O câncer apresenta-se no Brasil como a segunda maior causa de morte nos últimos anos. A caquexia neoplásica é uma síndrome que contribui para uma pior qualidade de vida, maior morbidade e mortalidade. Este trabalho descreveu a ocorrência de caquexia em pacientes internados no Programa de Internação Domiciliar Interdisciplinar Oncológico do Hospital Escola/Universidade Federal de Pelotas em relação a sexo, idade, Índice de Massa Corporal, tipo de câncer, estadiamento, presença de metástases e sintomas relacionados à doença. A caquexia cancerosa foi caracterizada pela presença de anorexia, perda de peso, de massa magra e de gordura corporal, detectadas através da Avaliação Subjetiva Global Produzida pelo Paciente. Foram avaliados 108 pacientes, no período de fevereiro de 2006 a fevereiro de 2008. A prevalência de caquexia na internação foi de 46% e a incidência cumulativa no período foi de 25%. No total dos 65 pacientes caquéticos, que correspondem a 60% da amostra, 55 % eram do sexo masculino, com idade aproximada de 59 anos e média de Índice de Massa Corporal de 21 Kg/m2. Sessenta e seis por cento apresentavam estadiamento IV e 85% eram portadores de metástases. Quanto à localização do tumor, 26% apresentaram câncer no aparelho digestivo e 25% no pulmão. Na análise bivariada, foi observado que a média de pontuação dos sintomas, do escore de exame físico e a pontuação total da Avaliação Subjetiva Global Produzida pelo Paciente estiveram diretamente associadas à presença de caquexia. No grupo de pacientes estudados, intervenções nutricionais e/ou medicamentosas com objetivo de aliviar os sintomas podem ter efeito na redução da ocorrência de caquexia.

food intake among the population studied seems to be in accordance to the recommended frequencies, especially among women.

Background Obesity leeds to poor health and may afffect work productivity. We aim to investigate the association between obesity and absenteeism and its indirect costs. Methods Individuals employeed and actively working at baseline form the EpiDoC Cohort, a large portuguese population-based prospective study analized from 2011 to 2016. Body mass index was assessed during baseline appointment. Follow-up assessment was performed through a phone interview and self reported absenteeism defined by the question”did you have a sick leave in previous 12 months? yes/no”, followed by the number of days missed work due to sickness in the previous twelve months.(1) Negative Binomial Regression model estimated the association between obesity and absenteeism. Indirect costs were computed using the human-capital method. Results EpiDoC cohort had 4338 participants who were working adults at baseline. The prevalence of obesity among working adults was 15.2% and of absenteeism was 29.4%. Obesity was associated with an increase in absenteeism incidence rate ratio by 31% (p < 0.01). Obese individual miss 3.9 days per year (95% CI 3.1-4.5). This number is higher in women, 4.6 days per year (95% CI 3.6-5.6) and according to the professional categories women with white collar professions were 82% (p < 0.01) more likely to miss work than peers with their normal weight. Extrapolating for the entire working population, absenteeism due to obesity has an estimated cost of 236€ million per year. Conclusions Obesity is an independent risk factor for absenteeism among working adults wich leads to high societal burden in terms of costs. Food and nutrition policies are needed in order improve food patterns and reduce obesity levels among south european population. Key messages Obesity is an independent risk factor for absenteeism among working adults. Obesity increases absenteeism mainly in women and has a major impact on economies.

Background Obesity leads to poor health outcomes and may adversely affect work productivity. Here, we aimed to investigate the association between obesity and absenteeism and to assess its indirect costs. Methods The study population included individuals actively working at baseline from the Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Cohort (EpiDoC), a large Portuguese population-based prospective study. Body mass index was measured at baseline and in two follow-up interviews. Absenteeism in each wave of the EpiDoC was assessed by the question “Did you have a sick leave in the previous 12 months? yes/no”, followed by “How many days did you miss work due to sickness in the previous twelve months?”. Association between obesity and absenteeism was estimated with the negative binomial regression model, and indirect costs were computed by the human-capital approach. Results The EpiDoC included 4338 working adults at baseline. Prevalence of obesity among these individuals was 15.2% at baseline, and rate of absenteeism was 22.7%. Obesity was associated with a 31% increase in absenteeism incidence rate ratio (P < 0.01), with obese individuals missing 3.8 more days per year than those with normal weight (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 3.1–4.5). This number is higher in women (4.6 days per year; 95%CI: 3.6–5.6), and obese women with white collar professions were 82% (P < 0.01) more likely to miss work. Extrapolating to the entire working population, absenteeism due to obesity incurred an additional cost of €236 million per year. Conclusion Obesity is an independent risk factor for absenteeism among working adults, leading to high economic costs. These findings suggest improved food and nutrition policies are needed to control the obesity epidemic and reduce the associated economic burden.