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- Desafios da solidão e isolamento dos idososPublication . Ala, Sílvia Maria Fernandes; Galvão, Ana Maria; Silvano, MariaO envelhecimento da população constitui um marco positivo — viver mais tempo é a conquista do ciclo vital. Todavia, as mudanças na organização social, nas estruturas e dinâmicas familiares e na distribuição territorial têm intensificado fenómenos como a solidão e o isolamento social na população idosa, resultando em sofrimento significativo e comprometendo a sua qualidade de vida e bem-estar. Objetivo: Pretende-se descrever e analisar o fenómeno da solidão e do isolamento da população idosa portuguesa, identificando fatores de risco e projetando intervenções na comunidade que promovam a longevidade positiva. Método: Foi adotada uma abordagem qualitativa, de natureza exploratória e descritiva, com recurso à análise bibliográfica e documental. A investigação baseou-se na consulta de literatura científica relevante e em fontes estatísticas oficiais, nomeadamente dados do Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Eurostat e documentos da União Europeia, com o objetivo de caracterizar o fenómeno da solidão e do isolamento na população idosa em Portugal. Adicionalmente, foram analisados programas e políticas públicas direcionadas ao envelhecimento, com destaque para o projeto eGuard, da Guarda Nacional Republicana, como exemplo de intervenção comunitária em contexto de vulnerabilidade social. A análise dos dados foi orientada por uma perspetiva socioecológica, permitindo compreender o impacto multidimensional do isolamento social na saúde e bem-estar dos idosos, bem como refletir sobre estratégias de intervenção centradas na promoção da longevidade positiva. Resultados: Portugal ocupa o 4.º lugar da União Europeia com maior percentagem de idosos a viver sozinhos. Os agregados unipessoais representam 24,8% do total de agregados domésticos; 50,3% correspondem a pessoas com 65 ou mais anos. Em termos geográficos, é sobretudo nas zonas rurais do interior centro e norte do país que os agregados com apenas uma pessoa são mais expressivos. Perante este cenário, iniciativas como o eGuard - um projeto de teleassistência e monitorização eletrónica - procuram mitigar o risco de isolamento, promovendo a segurança e a permanência dos idosos no seu meio ambiente. Contudo, o isolamento e a solidão percebida têm impacto negativo na saúde mental, cognitiva e física, afetando mecanismos neuronais, hormonais e afetivos, e contribuindo para o aumento da morbilidade e da mortalidade. Conclusão: Urge, numa sociedade cada vez mais envelhecida e isolada, desenvolver estratégias que maximizem a longevidade positiva. Para tal, reveste-se de extrema importância sensibilizar e projetar respostas com ambientes físicos acessíveis e socialmente estimulantes, aliados a programas de intervenção comunitária que permitam aos mais velhos usufruir plenamente e em segurança daquilo que os rodeia. O ambiente físico e a socialização são fundamentais para garantir que os idosos vivem com dignidade, participação e bem-estar.
- Fear of falling in older adults: the role of fear of dependency and tiredness as key determinantsPublication . Pires, Patrícia Maria; Carvalho, Joana; Pires, Telma; Pires, Carlos; Ribeiro, OscarFear of falling (FoF) is a multifactorial condition with adverse health outcomes. Objective This study explored factors associated with FoF in community-dwelling older adults, with a particular focus on the role of fear of dependency and tiredness as potential determinants, building on the Multifactorial Causation Model of Falls and Fear of Falling proposed by Hadjistavropoulos et al. Methods A cross-sectional study of 509 adults aged ≥65 evaluated sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors. Simple and multiple linear regressions were used to identify FoF-related factors. Results FoF was significantly higher in women and increased with age. Other significant predictors included greater fear of dependency, poorer visual acuity, lower levels of physical activity, greater number of falls in the previous year, higher anxiety, tiredness, and lower mobility/balance (TUG) – which showed the strongest association with FoF (p < 0.05). The multiple regression model explained 47.3% of the variance in FoF. Conclusion Fear of dependency and tiredness were significant predictors of FoF and may represent additional determinants of FoF in community-dwelling older adults.
- Q fever in Portugal: a one health-oriented literature reviewPublication . Caldeira, Maria João; Pereira, Tifany; Qiuntas, Hélder; Mesquita, João R; Rodrigues, CarinaQ fever is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii), a highly infectious and environmentally persistent bacterium. Its transmission from animals to humans occurs mainly via inhalation of contaminated aerosols, often originating from small ruminants. Although the disease is widely distributed in Europe, its burden remains underestimated due to nonspecific clinical presentation and insufficient surveillance integration. As part of an ongoing PhD project in Biomedical Sciences, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to assess the current state of knowledge on Q fever in Portugal. This work aimed to synthesize available data from animal, human and environmental studies, while comparing findings with the broader European context. Over 40 national studies were analyzed, covering humans, domestic and wild animals, ticks, and environmental matrices. Reported seroprevalence values ranged widely: from 0% up to 45.9% in some livestock studies, with values often exceeding 30% in goats and sheep. In human studies with occupational exposure, positivity rates reached 30.7%. Molecular detection of C. burnetii was reported in milk, placentas, and reproductive tissues, and in urban tick populations. The analysis revealed major gaps in national surveillance. Notably, there are no published studies specifically targeting the northeastern region of Portugal, despite its relevance in small ruminant production, and furthermore, no study to date has simultaneously assessed humans, animals and environmental matrices in the same geographic context, a key limitation for understanding transmission dynamics and implementing the One Health approach. These findings underline the need for targeted and integrated research in underrepresented regions. The next stages of the doctoral project will involve the collection and analysis of new biological and environmental samples in northeastern region of Portugal, with the goal of mapping local C. burnetii circulation and proposing context-adapted surveillance strategies.
- Toxoplasma gondii in northeastern Portugal: a narrative review of a neglected zoonotic infection in a one health contextPublication . Pereira, Tifany; Quintas, Helder; Lopes, Ana Patrícia; Caldeira, Maria; Salvador, Sílvia Beato; Rodrigues, Carina; ;Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a protozoan parasite that infects warm-blooded animals, including humans1. Despite its global distribution and considerable impact on public health, animal production, and the environment, it remains overlooked, exemplifying a One Health issue2,3. Transmission occurs mainly through ingestion of infective stages: sporulated oocysts, via contaminated water, soil, or food, tissue cysts in undercooked meat, or tachyzoites, through transplacental transmission or unpasteurized dairy products1,4. Though often asymptomatic, toxoplasmosis can cause severe outcomes in immunocompromised individuals and during pregnancy. Small ruminants are particularly susceptible, with infection linked to reproductive losses and zoonotic transmission via meat5. In Portugal, T. gondii infection, and toxoplasmosis, remains underreported and poorly studied. The Northeastern region (Trás-os- Montes) is especially relevant due to the high density of small ruminant farming and close human, animal and environment interactions6. A narrative review of the literature on the epidemiological status of T. gondii infection in Northeast Portugal was carried out. Sources included PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and institutional reports (EFSA, ECDC, INE). The EFSA/ECDC/20237 report a 4.2% rise in congenital toxoplasmosis and a 29% positivity in small ruminants, the highest in five years. In Portugal, according to the only national survey (1979–1980)8, seroprevalence was 47%, with the North presenting the highest percentage (51%). Subsequent studies revealed regional fluctuations8–12 and more recently, a 72.8% value was reported amongst workers with occupational exposure13. In the Northeastern region (2004–2010)14–17, active circulation of T. gondii was demonstrated in various animal species including wild and livestock, particularly small ruminants, as well as in women of childbearing age. The detection of genotype II, associated with moderate virulence, in meat intended for consumption reinforces the zoonotic risk18. These findings highlight the urgent need for updated and integrated epidemiological studies, supported by a One Health approach.