Repository logo

Browsing by Author "Alves, J"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Obesity- attributable costs of absenteeism among working adults in Portugal
    Publication . Destri, K; Alves, J; Gregório, MJ; Dias, SS; Henriques, AR; Mendonça, N; Canhão, H; Rodrigues, AM
    Background: Obesity leads to poor health outcomes and may adversely affect work productivity. This study, aimed to investigate the obesity- attributable costs of absenteeism among working adults in Portugal. Methods: The study population included individuals actively working at baseline from the Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Cohort (EpiDoC), a large Portuguese population-based prospective study. Body mass index was measured at baseline and in two follow-up interviews. Absenteeism in each wave of the EpiDoC was assessed by the question "Did you have a sick leave in the previous 12 months? yes/no", followed by "How many days did you miss work due to sickness in the previous twelve months?". Body mass index (BMI) was classified into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese, based on the standard World Health Organization definition. Association between obesity and absenteeism was estimated with the negative binomial regression model adjusted for BMI, chronic diseases, and lifestyle. Obesity- attributable costs were calculated using lost gross income during the time absent from work, through the human-capital approach. Results: The EpiDoC included 4338 working adults at baseline. Of these, 15.2% were obese at the beginning of the study and 22.7% of the population had been absent from work in the last 12 months. Participants with obesity missed 66% more days at work (IRR: 1.66; CI 95%:1.13-2.44; (p = 0.009.) than those with normal weight. The odds of having been absent from work were 1.4 times higher in obese compared to non-obese individuals (CI 95%: 1.18-1.67; p < 0.01) adjusted to sex and type of work. Obese individuals missed 3.8 more days per year than those with normal weight (95%CI: 3.1-4.5). Extrapolating to the entire Portuguese working population, absenteeism due to obesity incurred an additional cost of €238 million per year. Conclusion: Obesity imposes a financial burden due to absenteeism in Portugal. Employers and national health regulators should seek effective ways to reduce these costs.
    2022Journal article Open access Show more
  • Recommendations for the implementation of a national lung cancer screening program in Portugal—A consensus statement
    Publication . Fernandes, MG; Dias, M; Santos, R; Ravara, S; Fernandes, P; Firmino-Machado, J; Antunes, JP; Fernandes, O; Madureira, A; Hespanhol, V; Rodrigues, C; Vicente, CA; Alves, S; Mendes, G; Ilgenfritz, R; Pinto, BS; Alves, J; Saraiva, I; Bárbara, C; Cipriano, MA; Figueiredo, A; Uva, MS; Jacinto, N; Curvo-Semedo, L; Morais, A
    Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) programs that use low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) have been shown to reduce LC mortality by up to 25 % and are considered cost-effective. The European Health Union has encouraged its Member States to explore the feasibility of LCS implementation in their respective countries. The task force conducted a comprehensive literature review and engaged in extensive discussions to provide recommendations. These recommendations encompass the essential components required to initiate pilot LCS programs following the guidelines established by the World Health Organization. They were tailored to align with the specific context of the Portuguese healthcare system. The document addresses critical aspects, including the eligible population, methods for issuing invitations, radiological prerequisites, procedures for reporting results, referral processes, diagnostic strategies, program implementation, and ongoing monitoring. Furthermore, the task force emphasized that pairing LCS with evidence-based smoking cessation should be the standard of care for a high-quality screening program. This document also identifies areas for further research. These recommendations aim to guarantee that the implementation of a Portuguese LCS program ensures high-quality standards, consistency, and uniformity across centres.
    2024Journal article Open access Show more