OBJECTIVE: To compare the measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure obtained by auscultatory (mercury sphygmomanometer) and oscillometric (digital device Omron HEM-412C) methods.
METHODS: Participated in the study 22 older men (age: 67.4 ± 4.8 years; body mass: 79.4 ± 13.1 kg; stature: 1.7 ± 0.8 m), members of a program of regular exercise. The digital device Omron HEM-412C was connected in "Y" with the mercury sphygmomanometer. Three measures of blood pressure were obtained, with two minutes of interval between the measurements. Two "blind" evaluators recorded values of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
RESULTS: The systolic and diastolic blood pressure measures obtained by auscultatory and oscillometric methods did not showed significant differences (p > 0.05). Positive and significant correlations between the methods were observed for systolic blood pressure (r = 0.96; p < 0.05) and diastolic (r = 0.91; p < 0.05). The mean differences (± standard deviation) systolic and diastolic blood pressure between both methods were 1.5 ± 5.4 mmHg e -0.2 ± 4.5 mmHg, respectively.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate similarity in the measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure obtained by mercury sphygmomanometer and digital device Omron HEM-412C.

Keywords: aging; hypertension; oscillometry.

INTRODUCTION: Subjects suffering from acute coronary syndrome and lower glomerular filtration rates are associated with worse outcomes. Although many different formulas to estimate glomerular filtration rates were developed, it has not been well established which one is more powerful to predict outcomes in elderly subjects with acute coronary syndrome.
OBJECTIVE: To compare three formulas for glomerular filtration rate in order to predict intra-hospital mortality and other outcomes.
METHODS: Intra-hospital retrospective cohort including elderly people with acute coronary syndrome, and who were admitted at an Intensive Care Unit of Cardiology between January 1^st and December 31^st, 2013. Cockcroft-gault, MDRD and CKD-EPI were used to calculate the glomerular filtration rate.
RESULTS: A hundred and twenty-two people were analyzed, 51.6% men, with a mean age of 73.5 years. The mortality was 19.6%. The mean glomerular filtration rates for Cockcroft-Gault, MDRD and CKD-EPI were, respectively, 70.24 mL/min. (± 33.35), 74.70 mL/min./1.73 m² (± 30.91), and 69.79 mL/min./1.73 m² (± 23.82). All formulas were associated with death (p<0.001 versus 0.028 versus 0.028), use of antibiotics (p = 0.002 versus < 0.001 versus 0.001), and hemodialysis (p < 0.001 versus 0.003 versus 0.003). Using the ROC curve, the Cockcroft-Gault showed the highest predictive value (0.701 versus 0.634 versus 0.639) and was the only one with statistical significance (95%CI 0.579 - 0.822, p = 0.006), for intra-hospital mortality.
CONCLUSION: The Cockcroft-Gault was the best formula to predict mortality.

Keywords: elderly; glomerular filtration rate; acute coronary syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the civic participation of the elderly in Brazil, so it was proposed to investigate the factors associated with the participation of the elderly in the presidential election of 2010.
METHODS: We analyzed the data from an epidemiological cross-sectional and observational survey conducted in 2010-2011, involving 7,315 elderly identified by home visits to randomly selected census sectors of 59 cities in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Logistic regression analysis used the dichotomous dependent variable if the elderly not voted in the 2010 election (voted), and the independent variables were: socio-demographic, lifestyle, mobility difficulties, self-rated health and number of comorbidities.
RESULTS: Regardless of age, 71% of older adult respondents voted. The percentage of elderly between 60 and 69 years who voted was higher than that observed in the general population. Men and women had similar frequencies. Significant factors to vote in the 2010 elections were: age, education, self-rated health, morbidity, mobility, safety, reading newspapers, watching news on television, community activities, regular physical activity, economic activity and knowledge of the Statute of the Elderly.
CONCLUSION: Elderly voters in Rio Grande do Sul are younger, married, with excellent or good self-rated health, with more morbidities, without walking difficulties, remain informed, know the Statute of the Elderly and are social, physical and economically active.

Keywords: social participation; aging; politics; public health.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the occurrence of potential high-risk drug-drug interactions in elderly individuals with dementia.
METHODS: The sample was chosen from a geriatric outpatient clinic of the Multidisciplinary Center for the Elderly in the University Hospital of Brasília. This cross-sectional study included patients aged 60 or older with a diagnosis of dementia. The prescriptions were analyzed using the Lexi-Interact^® database to identify possible potential drug-drug interactions.
RESULTS: The study included 97 participants. Sixty-one patients (62.9%) had at least one clinically important potential drug-drug interactions (risks C and D). Of the 264 interactions identified, 23 (8.7%) were classified as risk D, 14 were pharmacodynamics and nine pharmacokinetic.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest an increased frequency in the occurrence of clinically significant potential drug-drug interactions in dementia patients. This reinforces the need for drug-drug interaction studies in specific populations.

Keywords: aged; drug interactions; geriatrics; dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of a psychoeducational intervention on elderly offenders.
METHODS: This is a qualitative research. Seven elderly family members, who were not their caregivers, accused of attacking them, and who responded to a process at Special Criminal Court for the Elderly and 1^st Court for Domestic and Family Violence against women in the municipality of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, were evaluated. Socio-demographic data was filled, followed by a psychoeducational intervention, and then, a semi-structured interview was performed. Data were analyzed through thematic content analysis.
RESULTS: The themes which emerged from psychoeducational intervention and semi-structured interview showed the following: (a) related to the way of thinking about old age, there was evidence of greater understanding of aging complexity; (b) aging process and elderly rights were the issues that sensitized them most; (c) among the attitudes, they would seek to avoid: do not live with the elderly, do not contradict, do not discuss, and to reflect before committing violence against him/her; (d) in relation to felt needs, they referred to the creation of courses and training to guide people on how to live and take care of the elderly.
CONCLUSION: The results showed that psychoeducational intervention contributed to sensitization, reflection and awareness on the part of the attackers about aging complexity, the demands that accompany it, and the importance of understanding the elderly, holistically.

Keywords: aged; domestic violence; family; crisis intervention.

In the literature it is widely recognized that the clinical manifestations of Alzheimer disease are not limited to cognitive changes, but also include the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs), which refer to a heterogeneous group of disorders of perception, thinking, mood, personality, behavior, and basic functions. It is unclear whether the presence of the NPSs is intensified with certain attitudes and behaviors of the caregiver. It is known that the quality of life of the patient and the caregiver, and the ability to provide care at home depend on the caregiver's ability to adapt and respond to these behavioral problems appropriately. However, caregivers differ in their management strategies, some being more successful than others. This study aims to present research data on this topic and to discuss behavior and attitudes of caregivers who can contribute to the NPSs in patients with Alzheimer disease.

Keywords: dlzheimer disease; caregivers; social behavior.