Com o objetivo de avaliar o atendimento dos pacientes submetidos à intervenção cirúrgica cardiovascular no protocolo de atendimento na via rápida (fast track recovery) em relação ao protocolo convencional, foi comparada a movimentação dos pacientes atendidos em ambos os protocolos nas diferentes unidades hospitalares. O estudo foi realizado em hospital público universitário especializado em cardiologia de 400 leitos, de referência terciária para o Sistema Único de Saúde. Foram estudados 175 pacientes, 107 (61%) homens e 68 (39%) mulheres, de idades entre 2 meses a 81 anos, dos quais 107 operados no protocolo da via rápida e 68 no protocolo convencional. Foram avaliadas variáveis demográficas, clínicas e, para avaliar a movimentação dos pacientes nas diferentes unidades hospitalares, as taxas de alta por unidade de tempo em cada unidade. A análise estatística foi feita por meio de análise exploratória, método de Kaplan Meier e modelo de riscos proporcionais de Cox. A análise de variância foi empregada para comparar o faturamento das despesas. A taxa de alta das diferentes unidades hospitalares por unidade de tempo dos portadores de cardiopatia congênita atendidos no protocolo da via rápida em relação ao protocolo da via convencional foi: a) 11,3 vezes a taxa de alta quando assistidos no protocolo na via convencional quanto ao tempo de permanência no centro cirúrgico; b) 6,3 vezes quanto à duração da intervenção cirúrgica; c) 6,8 vezes quanto à duração da anestesia; d) 1,5 vezes quanto à duração da perfusão; e) 2,8 vezes quanto à permanência na unidade de recuperação pós-operatória I; f) 6,7 vezes quanto à duração da hospitalização; g) 2,8 vezes quanto à permanência na unidade de internação pré-operatória; h) 2,1 vezes quanto à permanência na unidade de internação após a alta da unidade de terapia intensiva de recuperação pós-operatória. Para os portadores de cardiopatia isquêmica, as taxas de alta das unidades hospitalares para os protocolos de atendimento no protocolo da via rápida e no protocolo convencional não demonstraram diferença estatisticamente significante. Os valores de faturamento das despesas de internação dos portadores de cardiopatia congênita decorrentes de exames e procedimentos realizados nas fases pré- e pós-operatória e dos exames da fase trans-operatória foram menores quando os pacientes foram assistidos no protocolo da via rápida. Portanto, os portadores de cardiopatias congênita apresentaram menor permanência hospitalar nos recursos médicos hospitalares instalados, quando assistidos no protocolo de atendimento na via rápida, bem como menores despesas nas fases pré- e pós- operatória da internação. / Objective - To evaluate patient assistance in pre, per and postoperative phases of cardiac surgical intervention under fast track recovering protocol compared to the conventional way. Patients - 175 patients were studied, 107 (61%) men and 68 (39%) women. Ages 2 months to 81 years old. Patients included: first surgical intervention, congenital and ischemic cardiopathy without complexity, normal ventricular function and with at least 2 preoperative ambulatory consultations. Patients submitted to emergency surgeries were excluded. Interventions - assistance submitted by fast track and conventional protocol. Statistical analysis (measures) - exploratory, uni-varied (Kaplan Meier) and multi-varied (Cox) of the time in each admission unit. Hospital installations were classified in ambulatory, preoperative admission unit, surgical center, postoperative recovery unit and postoperative admission unit; the expression of this use was the discharge rate by unit of time from the significant interaction observed between assistance protocol and the kind of cardiopathy for the stay in the surgical center, surgical intervention time, stay in postoperative recovery unit, anesthesia time and time between admission and surgery dates. Results - the patients of congenital cardiopathy who underwent the protocol of conventional way recovery in relation to the fast track protocol, in the reliability range of 95% allows one to state that discharge rate by unit of time of the congenital cardiopathy patients assisted by the fast track protocol was: 11.3 times the discharge rate when assisted by the conventional way protocol as to the time of staying in the surgical center; 6.3 times as to the duration of the surgical intervention; 6.8 times as to duration of the anesthesia; 1.5 times as to the duration of the perfusion; 2.8 times as to the stay in the postoperative recovery unit; 6.7 times as to the stay in the hospital (period of time between the admission and the discharge date); 2.8 times as to the stay in the preoperative admission unit ( period of time between the admission date and the surgery date); 2.1 times as to the stay in the postoperative unit (period of time between the date of leaving the postoperative recovery unit and the date of discharge from the hospital). For the ischemia cardiopathy patients the risks concerning the protocols of recovery by the traditional way and the fast track were the same. CONCLUSIONS - The data concerning this study allows one to suggest that the assistance can be more efficient if one takes into consideration some variables studied in the protocol of fast track recovery. The congenital and ischemic cardiopathy patients presented shorter interval of time (concerning hospital stay in doctor-hospital installed facilities) when assisted in the fast track recovery protocol as well as fewer expenses with medical and hospital assistance.

Introdução - A intoxicação por chumbo é um conhecido problema de saúde pública e o envenenamento por este metal pode causar danos a vários órgãos, especialmente ao Sistema Nervoso Central de crianças em desenvolvimento. Objetivo geral- estudar a associação entre exposição a chumbo e comportamento anti-social (CAS) em adolescentes brasileiros. Objetivos específicos: a) analisar a associação entre exposição a chumbo e CAS / cometimento de atos infracionais (CAI); b) estudar potenciais fontes de exposição domiciliar a chumbo que mais estão associadas a altas concentrações de chumbo no esmalte dentário (CCED) e; c) avaliar o impacto de alterações metodológicas na técnica de microbiópsia ácida de esmalte dentário superficial (MAEDS) sobre CCED e profundidade da bíópsia. Métodos- Um estudo transversal foi conduzido com 173 jovens (Bauru, SP). MAEDS foram realizadas nestes jovens por dois diferentes protocolos metodológicos. Além disso, questionários sobre comportamento dos adolescentes e exposição a possíveis fontes de contaminação por chumbo foram aplicados a pais e adolescentes. Análises de regressão logística, testes de Wilcoxon e testes t pareados foram aplicados aos dados. Resultados- Odd ratios ajustados para covariáveis indicaram que alta CCED está associada a risco aumentado de exceder o escore clínico para queixas somáticas, problemas sociais, comportamento de quebrar regras e problemas externalizantes (IC 95%). Alta CCED não foi associado com escores elevados de CAI. Os fatores de risco mais associados com alta CCED foram residir em área contaminada ou até 2 km da área contaminada e trabalhar na fabricação de tintas, pigmentos, cerâmicas ou baterias. A profundidade da biópsia, calculada pela fórmula da altura do cilindro, para um dos protocolos, levou a resultados errôneos de profundidade da biópsia, confirmados por testes de perfilometria. Conclusões- A exposição a altos níveis de chumbo parece disparar o estabelecimento de CAS, o que alerta para a necessidade de desenvolvimento e implantação de políticas públicas de saúde que previnam o envenenamento da população por chumbo. Adolescentes foram expostos ao chumbo por algumas fontes estudadas, no Brasil. O esmalte dentário é um marcador fidedigno e a MAEDS é bastante útil e confiável. No entanto, CCEDs não podem ser comparadas entre resultados de pesquisas diferentes quando houver qualquer variação metodológica entre os estudos, havendo a necessidade da padronização do procedimento. / Introduction - Lead poisoning is a long known public health problem. Thus, lead exposure may cause damage to diverse organs, especially in the Central Nervous System of children in developing process. Objectives- a) to analyze the association between lead exposure and antisocial / delinquent behavior; b) to study the potential sources of lead home exposure more associated to high dental enamel lead levels (DELL) and c) to evaluate two distinct enamel biopsy protocols in relation to biopsy depth and DELL. Methods- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 173 adolescents (Bauru, SP, Brazil). Surface dental enamel (SDE) etch-acid microbiopsies were performed in upper central incisors of these youths by two different methodological protocols. In addition, questionnaires about adolescents behavior and about possible sources of lead contamination were responded by youths and their parents. Logistic regression, Wilcoxon and paired t tests were applied to data. Results- Odd ratios adjusted for familial and social covariates indicated that high DELL is associated with increased risk of exceeding the clinical score for somatic complaints, social problems, rulebreaking behavior (T70) and externalizing problems (T63) (CI 95%). High DELL was not found to be associated with elevated SRD scores. The risk factors associated to high DELL were residing in contaminated area or close proximity and working in paints, pigments, ceramic or batteries manufacturing. The biopsy depth, calculated by the cylinder formula, for Protocol II induced misleading results, as confirmed by profilometry tests. Conclusions- It seems that exposure to high lead levels can indeed trigger antisocial behavior, which claims for public policies to prevent lead poisoning. Adolescents were exposed to lead, by some studied sources, in Brazil. SDE, measured by etch-acid microbiopsy, is a reliable biomarker, but DELL could not be compared when there is some methodological variation among the studies. A standardization of the procedure is necessary.

Introdução - A intoxicação por chumbo é um conhecido problema de saúde pública e o envenenamento por este metal pode causar danos a vários órgãos, especialmente ao Sistema Nervoso Central de crianças em desenvolvimento. Objetivo geral- estudar a associação entre exposição a chumbo e comportamento anti-social (CAS) em adolescentes brasileiros. Objetivos específicos: a) analisar a associação entre exposição a chumbo e CAS / cometimento de atos infracionais (CAI); b) estudar potenciais fontes de exposição domiciliar a chumbo que mais estão associadas a altas concentrações de chumbo no esmalte dentário (CCED) e; c) avaliar o impacto de alterações metodológicas na técnica de microbiópsia ácida de esmalte dentário superficial (MAEDS) sobre CCED e profundidade da bíópsia. Métodos- Um estudo transversal foi conduzido com 173 jovens (Bauru, SP). MAEDS foram realizadas nestes jovens por dois diferentes protocolos metodológicos. Além disso, questionários sobre comportamento dos adolescentes e exposição a possíveis fontes de contaminação por chumbo foram aplicados a pais e adolescentes. Análises de regressão logística, testes de Wilcoxon e testes t pareados foram aplicados aos dados. Resultados- Odd ratios ajustados para covariáveis indicaram que alta CCED está associada a risco aumentado de exceder o escore clínico para queixas somáticas, problemas sociais, comportamento de quebrar regras e problemas externalizantes (IC 95%). Alta CCED não foi associado com escores elevados de CAI. Os fatores de risco mais associados com alta CCED foram residir em área contaminada ou até 2 km da área contaminada e trabalhar na fabricação de tintas, pigmentos, cerâmicas ou baterias. A profundidade da biópsia, calculada pela fórmula da altura do cilindro, para um dos protocolos, levou a resultados errôneos de profundidade da biópsia, confirmados por testes de perfilometria. Conclusões- A exposição a altos níveis de chumbo parece disparar o estabelecimento de CAS, o que alerta para a necessidade de desenvolvimento e implantação de políticas públicas de saúde que previnam o envenenamento da população por chumbo. Adolescentes foram expostos ao chumbo por algumas fontes estudadas, no Brasil. O esmalte dentário é um marcador fidedigno e a MAEDS é bastante útil e confiável. No entanto, CCEDs não podem ser comparadas entre resultados de pesquisas diferentes quando houver qualquer variação metodológica entre os estudos, havendo a necessidade da padronização do procedimento. / Introduction - Lead poisoning is a long known public health problem. Thus, lead exposure may cause damage to diverse organs, especially in the Central Nervous System of children in developing process. Objectives- a) to analyze the association between lead exposure and antisocial / delinquent behavior; b) to study the potential sources of lead home exposure more associated to high dental enamel lead levels (DELL) and c) to evaluate two distinct enamel biopsy protocols in relation to biopsy depth and DELL. Methods- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 173 adolescents (Bauru, SP, Brazil). Surface dental enamel (SDE) etch-acid microbiopsies were performed in upper central incisors of these youths by two different methodological protocols. In addition, questionnaires about adolescents behavior and about possible sources of lead contamination were responded by youths and their parents. Logistic regression, Wilcoxon and paired t tests were applied to data. Results- Odd ratios adjusted for familial and social covariates indicated that high DELL is associated with increased risk of exceeding the clinical score for somatic complaints, social problems, rulebreaking behavior (T70) and externalizing problems (T63) (CI 95%). High DELL was not found to be associated with elevated SRD scores. The risk factors associated to high DELL were residing in contaminated area or close proximity and working in paints, pigments, ceramic or batteries manufacturing. The biopsy depth, calculated by the cylinder formula, for Protocol II induced misleading results, as confirmed by profilometry tests. Conclusions- It seems that exposure to high lead levels can indeed trigger antisocial behavior, which claims for public policies to prevent lead poisoning. Adolescents were exposed to lead, by some studied sources, in Brazil. SDE, measured by etch-acid microbiopsy, is a reliable biomarker, but DELL could not be compared when there is some methodological variation among the studies. A standardization of the procedure is necessary.

This study estimates the association between dietary factors and spontaneous pancreatitis in dogs. A case-control study was conducted using 198 dogs with a clinical diagnosis of pancreatitis and 187 control dogs with a diagnosis of renal failure without clinical evidence of pancreatitis. Information on signalment, weight, body condition, dietary intake, medical history, diagnostic tests performed, concurrent diseases, treatment, length of hospital stay, and discharge status was extracted from medical records for dogs admitted to the Texas A&M University Small Animal Clinic (TAMU SAC) during January 2000 to December 2005. Information on dietary intake, signalment, weight, medical, surgical and environmental history was collected for the same dogs through a telephone questionnaire conducted from November 2006 through January 2007. Descriptive statistics were calculated, tabular analyses performed, and logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Based on information extracted from the medical records, ingesting unusual food (OR=4.3; CI=1.7 to 10.7), ingesting table food (OR=1.5; CI=1.0 to 2.2), or exposure to both of these dietary factors (OR=2.1; CI=1.3 to 3.2) increased the odds of pancreatitis. Collected through the telephone questionnaire, ingesting unusual food (OR=6.1; CI=2.2 to 16.5), ingesting table scraps the week before diagnosis (OR=2.2; CI=1.2 to 3.8) or regularly throughout life (OR=2.2; CI=1.2 to 4.0), and getting into the trash (OR=13.2; CI=2.1 to undefined) increased the odds of pancreatitis. Multivariable modeling estimated the associations of exposure to one or more dietary factors reported through the telephone questionnaire (OR=2.6; CI=1.4 to 5.0), overweight (OR=1.3; CI=0.7 to 2.5), year of diagnosis (OR=3.5; CI=1.9 to 6.5), neuter status (OR=3.6; CI=1.4 to 9.5), non-neuter surgery (OR=21.1; CI=3.3 to 133.9) and an interaction term between neuter status and non-neuter surgery (OR=0.1; CI=0.01 to 0.4). Dietary factors increase the odds of spontaneous pancreatitis in dogs.

This study estimates the association between dietary factors and spontaneous pancreatitis in dogs. A case-control study was conducted using 198 dogs with a clinical diagnosis of pancreatitis and 187 control dogs with a diagnosis of renal failure without clinical evidence of pancreatitis. Information on signalment, weight, body condition, dietary intake, medical history, diagnostic tests performed, concurrent diseases, treatment, length of hospital stay, and discharge status was extracted from medical records for dogs admitted to the Texas A&M University Small Animal Clinic (TAMU SAC) during January 2000 to December 2005. Information on dietary intake, signalment, weight, medical, surgical and environmental history was collected for the same dogs through a telephone questionnaire conducted from November 2006 through January 2007. Descriptive statistics were calculated, tabular analyses performed, and logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Based on information extracted from the medical records, ingesting unusual food (OR=4.3; CI=1.7 to 10.7), ingesting table food (OR=1.5; CI=1.0 to 2.2), or exposure to both of these dietary factors (OR=2.1; CI=1.3 to 3.2) increased the odds of pancreatitis. Collected through the telephone questionnaire, ingesting unusual food (OR=6.1; CI=2.2 to 16.5), ingesting table scraps the week before diagnosis (OR=2.2; CI=1.2 to 3.8) or regularly throughout life (OR=2.2; CI=1.2 to 4.0), and getting into the trash (OR=13.2; CI=2.1 to undefined) increased the odds of pancreatitis. Multivariable modeling estimated the associations of exposure to one or more dietary factors reported through the telephone questionnaire (OR=2.6; CI=1.4 to 5.0), overweight (OR=1.3; CI=0.7 to 2.5), year of diagnosis (OR=3.5; CI=1.9 to 6.5), neuter status (OR=3.6; CI=1.4 to 9.5), non-neuter surgery (OR=21.1; CI=3.3 to 133.9) and an interaction term between neuter status and non-neuter surgery (OR=0.1; CI=0.01 to 0.4). Dietary factors increase the odds of spontaneous pancreatitis in dogs.

Therapeutic horseback riding (THR) uses the horse as a therapeutic apparatus in physical and psychological therapy. This dissertation suggests a more appropriate technique for measuring the effect of THR. A research survey of the statistical methods used to determine the effect of THR was undertaken. Although researchers observed clinically meaningful change in several of the studies, this was not supported by statistical tests. A logistic regression approach is proposed as a solution to many of the problems experienced by researchers on THR. Since large THR related data sets are not available, data were simulated. Logistic regression and t-tests were used to analyse the same simulated data sets, and the results were compared. The advantages of the logistic regression approach are discussed. This statistical technique can be applied in any field where the therapeutic value of an intervention has to be proven scientifically. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Statistics)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:06:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4331.pdf: 1908865 bytes, checksum: d564b46a6111fdca6f7cc9f4d5596637 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-03-18 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / The Weibull distribuition is a common initial choice for modeling data with monotone hazard rates. However, such distribution fails to provide a reasonable parametric _t when the hazard function is unimodal or bathtub-shaped. In this context, Cooray (2006) proposed a generalization of the Weibull family by considering the distributions of the odds of Weibull and inverse Weibull families, referred as the odd Weibull family which is not just useful for modeling unimodal and bathtub-shaped hazards, but it is also convenient for testing goodness-of-_t of Weibull and inverse Weibull as submodels. In this project we have systematically studied the odd Weibull family along with its properties, showing motivations for its utilization, inserting covariates in the model, pointing out some troubles associated with the maximum likelihood estimation and proposing interval estimation and hypothesis test construction methodologies for the model parameters. We have also compared resampling results with asymptotic ones. Coverage probability from proposed con_dence intervals and size and power of considered hypothesis tests were both analyzed as well via Monte Carlo simulation. Furthermore, we have proposed a Bayesian estimation methodology for the model parameters based in Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) simulation techniques. / A distribuição Weibull é uma escolha inicial freqüente para modelagem de dados com taxas de risco monótonas. Entretanto, esta distribuição não fornece um ajuste paramétrico razoável quando as funções de risco assumem um formato unimodal ou em forma de banheira. Neste contexto, Cooray (2006) propôs uma generalização da família Weibull considerando a distribuição da razão de chances das famílias Weibull e Weibull inversa, referida como família Weibull de razão de chances. Esta família não é apenas conveniente para modelar taxas de risco unimodal e banheira, mas também é adequada para testar a adequabilidade do ajuste das famílias Weibull e Weibull inversa como submodelos. Neste trabalho, estudamos sistematicamente a família Weibull de razão de chances e suas propriedades, apontando as motivações para o seu uso, inserindo covariáveis no modelo, veri_cando as di_culdades referentes ao problema da estimação de máxima verossimilhança dos parâmetros do modelo e propondo metodologia de estimação intervalar e construção de testes de hipóteses para os parâmetros do modelo. Comparamos os resultados obtidos por meio dos métodos de reamostragem com os resultados obtidos via teoria assintótica. Tanto a probabilidade de cobertura dos intervalos de con_ança propostos quanto o tamanho e poder dos testes de hipóteses considerados foram estudados via simulação de Monte Carlo. Além disso, propusemos uma metodologia Bayesiana de estimação para os parâmetros do modelo baseados em técnicas de simulação de Monte Carlo via Cadeias de Markov.

Com o objetivo de avaliar o atendimento dos pacientes submetidos à intervenção cirúrgica cardiovascular no protocolo de atendimento na via rápida (fast track recovery) em relação ao protocolo convencional, foi comparada a movimentação dos pacientes atendidos em ambos os protocolos nas diferentes unidades hospitalares. O estudo foi realizado em hospital público universitário especializado em cardiologia de 400 leitos, de referência terciária para o Sistema Único de Saúde. Foram estudados 175 pacientes, 107 (61%) homens e 68 (39%) mulheres, de idades entre 2 meses a 81 anos, dos quais 107 operados no protocolo da via rápida e 68 no protocolo convencional. Foram avaliadas variáveis demográficas, clínicas e, para avaliar a movimentação dos pacientes nas diferentes unidades hospitalares, as taxas de alta por unidade de tempo em cada unidade. A análise estatística foi feita por meio de análise exploratória, método de Kaplan Meier e modelo de riscos proporcionais de Cox. A análise de variância foi empregada para comparar o faturamento das despesas. A taxa de alta das diferentes unidades hospitalares por unidade de tempo dos portadores de cardiopatia congênita atendidos no protocolo da via rápida em relação ao protocolo da via convencional foi: a) 11,3 vezes a taxa de alta quando assistidos no protocolo na via convencional quanto ao tempo de permanência no centro cirúrgico; b) 6,3 vezes quanto à duração da intervenção cirúrgica; c) 6,8 vezes quanto à duração da anestesia; d) 1,5 vezes quanto à duração da perfusão; e) 2,8 vezes quanto à permanência na unidade de recuperação pós-operatória I; f) 6,7 vezes quanto à duração da hospitalização; g) 2,8 vezes quanto à permanência na unidade de internação pré-operatória; h) 2,1 vezes quanto à permanência na unidade de internação após a alta da unidade de terapia intensiva de recuperação pós-operatória. Para os portadores de cardiopatia isquêmica, as taxas de alta das unidades hospitalares para os protocolos de atendimento no protocolo da via rápida e no protocolo convencional não demonstraram diferença estatisticamente significante. Os valores de faturamento das despesas de internação dos portadores de cardiopatia congênita decorrentes de exames e procedimentos realizados nas fases pré- e pós-operatória e dos exames da fase trans-operatória foram menores quando os pacientes foram assistidos no protocolo da via rápida. Portanto, os portadores de cardiopatias congênita apresentaram menor permanência hospitalar nos recursos médicos hospitalares instalados, quando assistidos no protocolo de atendimento na via rápida, bem como menores despesas nas fases pré- e pós- operatória da internação. / Objective - To evaluate patient assistance in pre, per and postoperative phases of cardiac surgical intervention under fast track recovering protocol compared to the conventional way. Patients - 175 patients were studied, 107 (61%) men and 68 (39%) women. Ages 2 months to 81 years old. Patients included: first surgical intervention, congenital and ischemic cardiopathy without complexity, normal ventricular function and with at least 2 preoperative ambulatory consultations. Patients submitted to emergency surgeries were excluded. Interventions - assistance submitted by fast track and conventional protocol. Statistical analysis (measures) - exploratory, uni-varied (Kaplan Meier) and multi-varied (Cox) of the time in each admission unit. Hospital installations were classified in ambulatory, preoperative admission unit, surgical center, postoperative recovery unit and postoperative admission unit; the expression of this use was the discharge rate by unit of time from the significant interaction observed between assistance protocol and the kind of cardiopathy for the stay in the surgical center, surgical intervention time, stay in postoperative recovery unit, anesthesia time and time between admission and surgery dates. Results - the patients of congenital cardiopathy who underwent the protocol of conventional way recovery in relation to the fast track protocol, in the reliability range of 95% allows one to state that discharge rate by unit of time of the congenital cardiopathy patients assisted by the fast track protocol was: 11.3 times the discharge rate when assisted by the conventional way protocol as to the time of staying in the surgical center; 6.3 times as to the duration of the surgical intervention; 6.8 times as to duration of the anesthesia; 1.5 times as to the duration of the perfusion; 2.8 times as to the stay in the postoperative recovery unit; 6.7 times as to the stay in the hospital (period of time between the admission and the discharge date); 2.8 times as to the stay in the preoperative admission unit ( period of time between the admission date and the surgery date); 2.1 times as to the stay in the postoperative unit (period of time between the date of leaving the postoperative recovery unit and the date of discharge from the hospital). For the ischemia cardiopathy patients the risks concerning the protocols of recovery by the traditional way and the fast track were the same. CONCLUSIONS - The data concerning this study allows one to suggest that the assistance can be more efficient if one takes into consideration some variables studied in the protocol of fast track recovery. The congenital and ischemic cardiopathy patients presented shorter interval of time (concerning hospital stay in doctor-hospital installed facilities) when assisted in the fast track recovery protocol as well as fewer expenses with medical and hospital assistance.

This diploma thesis is focused on the analysis of small samples where it is not possible to obtain more data. It can be especially due to the capital intensity or time demandingness. Where the production have not a wherewithall for the realization more data or absence of the financial resources. Of course, analysis of small samples is very uncertain, because inferences are always encumbered with the level of uncertainty.

No / Although guidelines indicate when patients are eligible for antihypertensives and statins, little is known about whether general practitioners (GPs) follow this guidance. To determine the factors influencing GPs decisions to prescribe cardiovascular prevention drugs. DESIGN OF STUDY: Secondary analysis of data collected on patients whose cardiovascular risk factors were measured as part of a controlled study comparing nurse-led risk assessment (four practices) with GP-led risk assessment (two practices). SETTING: Six general practices in the West Midlands, England. PATIENTS: Five hundred patients: 297 assessed by the project nurse, 203 assessed by their GP. MEASUREMENTS: Cardiovascular risk factor data and whether statins or antihypertensives were prescribed. Multivariable logistic regression models investigated the relationship between prescription of preventive treatments and cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Among patients assessed by their GP, statin prescribing was significantly associated only with a total cholesterol concentration >/= 7 mmol/L and antihypertensive prescribing only with blood pressure >/= 160/100 mm Hg. Patients prescribed an antihypertensive by their GP were five times more likely to be prescribed a statin. Among patients assessed by the project nurse, statin prescribing was significantly associated with age, sex, and all major cardiovascular risk factors. Antihypertensive prescribing was associated with blood pressures >/= 140/90 mm Hg and with 10-year cardiovascular risk. LIMITATIONS: Generalizability is limited, as this is a small analysis in the context of a specific cardiovascular prevention program. CONCLUSIONS: GP prescribing of preventive treatments appears to be largely determined by elevation of a single risk factor. When patients were assessed by the project nurse, prescribing was much more consistent with established guidelines.