Camila de Souza dos Santos

Objective: to evaluate the effect of auriculotherapy on blood pressure and well-being parameters in hypertensive adults and older adults. Methods: a quasi-experimental, before-and-after study of a group undergoing a course of auriculotherapy. The initial sample was 41 people and the final sample was 29. Blood pressure was measured before the intervention, immediately after and five days later. The analysis of variance test was applied to compare the blood pressure means at the three time points. The World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index questionnaire was used to check well-being. Results: there was a statistically significant difference between the systolic blood pressure levels before and after the intervention (p=0.001), with means of 133.17 mmHg pre-intervention, 127.07 mmHg immediately after care and 127.58 mmHg after five days. The well-being score improved significantly between the pre-intervention and the fifth day (p=0.023). Conclusion: auriculotherapy had beneficial effects on systolic blood pressure levels and the well-being of the population it served, proving to be a collaborative strategy in the management of hypertension. Contributions to practice: auriculotherapy can help regulate blood pressure, promote greater autonomy for nurses and patient-centered care. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials: RBR-6r8y39d.

The aging process and the rising prevalence of Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) contribute to the decline in kidney function among elderly individuals. The aim of this research was to assess prevalence and incidence of decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (GFR 2 (SE = 0.5). The incidence of decreased GFR between 2010 and 2016 was 14.9%, equivalent to an annual incidence of 2.5%. This incidence was associated with older age, hypertension, self-perceived fair/poor/very poor health, and greater number of comorbidities associated. Over the study period, 68.1% of the elderly participants experienced deterioration in GFR, with an average decline of 1 mL/min/1.73m² each year. Renal function decline often occurs without noticeable symptoms, and the high prevalence of comorbidities contributes to the worsening of GFR. Therefore, monitoring renal function in the elderly is crucial for effectively managing the health of this population.

Resumo Analisar os fatores associados à demência em idosos atendidos em um ambulatório de memória da Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (Unisul). Estudo transversal com análise de dados de prontuário no período de 01/2013 a 04/2016. O desfecho foi o diagnóstico clínico de demência. As variáveis de controle foram: nível sérico de vitamina D na época do diagnóstico, sexo, cor da pele, escolaridade, idade, diabetes tipo 2, hipertensão arterial e depressão. Foi realizada análise bruta e ajustada com regressão logística. Amostra de 287 idosos, com predominância de idade entre 60 e 69 anos (48,78%), sexo feminino (79,09%), cor da pele branca (92,33%). A média de anos de estudo foi de 6,95 anos (DP ± 4,95) e da vitamina D 26,09 ng/mL (DP ± 9,20). A prevalência de idosos com demência foi de 16,72%. Dentre as morbidades a depressão foi a de maior prevalência seguida pela hipertensão arterial. Estiveram independentemente associadas à demência: vitamina D (OR = 0,92 IC 95% 0,88;0,97), depressão (OR = 4,09 IC95% 1,87;8,94), hipertensão arterial (OR = 2,65 IC95% 1,15;6,08) e indivíduos com idade igual e maior que 80 anos. A prevalência de demência foi alta, e houve associação de níveis mais baixos de vitamina D com diagnóstico de demência. Sendo a vitamina D um fator modificável, abrindo importantes perspectivas para políticas de saúde pública.