ABSTRACT Objectives: To assess the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin in terms of clinical and biochemical outcomes in adult patients with COVID-19 hospitalized for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and to describe the occurrence of adverse events. Method: Retrospective comparative study, based in a quaternary private hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, involving 193 adult patients hospitalized for mild and moderate COVID-19 related ARSD, analyzing treatment efficacy based on clinical and biochemical outcomes. Results: The active group comprised 101 (52.3%) patients using hydroxychloroquine associated with azithromycin and the control group 92 (47.7%) patients who did not take these medications. Median age was 59 (47–70) in the active group and 65 (47−77) in the control group (p < 0.05). Patients in the control group had greater extent of pulmonary involvement on baseline chest CT scans (p < 0.05). All other baseline variables (BMI, comorbidities, previous use of medications and biochemical assessments) were similar between groups. In the medication group, 25% (25 out of 101) were admitted to the ICU, compared to 21% (19 out of 92) in the control group (p > 0.05). No difference in mortality, duration of non-invasive oxygen use or duration of hospitalization was seen between groups. The therapeutic regimen was well tolerated, with only eight (7.9%) patients presenting gastrointestinal symptoms and eight (7.9%) patients withdrawn treatment due to QTc prolongation. Conclusions: Patients treated with hydroxychloroquine combined with azithromycin and the control group had similar clinical outcomes. This therapeutic regimen was considered ineffective in hospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 related ARDS and was associated with few non-severe adverse events.

OBJETIVO: Analisar os resultados da cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (CRVM) isolada com circulação extracorpórea em pacientes com idade > 70 anos em comparação àqueles com < 70 anos. MÉTODOS: Pacientes submetidos consecutivamente à CRVM isolada. Os pacientes foram agrupados em G1 (idade e" 70 anos) e G2 (idade < 70 anos). Os desfechos analisados foram letalidade hospitalar, infarto agudo miocárdio (IAM), acidente vascular encefálico (AVE), reoperação para revisão de hemostasia (RRH), necessidade de balão intra-aórtico (BIA), complicações respiratórias, insuficiência renal aguda (IRA), mediastinite, sepse, fibrilação atrial (FA) e bloqueio atrioventricular total (BAVT). RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 1033 pacientes, 257 (24,8%) do G1 e 776 (75,2%) do G2. A letalidade hospitalar foi significantemente maior no G1 quando comparado ao G2 (8,9% vs. 3,6%, P=0,001), enquanto a incidência de IAM foi semelhante (5,8% vs. 5,5%; P=0,87). Maior número de pacientes do G1 necessitou de RRH (12,1% vs. 6,1%; P=0,003). Da mesma forma, no G1 houve maior incidência de complicações respiratórias (21,4% vs. 9,1%; P<0,001), mediastinite (5,1% vs. 1,9%; P=0,013), AVE (3,9% vs. 1,3%; P=0,016), IRA (7,8% vs. 1,3%, P<0,001), sepse (3,9% vs. 1,9%; P=0,003), fibrilação atrial (15,6% vs. 9,8%; P=0,016) e BAVT (3,5% vs. 1,2%; P=0,023) do que o G2. Não houve diferença significante na necessidade de BIA. Na análise regressão logística multivariada "forward stepwise", a idade >70 anos foi fator preditivo independente para maior letalidade operatória (P=0,004) e para RRH (P=0,002), sepse (P=0,002), complicações respiratórias (P<0,001), mediastinite (P=0,016), AVE (P=0,029), IRA (P<0,001), FA (P=0,021) e BAVT (P=0,031) no pós-operatório. CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo sugere que pacientes com idade > 70 anos estão sob maior risco de morte e outras complicações no pós-operatório de CRVM em comparação aos pacientes mais jovens.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of isolated on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in patients >70 years-old in comparison to patients <70 years-old. METHODS: Patients undergoing isolated CABG were selected for the study. The patients were grouped in G1 (age > 70 years-old) and G2 (age <70 years-old). The endpoints were in-hospital mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, reexploration for bleeding, intra-aortic balloon for circulatory shock, respiratory complications, acute renal failure, mediastinitis, sepsis, atrial fibrillation, and complete atrioventricular block (CAVB). RESULTS: 1,033 patients were included, 257 (24.8%) in G1 and 776 (75.2%) in G2. Patients in G1 were more likely to have in-hospital mortality than G2 (8.9% vs. 3.6%, respectively; P=0.001), while the incidence of AMI was similar (5.8% vs. 5.5%; P=0.87) than G2. More patients in G1 had re-exploration for bleeding (12.1% vs. 6.1%; P=0.003). G1 had more incidence of respiratory complications (21.4% vs. 9.1%; P<0.001), mediastinitis (5.1% vs. 1.9%; P=0.013), stroke (3.9% vs. 1.3%; P=0.016), acute renal failure (7.8% vs. 1.3%; P<0.001), sepsis (3.9% vs. 1.9%;P=0.003), atrial fibrillation (15.6% vs. 9.8%; P=0.016), and CAVB (3.5% vs. 1.2%; P=0.023) than G2. There was no significant difference in the use of intra-aortic balloon. In the forward stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis age > 70-year-old was an independent predictive factor for higher in-hospital mortality (P=0.004), reexploration for bleeding (P=0.002), sepsis (P=0.002), respiratory complications (P<0.001), mediastinitis (P=0.016), stroke (P=0.029), acute renal failure (P<0.001), atrial fibrillation (P=0.021) and CAVB (P=0.031). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that patients > 70 years-old were at increased risk of death and other complications in the CABG's postoperative period in comparison to younger patients.

FUNDAMENTO: O ciclismo indoor é um exercício aeróbico no qual se utiliza grandes grupamentos musculares dos membros inferiores, carente de impacto osteoarticular e de elevado gasto calórico, o que o torna interessante para se gerar uma estratégia não farmacológica. OBJETIVO: Analisar a composição corporal e o perfil lipídico sérico de mulheres com sobrepeso após doze semanas de dieta hipocalórica e treinamento de ciclismo indoor. MÉTODOS: Foram randomizadas 40 mulheres (23,90 ± 3,10 anos), subdivididas em quatro grupos: controle (C), ciclismo indoor (CI), ciclismo indoor associado a dieta hipocalórica (CD) e dieta hipocalórica (D). As variáveis analisadas foram: estatura e massa corporal, IMC, percentual de gordura, massa magra, triglicerídeos, colesterol e lipoproteinas (HDL,LDL,VLDL). O treinamento de ciclismo indoor consistiu em três sessões semanais de 45 minutos cada e a uma restrição energética de aproximadamente 1.200 kcal. O estudo teve duração de 12 semanas. Utilizou-se a estatística descritiva (média e desvio padrão) e inferencial (test t de Student). O nível de significância adotado foi de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Os grupos CI, CD e D reduziram significativamente as médias das variáveis antropométricas após as 12 semanas de intervenção (massa corporal, percentual de gordura e índice de massa corporal), além dos níveis séricos de colesterol total e triglicerídios. Em relação ao HDL colesterol, houve aumento significativo para os grupos CI e CD. CONCLUSÃO: De acordo com os resultados, o ciclismo indoor e a dieta hipocalórica contribuíram no combate ao sobrepeso bem como no controle do nível sérico dos lipídeos.

BACKGROUND: Indoor cycling is an aerobic exercise that employs large muscle groups of the lower limbs, lacking osteoarticular impact and high energy expenditure, which makes it interesting to generate a non-pharmacological strategy. OBJECTIVE: To assess body composition and lipid profile in overweight women after twelve weeks of low-calorie diet and indoor cycling training. METHODS: We randomly assigned 40 women (23.90 ± 3.10 years), divided into four groups: control (C), indoor cycling (CI), indoor cycling combined with low-calorie diet (CD) and low-calorie diet (D). The variables were: height and body mass, BMI, fat percentage, lean body mass, triglycerides, cholesterol and lipoproteins (HDL, LDL, VLDL). The indoor cycling training consisted of three weekly sessions of 45 minutes each and an energy restriction of about 1,200 kcal. The study lasted 12 weeks. We used descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Student's t test). The level of significance was p < 0.05. RESULTS: The groups CI, CD and D significantly reduced the mean anthropometric variables after 12 weeks of intervention (body mass, fat percentage and body mass index), and serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides. HDL cholesterol increased significantly for groups CI and CD. CONCLUSION: According to the results, the indoor cycling and the low-calorie diet helped fight overweight and control serum lipids.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência do antecedente familiar de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HASF) sobre o efeito do estresse do trabalho em bombeiros militares comunicantes (BMC), através da monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial (MAPA). MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo caso-controle. Foi realizada a MAPA em 66 BMC saudáveis, durante 12 horas de trabalho na central de comunicações (CC), sendo 34 filhos de hipertensos (grupo 1) e 32 filhos de normotensos (grupo 2). RESULTADOS: O grupo 1 diferiu do grupo 2, pois apresentou, no trabalho, maiores médias sistólicas (134,1 ± 9,9 mmHg X 120,8 ± 9,9 mmHg p < 0,0001) e diatólicas (83,8 ± 8,3 mmHg X 72,9 ± 8,6 mmHg p < 0,001) e maiores cargas sistólicas (31,4 ± 25,6 % X 9,4 ± 9,4 % p = 0,0001) e diastólicas (28,3 ± 26,6 % X 6,1 ± 8,9 % p = 0,0001). A prevalência de hipertensão arterial sistêmica (HAS) no grupo 1, no trabalho, foi de 32,3 %. Estes indivíduos, monitorados fora do trabalho, normalizaram a pressão arterial (hipertensos funcionais). O grupo 2 revelou pressão arterial (PA) normal no trabalho. CONCLUSÃO: A pressão arterial mais elevada em BMC filhos de hipertensos é explicada de maneira independente pela HASF e aqueles que desenvolveram HAS durante o turno de trabalho na CC, podem ser considerados hipertensos funcionais, enquanto, os BMC filhos de normotensos, submetidos ao estresse psicológico, estão livres de alterações na pressão arterial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of family history of systemic arterial hypertension (FSAH) on the effect of stress from work in Uniformed Firefighters (BMCs) through Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM). METHODS: A prospective case-control study. Sixty-six healthy BMC underwent ABPM during 12 hours of work at the Communication Center (CC). Thirty-four had hypertensive parents (group 1) and thirty-two had normotensive parents (group 2). RESULTS: Group I differed from group 2 in that it showed higher mean systolic (134.1 ± 9.9 mmHg X 120.8 ± 9.9 mmHg p < 0.0001) and diastolic (83.8 ± 8.3 mmHg X 72.9 ± 8.6 mmHg p < 0.001) blood pressure, in addition to greater systolic (31.4 ± 25.6 % X 9.4 ± 9.4 % p = 0.0001) and diastolic (28.3 ± 26.6 % X 6.1 ± 8.9 % p = 0.0001) loads. The prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) in group 1 at the workplace was 32.3%. Monitored away from the job, these subjects showed normal blood pressure (functionally hypertensive). Group 2 revealed normal blood pressure (BP) at work. CONCLUSION: Higher blood pressure in BMC with hypertensive parents is explained independently by the SAH. Subjects who developed SAH during their work at the CC may be considered functionally hypertensive, whereas those with normotensive parents and who underwent psychological stress are free of blood pressure changes.

OBJETIVO: Analisar a tendência temporal de letalidade atribuída ao infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) e se a mudança de conduta interferiu diretamente nesta letalidade. MÉTODOS: Avaliaram-se 1055 pacientes não selecionados internados em unidade coronariana de 1994-2003. Foram analisadas variáveis relacionadas ao perfil clínico e terapêutico. A análise estatística utilizou o amortecimento exponencial de séries temporais e outras técnicas como a regressão linear logística. RESULTADOS: A letalidade média foi de 10,8%, sendo 12% em 1994 e 7% em 2002 (p=0,000), uma redução relativa de 58%. Não houve variação significativa do perfil de risco dos pacientes. Eram 67,4% homens e 32,4% mulheres, com idade média de 60,93 e 64,84 anos, respectivamente e observou-se aumento significativo no percentual de cateterismos cardíacos (de 14% para 51%), na angioplastia realizada após 24 horas do infarto (de 2% para 33%), na cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (de 4% para 7%) e na angioplastia primária (de 4% para 11%) com p=0,000, p=0,021, p=0,000 e p=0,000, respectivamente, para tendência linear. Nas primeiras 24 horas houve aumento do uso de aspirina e betabloqueadores, de 78% para 100% e, de 33% para 76% (p=0,003 e p=0,004, respectivamente) ao longo dos anos. Após a análise, persistiram como determinantes de letalidade a terapia de reperfusão miocárdica, a utilização de aspirina e de betabloqueador nas primeiras 24 horas do IAM (p=0,010, p=0,024 e p=0,035, respectivamente). CONCLUSÃO: Houve queda da letalidade e a mudança de conduta no tratamento do IAM ao longo dos anos foi responsável pela redução da letalidade nesta série temporal.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the temporal tendency of lethality due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and if the change in behavior directly interfered in such lethality. METHODS: 1055 non-selected patients, who were hospitalized in coronary unit from 1994 to 2003, were assessed. Clinical and therapeutic profile-related variables were analyzed. The statistic analysis used the exponential damping of temporal series and other techniques, such as the logistic linear regression. RESULTS: The average lethality was 10.8%, being 12% in 1994 and 7% in 2002 (p=0.000), a relative reduction of 58%. There was no significant variation in the risk profile of the patients. There were 67.4% of men and 32.4% of women, with an average age of 60.93 and 64.84 years old, respectively. It was observed a significant increase in the percentage of cardiac catheterization (from 14% to 51%), in the angioplasty carried out 24 hours after the infarction (from 2% to 33%), in the surgery for myocardial revascularization (from 4% to 7%) and in the primary angioplasty (from 4% to 11%) with p=0.000, p=0.021, p=0.000 and p=0.000, respectively, for linear tendency. In the first 24 hours there was an increase of the use of aspirin and beta-blockers, from 78% to 100% and, from 33% to 76% (p=0.003 and p=0.004, respectively) along the years. After the analysis, the myocardial reperfusion therapy, the use of aspirin and beta-blocker in the first 24 hours of the AMI (p=0.010, p=0.024 and p=0.035, respectively) kept on being lethality determiners. CONCLUSION: There was a decrease in lethality and the change of behavior in the treatment of AMI along the years was responsible for the reduction of lethality in that temporal series.