Showing papers by "Baltazar Nunes published in 2015"
TL;DR: The rise in unspecified excess mortality coincides with increased proportion of influenza detection in the European influenza surveillance schemes with a main predominance of influenza A (H3N2) viruses seen throughout Europe in the current season, though cold snaps and other respiratory infections may also have had an effect.
Abstract: Since December 2014 and up to February 2015, the weekly number of excess deaths from all-causes among individuals?≥?65 years of age in 14 European countries have been significantly higher than in the four previous winter seasons. The rise in unspecified excess mortality coincides with increased proportion of influenza detection in the European influenza surveillance schemes with a main predominance of influenza A(H3N2) viruses seen throughout Europe in the current season, though cold snaps and other respiratory infections may also have had an effect.
83 citations
TL;DR: The study suggests that education level, age, and functional status are significantly associated with abuse, and understanding of victim and perpetrator characteristics are fundamental to designing effective strategies for prevention and intervention.
Abstract: In this study, we present findings of the Portuguese national prevalence study, "Aging and Violence," the purpose of which was to estimate the prevalence of abuse and neglect of older people in family settings over a 12-month period and examine the relationship between abuse and sociodemographic and health characteristics. Through a telephone survey of a representative probability sample (N = 1,123), we evaluated 12 abusive behaviors and demographic data. Overall, 12.3% of older adults experienced elder abuse in family settings. The prevalence rates of specific types were as follows: psychological, 6.3%; financial, 6.3%; physical, 2.3%; neglect, 0.4%; and sexual, 0.2%. Logistic regression was employed to determine the relationship between abuse and covariates. The study suggests that education level, age, and functional status are significantly associated with abuse. Accurate estimates of the prevalence of elder abuse and understanding of victim and perpetrator characteristics are fundamental to designing effective strategies for prevention and intervention.
75 citations
TL;DR: The first time a cumulative risk assessment was performed on multiple mycotoxins present in breakfast cereals consumed by children from Lisbon region, Portugal found daily exposure of children to ochratoxin A, fumonisins and trichothecenes showed no health risks and exposure to aflatoxin B1 suggested a potential health concern for the high percentiles of intake.
47 citations
TL;DR: Urinary cotinine levels provided biochemical confirmation of the high and similar smoking prevalence for Romania, Portugal and Poland and the urgent need for stronger, more effective and well enforced smoke-free legislation in the three countries.
31 citations
02 Sep 2015
TL;DR: The health belief model is applied to evaluate beliefs and attitudes towards influenza disease and vaccine in community-dwelling high-risk individuals (aged 65 or more or having a chronic disease).
Abstract: Resumo da apresentacao publicado em: Gac Sanit. 2015;29 (Supl):166. Disponivel em: http://www.gacetasanitaria.org/es/vol-29-num-s/suplemento/congresos/X0213911115X24386/#II CONGRESO IBEROAMERICANO DE EPIDEMIOLOGIA Y SALUD PUBLICA
20 citations
TL;DR: This is the first RCT studying the effect of DT on the survival of terminally ill patients, and the increased survival of patients allocated to the DT, although modest, begs some explanation.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether those patients randomized to DT along with SPC had a survival advantage over those randomized to SPC alone. Ninety-two patients were assessed for eligibility, 80 of whom were randomized (39 to DT and 41 to SPC). All participants were ≥ 18 years old, had a prognosis ≤ 6 months, showed no evidence of dementia or delirium, had a MiniMental State score ≥ 20, were able to read and speak Portuguese and provided written informed consent. There were no differences between the two groups regarding baseline characteristics ( table 1 ). The estimated median survival time (measured as the time from first contact to death) was 23.2 days (95% CI 20.9–25.6) for the total sample (80 participants), 26.1 days (95% CI 23.2–20.0) for the DT group (39 participants) and 20.8 days (95% CI 17.4–24.2) for the control group (41 participants; p = 0.025). After adjustment by Cox regression for sex, age, educational level, occupation, tumor type, metastasis, performance status, previous treatment and follow-up in palliative care, group allocation remained a significant predictor of survival [hazard ratio of death for the DT group was 0.35 (95% CI 0.13–0.92)] (fig. 1). This is the first RCT studying the effect of DT on the survival of terminally ill patients. The increased survival of patients allocated to the DT, although modest, begs some explanation. Being engaged in a psychotherapeutic intervention may enhance a sense of meaning and purpose. Our RCT previously demonstrated the efficacy of DT compared to SPC on several psychosocial The empirical literature regarding the effect of psychotherapy on the survival of cancer patients is highly contested [1, 2] . Dignity therapy (DT) is a brief, individualized intervention, which gives terminally ill patients the opportunity to convey memories and important disclosures and to prepare a legacy document [3] . We conducted a 36-month phase II, nonblinded randomized controlled trial (RCT), comprised of two study arms: (1) DT and standard palliative care (SPC) and (2) SPC alone. Results demonstrating the significant benefits of DT on depressive and anxiety symptoms have been previously reported [4] . Received: April 13, 2014 Accepted after revision: July 24, 2014 Published online: December 24, 2014
9 citations
06 Oct 2015
9 citations
TL;DR: The aim of this work is to describe and discuss the international and national studies conducted to improve the understanding of the relationship between health and retirement, especially between chronic diseases and self-perceived health in retirement, and to highlight the importance of studying this subject from a public health point of view in Portugal.
7 citations
TL;DR: There is a high prevalence of risk alleles associated with an altered drug metabolism regarding drugs largely used by the South Portuguese population, which contributes to the prediction of their clinical efficacy and/or toxicity, optimizing therapeutic response while improving cost-effectiveness.
Abstract: Background: The genetic inter-individual variability of drug response can lead to therapeutic failure or adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The aims of this study wer
5 citations
24 Apr 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the weekly number of excess deaths from all-causes among individuals ≥ 65 years of age in 14 European countries have been significantly higher than in the four previous winter seasons.
Abstract: Since December 2014 and up to February 2015, the weekly number of excess deaths from all-causes among individuals?≥?65 years of age in 14 European countries have been significantly higher than in the four previous winter seasons. The rise in unspecified excess mortality coincides with increased proportion of influenza detection in the European influenza surveillance schemes with a main predominance of influenza A(H3N2) viruses seen throughout Europe in the current season, though cold snaps and other respiratory infections may also have had an effect.
5 citations
TL;DR: The objective was to establish an experimental procedure and show direct AFM measurements that unequivocally can be assigned as a surrogate for positive AFM in mice and show real-world implications for animal studies.
01 May 2015
TL;DR: A gradecimentos: A Rede Portuguesa de Laboratorios para o Diagnostico da Gripe, a RedeMedicos-Sentinela, a Servicos de Urgencia e de Obstetricia and a participants in EuroEVA as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Agradecimentos: A Rede Portuguesa de Laboratorios para o Diagnostico da Gripe, aos
Medicos-Sentinela, aos Servicos de Urgencia e de Obstetricia e aos participantes
no estudo EuroEVA. A Ines Batista pelo apoio logistico prestado a
Rede Medicos-Sentinela. A Doutora Cristina Furtado pela revisao cientifica
do artigo.
TL;DR: Abstract publicado em: Eur J Public Health; 25(Suppl 3): 398; doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckv176.069.
Abstract: publicado em: Eur J Public Health. 2015; 25(Suppl 3): 398. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckv176.069. Disponivel em: http://eurpub.oxfordjournals.org/content/eurpub/25/suppl_3/ckv176.069.full.pdf
TL;DR: A retrospective, nation-wide register analysis of hospitalized patients shows a significant increase in the prevalence of DM in subjects hospitalized with CAP, along with a longer hospitalization time and higher mortality rates in CAP patients with DM.
Abstract: Introduction: Respiratory infections are frequently associated with DM with general measures as well as flu and pneumococcal vaccination being recommended for people with DM. Portugal presents one of the highest prevalence rates of DM within Europe. Objectives: We have carried out a retrospective, nation-wide register analysis of hospitalized patients that aims to estimate the prevalence of DM among CAP patients and evaluate the impact of DM in CAP hospitalizations. Methods: Anonymized data from 158,377 CAP adult patients(2009-2012) were extracted from the National Hospital Discharge Database. Patients included in the study had CAP as main diagnosis on admission within the age range 20-79 that matched the National Diabetes Prevalence Study. Results: Within the 74,175 CAP episodes matching the inclusion criteria we found a high burden of DM that tended to increase over time (23.7% in 2009 to 28.1% in 2012). Importantly, the DM prevalence in CAP patients was significantly higher when compared to the national DM prevalence ( P P vs without DM (13.5%) ( P =0.002). Conclusions: Our data show a significant increase in the prevalence of DM in subjects hospitalized with CAP, along with a longer hospitalization time and higher mortality rates in CAP patients with DM. These results reinforce the relevance of DM as a risk factor for CAP and have informative value for strategies of patient awareness and future healthcare guidance. Funding: Pfizer Grant to Ernesto Roma Foundation.
01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: Agradecimentos: A Rede Portuguesa de Laboratorios para o Diagnostico da Gripe, aos Medicos-Sentinela, ao Servicos de Urgencia e de Obstetricia e aos participantes no estudo EuroEVA.
22 Dec 2015
TL;DR: In this article, a cobertura vacinal da vacina antigripal sazonal and pandémica for the EuroEVA (Efetividade da Vacina Antigrripal SAZonal in the European Union) project is presented.
Abstract: É conhecido que as epidemias de gripe são responsáveis por excessos de mortalidade e internamentos hospitalares (1-3). Aos indivíduos com resposta imunitária deficitária/diminuída a uma infeção, em particular os doentes crónicos e os idosos, está associado um risco acrescido de desenvolver complicações quando infetados pelo vírus da gripe (4). Desde 2008, os Departamentos de Epidemiologia e de Doenças Infeciosas do Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA) têm participado no projeto Europeu multicêntrico IMOVE (IMOVE Monitoring inf luenza vaccine efectiveness during inf luenza seasons and pandemics in the European Union) (5), através do projeto EuroEVA (Efetividade da Vacina Antrigripal na Europa – componente portuguesa), que pretende estimar a efetividade da vacina antigripal sazonal e pandémica durante e após a época de gripe. O conhecimento da efetividade da vacina antigripal (EV) é essencial para avaliar o efeito da vacina na mitigação da doença. As modificações contínuas do vírus influenza tornam necessária a reformulação da composição da vacina antigripal sazonal em todas as épocas e, consequentemente, as estimativas de EV de anos anteriores não podem ser consideradas em anos subsequentes, sendo, por isso, necessário estimar a efetividade para cada vacina sazonal. Entre 2009 e 2015, a cobertura da vacina sazonal, na população portuguesa em geral, variou entre 16,3% na época 2012/2013 e 19,5% na época 2009/2010 (6-9). A cobertura vacinal da vacina pandémica, também administrada em 2009/2010, foi de 3,3% (6). _Objetivo
31 Aug 2015
09 Sep 2015
18 Apr 2015
TL;DR: O INSEF beneficia de um apoio financeiro de cerca de 1.500.000€ concedido pela Islândia, Liechtenstein e Noruega atraves das EEA Grants as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: O INSEF beneficia de um apoio financeiro de cerca de 1.500.000€ concedido pela Islândia, Liechtenstein e Noruega atraves das EEA Grants
26 Apr 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the results of the exploratory study of the short Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS, 5 items) in a sample of Portuguese community-dwelling older adults were reported.
Abstract: adults, whereas depressive symptoms are two to four times more prevalent (Mulsant et al., 1999; Rinaldi et al., 2003). Fewer than 50% of older depressed subjects receive a correct diagnosis, and even fewer are adequately treated (OMS, 2001) mostly due to somatic and functional complaints similar to other illnesses, and to a devaluation of depression often viewed as “normal” adjustment to the changes that come in later life. The Geriatric Depression Scale attempts to overcome such problems by discarding items regarding somatic complaints. Its first version comprises 30 itens (Brink et al. 1982) but shorter versions have been developed and considered to be useful tools in research and community surveys. This poster reports the results of the exploratory study of the short Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS, 5 items) in a sample of Portuguese community-dwelling older adults. Short Version Of The Geriatric Depression Scale: Exploratory Study Of Its Validity In a Portuguese Sample
02 Sep 2015
TL;DR: Resumo da apresentacao publicado em: Gac Sanit, “Congreso IberoAMERICANO de EPIDEMIOLOGIA Y SALUD PUBLICA”, dia 29 de novembro de 2015.
Abstract: Resumo da apresentacao publicado em: Gac Sanit. 2015;29 (Supl):168. Disponivel em: http://www.gacetasanitaria.org/es/vol-29-num-s/suplemento/congresos/X0213911115X24386/#II CONGRESO IBEROAMERICANO DE EPIDEMIOLOGIA Y SALUD PUBLICA