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- Characterization of potential intoxications with medicines in a regional settingPublication . Nascimento, Tânia; Santos, Teresa; Rato, Fátima; De Sousa-Coelho, Ana LuísaThe Portuguese Poison Information Center (from Portuguese—CIAV) is a call center that offers medical assistance in case of possible intoxication with any kind of product, including medicines. This center´s main goal is to inform and guide the general public and health professionals. This work aimed to analyze and compare data corresponding to the telephone calls from the Algarve region (South of Portugal), received by CIAV during 2019 and 2020, regarding potential intoxications with medicines. To this end, data provided by CIAV on possible cases of medication intoxication in the Algarve region were collected, including the number of calls received, the place of origin of the call, the age group and sex of the intoxicated individual, the route of exposure to the drug, the circumstances of contact with the substance, the existence of symptoms, and the drug or drugs involved in the potential intoxication. The results showed that the number of cases slightly decreased in 2020 (n = 1261) compared with 2019 (n = 1340), with a high number of cases of intoxication in children between one and four years old in both years (21.2%; n = 152 in 2019; 16.4%; n = 115 in 2020). The drugs belonging to the locomotor system group (paracetamol and ibuprofen) were the main drugs involved, followed by the central nervous system pharmacotherapeutic group, namely benzodiazepines (diazepam and alprazolam). Paracetamol was the main drug responsible for the calls to CIAV (n = 71 in 2019; n = 63 in 2020), while for the remaining drugs there were fluctuations in their positions between both years. In some cases, this swinging may be explained by the possible changes in therapy due to potential interactions with drugs used for the treatment of symptoms of COVID-19 or perhaps related to misleading information released by the media about the use of some drugs, such as ibuprofen, during lockdown periods. Although there has been a decrease in calls to report possible drug intoxication in the Algarve region, the profile of calls was very similar. Paracetamol was the drug with the highest number of reported cases and the group of psychotropic drugs showed the largest increase between 2019 and 2020.
- Health literacy assessment: Translation and cultural adaptation to the Portuguese populationPublication . Espírito Santo, Margarida; Nascimento, Tânia; Pinto, Ezequiel; De Sousa-Coelho, Ana Luísa; Newman, JeffHealth literacy (HL) has been widely referenced as a determinant of health outcomes, making the assessment of low HL a fundamental step to plan educational interventions. This study aimed to translate and adapt the Short Assessment of Health Literacy-Spanish and English (SAHL-S&E) questionnaire into European Portuguese.
- Adequação terapêutica da utilização de inibidores da bomba de protões: estudo exploratórioPublication . Espírito Santo, Margarida; De Sousa-Coelho, Ana Luísa; Duarte, Denise; Nascimento, TâniaO aumento acentuado do consumo de fármacos inibidores da bomba de protões (IBPs) que se tem verificado nos últimos cinco anos fez surgir a necessidade de analisar a sua utilização na prática clínica atual e avaliar as possíveis consequências associadas ao seu consumo. Pretendeu-se com este estudo analisar a adequação terapêutica da utilização de IBPs na prática clínica de uma farmácia comunitária.
- Laxative use by community pharmacy users in southern PortugalPublication . Lourenço, Laura; De Sousa-Coelho, Ana Luísa; Nascimento, Tânia; Assunção, Lucília; Espírito Santo, MargaridaThe aim of this study was the characterization of laxative use by Pharmacy users, including the prevalence of use, types of laxatives used, and places for acquiring and obtaining advice on laxatives. METHODS: A cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried, using a structured questionnaire, in a Community Pharmacy located in Faro, Portugal. During a period of 3 weeks, all Pharmacy users (≥18 years) who agreed to voluntarily participate in this study, were enrolled. Our study sample included 50 users, mainly women (74%), aged from 22 to 94 years (median of 59 years). RESULTS: Most of the participants (88%) reported to be suffering or to have previously suffered from constipation, whereas 62% indicated to be suffering with symptoms for more than 3 years. From those, 64% had presented symptoms of constipation more than once a week in the previous year. Whenever users felt constipated, more than half (58%) indicated to use a laxative. Contact laxatives were the more often used (63%), while 18% and 8% of the participants indicated to have used bulk-forming and osmotic laxatives, respectively, during the previous year. Over half of the participants (54%) indicated to use laxatives at least on a weekly basis, with 38% presenting a daily consumption. Elderly users, ≥60 years, were who used laxatives more often (65% daily; p<0.001). Whereas Pharmacies were the preferred place to purchase laxatives (85%), only about 40% of the users indicated to ask for health professional advise at the time of acquisition. CONCLUSIONS: A high rate and frequency of laxative use was identified in the study sample, particularly contact laxatives. It is imperative, therefore, to provide users with more information on non-pharmacological measures to avoid and approach constipation and its symptoms, as well as further information such as overuse complications, allowing the appropriate selection of the laxative. Pharmacy professionals have a key role on this area, and related education campaigns should be implemented.
- Potential impact of metabolic syndrome control on cardiovascular risk in elderly patients with diabetes: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Nascimento, Tânia; Estêvão, Maria Dulce da Mota Antunes de Oliveira ; Gonçalves, Adriana; Pinto, Ezequiel; De Sousa-Coelho, Ana Luísa; Neto Espírito-Santo, Margarida de FátimaMetabolic syndrome (MS), a complex pathology with features like abnormal body fat distribution, insulin resistance, and dyslipidaemia, contributes to higher cardiovascular (CV) risk. A cross-sectional study including 87 individuals assessed CV risk score in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes and MS in Algarve, Portugal. The 10-year CV risk score was estimated using the ADVANCE risk score calculator. The reductions in CV risk score were estimated by adjusting the data inputted on the online tool to achieve systolic blood pressure (SBP) <130 or <120 mmHg, and LDL cholesterol <70 mg/dL Beyond waist circumference, the mean number of clinical features of MS was 3.14 ± 0.84, without significant sex differences. The mean CV risk score was 22.5% (CI: 20.3–24.7). Sex-specific analysis showed higher risk score in males (24.2%, CI: 21.3–27.0) vs. females (19.7%, CI: 16.2–23.3; p = 0.028). Hypothetical risk score reductions show that lowering SBP to <130 mmHg could significantly lower the risk score by an average of 9.2% (CI: 7.7–10.7), whereas 34.5% of the participants would be out of the diagnostic criteria for MS. When comparing each potential intervention with current risk score, all interventions significantly reduce the 10-year CV risk score. The study highlights the potential of blood pressure control in reducing CV risk score and the importance of multifaceted risk score reduction strategies.
- Statement of Peer ReviewPublication . De Sousa-Coelho, Ana Luísa; Teotónio Fernandes, Mónica Alexandra; Estêvão, Maria Dulce da Mota Antunes de Oliveira ; Neto Espírito-Santo, Margarida de Fátima; Braz, Luis; Nascimento, TâniaIn submitting conference proceedings to Proceedings, the volume editors of the proceedings certify to the publisher that all papers published in this volume have been subjected to peer review administered by the volume editors. The reviews were conducted by expert referees, and to the professional and scientific standards expected of a proceedings journal.
- Preface: VII Poster Sunset Session—ESSUAlg 2024Publication . De Sousa-Coelho, Ana Luísa; Teotónio Fernandes, Mónica Alexandra; Estêvão, Maria Dulce da Mota Antunes de Oliveira ; Braz, Luis; Nascimento, TâniaThe event “Poster Sunset Session” began in 2017 at the School of Health of the University of Algarve (ESSUAlg), bringing the premise that scientific knowledge depends on research and critical analysis and that the exchange of ideas and information is an essential part of the continuous development process. This event was conceptualized and prepared by professors of the Pharmacy Department at ESSUAlg. The idea of “sunset” was based on the beautiful view over Ria Formosa (Faro, Portugal) that the previous building of ESSUAlg offered at dusk.