Quality of life of hypertensive and diabetic patients: Who suffers the most?

Objective: Quality of life was measured using the EQ-5D index for Portugal and a Self-Assessed Ranking of Health (SARH) to understand which patients suffer the most decrease in quality of life: diabetics or hypertensive. Method: Using the National Health Survey (NHS), two analyses were conducted on 5649 respondents. The EQ-5D index was calculated by matching questions in the NHS with its dimensions. The SARH was calculated based on a specific question in the NHS. Results: Differences between diseases do not occur using the EQ-5D index. Using the SARH, type 1 diabetics suffer the most while hypertensive suffers the least.

Massa corporal e aptid��o f��sica dos militares da Marinha Portuguesa : distribui����o e tend��ncias segundo os indicadores, preval��ncia e poss��veis consequ��ncias do excesso de peso

RESUMO - O excesso de peso (EP) �� um dos mais graves problemas de Sa��de P��blica deste s��culo XXI, dada a sua elevada e crescente preval��ncia a n��vel mundial, afectando um elevado n��mero de adultos, adolescentes e crian��as, com graves consequ��ncias na sa��de, sendo respons��vel pelo aumento das doen��as cr��nicas e pela diminui����o da dura����o e qualidade de vida dos indiv��duos. Em Portugal, a preval��ncia do EP afecta mais de metade da popula����o adulta portuguesa. No meio militar, este problema �� reflexo da preval��ncia do EP na popula����o em geral e, para al��m das consequ��ncias econ��micas e na sa��de, prejudica a apar��ncia militar e pode comprometer a aptid��o f��sica. Pretende-se com realizar um estudo explorat��rio, com vista a realizar uma primeira abordagem do conhecimento do perfil e tend��ncias do ��ndice de massa corporal (IMC), bem como da preval��ncia do EP e, ainda, de poss��veis associa����es entre o EP e a aptid��o f��sica, numa amostra representativa de militares no activo da Marinha Portuguesa (MP). Com os resultados deste estudo pretende-se alertar, pela primeira vez, para a problem��tica do EP no meio militar, contribuindo tamb��m para ampliar o conhecimento da preval��ncia do EP em subgrupos da popula����o nacional. Os resultados obtidos poder��o servir de base para a constitui����o de um sistema de vigil��ncia, para um correcto entendimento da evolu����o da tend��ncia do IMC e da preval��ncia de EP dos militares da MP, bem como disponibilizar uma base de partida para outros estudos, focando os determinantes do EP associados a estilos de vida. ------------ABSTRACT - Overweight and obesity severe Public Health problems of the XXI Century due to its high and increasing worldwide prevalence, including Portugal, and it afects a high number of adults, adolescents and children, with serious health consequences, being responsible for the increase of chronic diseases and for lower life quality and lower life expectancy. In Portugal, overweight prevalence affects more than half of adult���s population. Among the Navy, overweight problem reflects population���s tendency, and, besides it���s economic and health consequences, can affect military image and can jeopardize physical fitness with consequences in the Navy response and performance. This study carries out an exploratory first approach of body���s mass index profile and trends, as well the prevalence of overweight in a representative sample of on duty Portuguese Navy staff, and the potential links between overweight and physical fitness among this population. It outcome seeks, for the first time, to draw attention to the overweight problematic among Navy staff, being also a way to enhance the knowledge of overweight prevalence among population sub-groups. It outcome can be a starting point for the set up of monitoring systems, for a correct understanding body���s mass index evolution trends and the prevalence Navy staff overweight, being also a foundation for other studies, foc

Sobrecarga e qualidade de vida em cuidadores informais de pessoas com dem��ncia

RESUMO: Introdu����o: A sobrecarga do cuidador informal de pessoas com dem��ncia est�� associada �� sua qualidade de vida. Objetivo: Analisar as associa����es entre qualidade de vida e sobrecarga familiar nestes cuidadores informais, assim como as rela����es entre estas vari��veis e outros fatores. Materiais e m��todos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal (descritivo e anal��tico). A amostra de conveni��ncia foi composta de 33 cuidadores. O estudo foi realizado nos servi��os de consultas externas de dois centros do Instituto das Irm��s Hospitaleiras do Sagrado Cora����o de Jesus. Os dados foram obtidos atrav��s da aplica����o das escalas: Entrevista de Sobrecarga de Zarit, WHOQOL-Bref, Escala de Atividades Instrumentais de Vida Di��ria de Lawton e Brody e ��ndice de Barthel. Na an��lise dos dados foram empregues estat��sticas descritivas e testes n��o param��tricos. Os testes empregues consistiram no teste de Mann-Whitney e teste de Kruskal-Wallis. O n��vel de signific��ncia considerado em todas as an��lises foi de 5%. Todos os dados obtidos foram analisados com recurso ao programa estat��stico SPSS 21.0. Resultados: Os cuidadores com menores ��ndices de sobrecarga evidenciaram uma correla����o negativa com todos os dom��nios da qualidade de vida (p���0.002). Os cuidadores homens revelaram-se menos sobrecarregados enquanto cuidadores principais (p=0.023). A exist��ncia de um cuidador secund��rio foi indicador de uma melhor qualidade de vida dos cuidadores, nos dom��nios das rela����es sociais (p=0.034) e do meio ambiente (p=0.034). Quanto mais prolongado o tempo de cuidados para os cuidadores avaliados, menor a sua qualidade de vida, ao n��vel f��sico (p=0.003) e do meio ambiente (p=0.000). A situa����o de sobrecarga foi tanto maior quanto menor a idade do cuidador (p=0.003). A independ��ncia da pessoa com dem��ncia ao n��vel instrumental tamb��m se traduziu numa melhor qualidade de vida dos cuidadores, em todos os dom��nios desta vari��vel e, numa menor situa����o de sobrecarga dos cuidadores (p=0.017). Conclus��es: Uma maior sobrecarga dos cuidadores informais de pessoas com dem��ncia est�� associada a indicadores mais baixos de qualidade de vida, em todos dom��nios desta vari��vel. No presente estudo, os principais fatores a ter em conta na avalia����o dos cuidadores de pessoas com dem��ncia foram: o g��nero, a exist��ncia de um cuidador secund��rio e a independ��ncia da pessoa cuidada nas atividades instrumentais da vida di��ria. Foi tamb��m poss��vel analisar que as vari��veis sobrecarga e qualidade de vida n��o se relacionam apenas entre si mas, concomitantemente, com diferentes situa����es da vida do cuidador. Uma interven����o mais atenta ��s caracter��sticas de cada cuidador poderia vir a repercutir-se numa menor sobrecarga e numa melhor qualidade de vida, quer do cuidador como, eventualmente, da pessoa cuidada.------------ ABSTRACT: Introduction and objectives: The overload of informal caregivers of people with dementia tends to be inversely associated with their life quality. This study aims to analyze the associations between the family overload and the life quality of these informal caregivers, as well as the relationships between these variables and other sociodemographic and functional factors. Population and methods: It���s a cross-sectional study (descriptive and analytical). The convenience sample was composed of 33 informal caregivers. The study was carried out in the external services consultations of two centers of the Institute of the Hospitable Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The data were obtained by applying the following scales: Overload Interview of Zarit, WHOQOL-Bref, Scale of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living of Lawton and Brody, and Barthel Index. Results: We found a negative correlation between the family overload and every domains of life quality (p ��� 0.002). The men caregivers proved to be less burdened than the main caregivers (p = 0.023). The existence of a secondary caregiver was an indicator of a better life quality in the fields of social relations (p = 0.034) and in the environment (p = 0.034). The evaluated caregivers, more prolonged time occupy to care, lower was their life quality on the physical level (p = 0.003) and on the environment (p = 0.000). The overload levels were bigger whereas the lower age of the caregiver (p = 0.003). The independence of the person with dementia on the instrumental level rendered a better life quality for caregivers in all domains of this variable and also provided a minor burden for the caregivers (p = 0.017). Conclusions: In this small sample, the higher burden to the informal caregivers of people with dementia is associated with lower indicators of life quality, in every domains of this variable. In this study, the main factors to keep in count in the evaluation to the caregivers of people with dementia were: the gender, the existence of a secondary caregiver and the independence of the person to be cared in his instrumental activities of daily living. We also observed that the overload and life quality variables do not relate only to each other but at the same time with different situations of the life of the caregiver. A closer intervention to the characteristics of each caregiver could reflect a lower overload and a better life quality of the caregiver and eventually as well as the person to be cared of.

Groundwater quality, vulnerability and potential assessment in Kobo Valley development project, Ethiopia

This study deals with investigating the groundwater quality for irrigation purpose, the vulnerability of the aquifer system to pollution and also the aquifer potential for sustainable water resources development in Kobo Valley development project. The groundwater quality is evaluated up on predicting the best possible distribution of hydrogeochemicals using geostatistical method and comparing them with the water quality guidelines given for the purpose of irrigation. The hydro geochemical parameters considered are SAR, EC, TDS, Cl-, Na+, Ca++, SO4 2- and HCO3 -. The spatial variability map reveals that these parameters falls under safe, moderate and severe or increasing problems. In order to present it clearly, the aggregated Water Quality Index (WQI) map is constructed using Weighted Arithmetic Mean method. It is found that Kobo-Gerbi sub basin is suffered from bad water quality for the irrigation purpose. Waja Golesha sub-basin has moderate and Hormat Golena is the better sub basin in terms of water quality. The groundwater vulnerability assessment of the study area is made using the GOD rating system. It is found that the whole area is experiencing moderate to high risk of vulnerability and it is a good warning for proper management of the resource. The high risks of vulnerability are noticed in Hormat Golena and Waja Golesha sub basins. The aquifer potential of the study area is obtained using weighted overlay analysis and 73.3% of the total area is a good site for future water well development. The rest 26.7% of the area is not considered as a good site for spotting groundwater wells. Most of this area fall under Kobo-Gerbi sub basin.

Environmental quality of life index incorporationg MCA & GIS : case study Lisbon Metropolitan Area, Portugal

The study of Quality of Life (Qol) has been conducted on various scales throughout the years with focus on assessing overall quality of living amongst citizens. The main focus in these studies have been on economic factors, with the purpose of creating a Quality of Life Index (QLI).When it comes down to narrowing the focus to the environment and factors like Urban Green Spaces (UGS) and air quality the topic gets more focused on pointing out how each alternative meets this certain criteria. With the benefits of UGS and a healthy environment in focus a new Environmental Quality of Life Index (EQLI) will be proposed by incorporating Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Working with MCA on complex environmental problems and incorporating it with GIS is a challenging but rewarding task, and has proven to be an efficient approach among environmental scientists. Background information on three MCA methods will be shown: Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Regime Analysis and PROMETHEE. A survey based on a previous study conducted on the status of UGS within European cities was sent to 18 municipalities in the study area. The survey consists of evaluating the current status of UGS as well as planning and management of UGS with in municipalities for the purpose of getting criteria material for the selected MCA method. The current situation of UGS is assessed with use of GIS software and change detection is done on a 10 year period using NDVI index for comparison purposes to one of the criteria in the MCA. To add to the criteria, interpolation of nitrogen dioxide levels was performed with ordinary kriging and the results transformed into indicator values. The final outcome is an EQLI map with indicators of environmentally attractive municipalities with ranking based on predefinedMCA criteria using PROMETHEE I pairwise comparison and PROMETHEE II complete ranking of alternatives. The proposed methodology is applied to Lisbon���s Metropolitan Area, Portugal.