Maria Teresa Anselmo Olinto

Foi realizado um estudo transversal de base populacional com uma amostra representativa de 981 mulheres de 20 a 60 anos residentes no sul do Brasil para investigar o efeito de fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos e do estilo de vida na ocorrência de obesidade abdominal. Adiposidade abdominal foi avaliada através da circunferência da cintura (CC) em centímetros (cm). Para descrever a amostra CC foi agrupada em três categorias: adequada (CC < 80 cm), adiposidade abdominal nível I (circunferência da cintura: 80 = CC = 87,9 cm) e adiposidade abdominal nível II (circunferência da cintura: CC = 88 cm) - considerada como obesidade abdominal. Para as outras análises, CC foi tratada como dicotômica: ausência ou presença de obesidade abdominal, respectivamente, CC < 88 cm e CC = 88 cm. A análise multivariada foi realizada com Regressão de Poisson. As prevalências de adiposidade abdominal foram 23% (IC95%: 20,5-25,8) e 23,3% (IC95%: 20,7-26,0), respectivamente, nível I e nivel II. Ter baixa escolaridade, não estar trabalhando, idade superior a 40 anos, história de obesidade familiar e estar casada/união foram fatores de risco para obesidade abdominal. Houve maior risco também para a presença de hipertensão arterial (Prevalence Ratio - PR=2,06; CI95%: 1,58-2,69) e mulheres com maior número de filhos (PR=1,17; CI95% 1,00 – 1,37). Menarca tardia, aos 12-13 anos e aos 14 anos, foi fator protetor para obesidade abdominal comparada com mulheres que tiveram menarca entre 8 e 11 anos de idade, respectivamente, proteções de 31% e 46%. A compreensão de como a obesidade abdominal se distribui na população permite o planejamento de ações mais efetivas para a redução deste relevante problema de nutrição e saúde pública.

The study investigated the lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence among women aged 20 to 69 years residing in the urban area of São Leopoldo (RS) and associated factors. This was a population-based cross-sectional study in which 1,113 women were interviewed. The outcome was self-reported lifetime intimate partner violence, and sociodemographic, physical and mental health, and behavioral variables were assessed. A stratified analysis by age group was performed. The prevalence of intimate partner violence in the sample was 17.9% (95%CI 15.6–20.1). In the adjusted analysis, the outcome was associated with lower socioeconomic status, a history of sexually transmitted infections, and the presence of common mental disorders. In the stratified analysis, women aged 20–39 years had a 13.7% (95%CI 10.5–16.8) lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence, with nearly three times the likelihood among those with common mental disorders. Among women aged 40 years or older, the prevalence was 20.7% (95%CI 17.6–23.8), with those in the lowest socioeconomic class, who were single, divorced, or widowed, who self-reported sexually transmitted infections, and who had common mental disorders being more likely to experience the outcome. Secondary intersectional analyses revealed a higher prevalence of intimate partner violence among Black or Brown women with low educational attainment (PR = 1.67; 95%CI 1.14–2.45) and White women with low educational attainment (PR = 1.58; 95%CI 1.14–2.19), compared to white women with higher educational attainment. The study demonstrated a high lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence, reinforcing the need for public policies that improve women’s socioeconomic conditions, as well as integrated gender-based violence prevention programs that incorporate mental health care in the support provided to victims.

Background: Leptin is a peptide hormone produced by white adipose tissue and is essential for the regulation of appetite and energy homeostasis. Evidence suggests that leptin concentrations may vary according to emotional and psychosocial conditions, such as occupational stress, particularly in vulnerable populations, including female workers. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the association between occupational stress and altered serum leptin levels among female workers. Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied to a sample of 302 female workers employed in plastic manufacturing plants in southern Brazil. Serum leptin concentrations were quantified, and values exceeding 15.2 ng/mL were considered elevated. Occupational stress was measured using the short version of the Job Stress Scale. Associations between occupational stress and elevated leptin levels were estimated using Poisson regression models with robust variance adjustment. Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.4 years (SD [standard deviation] = 10.1). Elevated serum leptin levels were observed in 78.1% of the sample (95% CI: 73.5–82.8), whereas 21.9% (95% CI: 17.2–26.5) were classified as experiencing occupational stress. After controlling for relevant confounding variables, including obesity, women experiencing occupational stress showed a 15% higher probability of elevated leptin levels compared with those without occupational stress (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.02–1.30; p = 0.022). Conclusions: Occupational stress was independently linked to increased serum leptin concentrations among female workers, suggesting that psychosocial stressors in the workplace may play a role in the disruption of leptin regulation in this population.

Background: Sleep deprivation may contribute to increased abdominal adiposity. Although weekend catch-up sleep is associated with various health outcomes, its role in abdominal adiposity remains unclear, particularly among female fixed-shift workers. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association of workday sleep deprivation and weekend catch-up sleep with abdominal adiposity indicators in Brazilian female fixed-shift workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 450 female fixed-shift workers aged ≥ 18 years from a large industrial group in Southern Brazil. Abdominal adiposity indicators linked to cardiovascular risk were assessed: waist circumference (WC ≥ 88 cm), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR > 0.5), weight-to-waist index (WWI ≥ 11), conicity index (C-Index ≥ 1.27), and WC & Body Mass Index (combined WC ≥ 88 cm and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²). Workday sleep deprivation was defined as 2 h longer sleep on weekends vs. workdays. Associations were estimated using a Poisson regression with robust variance adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, behavioral, reproductive, and occupational confounders. Results: The mean age was 34.9 ± 9.9 years. The prevalence rates of abdominal adiposity were 45.3% for WC, 47.6% for WHtR, 26.2% for WWI and C-Index, and 28.7% for WC&BMI. Workday sleep deprivation and weekend catch-up sleep were reported by 27.1% and 43.3% of the participants, respectively. After adjustment for confounders, workday sleep deprivation was consistently associated with higher abdominal adiposity: Prevalence Ratio (PR) = 1.37 (95% CI: 1.10–1.69) for WC; 1.25 (95% CI: 1.02–1.53) for WHtR; 1.48 (95% CI: 1.07–2.04) for WWI; 1.43 (95% CI: 1.03–1.99) for C-Index, and 1.59 (95% CI: 1.17–2.16) for WC&BMI. Longer weekend catch-up sleep was positively associated with WHtR (PR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.03–1.49) and WC&BMI (PR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.04–1.85). Conclusions: Workday sleep deprivation was consistently linked to increased abdominal adiposity, whereas associations with longer weekend catch-up sleep were less consistent. These findings underscore the potential metabolic risk of insufficient sleep among female shift workers.

Introduction Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one of the biggest public health issues globally and can have a major impact on an individual’s quality of life. Social jetlag (SJL) comprises a misalignment in an individual's circadian rhythm due to social imposition. Previous studies have mentioned a possible relationship between sleep-related disorders and the presence of CLBP. Objectives The present study aimed to explore the association between SJL and CLBP in women. Methodology A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted with a representative sample of 1068 women aged between 20 and 69 years from Southern Brazil. The presence of SJL was evaluated according to the absolute difference between the onset of sleep on free days and the onset of sleep on working days. CLBP was considered present if the pain persisted for ≥ 12 weeks. Poisson regression with robust variance was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The prevalence of CLBP in the sample population was 46.8% (95% CI: 43.8-49.8). The prevalence of SJL of <1 hour was 68.3% and that of SJL of ≥ 1 hour was 31.5% (16.6% with one to two hours and 14.9% with ≥ 2 hours). After stratification of the sample for use of prescription pain medications, women with SJL of ≥ 2 hours had an 83% higher probability of having CLBP when compared to women with a SJL of < 1 hour (PR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.40-2.40; p < 0.001). This included adjustment for potential confounding factors. Conclusions The findings of this study revealed that women who used prescription pain medications and had SJL of ≥ 2 hours had an 83% higher probability of having CLBP. The use of prescription pain medications has been shown to be an interaction factor in the relationship between SJL and CLBP.

Resumo Estudo ecológico com o objetivo de determinar o consumo de trazodona em baixa dose (não licenciado/off label) nas macrorregiões, estados e Distrito Federal do Brasil, acompanhar a tendência entre os anos de 2014 e 2021 e avaliar a relação com indicadores de saúde. A coleta de dados da dispensação de trazodona manipulada se deu por meio do Sistema Nacional de Gerenciamento de Produtos Controlados, considerando-se baixa dose prescrições de 0,001 a 49,999 mg. O cálculo do consumo utilizou as estimativas populacionais do IBGE. As tendências observadas foram classificadas em crescentes, estáveis ou decrescentes, com intervalo de confiança de 95% e nível de significância de 5%. Os resultados demonstraram maiores coeficientes de consumo na região: Sudeste, Nordeste, Norte, Sul e Centro-Oeste e relação positiva entre o número de médicos e de farmácias magistrais com o consumo de trazodona off-label. Houve consumo crescente em quatro estados, estacionário em 23 e ausência de coeficientes decrescentes. Apesar de evidências limitadas quanto ao consumo off-label de trazodona, observou-se aumento acentuado em 2021 em todas as macrorregiões brasileiras, com maior consumo no Sudeste e relação positiva com o número de médicos e farmácias magistrais.

Background/Objectives: The literature indicates that decreased vitamin D levels are frequently observed in individuals with severe psychiatric disorders. However, the scarcity of studies investigating this association in non-psychiatric populations, such as working women, limits the generalizability of these findings. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between common mental disorders (CMDs) and vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency among female workers in southern Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 304 female workers from an industrial group in southern Brazil. Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was defined as a serum 25(OH)D concentration of 40 years). Results: The ≤40-year group included 212 women (69.7%; mean age: 30.1 ± 6.3 years), and the >40-year group included 92 women (30.3%; mean age: 47.5 ± 5.6 years). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency was 75.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 69.1–80.9) in women aged ≤40 years and 77.2% (95% CI: 68.4–85.9) in those aged >40 years. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, among women older than 40 years, those with CMDs had a 25% higher probability of presenting vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency compared to those without CMDs (PR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.00–1.56; p = 0.044). Among women aged ≤40 years, no significant association was observed between CMDs and vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency (PR = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.94–1.30; p = 0.226). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate a significant association between common mental disorders and vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency among female workers, particularly in those aged 40 years or older.

Background: Leptin is a hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating energy homeostasis and it is associated with adiposity. Women engaged in work shifts are often exposed to circadian disruption and metabolic changes that may contribute to increased adiposity and hormonal imbalance. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between general and abdominal obesity and serum leptin levels among female shift workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included a sample of 302 female employees from a group of plastic manufacturing industries in southern Brazil. Serum leptin levels were measured, with values > 15.2 ng/mL classified as elevated. General obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m²) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥ 88 cm) were assessed. Associations were examined using Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: The mean age of participants was 35.4 ± 10.1 years. The mean serum leptin concentration in the sample was 33.6 ng/mL (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 30.6–36.6), and the prevalence of altered serum leptin levels was 78.1% (95% CI: 73.5–82.8). After adjustment for potential confounders, women with obesity showed a 63% higher probability of having elevated leptin levels (Prevalence Ratio [PR] = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.32–2.02; p < 0.001) compared with those without obesity. Additionally, significant associations were observed with work shift and physical activity. However, abdominal obesity was not statistically significant after adjustment. Conclusions: Obesity was independently associated with elevated serum leptin levels among female shift workers, suggesting that excess adiposity remains a key determinant of leptin dysregulation in this population.

Purpose: Night shift work has been identified as a significant risk factor for various health issues, particularly among women, whose vulnerability to poor sleep quality may be exacerbated by sociocultural and occupational dynamics. In this study, we examined the association between night shift work and poor sleep quality among female workers. Patients and Methods: This repeated cross-sectional study is part of a broader investigation entitled “Health Conditions of Female Shift Workers: A Longitudinal Occupational Health Study” (ELO SAÚDE). The study was conducted among adult female factory workers employed by the same industrial group in southern Brazil, with data collected in 2017 (n = 394) and 2022 (n = 399). Poor sleep quality was defined as a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score > 5. Night shift work was characterized by work schedules starting and ending between 10:00 PM and 6:00 AM. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: The mean age of participants was 35.8 ± 9.1 years in 2017 and 34.2 ± 9.9 years in 2022. The prevalence of poor sleep quality increased significantly from 58.3% (95% CI: 53.4– 63.2%) in 2017 to 67.7% (95% CI: 63.0– 72.3%) in 2022 (p = 0.007). After adjusting for potential confounders, night shift work was associated with a 30% higher prevalence of poor sleep quality in 2017 (PR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.10– 1.55; p = 0.002) and 25% higher in 2022 (PR = 1.25; 95% CI: 1.10– 1.43; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Poor sleep quality remains highly prevalent and significantly associated with night shift work among female workers, with a notable increase over time. Thus, interventions focused on enhancing sleep hygiene and optimizing shift schedules are warranted in this population.

Background: Night work and occupational stress contribute to weight gain and abdominal fat accumulation through behavioral and metabolic changes. This study investigated the relationship between occupational stress, work shifts, and abdominal obesity among female workers in Southern Brazil. Methods: This repeated cross-sectional study included two samples collected in 2017 and 2022, each comprising 400 female workers from two factories located in Southern Brazil. Abdominal obesity was measured by waist circumference (WC ≥ 88 cm), and occupational stress was assessed using the Job Stress Scale - short version. Data on demographic, socioeconomic, occupational, reproductive, and health variables were collected. Poisson regression with robust variance was used for multivariate analysis, stratified by occupational stress (absence vs. presence) and adjusted for potential confounders. Results: The workers’ mean ages were 35.8 ± 9.0 years (2017) and 34.2 ± 9.9 years (2022). The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 45.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]; 40.2–50.0) in 2017 and 43.0% (95% CI, 38.1–47.9) in 2022, while occupational stress was observed in 22.9% (95% CI, 18.8–27.1) and 21.0% (95% CI, 17.0–25.0) of the workers, respectively. Among workers with occupational stress, nightshift workers were twice more likely to have abdominal obesity compared to daytime workers (2017; prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.23, 95% CI; 1.47–3.38, p < 0.001; 2022; PR = 1.80, 95% CI; 1.06–3.06, p = 0.029). No significant association was observed between work shifts and abdominal obesity among workers without occupational stress. Conclusion: Occupational stress significantly modified the relationship between nighttime work and abdominal obesity. This study found a high prevalence of abdominal obesity, especially among female night shift workers, with no significant changes in prevalence rates between 2017 and 2022.