The impact of community pharmacies on equity in access to professional rapid antigen testing for SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal.

Introduction: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, various public health measures were adopted to reduce the transmission risk, including the full reimbursement of SARS-CoV-2 professional rapid antigen detection tests (Ag-RDT) conducted in clinical pathology laboratories, community pharmacies (CPs), and other authorized entities. This study aimed to assess the impact of integrating CPs into the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS) testing strategy on the capacity of professional Ag-RDT delivery, and to compare the equity in testing access with and without CPs participation.

Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study assessed the impact of adding CPs into the testing strategy based on two main outcomes by municipality: (i) average distance (in Kilometres) of the population to the nearest Ag-RDT site; and (ii) the average number of weekly hours available to testing per 1,000 inhabitants, as of January 31, 2022.

Global longitudinal strain as an early marker of cardiac damage after cardiotoxic medications, a state of the art review.

Ejection fraction (EF) is the principal parameter used clinically to assess cardiac function and provides prognostic information. However, significant myocardial damage can be present despite preserved EF. Recently, the measurement of left ventricle (LV) deformation by global longitudinal strain (GLS) has been introduced as a novel early marker of cardiac dysfunction.

Patterns of outpatient proton‒pump inhibitors use among older adults in a duplicative health system: comparing public and private prescribing.

Background: Proton-pump-inhibitors (PPIs) are overprescribed, posing challenges to patients and healthcare systems. In Portugal, the public National Health Service (NHS) provides universal coverage and reimburses medication regardless of prescription origin, i.e.

Subclinical target organ damage in a sample of children and adolescents with solitary functioning kidney. A pilot study.

Background: Patients with solitary functioning kidney appear to be exposed to an increased cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of peripheral and central blood pressure on subclinical cardiovascular organ damage in a sample of children and adolescents with solitary functioning kidney.

Methods: Carotid ultrasonography was performed to measure the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and the carotid distensibility coefficient.