Prevalence of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency and allele frequency in patients with COPD in Brazil.

Objective:: To determine the prevalence of alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency (AATD), as well as allele frequency, in COPD patients in Brazil.

Methods:: This was a cross-sectional study involving 926 COPD patients 40 years of age or older, from five Brazilian states. All patients underwent determination of AAT levels in dried blood spot (DBS) samples by nephelometry.

Comparison of face-to-face interview and telephone interview administration of COPD assessment test: a randomized study.

Objective: To assess the measurement properties of the COPD assessment test (CAT) in a randomized trial comparing a face-to-face interview (FFI) with a telephone interview (TI).

Methods: A randomized study was conducted at two teaching hospitals in Fortaleza, Brazil. Patients were randomly assigned to answer the CAT questionnaire either in a FFI or by TI.

[Atherogenic dyslipidemia in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus].

Background And Objective: To assess the prevalence of lipid abnormalities, with special emphasis on atherogenic dyslipidemia and its relationship with chronic complications in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Patients And Method: Cross-sectional study including all patients aged 18 and over, diagnosed of T1DM attending the outpatient clinic at Hospital del Mar and Hospital de Granollers, in Barcelona, during 2008.

Results: Of the 291 enrolled patients, 17.

Prevalence and related factors with the presence of albuminuria and its stages in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Background And Objectives: Despite the beneficial effects of intensive insulin therapy, nephropathy continues to be a major concern in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). Given the scarce data on this subject in our population, we performed an observational study in order to analyse the prevalence of albuminuria and its stages in a series of patients with type 1 DM and to evaluate the related factors.

Patients And Methods: Cross-sectional study that included all patients aged 18 and over, diagnosed of type 1 DM for at least 6 months, consecutively attended during 2008 at the Hospital del Mar de Barcelona and Hospital Granollers.

Insulin resistance and hypertension in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Aim: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of hypertension in type 1 diabetes patients and to analyze its relationship with insulin resistance and other associated factors.

Design And Methods: A cross-sectional study on 291 patients with type 1 immune-mediated diabetes managed at two outpatient endocrinology clinics was performed. All participants were Caucasian, 18 years or older with type 1 diabetes duration of more than 6 months, who had completed the study protocol.

The impact of smoking cessation on patient quality of life.

Objective: To evaluate changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after twelve months of smoking cessation.

Methods: This was a prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of a smoking cessation program on the quality of life of 60 self-referred subjects, at a public hospital, during the period of August 2006 to December 2007. The program consisted of 2-h group sessions once a week during the first month and then every 15 days over six months, followed by monthly phone contacts for another six months.

Outpatient smoking cessation program in the state of Ceará, Brazil: patient profiles and factors associated with treatment success.

Objective: To evaluate patient profiles and factors associated with successful treatment.

Methods: A retrospective study of patients enrolled in the smoking cessation program at the Hospital de Messejana, located in the state of Ceará, Brazil, from October of 2002 to April of 2005. The treatment was evaluated based on patient profile, type of medication prescribed and time on that medication.