Browsing by Author "Branco, Jaime Cunha"
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- Cohort Profile: The Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Cohort (EpiDoC)Publication . Rodrigues, Ana Maria; Gregório, Maria João; Sousa, Rute Dinis de; Branco, Jaime Cunha; Canhão, Helena; Dias, Sara
- Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its predictors in the Portuguese population: a nationwide population-based studyPublication . Duarte, Catia; Carvalheiro, Helena; Rodrigues, Ana M.; Dias, Sara S.; Marques, Andréa; Santiago, Tânia; Canhão, Helena; Branco, Jaime Cunha; Silva, José António Pereira daSummary Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide, but its prevalence is unknown in adult Portuguese population. In Portugal, 66% of adults present Vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency. Winter, living in Azores, older age, and obesity were the most important risk factors. It highlights the need of strategies to prevent vitamin D deficiency in Portugal. Objective To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of vitamin D deficiency in the adult Portuguese population. Methods Adults (≥ 18 years old) from the EpiReumaPt Study (2011–2013) were included. Standardized questionnaires on sociodemographic and lifestyle features were obtained. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were evaluated using ADVIA Centaur VitD competitive immunoassay (Siemens Healthineers) in 2015–2017 as 25 (OH)D Level 0: ≤ 10 ng/mL; Level 1: 11–19 ng/mL; Level 2: 20–29 ng/mL, and Level 3: ≥ 30 ng/mL. Weighted multinomial regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between socio-demographic and lifestyle variables and vitamin D status. Results Based on weighted analysis, the estimated prevalence of levels of 25(OH)D ≤ 10, < 20, and < 30 ng/mL was 21.2, 66.6, and 96.4%, respectively. The strongest independent predictors of serum 25 (OH)D ≤ 10 ng/mL were living in the Azores archipelagos (OR 9.39; 95%CI 1.27–69.6) and having the blood sample collection in winter (OR 18.53; 95%CI 7.83–43.87) or spring (11.55; 95%CI 5.18–25.74). Other significant predictors included older age (OR 5.65, 95%CI 2.08–15.35), obesity (OR 2.61; 95%CI 1.35–5.08), current smoking (OR 2.33; 95%CI 1.23–4.43), and female gender (OR 1.9, 95%CI 1.1–3.28). Conversely, physical exercise (OR 0.48, 95%CI 0.28–0.81) and occasional alcohol intake (OR 0.48, 95%CI 0.29–0.81) were associated with a lower risk of 25(OH)D ≤ 10 ng/mL. Conclusion Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency [25(OH)D < 20 ng/ml] is highly prevalent in Portugal, affecting > 60% of all Portuguese adults, with strong geographical and seasonal variation. This study highlights the need to critically assess the relevance of vitamin D deficiency as a public health problem and the urgent need for a wide and scientifically robust debate about the most appropriate interventions at the individual and societal levels.
- Psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis impact on health-related quality of life and working life: a comparative population-based study.Publication . Rodrigues, Joana; Rodrigues, Ana Maria; Sousa, Rute Dinis; Branco, Jaime Cunha; Canhão, Helena; Dias, SaraPsoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are chronic disorders that significantly impact patients' quality of life (QoL), health care systems and society. There is very limited data on the epidemiology and the impact of PsA and AS in Portugal, so in this study we aim to: 1) estimate the prevalence of PsA and AS in the adult Portuguese population; 2) compare health-related quality of life (QoL) of PsA and AS with the one of other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) and with subjects with no rheuma - tic diseases; 3) compare early retirement and productivity loss among PsA and AS with other RMD. Methods: We used data from EpiReumaPt, a population-based survey, conducted from 2011 to 2013, in which 10661 subjects, over 18 years old, were screened for RMD. Spondyloarthritis (SpA) was defined by a posi tive expert opinion combined with the fulfillment of the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Socie ty (ASAS) criteria for axial and peripheral SpA. Estimates were computed as weighted proportions considering the study design. Logistic regressions were used to compare AS/PsA subjects with other RMD and the adult Portuguese population without rheumatic di - seases. Results: Prevalence rate of SpA was of 1.6% (95% CI 1.2% to 2.1%). Subjects with AS or PsA had worse QoL, reflected by EQ5D score when compared with the adult Portuguese population without rheumatic diseases (b=- 0.08; p=0.031). AS and PsA also had worse QoL when compared with participants with other RMD (b=-0.22; p>0.001). AS and in comparison to patients with other RMD, PsA subjects retired early due to their illness (OR=4.95; 95% CI 1.54% to 15.93%). A significant proportion of patients with SpA (13.6%) referred absenteeism in the previous 12 months to the interview. Conclusions: AS and PsA were found to be associated with poor QoL and a high rate of disease-related early retirement, emphasizing the burden of such rheuma tic conditions in Portugal.