RESUMO
Social change has been involved in the unequal distribution patterns of chronic diseases in several populations. Among Indian communities experiencing life pattern changes, international studies have reported increased prevalence of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors. Such increased prevalence was ascertained in a survey conducted in 1999 in selected Guaraní-Mbyá communities (Sapukai, Paraty-Mirim, and Araponga) in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A population census was carried out and interviews and clinical and biochemical evaluations were conducted with 80 men and 71 women. Observed prevalence of selected risk factors in the overall sample, including men and women, was as follows for the three communities: hypertension (4.8%, 2.6%, 7.4%); overweight (26.7%, 19.5%, 34.8%); total cholesterol levels (2.8%, 2.7%, 2.9%), and increased triglyceride levels (12.6%, 9.5%, 15.9%). All prevalence rates were higher among women and at older ages. The results suggest that the Guaraní communities have a moderate risk of chronic diseases and that measures to reduce these risk factors should be adopted.
Assuntos
Hipertensão/etnologia , Indígenas Sul-Americanos , Obesidade/etnologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Antropometria , Brasil/epidemiologia , Doenças Cardiovasculares/etnologia , Doenças Cardiovasculares/etiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Hipertensão/complicações , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Obesidade/complicações , Prevalência , Fatores de RiscoRESUMO
A number of epidemiologic studies have observed an association between exposure to 50-60 Hz electromagnetic fields and the development of specific types of cancer. In Brazil, a preliminary report from a study of electricity facility workers in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) has mentioned relatively similar results. An exploratory analysis of death certificates obtained from a sample of electricity workers in S. Paulo was made. Data was analysed by using the Proportional Mortality Ratio (PMR) and the Proportional Cancer Mortality Ratio (PCMR). A slightly elevated all-sites cancer mortality was observed among these workers (PMR 1.11; 95% CI 0.91-1.35). Site specific analysis has shown a statistically significant higher mortality of laryngeal cancer (PCMR 2.04; 95% CI 1.05-4.20). An excess of deaths was also seen for cancers of the buccal cavity/pharynx, prostate, bladder, brain and Hodgkin's disease, although the results lacked statistical significance. When analysed by categories of estimated exposure to magnetic fields, an excess of deaths from bladder cancer (PCMR 4.17; 95% CI 1.35-9.72), neoplasms of the brain (PCMR 7.7; 95% CI 1.02-9.65) and Hodgkin's disease (PCMR 5.55; 95% CI 1.14-16.21) was observed in the group with probably higher exposure to EMF. A comparison of cancer mortality between these workers and petrochemical employees has shown a higher PCMR for larynx tumours (PCMR 3.51; 95% CI 3.02-15.51) and bladder cancer (PCMR 7.53; 95% CI 3.02-15.51). For brain tumours, however, a PCMR of 0.74 (95% CI 0.27-1.61) was noted. Although restrictions related to sample size in the study and the lack of information about known confounders must be considered, the results of this study do not fully disagree with others previously mentioned in the literature.