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INTRODUCTION: Ventricular hypertrophy is frequent in dialysis patients and is associated with an ominous prognosis. It is not knowledge if this ventricular change is growing or decreasing in hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess left ventricular hypertrophy behaviour during 17 years in patients of a university dialysis center, as well as to verify the possible causes of this behavior. METHODS: There was performed a retrospective longitudinal study that evaluated the echocardiographic left ventricular mass in hemodialysis patients in our dialysis facility over 17 years. Examinations of 250 patients aged 18 years or more who underwent routine echocardiography were included. RESULTS: There was a progressive reduction of ventricular mass over studied period. This reduction was associated with blood pressure reduction. In multivariate analysis, ventricular mass was associated with blood pressure and hemoglobin. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular hypertrophy underwent significant reduction over 17 years in our hemodialysis patients. The factors associated with this reduction that could be identified in the current study were the progressive reduction of blood pressure and hemoglobin increase.

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ResumoIntrodução:A hipertrofia ventricular esquerda (HVE) é alteração frequente em pacientes de diálise e imprime prognóstico sombrio. Não se conhece qual a tendência secular dessa alteração cardíaca em nossos pacientes.Objetivo:Avaliar o comportamento da HVE, pelo índice de massa do ventrículo esquerdo (IMVE), no decorrer de 17 anos em pacientes de um centro universitário de diálise, bem como verificar as possíveis causas desse comportamento.Métodos:Foi realizado um estudo longitudinal retrospectivo que avaliou, por meio de ecocardiografia, o IMVE em pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise em nosso Serviço de Diálise durante o período de 17 anos, de 1993 a 2010. Foram incluídos 250 exames de pacientes com doença renal crônica estágio V-D com idade superior a 18 anos que foram submetidos à avaliação ecocardiográfica de rotina.Resultados:Notou-se redução do IMVE à medida que os anos avançavam. Essa redução correlacionou-se à diminuição da pressão arterial e à elevação da hemoglobina. Em análise múltipla, a massa ventricular esquerda associou-se apenas à pressão arterial.Conclusão:A porcentagem de pacientes com HVE sofreu redução significante no decorrer de 17 anos em nossa Unidade de Diálise. O fator associado a essa redução foi a diminuição da pressão arterial.

AbstractIntroduction:Ventricular hypertrophy is frequent in dialysis patients and is associated with an ominous prognosis. It is not knowledge if this ventricular change is growing or decreasing in hemodialysis patients.Objective:To assess left ventricular hypertrophy behaviour during 17 years in patients of a university dialysis center, as well as to verify the possible causes of this behavior.Methods:There was performed a retrospective longitudinal study that evaluated the echocardiographic left ventricular mass in hemodialysis patients in our dialysis facility over 17 years. Examinations of 250 patients aged 18 years or more who underwent routine echocardiography were included.Results:There was a progressive reduction of ventricular mass over studied period. This reduction was associated with blood pressure reduction. In multivariate analysis, ventricular mass was associated with blood pressure and hemoglobin.Conclusion:Left ventricular hypertrophy underwent significant reduction over 17 years in our hemodialysis patients. The factors associated with this reduction that could be identified in the current study were the progressive reduction of blood pressure and hemoglobin increase.

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São diversificadas e abundantes na literatura mundial, bem como na brasileira, as evidências de que as doenças cardiovasculares e a mortalidade decorrente dessas doenças sejam mais frequentes entre as pessoas de menor nível socioeconômico. Hipertensão arterial, diabetes, hábito de fumar, dislipidemia, obesidade, alcoolismo e estresse psicossocial são mais frequentes em indivíduos de menor nível socioeconômico. Dentre os marcadores de nível socioeconômico, a escolaridade é a que melhor se correlaciona com a frequência e a intensidade dos fatores de risco cardiovascular. O presente trabalho faz uma revisão dos estudos que avaliaram as proposições listadas anteriormente.

There are a general believe that cardiovascular disease affect more rich people: it is not what epidemiological evidences shown. Brazilian and international studies shown that cardiovascular diseases and mortality are more frequent in low socioeconomic status. Hypertension, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidemia, obesity, alcoholism and psychosocial stress are more intense in these people. Among socioeconomic parameters, the years of scholarity have the better correlation with cardiovascular risk. The present paper reviews the studies that evaluate the above propositions.

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BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is a strong predictor of mortality in chronic kidney patients. A previous study of our group has shown that chronic kidney patients with low educational level has more severe ventricular hypertrophy. OBJECTIVE: To extend a previous study and to assess whether left ventricular hypertrophy can explain the association between schooling and cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This study assessed 113 patients from January 2005 to March 2008 and followed them up until October 2010. Survival curves were built to compare all-cause and cardiovascular mortality of patients with up to three years of schooling (median schooling) and those with schooling of four years and over. Cox multiple models were built and adjusted to confounding variables. RESULTS: Association between educational level and ventricular hypertrophy was observed. Statistical difference in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality between the different educational levels was observed at 5.5 years of follow-up. In the Cox model, ventricular hypertrophy and C-reactive protein associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The etiology of kidney failure associated with all-cause mortality, and creatinine associated with cardiovascular mortality. The association between educational level and mortality lost statistical significance in the adjusted model. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm those of a previous study. In addition, they show that the higher cardiovascular mortality observed in patients with low educational level can be explained by risk factors of biochemical and cardiac morphological origin.

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FUNDAMENTO: A hipertrofia ventricular esquerda é potente preditor de mortalidade em renais crônicos. Estudo prévio de nosso grupo mostrou que renais crônicos com menor escolaridade têm hipertrofia ventricular mais intensa. OBJETIVO: Ampliar estudo prévio e verificar se a hipertrofia ventricular esquerda pode justificar a associação entre escolaridade e mortalidade cardiovascular de pacientes em hemodiálise. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 113 pacientes entre janeiro de 2005 e março de 2008 e seguidos até outubro de 2010. Foram traçadas curvas de sobrevida comparando a mortalidade cardiovascular, e por todas as causas dos pacientes com escolaridade de até três anos (mediana da escolaridade) e pacientes com escolaridade igual ou superior a quatro anos. Foram construídos modelos múltiplos de Cox ajustados para as variáveis de confusão. RESULTADOS: Observou-se associação entre nível de escolaridade e hipertrofia ventricular. A diferença estatística de mortalidade de origem cardiovascular e por todas as causas entre os diferentes níveis de escolaridade ocorreu aos cinco anos e meio de seguimento. No modelo de Cox, a hipertrofia ventricular e a proteína-C reativa associaram-se à mortalidade por todas as causas e de origem cardiovascular. A etiologia da insuficiência renal associou-se à mortalidade por todas as causas e a creatinina associou-se à mortalidade de origem cardiovascular. A associação entre escolaridade e mortalidade perdeu significância estatística no modelo ajustado. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados do presente trabalho confirmam estudo prévio e demonstram, ademais, que a maior mortalidade cardiovascular observada nos pacientes com menor escolaridade pôde ser explicada por fatores de risco de ordem bioquímica e de morfologia cardíaca.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is a strong predictor of mortality in chronic kidney patients. A previous study of our group has shown that chronic kidney patients with low educational level has more severe ventricular hypertrophy. OBJECTIVE: To extend a previous study and to assess whether left ventricular hypertrophy can explain the association between schooling and cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: This study assessed 113 patients from January 2005 to March 2008 and followed them up until October 2010. Survival curves were built to compare all-cause and cardiovascular mortality of patients with up to three years of schooling (median schooling) and those with schooling of four years and over. Cox multiple models were built and adjusted to confounding variables. RESULTS: Association between educational level and ventricular hypertrophy was observed. Statistical difference in all-cause and cardiovascular mortality between the different educational levels was observed at 5.5 years of follow-up. In the Cox model, ventricular hypertrophy and C-reactive protein associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The etiology of kidney failure associated with all-cause mortality, and creatinine associated with cardiovascular mortality. The association between educational level and mortality lost statistical significance in the adjusted model. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm those of a previous study. In addition, they show that the higher cardiovascular mortality observed in patients with low educational level can be explained by risk factors of biochemical and cardiac morphological origin.

FUNDAMENTO: La hipertrofia ventricular izquierda es potente predictor de mortalidad en renales crónicos. Estudio previo de nuestro grupo mostró que renales crónicos con menor escolaridad tienen hipertrofia ventricular más intensa. OBJETIVO: Ampliar estudio previo y verificar si la hipertrofia ventricular izquierda puede justificar la asociación entre escolaridad y mortalidad cardiovascular de pacientes en hemodiálisis. MÉTODOS: Fueron evaluados 113 pacientes entre enero de 2005 y marzo de 2008 y seguidos hasta octubre de 2010. Fueron trazadas curvas de sobrevida comparando la mortalidad cardiovascular, y por todas las causas de los pacientes con escolaridad de hasta tres años (mediana de la escolaridad) y pacientes con escolaridad igual o superior a cuatro años. Fueron construidos modelos múltiples de Cox ajustados para las variables de confusión. RESULTADOS: Se observó asociación entre nivel de escolaridad e hipertrofia ventricular. La diferencia estadística de mortalidad de origen cardiovascular y por todas las causas entre los diferentes niveles de escolaridad ocurrió a los cinco años y medio de seguimiento. En el modelo de Cox, la hipertrofia ventricular y la proteína-C reactiva se asociaron a la mortalidad por todas las causas y de origen cardiovascular. La etiología de la insuficiencia renal se asoció a la mortalidad por todas las causas y la creatinina se asoció a la mortalidad de origen cardiovascular. La asociación entre escolaridad y mortalidad perdió significación estadística en el modelo ajustado. CONCLUSÓN: Los resultados del presente trabajo confirman estudio previo y demuestran, además, que la mayor mortalidad cardiovascular observada en los pacientes con menor escolaridad puede ser explicada por factores de riesgo de orden bioquímico y de morfología cardíaca.

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A insuficiência renal crônica é um modelo clínico de hipertrofia ventricular. Os pacientes renais crônicos apresentam uma expectativa de vida significativamente reduzida. A principal causa de morte nessa situação clínica é a doença cardiovascular e a hipertrofia ventricular esquerda é um potente preditor de eventos cardiovasculares e de mortalidade. Pacientes em diálise com baixa escolaridade tem expectativa de vida adicionalmente reduzida. Essa associação entre baixa escolaridade e mortalidade cardiovascular é bem documentada na população geral. Também já foi demonstrado que pessoas de baixa escolaridade apresentam hipertrofia ventricular mais intensa, bem como maior acúmulo de fatores de risco cardiovascular. Trabalho anterior, deste mesmo grupo, mostrou que a hipertrofia ventricular é mais intensa entre renais cônicos de baixa escolaridade. Não há na literatura estudos que avaliem se a maior hipertrofia ventricular possa explicar a maior mortalidade de renais crônicos com baixa escolaridade. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo é verificar se a hipertrofia ventricular esquerda pode justificar a associação entre escolaridade e mortalidade cardiovascular de renais crônicos em hemodiálise. . Foram avaliados 141 pacientes em hemodiálise no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu – UNESP, que realizaram ecocardiografia no período compreendido entre janeiro de 2005 e março de 2008. Dentre esses pacientes, 28 preencheram algum critério de exclusão. Compuseram a casuística 113 pacientes que foram seguidos até outubro de 2010. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com a mediana de anos de escolaridade, ou seja, pacientes com escolaridade inferior a quatro anos e pacientes com escolaridade igual ou superior a quatro anos...

Chronic renal failure is a clinical model of ventricular hypertrophy. Chronic kidney disease is associated with significantly reduced life expectancy. The main cause of death, in this clinical situation, is cardiovascular disease and left ventricular hypertrophy is a potent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. Dialysis patients with low education have further reduced life expectancy. This association between low educational level and cardiovascular mortality is well documented in the general population. It was also shown that the less educated have more severe ventricular hypertrophy, as well as greater accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors. Previous work from, this group showed that ventricular hypertrophy is more intense between hemodialysis patients with low education. There are no studies in the literature to assess whether the greater ventricular hypertrophy may explain higher mortality in renal disease patients with low education. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess whether left ventricular hypertrophy may explain the association between education and cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease. We evaluated 141 hemodialysis patients in Botucatu Medical School Hospital - UNESP, whose echocardiography was performed between January 2005 and March 2008. Among these patients, 28 met some exclusion criteria. The sample comprised 113 patients who were followed until October 2010. Patients were divided into two groups according to the median of schooling, i.e. patients with less than four years of schooling and those with schooling of four or more than four years. We evaluated the clinical, laboratory and echocardiographyc data (left ventricular diameter, posterior wall thickness and interventricular septum, left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index)...

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Introdução: A doença renal crônica apresenta elevado risco cardiovascular. dados da população geral associam as doenças cardiovasculares a baixo nível de escolaridade, porém nehum trabalho avaliou essa associação entre pacientes em hemodiálise. objetivo: Avaliar a associação entre Botucatu (UNESP). dados clínicos, laboratoriais e ecocardiográficos foram extraídos dos prontuários. os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com a mediana da escolaridade: o grupo I foi constituído por pacientes com escolaridade <- três anos, e grupo II por pacientes com escolaridade superior a três anos. resultados: pressão arterial, ganho de peso interdialítico e variáveis com diferença estatística entre os dois grupos ao nível de p< 0,2 foram selecionadas para análise múltipla. Na análise múltipla, associações independentes foram consideradas ao nível de p< 0,05. A média de idade dos pacientes foi 57+- 12.8 anos, 46 pacientes eram homens (57%) e 53 eram brancos (67%). As variáveis selecionadas para análise múltipla foram: idade (p= 0,004), anos de escolaridade (p, 0,0001), índice de massa corpórea (p= 0,124), diâmetro do ventrículo esquerdo (p= 0,048) e índice de massa ventricular (p= 0,006). As drogas anti-hipertensivas empregadas foram similares em ambos os grupos. A pressão sistólica (p=0,006) e a escolaridade (p=0,047) apresentaram correlação significativa e independente com índice de massa ventricular. Conclusão: Em pacientes em hemodiálise, houve correlação da massa do ventrículo esquerdo não apenas com a pressão arterial, mas também com o nível educacional.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease has a high cardiovascular risk. data from the general population associated cardiovascular disease to low levels of schooling, but match any study evaluated the association between hemodialysis patients. Objective: To evaluate the association between Botucatu (UNESP). clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic findings were extracted from medical records. Patients were divided into two groups according to the median education level: group I comprised patients with educational <- three years, and group II patients with higher education for three years. results: blood pressure, interdialytic weight gain and variable with a statistical difference between the two groups at p <0.2 were selected for multivariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, independent associations were considered at p <0.05. The average patient age was 57 + - 12.8 years, 46 patients were men (57%) and 53 were white (67%). Variables selected for multivariate analysis were age (p = 0.004), years of schooling (p, 0.0001), body mass index (p = 0.124), left ventricular diameter (p = 0.048) and left ventricular mass indeThe antihypertensive drugs used were similar in both groups. Systolic pressure (p = 0.006) and education (p = 0.047) correlated significantly and independently with left ventricular mass index. Conclusion: In hemodialysis patients, there was a correlation between left ventricular mass with not only blood pressure but also to the educational level.x (p = 0.006).

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INTRODUCTION: Chronic renal disease is associated with a high cardiovascular risk. Data from the general population associate cardiovascular diseases with low educational level, but no study has evaluated this association in patients on hemodialysis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the association between educational level, hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients on chronic hemodialysis. METHODS: A standard socioeconomic questionnaire was applied to 79 hemodialysis patients at the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, state of São Paulo. Clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic data were obtained from medical records. The patients were divided into two groups according to the median educational level, as follows: G1, patients with three or less years of schooling; G2, patients with more than three years of schooling. RESULTS: Blood pressure, interdialytic weight gain, and variables statistically different in the two groups (p < 0.2) underwent multiple analysis. Independent associations were stated with p < 0.05 in multiple analysis. The mean age of patients was 57 ± 12.8 years, 46 were males (57%), and 53 white (67%). The variables selected for multiple analysis were: age (p = 0.004); educational level (p < 0.0001); body mass index (p = 0.124); left ventricular diameter (p = 0.048); and left ventricular mass index (p = 0.006). Antihypertensive drugs were similar in both groups. Systolic blood pressure (p = 0.006) and years of schooling (p = 0.047) had a significant and independent correlation with left ventricular mass index. CONCLUSION: In hemodialysis patients, left ventricular mass associated not only with blood pressure but also with educational level.

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics of smokers seeking treatment in a public smoking cessation program. METHODS: This was a retrospective evaluation of data collected during the interview for enrollment in the smoking cessation program of the Smoking Outpatient Clinic of the Paulista State University School of Medicine in the city of Botucatu, Brazil, between April of 2003 and April of 2007. Demographic variables; previous use of the behavioral approach, medications or alternative treatments for smoking cessation; degree of nicotine dependence; and history of comorbidities were evaluated in 387 smokers. RESULTS: In our sample, 63% of the smokers were female. The mean age of the subjects was 50 + or - 25 years. More than half of the subjects (61%) had up to eight years of schooling, and 66% had a monthly income of less than twice the national minimum wage. The degree of nicotine dependence was high/very high in 59%, medium in 17% and low/very low in 24% of the subjects. Although 95% of the patients presented comorbidities, only 35% had been referred to the program by a physician. More than half of the subjects (68%) had made at least one smoking-cessation attempt, 83% of whom did so without the help of a structured program. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers seeking assistance for smoking cessation were socially disadvantaged, presented a high degree of nicotine dependence and had previously made smoking-cessation attempts without the benefit of a structured program. Therefore, in order to be effective, smoking control interventions should take into consideration the general characteristics of the smokers treated via the public health care system.

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OBJETIVO: Avaliar o perfil dos fumantes que procuraram serviço público de cessação do tabagismo. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados retrospectivamente os dados coletados durante a avaliação para a admissão no programa de cessação do tabagismo do Ambulatório de Tabagismo da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu/Universidade Estadual Paulista, na cidade de Botucatu (SP) entre abril de 2003 e abril de 2007. Variáveis demográficas, uso prévio de abordagem comportamental e/ou farmacológica e/ou tratamentos alternativos para o tabagismo, grau de dependência à nicotina e comorbidades foram avaliados em 387 fumantes. RESULTADOS: Em nossa casuística, 63 por cento dos tabagistas eram do sexo feminino. A idade média dos sujeitos foi de 50 ± 25 anos. Mais da metade dos fumantes (61 por cento) não tinha cursado o ensino médio, e 66 por cento tinham renda mensal menor que dois salários mínimos. O grau de dependência foi elevado/muito elevado em 59 por cento, médio em 17 por cento e baixo/muito baixo em 24 por cento. Embora 95 por cento dos pacientes apresentavam comorbidades, apenas 35 por cento foram encaminhados ao programa por um médico. Mais da metade (68 por cento) tinha feito pelo menos uma tentativa de cessação, 83 por cento sem um programa de tratamento estruturado. CONCLUSÕES: Os tabagistas que procuraram assistência para cessar o tabagismo apresentaram desvantagem social, dependência à nicotina alta e tentativas anteriores de cessação sem tratamento estruturado. Portanto, a intervenção para o controle do tabagismo deve contemplar as características gerais dos fumantes nos serviços públicos para que seja eficaz.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the characteristics of smokers seeking treatment in a public smoking cessation program. METHODS: This was a retrospective evaluation of data collected during the interview for enrollment in the smoking cessation program of the Smoking Outpatient Clinic of the Paulista State University School of Medicine in the city of Botucatu, Brazil, between April of 2003 and April of 2007. Demographic variables; previous use of the behavioral approach, medications or alternative treatments for smoking cessation; degree of nicotine dependence; and history of comorbidities were evaluated in 387 smokers. RESULTS: In our sample, 63 percent of the smokers were female. The mean age of the subjects was 50 ± 25 years. More than half of the subjects (61 percent) had up to eight years of schooling, and 66 percent had a monthly income of less than twice the national minimum wage. The degree of nicotine dependence was high/very high in 59 percent, medium in 17 percent and low/very low in 24 percent of the subjects. Although 95 percent of the patients presented comorbidities, only 35 percent had been referred to the program by a physician. More than half of the subjects (68 percent) had made at least one smoking-cessation attempt, 83 percent of whom did so without the help of a structured program. CONCLUSIONS: Smokers seeking assistance for smoking cessation were socially disadvantaged, presented a high degree of nicotine dependence and had previously made smoking-cessation attempts without the benefit of a structured program. Therefore, in order to be effective, smoking control interventions should take into consideration the general characteristics of the smokers treated via the public health care system.

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OBJECTIVE: The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underestimation as a result of underdiagnosis and undertreatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether using spirometry to evaluate smokers enrolled in smoking cessation programs facilitates early diagnosis of COPD. METHODS: The medical records of 158 smokers enrolled in the smoking cessation program at the Botucatu School of Medicine (Botucatu, Brazil) between January of 2003 and November of 2005 were evaluated retrospectively. All were over 40 years old (mean age: 55 +/- 8.5 years), and 99 (62.6%) were female. We analyzed the clinical data, the previous medical diagnosis, and the spirometry results. RESULTS: The diagnostic criteria for COPD were met by 57 (36.1%) of the 158 individuals evaluated, and 14 individuals (8.9%) were considered to be at risk for the development of the disease. Of those 57 individuals meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of COPD, 39 (68.4%) were receiving their first diagnosis of COPD, whereas 18 (31.6%) were receiving confirmation of a prior diagnosis. Of the 18 individuals previously diagnosed, 10 (56%) presented the mild/moderate form of the disease, and 8 (44%) presented the severe form. Of the 39 newly diagnosed individuals, 38 (97,4%) presented the mild/moderate for of the disease, and only 1 (2,6%) had severe COPD. Seven patients previously diagnosed with COPD presented pulmonary function test results inconsistent with the diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSION: Using spirometry in the initial evaluation of smokers enrolling in smoking cessation program might be a useful tool for early diagnosis of COPD.

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OBJETIVO: A doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) é subdiagnosticada e subtratada, o que resulta em subestimação do impacto da doença. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a inclusão da espirometria na avaliação dos fumantes que ingressam em programas de cessação do tabagismo contribui para o diagnóstico precoce da DPOC. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva de dados médicos de 158 fumantes atendidos no programa cessação de tabagismo (Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil), de janeiro 2003 a novembro 2005. Todos os indivíduos tinham mais de 40 anos (idade média: 55 ± 8,5 anos), sendo 99 (62,6 por cento) do sexo feminino. Foram analisados os dados clínicos, os diagnósticos médicos prévios e os resultados da espirometria. RESULTADOS: Dos 158 fumantes avaliados, 57 (36,1 por cento) indivíduos preenchiam os critérios diagnósticos para DPOC e 14 (8,9 por cento) foram considerados em risco para o desenvolvimento da doença. Dos 57 que preenchiam os critérios diagnósticos para DPOC, 39 (68,4 por cento) foram diagnósticos novos e 18 (31,6 por cento) foram confirmação de diagnóstico prévio da doença. Entre os 18 com diagnóstico anterior, 10 (56 por cento) tinham doença leve/moderada e 8 (44 por cento) doença grave. Sete pacientes com diagnóstico anterior de DPOC apresentaram resultados de função de pulmonar não compatíveis com os critérios diagnósticos da doença. Entre os 39 novos diagnósticos, 38 (97,4 por cento) eram de doença leve/moderada e apenas 1 (2,6 por cento) tinha DPOC grave CONCLUSÃO: A inclusão da espirometria na avaliação inicial dos fumantes admitidos em programa de cessação de tabagismo pode ser uma ferramenta útil para o diagnóstico precoce da DPOC.

OBJECTIVE: The impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is underestimation as a result of underdiagnosis and undertreatment. The objective of this study was to determine whether using spirometry to evaluate smokers enrolled in smoking cessation programs facilitates early diagnosis of COPD. METHODS: The medical records of 158 smokers enrolled in the smoking cessation program at the Botucatu School of Medicine (Botucatu, Brazil) between January of 2003 and November of 2005 were evaluated retrospectively. All were over 40 years old (mean age: 55 ± 8.5 years), and 99 (62.6 percent) were female. We analyzed the clinical data, the previous medical diagnosis, and the spirometry results. RESULTS: The diagnostic criteria for COPD were met by 57 (36.1 percent) of the 158 individuals evaluated, and 14 individuals (8.9 percent) were considered to be at risk for the development of the disease. Of those 57 individuals meeting the criteria for a diagnosis of COPD, 39 (68.4 percent) were receiving their first diagnosis of COPD, whereas 18 (31.6 percent) were receiving confirmation of a prior diagnosis. Of the 18 individuals previously diagnosed, 10 (56 percent) presented the mild/moderate form of the disease, and 8 (44 percent) presented the severe form. Of the 39 newly diagnosed individuals, 38 (97,4 percent) presented the mild/moderate for of the disease, and only 1 (2,6 percent) had severe COPD. Seven patients previously diagnosed with COPD presented pulmonary function test results inconsistent with the diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSION: Using spirometry in the initial evaluation of smokers enrolling in smoking cessation program might be a useful tool for early diagnosis of COPD.

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