Browsing by Author "Baptista, Marco"
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- Determinants of quality-of-life among a portuguese sample of adolescentsPublication . Amaral, Odete; Pereira, Carlos; Veiga, Nélio; Chaves, Cláudia; Baptista, Marco; Nelas, Paula; Ferreira, Manuela; Coelho, InêsBackground: Adolescents’ health has become an increasingly important issue and the perception of their health related quality-of-life (HRQoL) are influenced by socio-demographic factors and lifestyle habits. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the determinants of HRQoL in a Portuguese sample of adolescents. Methods: A sample of 309 adolescents (66.9% female gender) aged 11 to 19 years old, attending a public school in Sátão, Portugal, was enrolled in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess social and demographic variables that included the 12-Item Short Form of Medical Outcomes Study (SF12) to assess HRQoL grouped in physical and mental dimensions (lower scores, better quality-of-life). We used the qui-square test to compare proportions and the Kruskal Wallis test to compare continuous variables. Results: The total scores of HRQoL were associated with depressive symptoms (yes=30.80±2.60 vs. no=33.42±2.97, p<0.01). The total scores of HRQoL were not associated with gender (female=33.58±2.81 vs. 33.39±3.26, p=0.62), neither were the mental dimensions (female=131.35±13.37 vs. 130.42±15.53, p=0.61) and physical dimensions (female=183.89±18.72 vs. 182.59±21.74, p=0.61). Total scores of HRQoL were also not associated with age (11-13yrs= 34.00±3.41; 14-16yrs= 33.59±3.22; 17-20yrs= 33.25±2.60, p=0.27), residence area (rural=33.66±3.01 vs. urban=33.24±2.74, p=0.26); alcohol consumption (yes=33.03±2.68 vs. no=33.76±3.13, p=0.06), coffee consumption (yes=33.15±3.11 vs. no=33.77±2.88, p=0.10); smoking habits (yes=33.01±2.56 vs. no=33.72±3.12, p=0.08); sports practice (yes=33.53±3.17 vs. 33.60±2.60, p=0.84) and insomnia (yes=32.44±2.59 vs. 33.08±2.38, p=0.24). Conclusions: The impairment of quality-of-life in adolescents was not associated with socio-demographic variables, but highly associated with depressive symptomatology.
- Helicobacter pylori infection and body mass index in adolescentsPublication . Pereira, Carlos; Veiga, Nélio; Amaral, Odete; Baptista, Marco; Nelas, Paula; Chaves, Cláudia; Ferreira, Manuela; Coelho, InêsIntroduction: Recent studies have revealed an association between overweight and obesity and the risk of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection. The aim of this study was to quantify the association between overweight and obesity and the risk of developing HP infection in a sample of portuguese adolescents. Methods: A sample of 447 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old, attending a public school in Sátão, Portugal, was enrolled in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire with questions about socio-demographic aspects, risk behaviours and daily habits was answered by adolescents.The adolescents were screened for HP infection using the 13C-urea breath test that consists in the exhalation of carbon dioxide in samples before and after swallowing urea labeled with non-radioactive carbon-13. Obesity was evaluated by the body mass index (BMI) calculated by the ratio of weight and height (Kg/m2), according to the Cole et al. tables. Prevalence was expressed in proportions and compared by the chi-square test. Crude odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 13.0% and 1.6%, respectively. The prevalence of HP infection was 35.9%. Overweight and obesity was not associated with gender (male, OR=0.9 95%CI=0.5-1.6), age (>15 yrs, OR=1.3 95%CI=0.7-2.3), father´s professional situation (unemployed, OR=1.8 95%CI=0.8-4.1) smoking habits (yes, OR=0.7 95%CI=0.4-1.4), alcohol consumption (yes, OR=1.0 95%CI=0.5-2.0) and soft drink consumption (yes, OR=1.2 95%CI=0.4-3.4). However, overweight and obesity was associated with parents`educational level (< 9th grade, OR=2.1 95%CI=1.2-3.8), residential area (rural, OR=1.6 95%CI=1.1-2.8) and coffee consumption (yes, OR=1.7 95%CI=1.2-2.9). After adjustment by non-conditional logistic regression for gender, age, parents´educational level, father´s professional situation, residence area and coffee consumption the HP infection is not associated with overweight and obesity (OR=1.4 95%CI=0.8-3.2). Conclusions: Overweight and obesity in adolescents is associated with socio-demographic variables and addictive habits, but not with HP infection.
- Prevalence of fissure sealants in a portuguese sample of adolescentsPublication . Veiga, Nélio; Pereira, Carlos; Baptista, Marco; Chaves, Cláudia; Nelas, Paula; Amaral, Odete; Ferreira, Manuela; Ferreira, Paula; Correia, Ilidio; Coelho, InêsBACKGROUND The use of fissure sealants is an effective intervention for the primary prevention of pit and fissure caries in children and adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of fissure sealants in a portuguese sample of adolescents. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS A sample of 293 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old, attending a public school in Sátão, Portugal, was enrolled in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire with questions about oral health behaviours, knowledge and socio-economic status was answered by the adolescents in the classroom. Clinical examination of oral health status and assessment of fissure sealants was accomplished by a trained and calibrated research team. The presence of fissure sealants in each tooth was assessed as total or partial. Prevalence was expressed in proportions and compared by the chi-square test. Crude odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to measure the strength of association between the presence of fissure sealants and the independent variables. RESULTS We verified that 26.3% (95%CI= 25.0-34.0) of adolescents refer knowing the definition of a fissure sealant, while only 5.9% (95%CI= 4.3-7.0) refer having fissure sealants applied on their teeth. The prevalence of fissure sealants was 52.7% (95%CI= 35.0-46.0), higher among the female gender (59.6% vs 46.2%, p=0.03). The presence of fissure sealants was associated with a lower prevalence of dental caries (dental caries, OR=0.32, 95%CI=0.18-0.59) and residence area (rural, OR=2.24, 95%CI=1.25-4.02). Among the adolescents with at least one tooth with fissure sealants, 21.7% (95%CI=13.9-30.0) presented total fissure sealants in sealed teeth, while 78.3% (95%CI= 70.1-86.1) presented one or more teeth with partial fissure sealant. CONCLUSIONS We found a low prevalence of fissure sealants and a high prevalence of partial and infiltrated sealants among adolescents. A low prevalence of adolescents know the definition and indications of a fissure sealant. It is necessary the establishment of a more targeted preventive program with better and more effective oral health education.
- Prevalence of h. pylori infection in a portuguese sample of adolescents.Publication . Pereira, Carlos; Veiga, Nélio; Baptista, Marco; Chaves, Cláudia; Nelas, Paula; Amaral, Odete; Ferreira, Manuela; Caldo, José; Teixeira, SantiagoBACKGROUND There are some gaps in knowledge of the prevalence and determinants of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection acquired during childhood. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of H. pylori in a portuguese sample of adolescents using 13C-urea breath test (13C-UBT). PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS A sample of 293 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old, attending a public school in Sátão, Portugal, was enrolled in this cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was answered by the adolescents in classroom in order to assess socio-demographic and symptoms. The adolescents were screened for H. pylori infection using the 13C-UBT test and needed to fast for at least one hour before the test. The 13C-UBT test consisted in the exhalation of carbon dioxide in samples before and after swallowing urea labeled with non-radioactive carbon-13. Prevalence was expressed in proportions and compared by the chi-square test. Crude odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to measure the strength of association between H. pylori infection and the independent variables. RESULTS The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 40.4% (95%CI= 35.0-46.0). The H. pylori infection was associated with gender (female, OR=1.52, 95%CI=1.0-2.46), age (>15 years, OR=1.78, 95%CI=1.1-3.28) parents´ educational level (>9th grade, OR=1.53, 95%CI=1.0-2.50), alcohol consumption (yes, OR=1.45, 95%CI=1.0-2.36), crowding index (≥1, OR=3.49, 95%CI=1.2-13.83), soft drink consumption (yes, OR=0.48, 95%CI=0.22-0.98). CONCLUSIONS Nearly half of the adolescents were positive for H. pylori infection, suggesting that gastric pathology continues to be considered an important public health problem among the population, including among adolescents.