, lipid profile and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration. Results Ninety-one women were enrolled (age = 54.2 ± 7.1 years). The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 25.7 ± 8.9 ng/mL. A total of 24 (26.4%) women had 25(OH)D levels < 20 ng/mL. Seventy women (76.9%) had 25(OH)D levels < 30 ng/mL. Seventy-five women (90.4%) had inadequate calcium intake, and 61 women (67%) had appropriate sun exposure, 49 of whom (80.3%) had serum 25(OH)D levels < 30 ng/mL. Conclusion This study indicates that even in community-dwelling women, living in a city with high sun exposure, serum levels of 25(OH)D > 30 ng/ml are hardly reached. Thus, it is probable that other intrinsic factors besides sun exposure may regulate the levels of vitamin D.