Oral health behavior associated with cardiometabolic outcomes: A nationally representative cross-sectional study in Portugal.

Background: Oral diseases are associated with the development of cardiometabolic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between oral health behaviors (tooth brushing and oral health appointments) with cardiometabolic diseases.

Methods: Data from the First National Health Examination Survey were used.

Comparative Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing Infections and Disease Progression from SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 and BA.2, Portugal.

We estimated comparative primary and booster vaccine effectiveness (VE) of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.5 and BA.2 lineages against infection and disease progression.

Longitudinal association between grip strength and the risk of heart diseases among European middle-aged and older adults.

Background: Few multi-country European studies have investigated the association between grip strength and heart diseases incidence. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyse the longitudinal relationship between grip strength and the diagnosis of heart diseases in European middle-aged and older adults.

Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (2004-2017).

COVID-19 mRNA vaccine effectiveness (second and first booster dose) against hospitalisation and death during Omicron BA.5 circulation: cohort study based on electronic health records, Portugal, May to July 2022.

We measured vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19-related severe outcomes in elderly people in Portugal between May and July 2022. In ≥ 80 year-olds, the second booster dose VE was 81% (95% CI: 75-85) and 82% (95% CI: 77-85), respectively, against COVID-19-related hospitalisation and death. The first booster dose VE was 63% (95% CI: 55-70) in ≥ 80 year-olds and 74% (95% CI: 66-80) in 60-79 year-olds against hospitalisation, and 63% (95% CI: 57-69) and 65% (95% CI: 54-74) against death.

Local problem solving in the Portuguese health examination survey: a mixed method study.

Background: Participation rates in health surveys, recognized as an important quality dimension, have been declining over the years, which may affect representativeness and confidence in results. The Portuguese national health examination survey INSEF (2015) achieved a participation rate of 43.9%, which is in line with participation rates from other similar health examination surveys.

PM10 exposure interacts with abdominal obesity to increase blood triglycerides: a cross-sectional linkage study.

Background: Blood lipids and glucose levels dysregulation represent potential mechanisms intermediating the adverse cardiovascular effects of ambient particulate matter (PM) exposure. This study aims to estimate the effect of long-term PM10 exposure on blood lipids and glucose levels and to assess the potential mediation and/or modification action of abdominal obesity (AO) (waist-to-height ratio).

Methods: Our study was based on 2,390 participants of the first Portuguese Health Examination Survey (INSEF, 2015) with available data on blood lipids and glucose parameters and living within a 30-km radius of an air quality monitoring station with available PM10 measurements.

Estimation of the 10-Year Risk of Fatal Cardiovascular Disease in the Portuguese Population: Results from the First Portuguese Health Examination Survey (INSEF 2015).

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Portugal and globally. Cardiovascular risk algorithms, namely the SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation), are recommended in the context of cardiovascular disease prevention. Our aim is to estimate and characterize the cardiovascular risk of the Portuguese population aged between 40 and 65 years old, in 2015, using the SCORE algorithm.

Successful weight loss maintenance: A systematic review of weight control registries.

Weight loss maintenance is a major challenge for obesity treatment. Weight control registries can be useful in identifying psychological and behavioural factors that could contribute to better long-term success. The objective of this study is to describe the existing weight control registries and their participants and identify correlates of weight loss maintenance.

Sociodemographic disparities in hypertension prevalence: Results from the first Portuguese National Health Examination Survey.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of death and disability worldwide, and hypertension is responsible for at least 45% of all deaths due to heart disease and 51% of deaths due to stroke. This study aimed to estimate and describe the distribution of prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in the Portuguese population in 2015.

Methods: A national survey using a representative sample of 4911 individuals residing in Portugal and aged between 25 and 74 years was implemented.

Spectrum of congenital anomalies among VACTERL cases: a EUROCAT population-based study.

Background: The VACTERL (Vertebral anomalies, Anal atresia, Cardiac malformations, Tracheo-Esophageal fistula, Renal anomalies, Limb abnormalities) association is the non-random occurrence of at least three of these congenital anomalies: vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheo-esophageal, renal, and limb anomalies. Diagnosing VACTERL patients is difficult, as many disorders have multiple features in common with VACTERL. The aims of this study were to clearly outline component features, describe the phenotypic spectrum among the largest group of VACTERL patients thus far reported, and to identify phenotypically similar subtypes.

Ambient air pollution and lipid profile: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Ambient air pollution (AAP) is recognized a cardiovascular risk factor and lipid profile dysregulation seems to be one of the potential mediators involved. However, results from epidemiologic research on the association between exposure to AAP and altered lipid profile have been inconsistent. This study aims to systematically review and meta-analyse epidemiologic evidence on the association between exposure to ambient air pollutants (particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, back carbon) and lipid profile parameters (Total cholesterol; High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol; Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol; TG-Triglycerides) or dyslipidaemia.

Differential self-report error by socioeconomic status in hypertension and hypercholesterolemia: INSEF 2015 study.

Background: This study aimed to compare self-reported and examination-based prevalence of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in Portugal in 2015 and to identify factors associated with the measurement error in self-reports.

Methods: We used data from the Portuguese National Health Examination Survey (n = 4911), that combines personal interview, blood collection and, physical examination. Sensitivity and specificity of self-reported hypertension and hypercholesterolemia were calculated.

The first Portuguese National Health Examination Survey (2015): design, planning and implementation.

Background: In Health Examination Surveys interview information is complemented with objective information, providing more accurate indicators than self-reported data. We report the study design, planning and implementation of the first Portuguese Health Examination Survey (INSEF).

Methods: INSEF was a cross-sectional population-based study representative at regional and national level.

[Diabetes: Socioeconomic Inequalities in the Portuguese Population in 2014].

Introduction: Diabetes is a major public health problem and it is related to socioeconomic factors. The aim of this study is to describe socioeconomic inequalities in the distribution of diabetes in the population with 25 years or more, resident in Portugal in 2014.

Material And Methods: Data from the Health National Survey 2014 was analysed, n = 16 786.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Portugal: Results from the First Portuguese Health Examination Survey (INSEF 2015).

Obesity is recognised as a serious public health issue, due to its associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed at estimating the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the Portuguese population through direct measurements obtained by the 1st National Health Examination Survey (INSEF 2015) and to identify its associated sociodemographic factors. INSEF was a nationally representative cross-sectional prevalence study conducted on 4911 Portuguese adults aged 25-74 years, in 2015.

Estimating Global Burden of Disease due to congenital anomaly: an analysis of European data.

Objective: To validate the estimates of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) due to congenital anomaly for Europe by comparing infant mortality data collected by EUROCAT registries with the WHO Mortality Database, and by assessing the significance of stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly (TOPFA) in the interpretation of infant mortality statistics.

Design, Setting And Outcome Measures: EUROCAT is a network of congenital anomaly registries collecting data on live births, fetal deaths from 20 weeks' gestation and TOPFA. Data from 29 registries in 19 countries were analysed for 2005-2009, and infant mortality (deaths of live births at age <1 year) compared with the WHO Mortality Database.

Chemically modified amino porphyrin/TiO for the degradation of Acid Black 1 under day light illumination.

In this paper, for the first time, chemically modified 5,10,15,20-meso-tetra-(para-amino)-phenyl-porphyrin/TiO (TPAPP/TiO) was prepared and used for the degradation of an azo dye Acid Black 1 (AB 1) under direct sunlight. Initially, TiO was prepared by sol-gel method. Before making a TPAPP/TiO composite, the surface modification of TiO was carried out with glycidoxypropyltrimethoxy silane (GPTMS) which acts as a coupling agent.

Hospitalization Risk Due to Respiratory Illness Associated with Genetic Variation at IFITM3 in Patients with Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Infection: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Recent studies suggest an association between the Interferon Inducible Transmembrane 3 (IFITM3) rs12252 variant and the course of influenza infection. However, it is not clear whether the reported association relates to influenza infection severity. The aim of this study was to estimate the hospitalization risk associated with this variant in Influenza Like Illness (ILI) patients during the H1N1 pandemic influenza.

Congenital anomalies associated with trisomy 18 or trisomy 13: A registry-based study in 16 European countries, 2000-2011.

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of trisomies 18 and 13 in Europe and the prevalence of associated anomalies. Twenty-five population-based registries in 16 European countries provided data from 2000-2011. Cases included live births, fetal deaths (20+ weeks' gestation), and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly (TOPFAs).

Major congenital anomalies in babies born with Down syndrome: a EUROCAT population-based registry study.

Previous studies have shown that over 40% of babies with Down syndrome have a major cardiac anomaly and are more likely to have other major congenital anomalies. Since 2000, many countries in Europe have introduced national antenatal screening programs for Down syndrome. This study aimed to determine if the introduction of these screening programs and the subsequent termination of prenatally detected pregnancies were associated with any decline in the prevalence of additional anomalies in babies born with Down syndrome.