Pâmela Moraes Volz

Objective: To analyze whether chronic diseases such as obesity, SAH, and DM are risk factors for hospitalization due to Covid-19 in the Brazilian adult population. Methods: Cross-sectional time series study, with data from the years 2021 and 2022 from the Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases by Telephone Survey (VIGITEL). Hospitalization due to Covid-19 was considered as the outcome and Pearson's chi -square test was used. The crude and adjusted association between the outcome and the independent variables was performed using Poisson regression with robust variance adjustment. Results: The prevalence of hospitalization due to Covid-19 was 1.78 (95%CI: 1.62;1.93) The probability of hospitalization due to Covid-19 was 2.14 (95%CI: 1.43;3.21) for those with obesity, 2.76 (95%CI: 2.12;3.60) for those with SAH, and 3.12 (95%CI: 2.63;3.70) for those with DM. Conclusions: The VIGITEL survey proved to be efficient in demonstrating that chronic diseases act as a risk factor for hospitalizations due to Covid-19.

Objective: To investigate the association between problematic smartphone use (PSU) and mental health symptoms among high school students in the south of Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 to assess mental health symptoms using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. PSU was assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale – Short Version, with scores ≥33 indicating PSU. Dichotomous variables were created to assess the presence of symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Associations were tested using Fisher’s exact test and Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: Most participants were boys (55.2%), and 52.5% aged ≥18 years. PSU prevalence was 35.5%, while depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms had prevalence values of 37.1, 44.7, and 45.7%, respectively, and 62.7% of the students exhibited at least one symptom. Among students with PSU, the proportion of symptoms was significntly higher: 44.8% for anxiety (p=0.017), 57.1% for depression (p<0.001), and 58.2% for stress (p<0.001). As per the adjusted analysis, students with PSU had higher prevalence of depression (prevalence ratio [PR] 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.56) and stress (PR 1.34; 95%CI 1.09–1.64) symptoms, and at least one of the three symptoms (PR 1.24; 95%CI 1.08–1.43), when compared to those without PSU. Conclusions: In this study, PSU was associated with higher prevalence of mental health symptoms among high school students in the south of Brazil. These results provide evidence that can guide clinical practice and public health policies aimed at promoting mental health.

Introduction: Although the benefits of regular physical activity on mental health parameters and cognitiv performance are evident, there is a high prevalence of physical inactivity among adolescents. Therefore, it is important to identify exercise strategies that encourage greater participation within this population. Objective: To evaluate the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on the mental health and cognitive performance of school-aged adolescents. Methods: This is a single center, two-arm (intervention and control) cluster randomized trial protocol. Adolescents aged 15 to 18 years were exposed to the intervention for 6 weeks. The primary outcomes are mental health symptoms, measured by the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale for adolescents, cognitive profile, inhibitory control, and executive function, measured by the General Cognitive Assessment Battery – Cognifit, Stroop Color Test and Trail Making Test, respectively. Secondary outcomes include weight and Body Mass Index, waist circumference and cardiorespiratory fitness. The results will be analyzed according to the protocol and on an intention-to-treat basis. The effects of the intervention will be analyzed with Generalized Estimating Equations, using linear and Poisson models, incorporating time variables, group, an interaction term and adjustment covariates. A significance level of 5% will be adopted for all two-tailed tests. Final considerations: This study is expected to produce results that can recommend HIIT as an effective training strategy for mental health and cognitive performance of adolescents. Trial record: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials - ReBEC (RBR-733y6zq).

Introdução: Embora sejam evidentes os benefícios da prática regular de atividade física em parâmetros de saúde mental e no desempenho cognitivo, existe uma alta prevalência de inatividade física entre adolescentes. Assim, a busca por estratégias de exercício que possam gerar maior adesão a este público é importante. Objetivo: Verificar os efeitos de um programa de treinamento intervalado de alta intensidade (HIIT) na saúde mental e no desempenho cognitivo de adolescentes escolares. Métodos: Trata-se de um protocolo de ensaio randomizado por cluster, unicêntrico de dois braços (intervenção e controle). Adolescentes com idade entre 15 e 18 anos foram expostos a intervenção durante 6 semanas. Os desfechos primários são sintomas de saúde mental, mensurados pela Escala de Depressão, Ansiedade e Estresse para Adolescentes, o perfil cognitivo, controle inibitório e função executiva, mensurados pela Bateria de Avaliação Cognitiva Geral – Cognifit, Teste de Cores Stroop e Teste de Trilha, respectivamente. Os desfechos secundários incluem: o peso e índice de massa corporal, a circunferência da cintura e a aptidão cardiorrespiratória. Os resultados serão analisados por protocolo e intenção de tratar. Os efeitos da intervenção serão analisados com Equações de Estimativas Generalizadas, utilizando modelos lineares e de Poisson, incorporando variáveis de tempo, grupo, um termo de interação e covariáveis de ajuste. O nível de significância aceito para testes bicaudais será de 5%. Consideração final: Espera-se que este estudo produza resultados que possam recomendar o HIIT como uma estratégia de treinamento eficaz na saúde mental e desempenho cognitivo de adolescentes. Registro do ensaio: Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos - ReBEC (RBR-733y6zq).

Objective: To analyze the association between the division of domestic housework and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) during the COVID-19 pandemic in mothers of preschool children. Materials and methods: This cohort study included mothers who had children in 2019 in the municipality of Rio Grande, southern Brazil. These women were followed up in 2020. The presence of GAD was assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and the division of domestic housework was evaluated with the "Division of Labor by Gender" instrument. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were conducted. Bivariate associations were tested using Pearson's chi-square (x2), while multivariate analyses were performed using Poisson regression to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: A total of 908 mothers from the 2019 Rio Grande Birth Cohort participated through an online questionnaire. The prevalence of moderate to severe GAD was 28%. A higher score on the domestic housework division scale (indicating a more even distribution of home tasks) was associated with a lower prevalence of GAD (PR = 0.84; 95% CI: 0.71–0.99). Conclusion: Mothers who shared household responsibilities with their partners had a reduced likelihood of experiencing GAD.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and determinants of lifestyle habit changes in women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This study analyzed data from the 2019 Rio Grande Birth Cohort, a population-based longitudinal study in Rio Grande, Brazil. We used data from the Perinatal Baseline Study (2019), before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cohort's first follow-up (May–July 2020). We used standardized questionnaires to gather data on maternal sociodemographic characteristics, prenatal care, childbirth, care at birth and changes in habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, including sleep, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and diet. We used multinomial logistic regression, to calculate relative risk ratios (RR). Results: In total (n=1,030), 52.5% maintained the same amount of sleep hours, 72.4% did not consume alcoholic beverages, 87.1% were non-smokers, 51.9% reported a decrease in physical activity, and 58.1% reported an increase in food intake. Older mothers, especially those older than 34, had lower risk of sleeping more hours (RR=0.53; 95% confidence interval – 95%CI 0.31–0.89), increasing their physical activity (RR 0.24; 95%CI 0.09–0.62), and were less likely to increase (RR=0.22; 95%CI 0.05–0.99) or decrease (RR=0.14; 95%CI 0.03–0.60) their alcohol consumption. Conclusion: Social isolation during the pandemic led to changes in maternal habits, especially in physical activity and food intake. Older maternal age emerged as a key predictor, underscoring the need for targeted public health support for mothers during crises.

Introdução: A promoção do estilo de vida mais ativo tem sido utilizada como estratégia para implementar o envelhecimento saudável, sendo o estímulo pelos profissionais da Atenção Primária à prática de atividade física um dos caminhos para atingir essa estratégia.

Highlights Approximately one in five respondents adhered to measures of social distancing. Adherence to social distancing was more prevalent in women, older adults with low educational levels, and those affected by multiple chronic diseases. Less than 5% of the population left home normally, whereas the vast majority only went out to carry out essential activities. ABSTRACT Objective: We aimed to analyze the frequency of adherence to social distancing and individual protection measures of adult and older populations in two cities

Objetivo Avaliar a prevalência do uso de drogas ilícitas nos anos de 2015 e 2019 entre estudantes de graduação de uma universidade pública do sul do Brasil, observando diferenças na proporção do uso dessas substâncias nesse período, bem como os fatores associados a esse comportamento.

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a associação entre percepção subjetiva da memória, nível de atividade física (AF) como lazer e sintomas psicológicos de trabalhadores de uma universidade do sul do Rio Grande do Sul. Trata-se de estudo transversal, conduzido com 297 participantes da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (UFRG). A percepção da memória foi avaliada por meio da questão “Como você classifica sua memória hoje?”, categorizada em excelente/muito boa, boa/razoável ou ruim. Foram considerados com pior percepção aqueles que a apontaram como ruim. Participantes que reportaram praticar 150 minutos ou mais de AF/semana foram classificados como ativos. Sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse foram avaliados através da escala DASS-21, e os participantes, classificados como sem sintomas ou com sintomas. As razões de odds (RO) e intervalos de confiança (IC95%) foram estimadas por meio de regressão logística ordinal, bruta e ajustada. A prevalência de percepção ruim da memória foi de 6,4%. Ser insuficientemente ativo aumentou duas vezes a chance de percepção ruim. Sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e estresse aumentaram 5,9, 3,3 e 2,6 vezes a chance de percepção negativa. Concluiu-se que ter percepção ruim da memória esteve associado à falta de AF e presença de sintomas psicológicos nos trabalhadores avaliados.