Browsing by Author "Dias, Sara S."
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- Portuguese expatriates’ health in Angola and Mozambique—a cross-sectional study: increasing awareness and need for more surveillancePublication . Fonseca, Ana Glória; Dias, Sara S.; Baptista, João Luis; Torgal, JorgeBackground: Increasing numbers of expatriates are working in sub-Saharan Africa. There is little published data on the complex population and this survey aimed at understanding expatriate morbidity by accessing self-reported health problems and malaria preventive practices. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted targeting Portuguese expatriates in Angola and Mozambique. Logistic regression analysis explored factors associated with self-reported health problems and psy chological symptoms in the previous 3 months. Results: A total sample of 352 adult Portuguese urban civil occupational expatriates was obtained. Median length of expatriation was 3 years. Considering a 3-month timeframe, one in five expatriates reported new health problems and need of medical assistance, 5% were hospitalized and 64% reported general psychological symptoms. Less than 2% of subjects were on malaria chemoprophylaxis. Having chronic health conditions doubled the reporting of new health problems. Increasing length of expatriation was associated with decreasing reporting of general psychologi cal symptoms. Directors and executive managers and expatriates living alone tended to report more general psy chological symptoms. Conclusion: Expatriate communities deserve enhanced surveillance for the health issues that affect them. This will improve evidence-based preparation and intervention by public and travel health practitioners.
- 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.
- Validation of the Telephone-Administered Version of the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) QuestionnairePublication . Gregório, Maria João; Rodrigues, Ana M.; Salvador, Clara; Dias, Sara S.; Sousa, Rute D. de; Mendes, Jorge M.; Coelho, Pedro S.; Branco, Jaime C.; Lopes, Carla; Martínez-González, Miguel A.; Graça, Pedro; Canhão, HelenaA 14-Item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) questionnaire was developed and validated in face-to-face interviews, but not via telephone. The aims of this study were to evaluate the validity and reliability of a telephone-administered version of the MEDAS as well as to validate the Portuguese version of the MEDAS questionnaire. A convenience community-based sample of adults (n = 224) participated in a three-stage survey. First, trained researchers administered MEDAS via a telephone. Second, the Portuguese version of Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), and MEDAS were administered in a semi-structured face-to-face interview. Finally, MEDAS was again administered via telephone. The telephone-administered MEDAS questionnaire was compared with the face-to-face-version using several metrics. The telephone-administered MEDAS was significantly correlated with the face-to-face-administered MEDAS [r = 0.805, p < 0.001; interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.803, p < 0.001] and showed strong agreement (k = 0.60). The MEDAS scores that were obtained in the first and second telephone interviews were significantly correlated (r = 0.661, p < 0.001; ICC = 0.639, p < 0.001). The overall agreement between the Portuguese version of MEDAS and the FFQ-derived Mediterranean diet adherence score had a Cohen's k = 0.39. The telephone-administered version of MEDAS is a valid tool for assessing the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and acquiring data for large population-based studies.